New Car... Sync Navagation vs. Garmin

 

My Saturn died... New car is Ford Escape....
it has Nav package....

Up till today, spent time programming garage door opener, and storing CD's on hard drive.... This morning wanted to store Home location in Nav Package....

Thinking that: "I know Garmin..... This will be easy"....

No it isn't.... I'll try again tomorrow...

Even with manual out... Garmin is far more interpretive to operate...

My $.02

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

I'm curious

I'm curious if you find anything out. I've posted in forums and contacted the dealer but no one seems to know how to add the POI's like the ones from this site. The dealer sent me to something like syncmyride but that only explained how to do a google search for an address, route it in google, then send to you GPSr in the car. You can only do one at a time so don't plan on going to more than one place! Hopefully you find out how to add your own POI's because I have no clue.

no good news

That's not first time somebody asks how to load custom POIs into build-in navigation. So far answer from users of many different cars is one: it's impossible so far. At least if you are looking for simple way, without risking warranty. So unless car makers change their products and make loading custom POIs possible it's easier (and cheaper too!) to use stand-alone units.

Manual helped a bit....I

Manual helped a bit....
I got State City Street name and number in, and it showed me the location, but at that point, all the outside buttons went dark.... Finally found a small button inside the map (all prior buttons were on outside of map) in lower left corner, to "Add To Address Book" that blended in with the map text, so I thought it was the parking lot next to where we were sitting... That was biggest stumbling block....

POI's appear to be preset... Haven't checked if anything external can be loaded.... There USB connector on the dash under Nav system...

We're slowly but surely learning the basics of all the systems: Garage Door Programming, Loading CD's to hard drive...

Wife's phone is Bluetooth, mine isn't... So far Sync experiments yielded three wrong calls, and we're still not sure how to cancel a call started with Sync.... I think I'll dial from a menu if I get a Bluetooth phone...... But hands free talking is great... If you get the correct person smile!

Added some of our Destinations in it, and will try a route later today...

Nav package came with car....

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

Well, I know that the USB

Well, I know that the USB port is seen by Nav...
I just 'registered' my Sync with Ford, and it had me load a program onto USB drive, which was read by the car and it replied with firmware versions, which I then uploaded back to Sync site and our Account...
Now Website knows what versing Sync we have, V3.2, and there are no updates on anything. Since one of the updates it reported as current was traffic, I'm thinking if I browse enough, I might find more...
My immediate problem is I used Firefox, and the download area there only supports IE.....

I have a question into Sync support on a few things, one of which being how to upload custom POI's....
Once they reply I'm pointing them here.....

Who knows

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

Enter POI into Ford Sync Nav.

I don't know if it can be done via USB, but it can record your present location and save it to Favorites ... in a very unintuitive way.

When at a location you want to save, press the icon that shows your location. Three options will show near bottom of screen. One is 'Save to favorites. Press that and message 'Saved to favorites' will appear, then screen will return to the map ... no opportunity to name the place (at thia point).

To name it, while on map page, squint while looking for 'Dest' near top right. Select that then Favorites. Try to find the one you just entered, then 'Edit'.

It's best to do this immeiately after selecting it on the map because it's not easy to find it later. I recently marked a Home Depot in Tucson and found that the system named it 'Tucson'. Sometimes it will label a selected point with it's address.

Please excuse the typos. I'm working on my new XOOM and haven't found how to go deep into a message & edit.<<<

--
Gary Retired Auto Engineer

Sounds like a lot of work.

Sounds like a lot of work.
We have a Honda and the Nav System is just not intuitive at all.
We struggle though it, and keep the Garmin handy.

--
It's these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes Nothing remains quite the same With all of our running and all of our cunning If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane

Thanks for that

Thanks for that info....
Next vacation I can see I'll be bringing the Garmin for the POI's at least...

I did use the nav once today, and it thinks it's is at it's destination about 3 blocks from it....
I turned the block before it said to, so I could get to alley behind our house... It missed the fact that I turned one block early, and said our house is 300 Feet ahead... and then said it was finished....

An I'm a block & 1/2 south, and one block west of our house...

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

Jan, Thank you for your

Jan,

Thank you for your email in regards to Navigation questions.

No, the system does not support outside POIs.
As far as the other issue, thank you for your feedback.

Sincerely,

Dennis
Ford Motor Company
SYNC Support Center

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

We have a new Toyota prius

We have a new Toyota prius with the nav package. My Garmin 3790T sits on the dash on a bean bag mount. Maps in nav unit are not as up to date as my garmin. Plus I can load poi's into the garmin with no problem.

Garmin

Agree. Garmin is so much easier to use then the factories one.

2011 Taurus Limited

My wife bought a new 2011 Taurus Limited. It has the sync system with the full nav unit. I use my nüvi 760 for navigation. Not only do I like the navigation better, it also plays books from audible.com which the car nav won't do. I told the dealer I didn't WANT the dang nav system. I got them to knock $1,000 off the price of the car in order to get me to buy it.

The rest of the sync system works well. Backup camera, bluetooth, voice command, hard drive to store CD collection so you don't need the CDs in the car, etc. The nav works and it does tell me where the nearest gas stations are (including the current price of gas at each one) and things of that sort - movie listings as well. One thing the car nav doesn't do is tell me when it's recalculating. You might think that's a good thing but it isn't. If I take a wrong turn I want to know NOW, not later.

For custom POIs, audible books, ease of navigation, completeness of nav directions, etc. I'm going to stick with "Jack".

--
GPSMAP 76CSx - nüvi 760 - nüvi 200 - GPSMAP 78S

I guess I'll consider

I guess I'll consider built-in NAV units in a decade or so. Why does it take the car manufacturers so long to learn???

Fred

Lookin' good

FZbar wrote:

Why does it take the car manufacturers so long to learn???

It must be because the in-car navs look cool in the TV commercials.

--
"No misfortune is so bad that whining about it won't make it worse."

A guess

FZbar wrote:

I guess I'll consider built-in NAV units in a decade or so. Why does it take the car manufacturers so long to learn???

Fred

Agreed.
My guess is it isn't an issue of learning their lesson but instead the need to support the infrastructure of the hardware, the cost to develop the system and the need for widespread automotive mechanics to support the system. The portable after market will always be more nimble in staying technologically current while adding features than the built in electronics can ever be.

--
Drivesmart 66, Nuvi 2595LMT (Died), Nuvi 1490T (Died), Nuvi 260 (Died), GPSMAP 195

Wife & I discussed this last

Wife & I discussed this last night... Looks like we will use both on the next vacation....

Both of us are bummed out that the Ford won't take external POI's...

Just wait till we get the inevitable satisfaction survey!

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

old story

rocknicehunter wrote:
FZbar wrote:

I guess I'll consider built-in NAV units in a decade or so. Why does it take the car manufacturers so long to learn???

Fred

Agreed.
My guess is it isn't an issue of learning their lesson but instead the need to support the infrastructure of the hardware, the cost to develop the system and the need for widespread automotive mechanics to support the system. The portable after market will always be more nimble in staying technologically current while adding features than the built in electronics can ever be.

It's not about those things. They are not developing GPS units or maps. They are ordering them from GPS and maps manufacturers. Just like stereo equipment. Open up your "original Ford/Honda/Toyota" etc. radio and you will find some Alpine, Blaupunkt, Sony or even "no name" product with car manufacturer name on front panel.

Everybody who ever check prices for original manufacturer equipment at dealership knows that their prices are insane. Especially electronics. I used to own Honda Civic. I bought it new in 1998 and originally it was equipped with only radio. No tape or CD player. But it had place designed to mount "original" tape or CD player. When I asked how much will CD player cost (original can be operated from radio panel) they told me $500 plus installation. For single CD player! Six disc CD changer cost about $200-250 at this time!

So it is just old trick in new times. They throw couple more futures (like rear view camera - in store for $100, a little bigger screen - additional $100, etc.) and price it nicely at $2500-3000. And some people will buy it. Just nice profit on people who are too lazy to carry two or three additional gizmos in car. So they will pay tenfold for feeling of convenience from "all in one" unit.

We're considering calling

We're considering calling Ford to explain our displeasure that they have an Active USB port that can upgrade the system, but they don't allow External POI's to be loaded...

I know the port is active.... Ford had us download a program from their site onto a USB Thumb Drive, load it into the package, where it ran the program and documented all the firmware in all the devices it could, and then wrote the firmware version info onto the USB Thumb Drive, which I again put in the computer when connected to the Ford site....

And now every time I login to that site, It tells me the information on the car, and compares the info I uploaded to their current database of firmware.. So that If I login, and a later version Firmware is available... I will automatically be informed, so that I could download it, and update the System with the latest version Sync (and other) code.....

Now if it can do that, YOU KNOW, they have the capability to support external POI's....

Think how much better their $$$$ product would be!!!

(End of Vent)

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

@JanJ

This USB is probably meant as service connection for navi. That's why you use it for upgrades and data exchange. So it can be probably used as well to load POIs, but Ford evidently decided that it is unnecessary future. After all they will be happy to sell new map, and updated POIs can be one of the selling points for update. Or maybe they will expand their Sync system with on-line POI search (for small fee wink).

Audio

grzesja wrote:

This USB is probably meant as service connection for navi. That's why you use it for upgrades and data exchange. So it can be probably used as well to load POIs, but Ford evidently decided that it is unnecessary future. After all they will be happy to sell new map, and updated POIs can be one of the selling points for update. Or maybe they will expand their Sync system with on-line POI search (for small fee wink).

The USB port can also be used to connect audio devices to play .mp3 files.

--
GPSMAP 76CSx - nüvi 760 - nüvi 200 - GPSMAP 78S

Unfortunately you have

Unfortunately you have discovered the hard way why the Garmin is more convenient that a built in nav.

POIs!!!!

yes, but

thrak wrote:

The USB port can also be used to connect audio devices to play .mp3 files.

Problem is with firmware (internal software) of whole GPS/stereo/backup camera etc. unit. Simply speaking, it has no option for loading POIs for GPS. This USB port is used by whole unit, so it can be use by player to play music, to transfer data from and to GPS or for updating whole unit firmware and software or transferring data used by manufacturer for diagnostic or any other purpose.

But so far it doesn't have option to transfer custom POIs to GPS and that is what I was saying. Car manufacturer can of course update unit so it will accept POIs, but question is will they do it and if they do will this be for free?

But

All fine and dandy...but. I have a 2011 f350 Diesel. I was lucky when I custom ordered it, that my wife had a 2010 Focus. It came with the sync navigation. When doing the syncmyride registering thing online I noticed all the neat things it does. Some how i couldn't get the turn by turn stuff to work. Going back online I noticed in fine print Only In the USA, not available in Canada. That saved me $3500 when I ordered my truck. So all you Canadians Be Aware, we don't get all of it. sad

--
2 DriveSmart 65's - We do not live in Igloo's and do not all ride to work on snow mobiles.

.

Now, I dare anyone to tell me a nuvi isn't cost efficient... $3500 for a crippled device? Wow.

--
nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK

Wait a minute now

Juggernaut wrote:

Now, I dare anyone to tell me a nuvi isn't cost efficient... $3500 for a crippled device? Wow.

LOL. one does get a dvd player for that 3500 bucks. Guess one could play movies with that...don't say that though, pretty touch screen too. I'm one of the fortunate ones, that didn't get bitten. Some of the people that paid for this unit were very unhappy when they found out. Oh well, whats another $3500 on a $70.000 Truck..lol

--
2 DriveSmart 65's - We do not live in Igloo's and do not all ride to work on snow mobiles.

and the cost to update the maps...

I can't say this is set in stone, but in talking to a Toyota dealer about their Nav system, besides the high cost of the system up front, if you want to update the maps you have to take the car to the dealer and it will cost in the range of $400 to update the map. Can anyone confirm this?

Wow, you can by a lot of Garmins for the price of a built in Nav system, not counting upgrading your maps each year.

--
Steve aka VTXRider Garmin C330

What do you mean?

Juggernaut wrote:

Now, I dare anyone to tell me a nuvi isn't cost efficient... $3500 for a crippled device? Wow.

Now, now Juggernaut. You are spreading commie propaganda. It's not "crippled device" but: after in depth research carefully customized device that exceed needs and expectations of our extremely valuable Canadian customers.

You obviously have no knowledge of corporate lingo wink

To have...

Even with manual out... Garmin is far more interpretive to operate...

My $.02[/quote]

one of each is very nice..you've got a good car there, good luck with it!!

--
"Backward, turn backward, oh time in your flight, make me a child again, just for tonight."

They Need Need Design Controls

rocknicehunter wrote:
FZbar wrote:

I guess I'll consider built-in NAV units in a decade or so. Why does it take the car manufacturers so long to learn???

Fred

Agreed.
My guess is it isn't an issue of learning their lesson but instead the need to support the infrastructure of the hardware, the cost to develop the system and the need for widespread automotive mechanics to support the system. The portable after market will always be more nimble in staying technologically current while adding features than the built in electronics can ever be.

An engineer probably gave a presentation on how easy it is to use the device. When the decision makers saw him/her run it through the options with such great ease, they liked it. Of course, the engineer was in on the design and knew the system front-to-back. I'm not criticizing the programmers. This seemed intuitive to them. The software engineers I know usually ask, "Why would someone want to use the program that way" when you ask for something.
Management needs to get people who have no exposure to the system looking at it and trying using it with no instruction. That can be expensive, and probably didn't seem necessary after the presentations.

2007 Lexus

I have a 2007 Lexus and I update the navigation system myself. I can buy the update for $150 and there are instructions in the manual to installing it. Takes about three minutes to do. I love the built in system and have a nuvi for my second car and rentals. Most don't realize you get much more than just a nav system with the built ins. I also think the $3500 cost is greatly exaggerated. If it is that much I would really like to see some verification. Back in 2007 mine cost about $2000 and a good Garmin cost around $1000. There are pros and cons to both. I like both.

--
Bobby....Garmin 2450LM

Chevy Cruze Navigation

i Love my navigation in the chevy cruze!! but i do wish there was a way to upload your own POI's and use the red light cameras!

But here is a workaround, if you have a smartphone eithe an iphone or Android phone, download free app called trapster, it gives you the red light cameras and where the cops do there radar!!

Pretty cool!!

perry

Cost

The cost of the full sync option on my wife's 2011 Taurus Limited was listed as $1,800. I told the guy there was no way I was paying that for a nav system as I already have a number of perfectly good Garmin units that do routing.

He explained that the system was much more than the GPS. It has a hard drive so you can save your CD collection and not need to carry the CDs in the car. (My wife currently has well over 1,000 songs saved to the drive and is adding more.) It controls the climate, the bluetooth, the radio, the music collection, etc. and does it not only via the touch screen but also using voice commands. It actually does quite a few things and does them pretty well. If you're stopped and the shift is in the "park" position you can actually watch a DVD on the screen. My tests show that it reads both commercial and burned CDs and DVDs just fine.

I still didn't want to pay for the nav system part and the salesman cut $1,000 off the price of the car. Yes, I still ended up paying $800 for the system but it does have quite a bit to offer. The GPS works reasonably well but isn't as flexible as the nüvi. It can't play books from audible.com and I don't like the directions as well as I do the ones I get from "Jack". Both of those are important to me and, of course, there is the flexibility of being able to take "Jack" with me in any car as well as the fact that I have lifetime maps with the nüvi.

I like the unit but really don't use the GPS part much. However, I did use it recently when on a work trip to check for gas stations. It showed me all the nearby stations and also had the price of fuel for each. When the tank was low enough that the gauge said "50 miles to empty" the screen suddenly populated with gas station POI icons. It was actually quite helpful in that capacity.

--
GPSMAP 76CSx - nüvi 760 - nüvi 200 - GPSMAP 78S

Best

thrak wrote:

The cost of the full sync option on my wife's 2011 Taurus Limited was listed as $1,800. I told the guy there was no way I was paying that for a nav system as I already have a number of perfectly good Garmin units that do routing.

He explained that the system was much more than the GPS. It has a hard drive so you can save your CD collection and not need to carry the CDs in the car. (My wife currently has well over 1,000 songs saved to the drive and is adding more.) It controls the climate, the bluetooth, the radio, the music collection, etc. and does it not only via the touch screen but also using voice commands. It actually does quite a few things and does them pretty well. If you're stopped and the shift is in the "park" position you can actually watch a DVD on the screen. My tests show that it reads both commercial and burned CDs and DVDs just fine.

I still didn't want to pay for the nav system part and the salesman cut $1,000 off the price of the car. Yes, I still ended up paying $800 for the system but it does have quite a bit to offer. The GPS works reasonably well but isn't as flexible as the nüvi. It can't play books from audible.com and I don't like the directions as well as I do the ones I get from "Jack". Both of those are important to me and, of course, there is the flexibility of being able to take "Jack" with me in any car as well as the fact that I have lifetime maps with the nüvi.

I like the unit but really don't use the GPS part much. However, I did use it recently when on a work trip to check for gas stations. It showed me all the nearby stations and also had the price of fuel for each. When the tank was low enough that the gauge said "50 miles to empty" the screen suddenly populated with gas station POI icons. It was actually quite helpful in that capacity.

Now you have the best of both worlds...portable and built in.....

--
Bobby....Garmin 2450LM

Well, my comments seem to

Well, my comments seem to have struck a nerve...
Through the Ford grapevine, the salesman left a voicemail indicating I should call him to discuss the issues I may be having with my new car....

Since only thing I've complained about is Lack of External POI's and no current browsers being fully operational on the Sync Website (Both IE9 and Firefox 4 issue errors)..... And other are complaining about that.... I'm thinking he's wanting to talk about the NAV System.

So I wrote off an email with my concerns, and offered to show them what I'm talking about (External POI;'s) in person...

Ball's in their court...

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

Great

That's great news. I hope they can somehow provide a software fix to be able to use the POI's. And what about tracks? Is this unit keeping a track of where you've been? Are you able to see it? Can you download it to the PC like a Garmin? I wouldn't mind being able to back up my tracks.

You are...

...absolutely correct!

--
Bob: My toys: Nüvi 1390T, Droid X2, Nook Color (rooted), Motorola Xoom, Kindle 2, a Yo-Yo and a Slinky. Gotta have toys.

Anything new?

JanJ wrote:

Well, my comments seem to have struck a nerve...
Through the Ford grapevine, the salesman left a voicemail indicating I should call him to discuss the issues I may be having with my new car....

Since only thing I've complained about is Lack of External POI's and no current browsers being fully operational on the Sync Website (Both IE9 and Firefox 4 issue errors)..... And other are complaining about that.... I'm thinking he's wanting to talk about the NAV System.

So I wrote off an email with my concerns, and offered to show them what I'm talking about (External POI;'s) in person...

Ball's in their court...

Anything new happen in the last three weeks? I'm curious if they are working with you or have given you any good news regarding loading custom POI's

Fer Sure

JanJ wrote:

My Saturn died... New car is Ford Escape....
it has Nav package....

Up till today, spent time programming garage door opener, and storing CD's on hard drive.... This morning wanted to store Home location in Nav Package....

Thinking that: "I know Garmin..... This will be easy"....

No it isn't.... I'll try again tomorrow...

Even with manual out... Garmin is far more interpretive to operate...

My $.02

My friend bought the Ford Edge about 3 months ago. He's still trying to figure out how to "get home".

--
Bob: My toys: Nüvi 1390T, Droid X2, Nook Color (rooted), Motorola Xoom, Kindle 2, a Yo-Yo and a Slinky. Gotta have toys.

Nav System Won't Replace My 3790

We bought a Ford Taurus with Sync system a month ago. I really like the voice recognition for using different devices and the Bluetooth works well.

But the navigation system SUCKS. It might have a lot of built-in POIs but I can't load any of the files from the POI Factory.I've tried adding Favourites with voice recognition and it is very cumbersome. And the manual is of little help.

As someone said earlier, my Garmin is much easier to work with, much more flexible, and a lot cheaper.