Huge HERE Update

They listed that amount of new roads and stated them in km for the USA?

I'll believe it, when I see it.

Because they aren't an American company. They gave stats of roads for other countries too, also in kilometers.

6.5 million km of new roads in the USA? Where?
I can think of a bunch of "not quite politically correct" divergences for this one ...

So, there's 3.9+ million miles of roads in the USA either missing or in error? WOW! Hard to believe.

Fire trails, 4 wheel drive trails, cow paths maybe?

I don't know how much the mileage would add up but I do remember noticing that one or two updates in the last year added internal "alleys" within the parking area of local shopping centers. I don't think they got them all. Sadly, I have not noticed that particular addition to have been of much use.

Any additions would be welcome.

The mapping is several years behind in some areas where I live.

May be awhile before we see it still.

Hard to believe the number for the miles!

Well they are trying to sell it. http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_tipped_to_contemplate_a_sale_o...

Well here in Winnipeg, MB, Canada there are several major developments that are not on the 2015.4 maps and I would say they add up to many hundreds of KMs.

If that is what we have here, I can only imaging the missing roads elsewhere.

3.9+ million is not an inconceivable (gotta love the Pricsess Bride) number.

Something doesn't sound right. I can't imagine where all these "missing" roads would be. I have traveled -well- off the beaten path in both Maine and New Hampshire and even some of the very obscure Forest Service roads are on the maps. I can't ever recall a road along my route not showing on the map... even some of the one-lane, unimproved (dirt) specials! I actually rely on the Nuvi to include and show me these roads to get me to hidden fly-fishing spots (and back). Once in a while one will "end" on the map, but zooming out always shows what's around and get's me home. I have always assumed that a road that wasn't on the map was either a driveway, pathway to a camp or a fire road and would stay off of them anyway.

The "missing" information could also include adding the speed limits on residential and other secondary streets.

One of the "major" differences that I observed in the 2015.40 map was the addition of posted speed limits of the streets in my neighborhood.

I assume Here is continuing to "complete" the speed-limit posting to cover more and more areas. That could easily add up to many many miles.

I wish Garmin would switch over to Google Maps. Google has all the street views and apparently has driven many roads for accurate mapping. Having more than one mapping of roads can cause more incorrect data than having one source.

Do they now include my driveway? How about Diagon Alley? Sometimes more isn't really better...

There are more than one Diagon Alley. I have been to the one at Universal Studios Florida.

When I see it, I'll believe it.

It's the "Burbs", man.

Probably lots of new housing development streets.

For the US anyway, I invite everyone to apply for rights to add roads to your area in Map Creator for the betterment of Garmin users everywhere.
I'll admit, I'm not exactly sure where all the roads were coming from either...I was just relaying the message Either way, with community editing there should be some *major* improvements with accuracy over the next several map updates.
As far as Google maps go, I dislike them. They are more up to date than HERE at the present time, but wildly inconsistent with what is mapped and the level of which it is mapped. That may just be my bias, though. What I *really* need is updated satellite imagery for updating roads and such. And I'm not entirely sure how much detail is wanted for HERE maps. I mean, I could add every parking lot area in my city if they wanted me too, but is that what should be done? Some shopping areas have full mapping while others do not. I just don't know

I agree with your basic premise Narvick. Contributing to accurate map updates helps everyone. However with the uncertainty about the future of Here, I am not willing to put much effort into it. Considering that Nokia has the Here mapping product up for sale and their agreement with Garmin expires at the end of this year with no news about how (or even if) negotiations for a renewal of the agreement are going, you may be beating a dead horse.

That's true, but I can't focus on the negative. I will have to assume that things will be basically the same going forward. If HERE doesn't renew with Gamin, what map service would they use? I don't foresee Google offering Garmin map data, TeleAtlas is used by TomTom... Plus, the crowd mapping mechanic is brand new for the US and is something other mapping companies don't really offer (other than OpenStreetMap obviously).

I use google maps and create routes on my Garmin for long trips on unfamiliar roads. I saved eighty miles from Minnesota to Florida by using google map routing. The only reason I mess with my Garmin any more is the size of the display. I do have the newest map update. Garmin was all messed up in Stuart, FL. Constantly routing me on dumb long way around routing.

Everyone wants the agreement to continue, otherwise the possibility exists that everyone with a lifetime update will lose it. Garmin's terms and conditions for lifetime updates has this little gem.

"...you will receive map data updates when and as such updates are made available on Garmin.com during the useful life of 1 compatible Garmin product or as long as Garmin receives map data from a third party supplier, whichever is shorter."

The way I read this, if no agreement is reached, everyone with a lifetime update loses. As written, if the agreement were not to be renewed the lifespan of the device would then be greater than the lifespan of the maps and thus all lifetime updates would be terminated. This is because of the "whichever is shorter" clause.

I'm not purchasing a new GPS with this cloud of uncertainty hanging over the maps. Garmin would do themselves a favor in purchasing HERE, like Tom Tom purchased Tele-Atlas.

I have to believe that Lifetime Maps has generated a lot of sales for Garmin and is responsible for picking them over a competitor when making decision to purchase a PND. Regardless of the fine print, ending this benefit forever because one of the clauses kicked in will be (IMO) a very bad [faith] decision for Garmin, and will drive many current customers over the edge to alternatives for their PND system. I notice far fewer PND's glowing on the dashes of my fellow travelers these days and have to believe business is eroding for the traditional vendors these days.