This is the same company that lets bad information stay in the owner's manual for 5+years. (Like saying that you can store individual vehicle memory settings for each keyfob in the first-gen cars - as far as I know, that option was NEVER available for the US-spec cars, but it continued to appear in the owner's manual year after year.)

 

Like some of us have been saying for 10 pages now, we hope you're right but I sure won't get my hopes up.

I will be happy to eat my words if they do.

 

Because nobody complains about it. And when somebody like me does complain about it, 1/2 the poeple actually jump down our thoats that we want it fixed. As if we are doing a crime by expecting everything to work. Meanwhile, I am doing these people a favore by complaining about it. They should be on here thanking me for my service.

Your welcome in advance.

 

Thanks Birdman, in advance.

 

I agree...it bothers me that the street names are horizontal and not along the streets, it's all cluttered and so confusing. I have always wanted/needed a nav and what a disappointment. It sucks donkey *****. I got it for the bluetooth, which i love a lot and the ipod interface. What is this pimp my nav all about?

also if you use the alpine touch screen, it's soo nice..it's probably pretty dangerous but i can select or input an address while i'm driving. With this nav, i've got to pull over, park the car, and look at spending 20 mins just to figure out/put in the location i need to go.

 

Have you tried using voice to enter a destination? I use that a lot while driving when I know the address.

 

The Pimp My Nav software lets you "hack" into the Nav dvd which has all the map and POI data on it. You can add new category's like speed camera or whatever you wish, re-organize them.... BUT, if you read the last few posts by OfficeMaven, he is having problems with it, there seems to be a bug when burning the new 2nd Gen dvd. We hope to get this working though.


I have a 5 year old Alpine in my F-150 truck. It has a touchscreen, and a DVD data disk under the seat. The software is as easy as 1-2-3 to program and use, finding POI's is as simple as can be, and absolutely amazingly, the data on it's 5 year old DVD, is more up to date than the data on my brand new 2007 MINI's DVD. The POI's are better, there are more of them, they are more accurate, and astonishingly, things like Winery's are under categories like "Attractions" and Winery's" instead of "Banking and Shopping". And better yet, I can search for a name, with NO CATEGORY!! And, I can even search for a Category itself!! I can type "Winery" (on my touch screen mind you), and it will bring up the category "Attractions" and then "Wineries". Wow, what a concept!!

Really sad, but true. And then you have dopey people on here saying, "It's ok Birdman, leave mini alone, why should they fix it?".

 

I've been involved in publishing a software application for the Mac that has had a faster and more flexible search function for twenty years. It isn't a matter of what is possible...

Why is it that high-end hardware companies are often so inept at software? Nikon is much the same as BMW. A friend just purchased a Jaguar XK with a NAV and is having software problems with it...

 

Statement, "So, I spent 45 minutes at lunch time trying to locatate a pepboys store in the nav,..."

That is part of the problem. You spent 45 stupid minutes with that stupid problem!

 

Actually, we are not saying that. We agree with you point that the NAV system POI needs work. What most of us do say is..

1. It is not "broken" but rather degraded in functionality there is a difference and as a "programmer" like you claim, you would know this.
2. You are not credible as you have openly LIED by telling folks to go talk to their dealer because a fix is out. This was a blatent lie as I called MINI Pressath here in Germany and was told that they know of nothing. I then called a friend of mine (Jurgen) who works for BMW and was told he knew of nothing. He further checked into it for me and told me there are no plans for a change.
3. You then say that there is a lawsuit pending in which you won't give anyone the name of the law firm. Someone then checks for pending cases and finds nothing has been filed. So you LIED yet again.

Frankly, I think that you are just here to **** people off and make an *** out of yourself; both of which you are doing.

If you want to know why people are attacking you, just take a good hard look in the mirror. Sorry, but that is the truth. It is your constant BS that people are attacking, not your plight.

Now, I do hope the POI solution is resolved and I plan on modding my own map disk this weekend to include the "all search" but I will not hold my breath on MINI fixing it quickly as you say they will. You are the ones with the "lawyer" friends so tell them to get on it...

 

I've just been watching the "Italian Job" II on DVD. Does anyone make a software kit that will let me remove the red, white, and blue MINI Coopers, and insert a single, British Racing Green MINI in place of it? Sorry about my grammer.

 

No, you can only do that with the 1966 original film with Michael Caine. Not the remake.

 

When software does NOT work, it is BROKEN. Whether you like that or not, it is BROKEN. Sorry. I or anyone else can't search and find things in a reasonalbe manner, IT'S BROKEN!!! Just like if your bank account had the wrong amount in it, it's broken. And for your info, I was a software engineer for many many years writing real time multi-tasking control software(before the multi tasking OS's existed) for the aeronautics industry. I now run an IT dept for a large worldwide corporation, based in Germany. But I'm not sure what any of that has to do with it. My dog can assure you, when software doesn't work, it is broken.

As mentioned on here many a time, the fact they are working on something, does not not mean every person that works for MINI or BMW (especially dealers) would know about it, now would they? Obviosuly, your freind "Jurgen", the most popular name in Germany, does not know about it. My buddy does, and I do. Too bad for you, huh? Now if I'm not credible, then why do you continue to read the thread, and post to it?

I have not lied about anything. But YOU have miss-quoted me, yet again. THERE HAS NOT been a lawsuit filed, AS OF YET (now mentioned to YOU for the 6th time!). There is a waiting period of some sort to officially file class action suits with the courts in NY. I'm not an attorney, and know nothing about it. And further, I have NOTHING to do with the lawsuit, NOTHING. When it is filed, I'm sure you and me will here all about it as I was told there will be a "registration website" setup for owners to register.

I'm here to fix the broken software. What are you on here for for other than attacking me personally for trying to help YOU as a MINI owner? The only people I would be pissing off in trying to fix the problem, would be MINI and BMW employee's, so which one are you?


I never said anything about it getting fixed "quick". Now, if it isn't BROKEN, then please by all means explain to us why you will be spending your weekend FIXING IT???

.
.

 

It's amazing to me how many threads there are on "How to mount my Nuvi...", "Which aftermarket GPS to get", "How to mount my aftermarket nav unit", "Best place to mount the aftermarket Nav unit"......

I wonder if MINI realises how much they are missing the ball on there built in system??? They are shooting themselves in the foot. First by not supporting the system and realesing updates and fixes for it, and second by pricing it at $2 G's.

Weird goings on!! Unless of course, they don't want to install the OEM nav for some reason? Running low on stock, they realise how bad it is..... ?

Here's just the 1st page of threads today, involving aftermarket GPS units (over half the threads):
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=121596
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=102171
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=123036
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=122839
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=111280
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=122659
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=122451
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=120823

Marketing problem you think?

 

I'm having a hard time understanding why there is so much thrashing of each other in this thread. It seems to me that most agree that there can be improvements made. Why not come up with a list of the improvements you would like to see (ie - constructive) and let me know when you've captured everything you would like to see. I'll forward it to my contacts at MINI so that it can make it back into their system.

Obviously this isn't a quick fix but at least it will be constructive rather than arguing with each other.

Mark

 

Hi Mark,
Actually, to fix this problem, it is a "quick fix". It can be fixed in one of two ways:
Method 1: Create a new folder/Category on the data disk with all the POI's in it. Call it "Search All". Then, you can search for and find any POI in the db by simply typing it's name, without having to figure out what category it might be stored in. If it's not found in this "Search All" category/folder, then you know it's not on the disc. this method requires noting to be changed on the MINI. Just pop in the new updated navigation data disc and BAM, problem solved.


Method 2: Change the software on the MINI so you can do a POI search, without having to select a Category. This could be easily done by creating a new search menu item, call it "Search All" which simply takes an input name, and searches the entire data disk for that name. in otherwords, search each folder on the disk for the name that was input.

Either of them should be able to be done in all of about 10 minutes.



Now, as for a list of "other" stuff I (or we) would like to see changed, see the thread "SOFTWARE CHANGES NEEDED" in the stock problems forum. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=109151

I posted about 20 simple wish list type changes that should be made to the software to make it much more user friendly. Simple things like when you search for something by location, it defaults the city and state to your current location instead of making us scroll through 40+ states to get to NY for example every time I do a seaarch by location. 999 out of 1000 searches will be in the current state, why not default it?

But as I mentioned, those are "wish list" type changes which are needed. This thread is about fixing a part of the software which doesn't work properly (the POI Search).

 

Birdman's wish list is *a* great list of things to share with any contacts, but his point about being able to search the entire list of POI's, separate from their categories and sub-categories, for specific business names is also not to be missed.

I've finally received my car, and have had the opportunity to use the NAV multiple times to search for businesses that I didn't know the location. I have to admit that searches for Gas Stations and Car Washes have been flawless and have really saved me from fretting over finding places. I look forward to checking out Restaurants (by ethnicity/type) as I work in a city which I don't know very well, and would like to expand my lunch options.

The categories seem to be laid out well for things I typically search for when behind the wheel, but I wouldn't dare to speak for everyone in this regard.

Great to hear that we may get some of Mark's influence brought to bear on this.

~Neal

 

I can't guarantee that I'll have any influence but I can at least get a list into the channels that might be able to help. Here is what I would like to recommend. If Birdman has a good list I would like to have him create a new thread. The purpose of the first thread would be to list the wish list that is collected from everyone. As people contribute to the thread I'd like him to update the first post of the thread to add to the list. That way once the list is considered complete you can let me know about it and I'll forward the link to my contact.

The key to getting some visibility on this is making a very concise and constructive list for them to read quickly through.

Mark

 

Done.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.com...d.php?t=109151

 

If stuff was that easy, a lot of people (aka Software Engineers would be without a job).

 

OfficeMaven,
Any update yet? Figured you might have played with the software over the holidays......

 

Been wondering the same thing...

 

Office,
Update?

I got both my new DL DVD drives(for home and laptop). Laptop one was defective, on way back and have to wait for the replacement. Didn't install the home one yet, gotto work on that one so I can test this....

This is REALLY pissing me off!!! MINI had better fix this before I do!!!!

 

Finally, a FIX for the BROKEN Navigation software!!!! Minidrvr came up with this amazing fix!!





Hey MINIUSA, embarrassed enough yet?????


.

 

It's simple really. I use the All POI search function in the Garmin, take the address it gives me and put it in the Mini's Nav system...