Nav System lobotomy

Okay, this is not going to be super-helpful, because I can't recall off the top of my head how to do any of these things, but...

There is a way to display POIs without going through the DEST screen. I think it's from the main map menu. You're just limited to a few categories, but the most common ones--gas station, restaurant, rest area (I think?), etc. There may also be a way to change these default categories, I'm not sure. But you still have to be within the scale to see POIs, and you can't get any more info unless you tap on the particular icon to get its exact info.

In freeway mode, there is a way to display the upcoming exits on the left hand side, and anything that may exist at that exit (gas station, rest stop). This is not always super-accurate though--when I drove from Nashville to Austin, there would sometimes be stuff at exits that did not show up on the upcoming exit screen.

I'm not sure about changing regions as you drive--I know in my drive, I did have to switch areas, I just can't recall if we did it manually or if the car did it for us.

There is the "speed-sensor" defeat to allow the passenger to temporarily access grayed out areas--you can find out how to do it in the knowledge base. This is a modification you have to do yourself to your car. Many people believe it would make sense for Toyota to have enabled a system that allowed the passenger to access features when the car is in motion (perhaps detecting a passenger based on weight), but alas, this is what we've got.

If someone else refutes what I've said above, they're probably right... I don't use the Nav system heavily, and I still have a difficult time navigating its menus, etc.

 

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Well, I always find the the big signs on the side of the freeway work really well for finding rest areas and gas stations ;-)

But seriously, I don't think it's that big a deal to pull over (or off, in case of the freeway) if you really really have to know right now where the next gas station or rest area is. Honestly, what's the difference in knowing where it is when you're 10 miles away or 1 mile away? It's not like it's going to get any closer. And if you're just trying to figure out how far out you can push that next fill-up, well, that's just foolish in the Prius, when Toyota specifically warns you about running out of gas.

Driving distractions cause accidents, and adjusting the nav system by pushing buttons is definitely a distraction. Toyota is not interested in being sued by anyone who is involved in an accident where the driver was trying to operate the nav system by hand while the vehicle was moving.

 

I don't know how I did it but yesterday I was entering destinations WHILE MOVING?!?!?

I had set my final dest while stopped. The point originally found by address was clearly on a street parallel to the one I knew I wanted so I reset it by scroll/touch on the screen.

After I started off I realized that it was going to take me farther into the 'congestion zone' than necessary before turning for a parallel road. I added an intermediate destination by scroll/touch near the parallel road by the cross street I wanted. Then I figured out I missed it by a bit and reset it, choosing 'Replace' rather than Add. I was thinking it would replace the first dest I would hit but it replaced my final destination (which I guess DOES make sense).

I re-added my final destination positioning the map by scroll/touch using Replace. Then I added an intermediate dest on the major parallel road just north of the cross street I wanted to take.

All while driving 50 MPH. This I DO not understand.
It must have been a good Karma day. I guessed about where the house would be on the road, never having been there. I was driving slowing trying to pick out house numbers on the curb side mailboxes and when I pulled up in front of the one I was hunting: "You have arrived at your destination"

 

After 8 months am getting used to the navi system. However, IMHO, Honda's is better. Period. Its simply easier to use. And yes I've read the manual.
Maybe at our next meetup we could have a navi class?

 

I am just about ready to not use the nav system at all, and use my Gamin system which will at least allow me to change settings while I am moving. This was a bad investment in a bad system.

 

Matter of opinion. It is expensive, but I think its a good investment and the system works very well.

Sure its a pain that some things are disabled when driving, but that was the same on my old TNS200 system and a VDO system I had.

 

I agree with much of what is said above with one reservation. Garmin is just for Windoz users. If you are willing to put up with a lot of pain it can be forced to work with a Mac but I would guess most Mac users would not make the effort. We are a strange lot we expect things to work. Did you here that Bill Gates Windoz computer froze up on him during his last public presentation ( http://www.applelinks.com/pm/more.php?id=3...3114_0_1_0_Mar) on the "digital lifestyle". One wonders where he "borrowed" that term from. I don't recall Steve having simular problems during his Keynote addresses.

 

I just got the Nav. update. Now, how do I find out which version they put in?

 

1) Press the "Map DVD" icon in the upper right section of your screen.

2) Physically check the disk (located under the driver's seat)

 

As far as "Finding nearest rest stop/gas station/etc", there is an icon to display this on the map screen when you're on the freeway - and it's not too well known about. When in the nav screen that displays your current position, you'll see the icon that lets you change the display - pushing it gives you options to show half main nav/half next turn, etc. On there, when on the freeway, there's a freeway/highway icon (the little shield) - touching this icon will give you half screen of your current location, while the other half will give you how many miles til the next 3 rest stops, including listing the gas stations, food stops, etc. Touch the icon say for gas at the next exit, and you can add it to your route with ease. Have your wife try it next time you're on the freeway. Hope this helps!

-m.