My beef with the Factory Nav system.

To be truely honest and objective about the factory nav unit, I must say the problems I find really revolve around the content and search-criteria programming of the POI database. The nav unit itself is really a nice piece of equipment and it's integration into the car is nice.

The problem with POI database is a lack of POI data compared to a Garmin, the way POI's are compiled and the way search results are returned when doing a Spell POI search.
A Garmin always defaults to returning search results based on what is nearest to your present position. This is the most logical and useful default assumption and helps narrow the results. (And, of course, it also gives you the option to narrow search results around specific other locations if you so choose)

The factory nav returns a name-search result based on the entire region that you are searching, and for me in SE Region 10, is 4 states. The result is a return of POI matches that are 100's of miles away from my present position, and that could not possibly have any relevance to me. And worse, there is no way of knowing this unless you select the POI, select info, and see the address is 100's of miles away, then frown with disgust, select back, back, choose the next one and do it all over again. INSANE.

Also the POI name search results are very "type" sensitive. Looking for a Wal-Mart? With a Garmin you can type Wal-Mart, Wal Mart, Walmart, or even just Wal, and you get the same results. It doesn't matter.
The factory nav is very sensitive to this and you gotta know how it's in the database or you won't always get the return you want, if any return at all. If the database has Wal-Mart, and you type Walmart, forget about it. Want a RadioShack? Well is it Radioshack or Radio Shack. ?
Type it the wrong way and you won't get the return you want with Factoy Nav. With the Garmin it doesn't matter.
So hey, just type "Radio" ... yeah, you get 4 freakin states worth of POI matches to the word Radio to sift through and figure out. INSANE.
The point is, if the results were based on nearest to your present position that would narrow the results dramatically. But with the programming of factoy nav there is no narrowing down of results, you are just presented the a deluge of returns to sift through.

Let me give a recent example. I'm driving home from a day of hiking with the family. We're hungry and someones suggests we eat at a "Ryan's" buffet style steakhouse. I type in Ryans and get innumerable returns of variations of that word spread out over 4 states. Jeez, lets modify my input, I type in just "Ryan". Again, so many returns, from the whole region, it's overwhelming, but toward the end of the list is "Ryan's" family steakhouse. The first attempt didn't give me the return I was wanting because the search was sensitive to the ' (apostrafy)!!!!!!!!!!!! INSANE. The Garmin doesn't care if it's Ryan's, Ryans, or Ryan.........the result are the same, EXACTLY what I'm looking for, nearest to me, on the first try.

Another example.

4th of July, I'm in a parking lot with family and friends getting set up to watch some fireworks. I haven't had dinner and notice there is Mexican restaurant behind me in the shopping center. How cool would it be to pull up the restaurant in the Prius POI database, get the phone number, and do a bluetooth phone-in order. What a cool idea, and opportunity to put all this expensive stuff to use and conveniently get some carry-out for everyone.

That restaurant, Dos Copas, was NOT in the factory nav database.

When I got home, I checked, and it's in the Garmin !!!!!!!

Furthermore, when doing a POI catagory search why am I forced to make redundant button pushes to achieve an input? If I want gas stations I must select the "automotive" button, the "gas stations" button, the "OK" button, and the "Show List" button, to get the results. With a Garmin I'd push the "gas stations" button, and that is it !!!!!!!!!!!!

Also consider this.
The factory unit was never meant to be used for POI searches while in motion.
Enter the Coastal Lockpick. Yeah I got one. But the problem is since the unit was never intended to be used while in motion, if you do a POI catagory "gas station" search, for example, while you are moving, the results give no indication as to whether the returns are ahead or behind you, just there distance from you.
Not too useful while traveling down the highway. Who wants results behind them.
A Garmin would give result with constantly updated, relative direction and distance, to your present position, so you can pick the appropriate one.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Inches @ Jul 12 2007, 10:15 AM) [snapback]477482[/snapback]</div>

Very good. You're in the ball park.........the one I wanted was Hamilton Mill Rd. Buford, GA. (also,just outside ATL). I bet the other one is it. I wish Denso would source the same database as Garmin and appearantly, Tom,Tom.

One thing I have learned from all this just how many Joe's and Schmoe's ride on the coat tails of greatness by naming their little business something like the major chains. And that's also what's clogging up the database with a regional search. CRIMINAL.