Updating GPS

I think the map updates are annually. I read Entune head unit map upgrades will be through USB.

It should be the same as other Entune units in other Toyotas so this wouldn't be PiP specific.

Do you have the latest Entune version (2.0.1)? I don't think it has a map update but it doesn't hurt to upgrade it.

 

This said the upgrade will be available after Jan 2013. It'll cost $169.

 

someone in ohio said they bit the bullet and got the update for his 08. they said it was much improved.

 

I'm very impressed with the HDD navigation. Only complaint is the map update cost. Ive used Garmin, and IOS google maps a lot. Each has their idiosyncrasy. The HDD best built in GPS that I have used.

 

funny thing is, i had the same problem in my 04. 9 years later, nothing has changed.

 

$169!!! That's freaking highway robbery! (pun definitely intended.) Hopefully if you decide to skip an upgrade or two, when you do decide to update they won't charge you for all the ones in between. (I have seen software like this, to discourage people from skipping yearly update fees, and thereby insure a steady source of income.)

They should include free updates for at least the warranty period.

 

I agree that the the upgrade fee is absurd, given that others provide lifetime upgrades for that price. In any case, for all the Nav systems I have had (Toyota and Honda), I have had no problem skipping releases and getting an update every two or three years.

 

who are the others nav system build in the car that is giving away free lifetime map update?
lets not include PND and phones they are a different beast.

 

So when did they move the Airfield?
I bit the bullet and ordered the upgrade, it will be arriving today!
I am looking forward to see what changes have been made. I am running the '09 map disk currently!

 

Thanks for taking one for the team, ! Please do tell us what you find.

 

When I updated my '08 I found many improvements. Not just a maps update but a complete program upgrade.

 

Wow, I'm not gonna let myself get too excited, but nothing about my favorite little blue Prius could be better except the freaking NAV program. I had to reinstall my Garmin, because I was so very disappointed with the spiff city, antiquated, prehistoric, carbon dated NAV in my IV.
God if Toyota corrected that I'm going to be ecstatic. I may become a Prius dealer just to help people improve their life, LOL

 

FYI: It isn't that you're being taken advantage of by Toyota. Navteq owns the map database. Every time you upgrade maps, Navteq collects another royalty payment. Despite that the map database is identical regardless of the device on which its used; Navteq charges SIGNIFICANTLY more royalty if the database is being used for an embedded navi system (OE fitted) versus an aftermarket portable navigation device. You might ask why Navteq charges different prices for the same database product? Because they can, that's why! Embedded OE navi means that you're committed; its Navteq's way or the highway.

In the words of the now deceased former New York weather forecaster Tex Antoine (during what famously and appropriately turned into his last broadcast appearance), "Remember the words of Confucius: If rape is inevitable, lie back and enjoy it".

 

I wasn't pointing fingers at who is to blame for the absurd map update costs on car Nav systems. Sounds like Navteq is the one we should be mad at.

When some high-end cars had built-in cell phones (for regular calling, not the emergency services), the wireless providers made sure that the built-in car kits required that the phones have customized firmware, so you couldn't just update the phone with a newer but less expensive model. Same idea.

 

Are you sure that Navteq is solely to blame? I don't have a Toyota w/a recent nav system nor a recent nav update but for the 2008 and 2011 (2010?) DVDs that HTMLSpinnr had at Prius 2010 Navigation 10.1 gen 6 update DVD | PriusChat, they had copyirghts from Navteq, TeleAtlas and others.

The DVD that came w/my 06 had Navteq as a copyright holder but NOT TeleAtlas.

 

Navteq and TeleAtlas are the two major map database suppliers and are direct competitors. A couple of years ago, Navteq was acquired by Nokia and TeleAtlas was acquired by TomTom. Toyota/Nippondenso systems use Navteq. Regardless of the map database supplier, when you update map database you are paying for the mapmaker's royalties (that are a matter of negotiation with each user based upon what the market will bear), data compilation costs from the hardware supplier (Nippondenso in this case), and gross profit margins from three companies Navteq/Nippondenso/Toyota.

 

It was $169 for a new DVD when I updated the NAV system in my 2005 Prius last year. I seem to recall that in year's past when I inquired about the cost of an updated DVD, it was around $300. $169 is a lot cheaper than $300, but it still hurt to have to spend that much.

 

Agree w/the 1st two parts. As for the bolded part, that was true. Do you have any evidence that they don't also use TeleAtlas or that they haven't switched over completely to TeleAtlas?

See my earlier post re: two semi-recent Toyota map DVDs which had both Navteq and TeleAtlas on them.