I am travelling and I am giving Google Maps Nav a shot since all my itinerary info is already automatically loaded to Google Now, and it offers to guide to to places at the appropriate times. All I got to say is, Google Maps makes the Prius Nav look like a toy. Realtime traffic and map data, it tells me which turn lane to use, and it has been loaded on my phone for free since day one. How much does Toyota want for a map update again? Now I just want a factory "nav" unit to act as a display unit for my phone.
Maybe you can try your bluetooth connection. Switch it to stream your phone map navigation and mute the factory navigation. Sounds doable.
I do that on my rental Hyundai Elantra now. Switch on Google Maps Nav and switch the raido to BT Audio. Stick the phone in the space between the steering wheel and the instrument console. Done. I am just mad that I was forced to pay $ for a second class "premium" system.
you weren't forced, they have the car without nav. I got the 2 without nav. Just use the bluetooth and let my phone do it. I never look at the screen so it's the same as paying for a navigation system in the car.
Having experienced a variety of automobile manufacturers' nav units, I agree 100% In fact, g00gle's traffic updates and alternate routing is uncannily accurate. (How does it work?)
It basically uses data from a lot of sources... User Feedback via Waze app (this is Googles other map navigation application where users can report traffic and other road conditions) Mobile devices which use Googles Android OS or devices who have Google Maps app installed (Mobile devices send location and speed data , all users have the ability to opt out of sending this location data to Google)
Well sorta. I wanted the LED Headlights and Radar Cruise. Really did not care for some of the other stuff that came with the package -- e.g. 17" wheels and Nav.
Easy fix, turn the screen to the audio screen full time and put the 17" wheels on here to swap with anyone with 15" wheels. You will have no problems swapping the wheels, usually within 1 minute of posting
I just ordered one of these: I am going leave it in my backpack so when I travel I can just pop this onto the dash of my rental car. Stop renting GPS units from the car companies which may or may not have updated maps and different software UIs.
I've been using the Prius in conjunction with my Garmin Nuvi, but unfortunately the Nuvi quit working a couple of weeks ago. So we just completed a 2,300 mile trip to Norfolk VA, Indian Head MD, NorthlandZ NJ, Montague NJ, Lewisburg WV and back to Richmond Hill GA using the Prius nav. It showed me what lanes I could use for transitioning between freeways, warned me to prepare to turn left or right, etc. I guess I'll have to play with Google Maps some to see what you're saying about "telling" you the lanes. The Prius display for lane choice is a little different than what I was used to with the Nuvi, but the info boxes popped up when we got close and were just as easy enough to follow. I think some of the problem there is the Nuvi sits on the dash and I have to look down at the Prius display. I have traffic on the Garmin, but never pay any attention to it, so I don't miss it on the Prius. I guess I'd use it more if I had a daily commute or something. We did run into 2 parking lots on the freeway near Charlotte NC, but we navigated one and bypassed the other using an alternate route suggested by the Prius. The only thing I really miss from the Garmin is being able to "look ahead" on my current route for gas stations, restaurants, etc., and AFAIK Google Maps doesn't let me do that either, at least not the way the Garmin does. That's something else I'll need to research more if I can't get the Garmin working again. Before we get hungry, I like to look 30, 50 or so miles ahead to see what restaurants are coming up and then decide how long to wait to eat. I suppose I can sort of do that with Maps, but I believe I'd have to search and scroll the display. I did use Gas Buddy like I always do to find "cheap" gas and then told the Prius to take me there using the Prius voice commands. I also tell it to "find next" whatever and it displays a list. Unlike the Nuvi, it doesn't limit the list to those along my current route, so it's very cumbersome picking one. My wife did use Google Maps on her phone to follow along at times and I used my phone at restaurants, etc., to research some things. I agree the Prius nav lacks a lot of functionality, mostly while moving, but I find much of it is just different from what I'm used to. It got me from here to there and back, so it does work. Every built-in nav unit I've used has had similar problems, so I can't really beat up on the Prius too much. I wish updates were USB-based and I believe you can get traffic via Entune if you want to pay for it. Traffic with Maps isn't completely free and neither is Maps for that matter, they do require a data plan and a 3G/4G signal. We know plenty of places in Texas and drove through parts of West Virginia just yesterday where Maps would be all but useless. I will have to look into Google Now though, I hadn't seen that until you mentioned it. I think too that for me at least, the phone display is just too darned small and works more like an internet browser than a dedicated nav unit.
It works by using every android devices with active data connection and GPS on as traffic monitoring and even with GPS off on some phones they have an idea where you are by using the cellular towers to guess where you are (for highway this will suffice). With the information they gather they can provide other android/Google map users live updates. So half the phones in us are android and a third of people keep GPS on most of the time so in a traffic jam of 24, 4 or more people will be providing Google with relevant traffic data. Scary maybe but I'd rather not be late for work.
