Finally a SYNC update available through NAVTEQ

[esfoad]

For anyone interested there is now listed a new version 5.1 for us SYNC (pre MyFordTouch/MyLincolnTouch) owners. This will replace v3.1 that many of us have. You can find it through the NAVTEQ website.
I have placed a pre order with expected shipping April 19. Claims to update maps, Gracenote, as well as software updates like improved voice recognition. I will report back once I receive the new software and have install it. Cost is $199.
Sounds expensive but the map updates alone usually cost $199 so the software update is basically free. Sucks we have to do it this way but better than no updates at all!

 

[vernonator]

For anyone interested there is now listed a new version 5.1 for us SYNC (pre MyFordTouch/MyLincolnTouch) owners. This will replace v3.1 that many of us have. You can find it through the NAVTEQ website.
I have placed a pre order with expected shipping April 19. Claims to update maps, Gracenote, as well as software updates like improved voice recognition. I will report back once I receive the new software and have install it. Cost is $199.
Sounds expensive but the map updates alone usually cost $199 so the software update is basically free. Sucks we have to do it this way but better than no updates at all!

So will we non-myTouch not get the upgrade from Ford? I know they are upgrading allt he myTouch users for free....would suck to have to pay for it when I have had the car less than a year....

When I go to the Navteq store and say I have a 2012 Taurus it tells me I have the most recent version? What version did you buy?

 

[SoCalSHO]

Hmmm, I ordered on 3-27, and it shows it shipped on 3-27. It does not say that shipping was delayed.

 

[esfoad]

I ordered on 3-26 and was also shipped something immediately. Turns out I received v3.1, the one I already have. I went to the website and found the new v5.1. I called their customer support and reached a nice agent who authorized a return with full refund and put me on the list to get the new one. It was this agent who told me the new one would only ship on April 19. Here is the site I visited:
http://www.navigation.com/is-bin/IN...ES&CatalogCategoryID=caAKCghBO9MAAAE1UZVvy4ll

 

[G1Ravage]

Now you've got me worried. I ordered the 5.1x update, and something was shipped out on 3/24. I haven't received it yet.

 

[esfoad]

I thought that I ordered the latest as well but when I received the package it was v3.1. Luckily I did not just open the package, like I usually would, and called to make sure this was the latest. So it was easy to set up the return. They even provided a Fedex number so I did not have to pay return shipping.

 

[jobes]

The old version was on two DVD's this newest update is on four

 

[SoCalSHO]

Thanks for the update. Sounds like a PITA. Hopefully they realize their mistake before they ship mine. But if it already shipped, then I guess they did not.

 

[G1Ravage]

I e-mailed Navteq. They say the DVD will be available April 11, and ship by April 19. This was just a pre-order period.

Ironically, I received a covert letter today advertising the new Navi DVD from Ford....

 

[markathome]

From the Navigation.com website regarding this upgrade:
In addition to maps, this update includes: Improved voice recognition features, a Sirius radio channel lineup (corrected the channel lineup as a result of combining Sirius with XM) and Improved traffic alerts (moved to middleware 5 traffic feed). This product also contains an update for your Gracenote® database.

Am I the only person that thinks it's wrong of Ford to charge the customer to update the voice recognition (Sync), fix the SiriusXM stations that have changed and to update their programming middleware to fix the unreliable traffic feed information?

I understand that Gracenote and the maps are optional updates, only if you want that road through the field or the new CD to display the album info.

$199 + shipping for 4 CD's!

BTW, Ford contracts with NAVTEQ for our navigations systems. This company provides the mapping data and collects the traffic data for SiriusXM and sends it to their receivers. Makes me wonder if the Navigation system is not really a part of Sync. Talk about a cluster...

 

[esfoad]

From the Navigation.com website regarding this upgrade:
In addition to maps, this update includes: Improved voice recognition features, a Sirius radio channel lineup (corrected the channel lineup as a result of combining Sirius with XM) and Improved traffic alerts (moved to middleware 5 traffic feed). This product also contains an update for your Gracenote® database.

Am I the only person that thinks it's wrong of Ford to charge the customer to update the voice recognition (Sync), fix the SiriusXM stations that have changed and to update their programming middleware to fix the unreliable traffic feed information?

I understand that Gracenote and the maps are optional updates, only if you want that road through the field or the new CD to display the album info.

$199 + shipping for 4 CD's!

BTW, Ford contracts with NAVTEQ for our navigations systems. This company provides the mapping data and collects the traffic data for SiriusXM and sends it to their receivers. Makes me wonder if the Navigation system is not really a part of Sync. Talk about a cluster...

I agree it's questionable especially since all the MFT folks are getting a free update but I suppose that, much like upgrading the OEM tires and brakes, this is an optional update at our choice. My system has worked well for 2 years but I like to stay on top of updates so the $200 is worth it to me. Others, not so much.

 

[cheech]

This update involves Nav only. It has nothing to do with SYNC. SYNC is controlled by a seperate module. If you listen closely when you say the command "phone" there is a longer pause and the ladies voice is slightly changed once it goes to the phone screen.
This is because the system is switching over to the APIM module (SYNC) to complete the request.

The voice/ software updates will only help the Nav portion of the system.

Any minor updates to SYNC are performed at www.syncmyride.com by the customer and major updates to SYNC require a dealer to perform.

 

[G1Ravage]

"Thanks you for your order of the latest Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury map update for your vehicle navigation system. As a valued customer, we appreciate your recent purchase of the latest navigation DVD for your vehicle.

Due to a technical issue with the generation of the activation code, the product has been slightly delayed. We are working diligently on correcting this issue. It is now expected that this product will start shipping by the end of April."

Reason for the delay...I did receive an e-mail yesterday with the new activation code. Still no word on whether it shipped or not.

 

[esfoad]

Hmm, I also received a new activation code via email yesterday. I had called early last week and was told of the Activation Code mess. The guy said the discs should ship before the end of the month. He also indicated that the new Activation Code would be sent first so it sounds promising.

 

[G1Ravage]

I finally received my DVD yesterday, after FedEx stupidly left my first package outside my apartment building, and it got stolen.

The update with all four DVD's took just under three hours. No problems with the update procedure.

I'm not certain what changed with the software upgrade. It seems like voice commands are a little slower now. The map update itself is purely functional. Graphics haven't changed, and State Routes with letters in the designation continue to not show the letter in the graphic. Parks have paths displayed on the map now (not like you can drive on them), and roads and POI's updated for 2012. I can confirm many correct and positive changes in my area of New York City, some of which I kept bugging Navteq about in their Map Reporter.

When zooming out on the map, you can now stay in 3D view much further. Also, when you zoom out, there are some landmarks displayed that I'm not certain were there previously.

 

[esfoad]

Yes got mine too. Update went smooth and the system remembered all my settings as well as my saved POI's. All good but my comments are the same. I was hoping for some functionality improvements like different home screen colors and personalizing the home screen but not to be. Otherwise, for me, the voice commands work better than before. I have always had a lag when I first start the car and the bluetooth connection is made, and this has not changed, but once I have driven for 5 minutes or so, the lag disappears. I find that the system "understands" my commands better than before with less errors. THis is not a scientific statement, just my opinion. Of course, this could be wishful thinking but I don't think so .

 

[G1Ravage]

I've noticed an area in which voice recognition has improved. You no longer need to know the *exact* key word when doing a POI search. On the old system, you had to say DRUG STORE, or it wouldn't work. Now you can say something like DRUGS, or PHARMACY, and it will automatically bring up DRUG STORE.

When you first start up the car, and you press the voice button before the system is fully loaded, it now beeps twice at you. On the old system, nothing would happen at all.