Hi All,

It's been a long time since I've posted anything here (as I've basically given up on the MINI community for many reasons). However, as a follow up to my Motoringfile.com article on the V26 Nav update (A New Look For The MINI's Nav), I just thought that folks with the factory MINI Nav system would like to know that there is now a new BETA release of the V26 OS update (i.e. V26.09a) which now adds a "Perspective" or 3D "birdseye" view to the MINI's NAV system.

The update is a patch to the V26 OS and so you MUST have V26 installed in order to install the patch. After adding the patch, you will have a new "Perspective" entry on the menu where you choose the Travel Direction (e.g. Pointing North, etc.).

The update is ONLY FOR MKIV (i.e. DVD-based) systems so don't even try installing it if you have an older MKIII (CD-based) system.

So far it looks pretty cool!

Here's a thread on the X5 forum that talks about the update and tells you how to get it:

http://www.x5world.com/navigation-sy...tive-view.html

Enjoy!

-- MIKE

P.S. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS IS BETA SOFTWARE! INSTALL IT AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

 

Thanks Mike - you rock!

 

A couple of things to note that may be important to MINI owners:

Loading this beta release appears to put the nav drive into Euro mode (no accept screen, units in yards rather than feet) THIS CAN ONLY BE UNDONE BY THE DEALER!

Splash Screen shows "T26.09A" rather than "MINI"

These two items alone may be enough to cause most folks to wait for an official V27 release with this update rolled into it. However, I wanted to share this for those folks who like living on the edge.

Oh and BTW...

If you really want a kick in the pants. Take a look at the following screen shots. This is rumored to be a pre-release of an upcomming V27 update for the BMW/MINI NAV OS. It is a complete rewrite of the entire OS and it looks totally awesome. I've heard rumors that it won't actually be released though because the MKIV computer is not powerful enough to handle it.

http://home.comcast.net/~caraudiotech/screen_shots.htm

EDIT: Oops! I see this has already been posted here: New Nav v27 screen shot

-- MIKE

 

May be reason to upgrade to the MKIV! A salvage yard quoted $250 for the DVD unit.

Matt

stuck in CD land for now....

 

That's cool! Thanks for the update. I love my Nav, but recently I've been finding it highly inaccurate. My nav took me a mile past my destination yesterday--got off the 101 freeway, went north, when I should have gone south for 1 block. LOL. Still I love my Nav.

Btw, you got a PM.

Richard

 

Yeah, but that's a map data issue and has nothing really to do with the NAV system itself (or the O.S.). NavTech (or NavTeq) needs to pull their act together and make the map data on their DVDs/CDs more accurate.

It appears that they're so busy trying to release updates to make money that they are letting the accuracy go wayside now. My first 2003-2 DVD seems way more accurate than my current 2005-2 DVD does.

However, I continue using the newer DVD since it has updated POIs on it and that's what really matters to me. I only wish that the BMW/MINI NAV system had a better way of accessing the POIs is all. It's very frustrating trying to locate a restaurant, etc. when you are in a hurry. The current system is very difficult to use. The pre-release (that I pointed to above) would make it much easier I'm sure.

Take care...

-- MIKE

 

Thanks for the info - I'll prob wait (its my ol' if it ain't broke mentality ) but I appreciate your effort to keep us in the loop

 

are there legitimate ways to get updates to the OS, e.g. taking it to the dealer?

 

Mike, thanks for your contributions to the MINI community, and sorry to see that you had become disillusioned. When I look through some of the forums I guess I can understand though. I personally benefited from your posts on the NAV update and rear view camera.

 

Thanks guys as I really do appreciate your kind words.

I'm still a HUGE MINI fan. I'm just keeping more to myself now is all.

The new Perspective view for the MINI's NAV system was just too good not to pass along though.

Take care...

 

Sure!

Your local MINI dealer should be able to upgrade your MINI's NAV O.S. to V26 without a problem (as long as it is a DVD-based system). From what I'm hearing, most don't even charge to do so (as it's a five minute job tops).

Just be aware that the latest V26.09a update is a BETA and so there's no way that your dealership will do that one for you.

I hope this helps some...

 

Nice!! can't wait for heading back home and burn a copy of the 26Beta.

BTW.. for EURO mode, I bet the MPG will be calculated in Imp. gallon not US. gallon. Correct me if I am wrong!

 

cheers TOM. i actually don't have the car yet it's at the dock in southampton so it may even have made it on the nav (though i doubt it). fortunately i live only a few miles from the mini dealership so even if it's not it won't be a massive journey.

 

I don't know if anyone really knows for sure, but if I had to guess, I'd say that it would be. I ran my first MINI in the "no location" mode (as it's really called) for a couple of months (I did it mostly to escape the silly Accept screen), and to tell you the truth, I didn't notice much of a difference. The only thing that takes a bit of getting used to is the voice guidance being given in yards instead of feet. Just divide by three and you're right back on track though.

 

Funny, I have avoided the no location mode based on irrational fear. I would actually understand guidance in yards better than feet. I just have a hard time visualizing, say 150ft. I can visualize 50 yards though - half a football field. It's tempting, just to get rid of the nag screen.

 

The good thing about mpg in Imp. gallon is.. You always have above 30mpg even you do lots local traffic.

 

Tempting to upgrade but I don't like how the MINI logo disappears. I can deal with the other issues.

 

a huge fan of running Beta's at least on my PC, and if something blows/up breaks I can always fix it. But with my car thats one thing I don't mess around with. As much as I'd love to install this, I'll be waiting for a final release of the firmware.

Thanks for the info though Office.


Howard

 

I think that this will be solved shortly. If you read through the comments in the thread I linked you to over on X5World you'll see that people have tracked down the actual file in the update that houses the graphic. They're real close to being able to replace it with the original graphic again (i.e. the MINI logo in our case).

Just hang on and it will happen I'm sure.

 

I'd love if Mini is out there listening... A lot of Nav systems will say the name of the road your on, in the fullscreen mode rather then having to use split screen to see it.

 

I saw that thread and I am waiting with baited breath.

 

Just had a moment to take some pics of the new update and its awesome!!
Perfect!

Oslo anyone?


Disabled Icons


Hovering Aluminium Style 3D Loop


Enabled Icons

I like the way icons/placenames fade into the foreground and background
BMW need to keep packing in features like this before or at the same time as rival companies do otherwise people will opt for the external navs that have more options.
Im still waiting for postcode entry - this is possible just cant understand why they havent got this function available???
Come on BMW sort it out

 

I'm on the fence about whether to install beta-level software. A couple of questions:

1. Was anything else updated besides the addition of perspective view?
2. The perspective view looks really cool, but how practical do you find it for everyday use while driving? Is it good enough that you can leave it in that mode all the time? I'd rather leave my NAV in one mode rather than switch view modes while I'm actually driving and in motion.

By the way, there was one comment in the X5 forum that said BMW stopped development of this version, and it might never be officially released.

 

seems fine to drive with as you can see the next up n coming junction or turn as the road layout ahead appears which is sometimes better than the birds-eye view

im not aware of any other addition to the nav other than this perspective view

 

Some of the great folks @ X5forums have made the update work and have removed the screen that boots up with the Beta version number. I just updated my MINI and now have the new perspective view and no accept screen on boot

Check it out here: Also see post #167
http://www.x5world.com/102790-post161.html

I am going to try and condense this into one post on my blog and on here to help folks.