Post by: Xairbusdriver on November 16, 2016, 01:15:49 PM
OK. I select the model, MDX, and have second thoughts about the cost, but the shipping is free!
Just before I click the order button, I notice that the disk (actually a two-disk set) is called a DVD. We buy new cars about every 10 years, but we haven't yet seen the need to watch videos while driving and our youngest Grands aren't married and they drive their own cars! Therefore, we did not purchase any package that included DVD components. Even the CD player is limited to a single disk! The ridiculously expensive radio service works well no matter where we might drive, of course, there are still commercials...A through check of the several manuals indicated that we had no DVD player. Called the local dealer to question how we would update, using DVDs in our "CD" only player. "Yeah, some models just had CD players, Just go back to that web site and order the updates on CD's."
I told him that there was no "CD" option that I could see, but I agreed to look closer.For once, my memory served me well, the absolute only offering on the site was for the DVD disks. OK, I'll go 'straight' to the horse's mouth! Actually, I went to the horses Chat site. I was amazed at how fast the 'horse' could type with only one 'device' on each foot! I can't type that fast even using my hands!! However, the 'horse' was also a fast reader and it simply read the scripts in front of it and proudly proclaimed that literally thousands of users updated their nav systems every year. Even though this 'horse' probably had access to a database, I did not inquire how many of these successes occurred to people with "CD" players... I simply asked for a link to something/anything saying the DVDs could be used in what purported to be CD players. At that point, someone must have opened the stall gate and the 'horse' left for some 'exercise'.
Although it was difficult, I managed to find a phone number for "Here". I suspect it would be even more difficult to find a contact number for "There", one letter can make a lot of difference!
Fortunately, the lady on the end of the line had some training and quietly listened to my story and confirmed the model and year of my wife's auto. Then she explained something which I have still not been able to find in writing (electronic nor ink-on-paper)."Acura actually installs DVD players in all their models. But they don't say that so those that pay the fairly steep cost for the DVD package don't feel (as) cheated." Obviously, a DVD player is no much good without a screen somewhere to watch the video. However, they do offer gigabytes of storage on a DVD! Way more than a CD! Maps obviously need lots of gigabytes, so they are the natural choice. The minor problem of seeing what is called a CD player is easily overcome by crafty programming! Simply tell the laser to 'pretend' the disk is a CD and move according to the standards created by the CD player people. Or simply build another laser into the "DVD" player. Remember, coding is actually nothing more than typing! And you don't even need ink nor paper!
The nice lady did agree that this approach could be confusing and she would "mention it to management". I didn't ask her for any follow up, of course... She also could not provide any source that had her explanation in writing.
Only my blind faith and sheer trust in a complete stranger whose sole job was to sell me stuff, allowed me to pay for the disks (with free shipping!) I only hoped that I wouldn't end up with a trip to the dealer to remove a "DVD" from the "CD" player later.
The install did work. And the DVD's did eject. It did take over one and a half hours, however. And all that time was with the engine running! "To avoid draining your battery, please leave the engine running." Sorry about all that extra carbon monoxide and the environment... fortunately, there are probably fewer than 500,000 installs per year.
So, it turns out that we do have a DVD player in the car, just no way to watch a video while driving (or even stopped). But we also have a hard drive! This was also in many of the 'entertainment' packages offered, again, not included in the 'stripped down' model we bought... we thought. At the end of the install, I was treated to some text stating that even though the "install" was "complete" what had actually happened was a transfer of the data on the two disks to the hard drive. The actual updating would now be done in stages, when ever the car was in use. A small icon will indicate how far along the update is by displaying, on the map, the percentage completed. Fortunately, this transfer does not have to be one continuous operation as the code for the previous 1.5+ hours required.
"DO NOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE OR REMOVE THE KEY WHILE THE UPDATE IS IN PROGRESS!" The only thing that surprised me was that there was no warning to avoid staying in the car during this process! I'm sure some idiot has done this update while the car sits in a garage, with the door closed!
Apparently all of those people woke up? 
Post by: kimmer on November 17, 2016, 10:58:04 AM
And I think there's the potential for a law suit as some folks need those common sense instructions like keep garage door open or do this in the open.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on November 17, 2016, 01:01:57 PM
QUOTE
Couldn't the dealer have done this so that you didn't have to sit there for 1.5 hours with the car running?
The car has to be running, or probably have the battery connected to a charger. I'm sure the dealer would be happy to do the install for a minimal fee! The drive to their shop takes a good 30 minutes. I'm sure they would have taken me home... within another 30 minutes. Not sure if they would be so happy to come get me afterwards. If not, there's another 30 minute drive by another household member and the return of two cars back home, which would be another ~30 minutes... At least by doing it at home I could watch Lawerence Welk reruns! 
Maybe next year, we'll just take our chances with getting lost!
It would probably be cheaper and much more interesting, not to mention entertaining! 
Post by: Highmac on November 18, 2016, 02:56:11 AM
We have a Garmin which is probably 6/7 years old, still working (touch wood) and in its third car. It gets regular map updates which are done through a USB link to the iMac. Easy peasy...
Post by: Xairbusdriver on November 18, 2016, 09:11:12 AM
And those maps provide a wonderful treasure of memories when you mark your routes!
Post by: jwboyd on November 18, 2016, 10:01:26 AM
I also have a fairly new TomTom XL which can no longer be updated "because of its age and memory limitations."
My even older TomTom One can still be updated because I cloned its original 1GB SD card to a 2GB card. Problem is, the annual subscription price for map updates is almost as much as a new TomTom with "free lifetime updates."
Go figure.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on November 18, 2016, 10:45:26 AM
Just one of the reasons I shave less...
Post by: kimmer on November 18, 2016, 11:22:58 AM
QUOTE(jwboyd @ Nov 18 2016, 09:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
... can no longer be updated "because of its age and memory limitations."
That's what my doc said about my aging brain.
I love printed maps, and still have several from vacations because they have all these notes and such on them. They are like a journal of good times.
Post by: Paddy on November 19, 2016, 07:41:48 PM
QUOTE(kimmer @ Nov 18 2016, 01:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE(jwboyd @ Nov 18 2016, 09:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
... can no longer be updated "because of its age and memory limitations."
That's what my doc said about my aging brain.
I love printed maps, and still have several from vacations because they have all these notes and such on them. They are like a journal of good times.
Yes, we are losing our history now - it's all in the electrons. And the electrons don't remember. Or they change formats. It's a HUGE issue for archivists these days. I have several boxes of old letters from various family members - some of the letters are over 100 years old now. They're absolutely fascinating. What will our children have? One of the reasons I've got emails from friends and family going back to 1999 is that they are almost the only record I have like that - other than the Christmas letters from friends. But even those are decreasing in number every year, as postal rates go sky high and nobody takes the time to do it any more. We certainly aren't making life easy for future historians.
I did have a good chuckle at your story, Jim.
We consciously decided NOT to get a built in nav system in our most recent car (the Mazda 3 which our eldest drives 100% of the time now that he's in Toronto and we're here with just one vehicle in Newcastle) because they get out of date and then what? Apparently, expensive, ridiculous time-consuming upgrades is what. Much easier to just use the phone - either through the radio via bluetooth in my son's case, or just sitting in the centre console in the case of our 12-year old Sienna. My husband likes the Garmin GPS we have since it doesn't eat any data - and we did buy the lifetime map updates, so we can use it until it croaks. It has a horrible interface for entering addresses though - I can just bellow at Siri for a bit (usually) and get the instructions far faster on my phone. Of course, this can have some comical results as we all know. Siri doesn't always "get" it. I can still type an address into the iPhone faster than entering one on the GPS though.
Our next car will definitely have Bluetooth - I doubt I'll pay extra for a built-in navigation system though. Now if Apple CarPlay is available...that would be nice. But I don't think I'd choose a car based entirely on that.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on November 19, 2016, 09:12:46 PM
This update should take
Post by: Highmac on November 20, 2016, 05:28:40 AM
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Nov 20 2016, 03:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Unfortunately, the brand my beloved chose didn't have model that she also wanted, without the built-in HD/DVD/SiriusXM/ad nauseam. This update should take usher through 2018. By then there should be a suitable (reliable?) app for her phone! The "GUI" for the built-in Navigation is designed by a committee which, apparently, decided to include every idea they came up with rather than have to make any decision and possibly hurt someones ego... I suspect some of those people were not yet old enough for kindergarten!
This update should take My better half wanted to know just what it was I found so funny...
Post by: Xairbusdriver on November 20, 2016, 08:25:31 AM
That assumes, of course, that I even remember them that long! 