2009 MAP UPDATES

Many people have differing reasons for not buying the lifetime map update. From not thinking it is cost effective, to wanting a shiny new gadget every couple of years that has a new map on it.
Myself, I opted to go with buying the lifetime subscription. I live in an area where until very recently there was constantly new homes and roads being built. I like to take road trips with the family and want to know what attractions are near me. Unfortunately with the economy the way it is, many businesses have closed and I like to stay on top of what's still around (which map updates help with).
I personally don't see a reason to update my Nuvi every couple of years unless there is some new and spectacular enhancement that "I just can't live with out." Otherwise, the routing, custom poi ability, TTS, and just getting me to my destinations reliably is all I need. Just as long as I have the most current maps available.

updated my nuvi 205 recently. so far so good.

We had our Garmin 7200 for a couple years and so thought we should update. I had sent in several updates (our daughter's neighborhood was new and they either had names wrong or missing, and some other things that were changed - businesses moving...). Well, we paid for the update and guess what - NONE of the updates were in there or were in there part way (street name right on search, wrong on map...). Contacted Garmin and they went in circles. We never got any relief or feeling it would ever be right. Makes me wonder the benefit of getting updates. Interestingly a friend with a smaller Garmin got their update disk at the same time/place. On her's our daughter's neighborhood was correctly updated. Can anyone explain that? Garmin couldn't!

NavTeq is who you should be talking to. Garmin doesn't make the maps.

Sounds like you purchased a 2009 map update and your friend bought the 2010 version. Either that or they got a newer version of the 2010 than you did. Garmin releases updates for the 2010 version four times a year.

Does anyone know the release date of the next quarterly update or whether Garmin will be notifying purchasers of the Lifetime Updates by e mail?

From what I remember they should be releasing it about now.

I bought a refurbished 750 from a dealer. It didn't come with a DVD map. I downloaded MapScource, but don't have any maps to put on the computer MapScource to do routes in. Any sources out there for street maps that work in MapScource?

Never mind, I found a very good free map at the GPSfiledepot.

Now I need to edit the Temp and Current files in the GPX file. I guess I have a lot of reading to do.

I have a nuvi 760, can you tell us detail of your free map at GPSfiledepot.

customers it will be out in August but no exact date yet.

Be aware that the free street maps at GPS File Depot (while VERY GOOD) do NOT support auto routing and do not have points of interest in them (at least the USA street maps don't).

I guess I was a little naive believing that a lifetime map subscription promising quarterly updates meant a new update every 3 months...

If you read the fine print it says "up to 4 updates per year". Nowhere on this page, http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/us/maps/numaps-lifetim..., does it say Quarterly.

Their Press Release
http://garmin.blogs.com/pr/2009/01/garmin-offers-n.html?acti...

"...nüMaps Lifetime, a single fee program that enables customers to download the latest map and point of interest information every quarter for the life of their personal navigation device..."

I didn't just imagine the "quarterly" promise.

I also regard "nüMaps Lifetime subscription lets you download the newest map data up to four times per year" as meaning there would be at least 4 updates per year available for me to download and that I would be limited to downloading 4 if there were more. By your logic, they didn't commit to providing anything in return for a "lifetime subscription".

Companies thrive by exceeding customer expectations, usually survive by meeting them and decline and fail by failing to meet them. Hiding behind vague language is a foolish thing to do in today's hyper competitive world.

A blog is a blog, and can promise anything. The actual page, which I linked to, the one where you buy the product, says "up to four times a year". It's not my reasoning, it's a direct quote from the official Garmin Lifetime Map page.

And we are still within the third quarter so there's still time.

It's not a "blog", it's a press release and has legal implications with the SEC and courts. Actually even a blog does in today's world if if it's a company blog.

My apologies if I misunderstood you but it appeared to me that your interpretation was that "up to 4 per year" didn't mean a guarantee of 4 ie quarterly releases. If that's true, then it seems it doesn't mean they're guaranteeing 3, 2 or even one.

Wow, I'm amazed at the low standards Garmin is held to by some folks.

Yup, we're about 2 weeks into the quarter with 2 1/2 months to go but the last release was a quarter ago.

I've purchased about a dozen Garmins over the years dating back to my first Garmin GPS 45. I've been a beta tester several times back in the days when they still saw the value of external testers. That included the Street Pilot 3, their first GPS with auto routing.

I'd like them to continue to prosper but making excuses for sub standard performance is not doing them any favors. The market for dedicated GPS units is tough and getting tougher and won't be so generous.

I hope they get their act together before it's too late. A new release should be easy to do with everything automated including most quality control checks. If it isn't and they require a lot of human involvement, they have a big issue.

Edit: Never mind.

I'm done.

True, and only Garmin knows their decision process on when an update will be available. I wonder if the late June firmware fiasco with the 7x5 and other models caused them to delay the map release. I am guessing their customer service has been pretty overwhelmed with that issue. A map update probably generates a significant number of calls from customers having problems or qustions with the update, so maybe they did not want to add to the call load.

alandb,

You're probably right that if they were planning a new map release at this time, they would delay it because of the firmware fiasco. My map updates never go smoothly and I always end up calling tech support to properly unlock the map. They are probably waiting until they clear the firmware fixes.

I did my map update just fine a few weeks ago.

The new map is about 3 years out of date though. I know this b/c there is an exit near my house that was changed about 3 years ago, the new map still have the old exit.

Thanks for the update.

Yea, I've noticed a lot of out of date maps and I just bought my gps a little bit ago

...what data sources does Navteq rely on? Is it completely self-generated? Does anyone have any insight into this? It is amazing to me that some map data could be 3 years old. Isn't there some county/state/national urban planning resource that exists for this? Seems like there should be.

Let me put it this way - when was the last time you updated your personal inventory of the property you own? What?? It's more than 3 years old? Even if it was your job to update the personal property records for everyone in just one square mile of your house or office, how long do you think it would take to get it done? Now, even with a staff multiply that times the number of square miles in just your county. How often would you update all those records?

Now imagine that people bought the data you updated and then customized it for their own purpose. How current do you think their listings would be?

Naveteq's data is quite current and very accurate. They glean from the records of every state and county to keep their data updated, but even that takes time to convert the data from whatever system the county/state is using to their internal system so figure their data when released is probably around 6 months old. Now, buy that data once or twice a year. Customize it to fit your requirements. Now how old is that data? Are you beginning to get the idea that updates aren't instantaneous?

I've got one of the supposedly better PC mapping programs (actually 2) on my PC. One that is dated 2004 has more roads and streets in it than the one dated 2009 - go figure. Now I don't expect subdivisions built after 2003 to be in the older program, but they aren't in the new one either and in fact roads that have been in for 15 years aren't in the 2009 program, but they are in the '04. So when you figure everything that goes into a map update that is released, 3 years isn't that long with the number of times it has to be touched by the horde of people all responsible for their little piece.

I just got a garmin nuvi... Is there anyway to get the latest maps for free?

thanks

After register your gps, look for any update maps in garmin website.

Just got my 255WT 2 weeks ago, registered on Garmin website and updated to the lastest map.

https://my.garmin.com/maps/nuMaps.htm

I just got a Nuvi 265WT, and noticed the included 2009 map is from April 2008. The website offered no updates besides a firmware update from 5.0 to 5.1, and subscribing to the Lifetime or One-time updates. Wasn't the 2010 Map released July 5th? Or was that a different one than the Normal one for N.America? When can I get the 2010 maps? It is almost August...

that comes with 2009 maps should qualify for one free update within 60 days of the first satellite reception. City Navigator 2010 has been available for months now and a new updated version 2010.0x is due out soon, probably August.

2010 update is out and has been out since april

Since you're entitled to only one update within the first 60 days after purchase, you can get the "current" update (released ~April 10) now or wait and hope Garmin releases another within 60 days of your purchase date.

No one seems to have gotten a definite answer from Garmin on the next release date. I've seen posts from folks who said they were told August and one that said September. Unfortunately Garmin is not sticking to the quarterly updates promised in their press release or they would have released the next one by now.

To a_user:

Point taken. It takes a lot of effort to make an accurate map database. Although I would hope that someone who makes money off of maps should keep things as up to date as possible, it doesn't alter the fact that maps are (arguably) constantly in flux and its hard to keep up with the changes.

Speaks to the need for better automation. How? Good question. I don't mean to trivialize this at all, and I am sure companies like Navteq would love something that works as much as I do since they could profit off of it. But: take a satellite image and trace the routes, compare it to previous, known maps with known roads. Flag the differences. Make the computer guess, or at least shortlist differences for a human to analyze. Maybe some day...

I know from meeting with some of the Navteq people they have several hundred people constantly working on updating their data. One of the main issues they have is the source data they receive is not standardized. Government agencies usually buy the best software they can afford, but if there is no standardization between the different packages, converting data from one proprietary format to another is a shell game. Just when you figure out how to do it, one company or the other will do an update and you have to start over.

It gets even worse within the city and county governments. Everyone wants to run their own data shop and you end up with the city department of public works using one package to plot the maps for some agencies and still other agencies using another package that can't read the data. This often happens with the 9-1-1 centers. They often buy CAD or Computer Aided Dispatch systems that are proprietary but will read some portions of standardized GIS packages from companies such as ESRI but they are not fully compliant. This means they emergency dispatchers have to have their GIS departments 'massage' the data to load it so they can send help to the correct address.

What is the easiest way to update Garmin gps devices and how can i legally do it for free?

thanks

do it for free if a new update comes out within 60 days of your new device first getting a satellite lock. I can't think of any other legal alternatives.

Probably the easiest way to do an update is to download it from the Garmin website. Be prepared for a long download time and installation, probably more than an hour for each function.

You can only do it legally for free if you purchase a unit that has old maps on them and if there is a newer version that has been released and if you register online and download the update within 60 days of the first satellite acquisition.

In any case, the easiest way to update the maps is to log in you your MyGarmin.com account and see what updates are available. The site will indicate whether there are free updates available. Otherwise, you will have options to purchase any updates you wish to purchase.

Logging into mygarmin.com will tell me if a map update is available but it doesn't seem to tell me what is available.

Actually figuring out whether there is a recent release once you skipped one some time back seems to require searching on sites like this.

I bought a lifetime update on one of my units (a purchase I regret given their lack of commitment to the expected quarterly updates) but still have the 2009 release on another.Since I skipped one, logging into mygarmin.com won't let me find out when (if?) they release another newer one.

Garmin has released and I have downloaded and installed on my 760 a total of 3 map updates so far this year for the lifetime maps program I purchased in January for my 760. There was one in Jan, one in April and one just today for July. That's three so far this year with one in each of the first three quarters. Their commitment for updates stated up to 4 per year and nothing was said by Garmin about quarterly updates.

Their press release stated quarterly updates and I purchased from a vendor based on that. The vendor didn't show the actual terms and I didn't check the legalese on the Garmin site. Foolish me.

Since I just saw they've released a new update, I'm far less displeased than I was. When I was seeing reports of folks being told by Garmin reps that the next release would be in September, I was pretty annoyed. However, it seems they may actually be committed to sticking fairly close to quarterly updates.

Dd you find that this was a good deal? I am still using the 2009 Maps and was wondering whether to just get the 2010, wait for the 2011 at this point or just get the lifetime updates?

Thanks

Will you keep using your exisiting unit for a while? When the 2011 map updates come out, I assume the 2010 ones get discounted. If you purchased dated/discounted maps every few years you would be behind a bit time-wise in map data, but may come out ahead as far as money is concerned.

Never thought of it like that, but as long as the 760 ticks I intent on using it. In my recent trip to Cyprus and Greece I used maps that I found for free (from the other great users of POI Factory of-course) and with the exception that you couldn't enter an address and go, they were very good.

If you are going to hold on to it for a while, then I would say buy them. Lifetime maps are offered for North America, Europe and a combination of the two. If you are going to use the GPS in one of those covered places then I can't see not purchasing the lifetime maps.

I would hold off only if you are going to mainly use the GPS while visiting other countries than above that would require specialized map purchases.

I think Amazon usually has one of the best prices for the lifetime maps.

$95 for lifetime updates for NA, $47.50 for 2010 only, I would say that if your unit is in good shape and you use it a lot it is worth to splurge for the lifetime update.

Is it limited to the unit you have or if it dies and you replace it with another Garmin you can keep the lifetime subscription?

The subscription is tied to the unit. If it gets lost/stolen, you've lost the subscription too.

I assume if you have the unit repaired by Garmin under warranty or as a paid repair and they replace it with another unit, they'll transfer it to the replacement.

They also have said that they will transfer the lifetime maps if it is stolen and you can provide a police report showing the unit tied to the map update program was stolen.

...what changes have been made between updates of the maps? Sort of a changelog for the map itself?

I would also be curious about how maps are improved over time: what sources are used, when data from those sources are pulled, how any overlapping data is combined, etc.

I have the nuvi 650 with 2008 maps on it. There is an area in South Austin with a school and other apt complexes etc which has been there for a long time. This does not show up on the map at all.

I wonder whether the new map will have this!