For those person's who use their phone for most everything....then I guess it is NOT WORTH the money .... to them

For those person's who DO NOT use their phone for most everything ...... then it can be a worthy choice to purchase the update. I'm one of them. I've not been disappointed hardly ever using the vehicle Navigation system. I've had GM, I've had Toyota in a Highlander and a Lexus RX350 and I've got a Ford version now. I have used the Vette one now and have done fine. I use the Ford one (Sync 3 in my Expedition) and have done fine. Maybe I don't do complicated things with them so don't experience disappointment? I live in Georgia and if I'm traveling I use the 'Voice' in both the Vette and the Ford and say I want to find a POI it does fine. Example: I'm in Georgia and ask to find a Hotel in Illinois. I give the command to change state. I then give the name of the hotel and city and it finds it. So, I'm fine with my NAV systems. Oh, also my Ford/Sync-3 system alerts me to traffic delays (its a 5 year plan that came with the vehicle) and will direct me to alternate route plan.

So, in my opinion, it depends on what one uses and is comfortable with.......................

 

And the latest news from Google Maps is they they will be including advertising in a future release. Let's see how all the Google Maps fan bois react when that happens.

 

At this point I don't care about the ads. I installed an IO6 module as part of another project I'm doing. In honor of this thread, I pulled up the 'nearest fuel' menu on the factory nav. It skipped right over the big fuel station close to my house, which has been there since well before the C7 existed. Instead it suggested I go to the dumpy little liquor + fuel station twice as far away. I'm not impressed.

My map version is 84131957. I'm not sure what year that's for, but it's at least 2017.

 

It's not a desire to use your phone for everything! It's about having an easy to use navigation system that is reliable and up to date.

Again, it's not about the desire to use your phone or not. You are relying on a faulty premise.

It's not a worthy choice merely because it's not a phone.

As I have said over and over, all GPS systems perform the function of GPS navigation fairly well. That's not the point. The UI is the point. Timely updates are the point.

Ya think?

I find the voice commands for the factory nav next to useless. I was sitting in Santa Clara, CA and asked for the DMV. That's it, just "DMV", meaning the nearest DMV office of course. Couldn't handle it. I was determined to use the factory nav's voice recognition to get there. I switched to saying "Department of Motor Vehicles". After several times doing that and it failing I tried supplying more information like the city (Department of Motor Vehicles in Santa Clara... DMV in San Jose, etc. - having the foreknowledge of the cities close by, which you would not have at all if you were unfamiliar with the area - a pretty good reason why you'd be wanting to use the navigation in the first place!).

I spent literally 20 minutes in the car parked on the side of the road attempting every possible way I could think of to get directions to the DMV. The factory nav voice recognition could not find it at all. I whipped out my phone and said: "Hey Google, navigate to the DMV". Not only did it get it on the first shot it reminded me that the DMV would be closing soon. Try that factory nav!

Bzzzt! Perfect example! Why do you need to find, figure out and issue a command to change state? Why wouldn't a good navigation system already know what state (hell county, city) you were in? It's context and good voice recognition that really makes a GPS navigation system useful.

Hell I'm sitting in Phoenix right now and I ask Google "Hotels in Bloomington, Illinois" and GM finds them no problem.

I've had AA/GM for 3 years now (and GM since inception). They alert me to traffic delays so you're Ford/Sync-3 system is not special. I didn't need any plan nor did I have to pay anybody for that. GM even alerts me of construction zones and now speeding traps and it will continue to be updated. Can't say the same about the factory nav. Oh sure it can be updated but the only things updated are POIs and road changes - not speed traps and construction. You gotta pay extra for that. Just coming home recently from a trip to CA and GM alerted me that it could save 8 minutes if I took a pretty long detour on my 400-mile trip back home. And since it was more scenic and faster I tapped the button saying "Sure". Nice drive...

Of course, it depends on what one uses and is comfortable with. But that doesn't address the fact that some get comfortable with technologies that are, IMHO, objectively less useful/convenient, often because they are unaware of the advantages, resistant to change or desperately trying to justify their position. Or perhaps they don't demand much out of their systems. I've met way more people in my live who do not bother to fully investigate the capabilities and functionality of such systems. I mean I see tons of evidence of such right here WRT vettes and the damn manual!

 

I just updated my 14 to the newest software. Why? Because I like the feature of having it on the heads up display. Is it as good as google maps? In some ways yes and other ways, no. Depends on what I am using if for. I travel a lot for work and use it in rental cars routinely. Easier than learning that cars system. But for my personal car it does what I need it to. I know some like having Waze or other apps that tell them why they have come to a stop on the interstate or traffic is slow. Does it help you fell better knowing why you are not moving? Or were you paying so much attention to the maps app to see if you were coming up on something. Like others have said, everyone has their own opinion and preference as it should be. Except the one poster who thinks you are not worthy if you are not using your phone to guide your sports car.

 

you hit the nail on the head

 

I hate to break this to you but the nav update you got probably didn't update anything in the software - just data.

You do realize that AA/GM can display turn by turn directions in the HUD. It is General Motors who failed to have firmware that would expose this API to AA/GM. IOW it's their fault and they probably won't be updating the actual software any time soon if ever.

No, and that's not it. However, I do feel better when GM tells me to take the frontage road to avoid the traffic jam ahead, tells me of a speeding trap just up the road, or if I take this route I'll save 15 minutes. Maybe you feel better when the factory nav's HUD display says take a left and you get stuck in a traffic jam...

Never happens to me. Perhaps I don't have enough ADHD or something. Glancing at the center console, to me, takes about as much time and distraction as changing a radio station.

Wonder who that is... It's not me. Go ahead and use whatever you want. But that will not stop me from pointing out the bits of functionality that AA/GM has over and above the factory nav. It's sort of like you always pointing out that you get turn by turn in the HUD. For the record, 1) I know that 2) I'd love to have that turn by turn in the HUD but there are too many other positive things about the AA/GM combo I'm not willing to give up and 3) AA/GM can do it too but General Motors forbids it. Maybe someday but I'm not holding my breath.

 

Do you post like this on everything? Very tiresome and not really worth reading. FYI- Data is software:

 

Its funny seeing guys say that the outdated, onboard NAV is superior. Both versions of the Android software are more connected, up to date and relevant than the static data on the built-in unit. There isn't a comparison. GM has the right idea in allowing for android to take over these systems, the OEM simply cannot keep up with new features like the mobile phone world can. Once they more fully integrate it into the HUD, we will get the best of both worlds.

 

And yet you read it... What does that say about you? Have you heard about the ignore list? How about putting your money where your mouth is?

 

Hahahaha. If it helps you sleep at night I will concede oh grand master of mapping systems. I have been horribly mistaken and henceforth will forever use my Google maps from my iphone. Please excuse my ignorance of not know what AA was as I have never used an Android product but through your infinite wisdom am now considering a full switch to it. Thank you for educating me on what I really need vs. what I am using. I will forever be in your debt. What a joke. Be well with your bad self.

 

I do agree that would be the best of both worlds. Enough people still use the "outdated" system that they are still building them into their cars. I do think in the very near future that will change. Especially now that most of the cars also have a wifi connection or ability to have one. But there are still plenty of rural places (acknowledging that it is quickly changing), in the US that can not benefit from wifi in their cars.

 

I am continually frustrated that a $150.00 Garmin will do a better job than any built in navigation system I have seen. And with free lifetime map updates as well as free traffic information.

 

I agree! My Garmin fits perfectly behind the info screen,and is connected there. A recent trip to San Diego renewed my appreciation for this device. It's used in our three vehicles and has never let us down during at least five cross-country trips.

 

Dedicated nav units installed in cars will soon be obsolete. With CarPlay and Android Auto, it serves no useful purpose and is vastly inferior. I run Google Maps or Waze on CarPlay for a full-screen nav, they are far more capable at routing around traffic, because they are crowd-sourced with exponentially more users, and they are always updated free-of-charge.

 

You're weird! However do whatever you want!

Plonk!

 

The Garmin won't be obsolete in our cars, as we plan to keep them for many more years.

 

It's said, time and time again, that change is very hard for people.

 

Please look up the update rates on Google Maps and tell us how it is so much better than factory nav.

 

About 1 to 3 years old.

Waze is even better though, it has a map editor system that has users adding new roads as they are found. People get various levels of trust so you don't have people screwing things up. It's awesome

Both are "free". But as the saying goes, if the product is free, you are the product. They make money o and advertising to you, etc.