The Navigation System does NOT work!!!
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,497
Likes: 0
From: Orange County, CA
Okay, it looks like I'm going to have to eat crow (sending my apologies to lastrega) on the 2005 through 2006 1st gen nav system pricing. It is indeed $1,700 according to my window sticker (I was simply looking at the wrong line - D'oh!) and also according to this official 2005 MY price sheet found on MF:
http://motoringfile.com/files/2005_US_MINI_Spec.pdf
However, from the small amount of searching I've done so far, it looks like the 2003 MY to 2004 MY system was selling for only $1,600. The price of the system was then raised to $1,700 in 2005 and then again to $2,000 in 2008 (for the convertible). I can't find any conclusive proof of this though as MF doesn't appear to have a spec/pricing sheet going back that far (i.e. for the 03/04 MY). Although posts on these forums do indicate that the system was selling for $1,600 in 2003/2004. I could indeed be wrong (since its based on hearsay) so take it with a grain of salt.
If true, it surprises me that the nav system only saw a $100 price increase from 2003 all the way up to 2007 and then jumped up by $300 in 2008 (for its final year of production - AFAIK). Seems a bit skewed to me. No matters though as what's done is done I guess.
I guess I spilled all the popcorn and daflake doesn't get any.
http://motoringfile.com/files/2005_US_MINI_Spec.pdf
However, from the small amount of searching I've done so far, it looks like the 2003 MY to 2004 MY system was selling for only $1,600. The price of the system was then raised to $1,700 in 2005 and then again to $2,000 in 2008 (for the convertible). I can't find any conclusive proof of this though as MF doesn't appear to have a spec/pricing sheet going back that far (i.e. for the 03/04 MY). Although posts on these forums do indicate that the system was selling for $1,600 in 2003/2004. I could indeed be wrong (since its based on hearsay) so take it with a grain of salt.
If true, it surprises me that the nav system only saw a $100 price increase from 2003 all the way up to 2007 and then jumped up by $300 in 2008 (for its final year of production - AFAIK). Seems a bit skewed to me. No matters though as what's done is done I guess.
I guess I spilled all the popcorn and daflake doesn't get any.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: South Orange, NJ
Just if there are any newbies coming in here and reading this, I thought I would clearly document the problem in a summary with example:
The Navigation system POI db Search problem refresher:
The navigation system has over 6 million POI's (Points of Interest) in it's database. You can search for these POI's by name. BUT, in order to search by name, first the system forces you to select a Category to search in. So you can't just search for a name alone. There are 6 or 7 main categories, like, "Banking and Shopping", "Travel and Leisure".... Then, there are many (about 100), SUB Categories under each of these main categories, and sometimes a 3rd or 4th level of subcategories. Now, once you get to a bottom level category, you can type in the name of the text you wish to search for, Say: "Pindar" (the name of a LI vinyard). You type this in, one letter at a time by pointing at each letter rotating the little joystick and clicking enter. It can take a minute to type in a few letters... So far, seems reasonable enough, right?
Now you hit Search, and the system searches thru the items in the category you have selected. If nothing with that name is found, you get an error message, and are returned to the previous screen with the name (this case "Pindar") blanked out. You now have the option of selecting another category in the current folder, or backing up and going back to the next higher level category and selecting a different categroy from it's sub-category's. And now you start all over again, to type in your name "P - I - N - D - A - R".... one letter at a time... and try searching again.
Now the problem, the data is not organized into the proper categories. In this case, Pindar winery would be found under BANKING AND SHOPPING, then "FOOD and BEVERAGE, then "WINE AND LIQURE STORES". But we only know that now after searching for hours thru more realistic categories like "Leisure", "Attractions".... And we would have to remember 100's of categories, and what they are sub-categories of, in order to make that ok. Since Food and Beverage falls under "Banking and Shopping, that's a problem already, because who would search for food under banking and shopping. Going to a vinyard is certainly not "Banking or shopping", it's not food and beverage (it's really manufacturing), and it's not a wine or liqure store (although it could have one on it's premises). But I digress. That's still not the real problem althought it's already a mess as you can see.
Now it can take, and has taken myself and my wife, along with many other users, hours on end to find a simple POI. Some I never found. Are they in the db? Not sure, and this is where the real problem comes into the play, and why I say, the system is BROKEN:
Lets say you are looking for a store called "Minibird Store". You would first go to the Category you might think you would find it in, then type "MINIBIRD" and hit search. If it didn't find it, you might try another category, and re-type (cause it cleared it on you) "MINIBIRD" and hit search in another category, then another, then another, and you could try all day long, not knowing exactly, whether the store is even in the db, or what category (right or wrong) they might have put it in. So you can search for hours, literally re-typing MINIBIRD and searching. You may be wasting your time, as it might not be in the db. but you have no way of knowing, it might be in there, just in the wrong category as are the LI Vineyards like Pindar.
So it's not bad enough that the data is wrong and organized very poorly (the category arrangements are not very good themselves as you can see from the example), but you also have no chance to just search for something by name with no category.
This basically rendors the POI capabilities of the system completely useless. Althought there are 6 million POI's in the system, you have no chance within reason, most of the time, at actually finding them. So in fact, from our stand point, there are only probably 2 million POI's in the system, that we can reasojably find (like gas stations, which are categorized properly, or MINI service centers. But everything else, it's a pot shot. Misewell open a phone book and start throwing darts at it, cause your basically doing the same thing.
Now THAT, is broken and needs FIXING.
And in the year 2007, I find it embarrasing and hard to believe a company the size of BMW would allow it.
I wonder if they can search and find spare parts for all their past vehicles in their SAP software at HQ's? I'm sure there are probably 6 million parts in that db. Think they can search for them in a manner other than some obscure category somebody put them in? Is a bolt holding up the muffler on a 1978 325i found under "Muffler" or is it under "Hardware"???
How fast would THAT get fixed???
The Navigation system POI db Search problem refresher:
The navigation system has over 6 million POI's (Points of Interest) in it's database. You can search for these POI's by name. BUT, in order to search by name, first the system forces you to select a Category to search in. So you can't just search for a name alone. There are 6 or 7 main categories, like, "Banking and Shopping", "Travel and Leisure".... Then, there are many (about 100), SUB Categories under each of these main categories, and sometimes a 3rd or 4th level of subcategories. Now, once you get to a bottom level category, you can type in the name of the text you wish to search for, Say: "Pindar" (the name of a LI vinyard). You type this in, one letter at a time by pointing at each letter rotating the little joystick and clicking enter. It can take a minute to type in a few letters... So far, seems reasonable enough, right?
Now you hit Search, and the system searches thru the items in the category you have selected. If nothing with that name is found, you get an error message, and are returned to the previous screen with the name (this case "Pindar") blanked out. You now have the option of selecting another category in the current folder, or backing up and going back to the next higher level category and selecting a different categroy from it's sub-category's. And now you start all over again, to type in your name "P - I - N - D - A - R".... one letter at a time... and try searching again.
Now the problem, the data is not organized into the proper categories. In this case, Pindar winery would be found under BANKING AND SHOPPING, then "FOOD and BEVERAGE, then "WINE AND LIQURE STORES". But we only know that now after searching for hours thru more realistic categories like "Leisure", "Attractions".... And we would have to remember 100's of categories, and what they are sub-categories of, in order to make that ok. Since Food and Beverage falls under "Banking and Shopping, that's a problem already, because who would search for food under banking and shopping. Going to a vinyard is certainly not "Banking or shopping", it's not food and beverage (it's really manufacturing), and it's not a wine or liqure store (although it could have one on it's premises). But I digress. That's still not the real problem althought it's already a mess as you can see.
Now it can take, and has taken myself and my wife, along with many other users, hours on end to find a simple POI. Some I never found. Are they in the db? Not sure, and this is where the real problem comes into the play, and why I say, the system is BROKEN:
Lets say you are looking for a store called "Minibird Store". You would first go to the Category you might think you would find it in, then type "MINIBIRD" and hit search. If it didn't find it, you might try another category, and re-type (cause it cleared it on you) "MINIBIRD" and hit search in another category, then another, then another, and you could try all day long, not knowing exactly, whether the store is even in the db, or what category (right or wrong) they might have put it in. So you can search for hours, literally re-typing MINIBIRD and searching. You may be wasting your time, as it might not be in the db. but you have no way of knowing, it might be in there, just in the wrong category as are the LI Vineyards like Pindar.
So it's not bad enough that the data is wrong and organized very poorly (the category arrangements are not very good themselves as you can see from the example), but you also have no chance to just search for something by name with no category.
This basically rendors the POI capabilities of the system completely useless. Althought there are 6 million POI's in the system, you have no chance within reason, most of the time, at actually finding them. So in fact, from our stand point, there are only probably 2 million POI's in the system, that we can reasojably find (like gas stations, which are categorized properly, or MINI service centers. But everything else, it's a pot shot. Misewell open a phone book and start throwing darts at it, cause your basically doing the same thing.
Now THAT, is broken and needs FIXING.
And in the year 2007, I find it embarrasing and hard to believe a company the size of BMW would allow it.I wonder if they can search and find spare parts for all their past vehicles in their SAP software at HQ's? I'm sure there are probably 6 million parts in that db. Think they can search for them in a manner other than some obscure category somebody put them in? Is a bolt holding up the muffler on a 1978 325i found under "Muffler" or is it under "Hardware"???
How fast would THAT get fixed???
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
OK OK got your point.. just different motoring styles..that's all
I bank on line so don't need to search a bank.
I know where to go to buy food ..
I know exactly where the liquor store that carries my favorite champagne is.
In my NAV address book I have my : clients' location, AUTOX sites, Auto Tracks places.
if I am looking for a new place and cannot find it .. I take it as an opportunity to motor a little longer
No butter on my popcorn !!!
I bank on line so don't need to search a bank.
I know where to go to buy food ..
I know exactly where the liquor store that carries my favorite champagne is.
In my NAV address book I have my : clients' location, AUTOX sites, Auto Tracks places.
if I am looking for a new place and cannot find it .. I take it as an opportunity to motor a little longer
No butter on my popcorn !!!
But it was pretty embarrasing to get in my brand new $32,000 loaded car with my wife for the first time, to motor out to the east end of LI to enjoy a day at a fw vinyards, and BAM, we can't find a vinyard (there are 100's of them!) in the system!!! After driving an hour and searching the entire way, she finally found one, as we, errr um, pulled into the parking lot.
Then throw in 10 other locations I wasn't able to find properly in the system (that I was able to find in the data later when I put it onto my laptop).
...Now the problem, the data is not organized into the proper categories. In this case, Pindar winery would be found under BANKING AND SHOPPING, then "FOOD and BEVERAGE, then "WINE AND LIQURE STORES". But we only know that now after searching for hours thru more realistic categories like "Leisure", "Attractions".... And we would have to remember 100's of categories, and what they are sub-categories of, in order to make that ok. Since Food and Beverage falls under "Banking and Shopping, that's a problem already, because who would search for food under banking and shopping. Going to a vinyard is certainly not "Banking or shopping", it's not food and beverage (it's really manufacturing), and it's not a wine or liqure store (although it could have one on it's premises). But I digress. That's still not the real problem althought it's already a mess as you can see...
Food should not be under 'shopping' because when I shop for groceries I don't buy food
Wine is not a beverage, it is 'manufacturing'
Wineries, all who I have been to actually SELL wine, are not a wine stores
Now I understand why you view the Nav as broken.
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
And your right, a crappy system doesn't equal a lawsuit. But a system, like the MINI navigation system, that DOES NOT WORK (as depicted in my example above!), does equal a lawsuit. And an easily won lawsuit. But that's for other people to decide. Again, I have nothingto do with the lawsuit. I'm not named in it (althught you could say any MINI nav owner indirectly will be named in it), I'm not filing it. I do know one of the laywers, who works at the firm that will file it. But I'm not even sure if the person I know will be involved in it. He does realestate mostly, so I would doubt it.
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
Ok, this is getting good.
Food should not be under 'shopping' because when I shop for groceries I don't buy food
Wine is not a beverage, it is 'manufacturing'
Wineries, all who I have been to actually SELL wine, are not a wine stores
Now I understand why you view the Nav as broken.
Food should not be under 'shopping' because when I shop for groceries I don't buy food
Wine is not a beverage, it is 'manufacturing'
Wineries, all who I have been to actually SELL wine, are not a wine stores
Now I understand why you view the Nav as broken.
And since you BOUGHT your MINI, why isn't it also under "BANKING and SHOPPING" then? MINI SELLS cars right? Hey, under your logic, it should be under SHOPPING?? No??
In any case, you obviously don't understand or grip the problem. The problem is NOT as I mentioned how the data is organized in the Categorys (although none of us like the way it is arranged). The problem is that we can't search WITHOUT the categorys. If we could search with no category, then I can find MINI (not havng to search under BANKING AND SHOPPING, and YOU could find MINI, because you could search BANKING and SHOPPING since you are so intuitive and logical.
Last edited by Birdman; Dec 13, 2007 at 03:03 PM.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 8
From: Norfolk, VA
The Garmin portables have the same problem (bizarre choices when it comes to categorizing/subcategorizing businesses), but I never realized how bad it was because I could just default to the uncategorized "search by name".
Speaking of categories, does anyone know who (as in what company) actually puts that data together? I know that the map data comes from companies like NavTek, DeLorme, etcetera, but are they also the ones that categorize businesses and keep track of businesses as they open, close, and re-locate?
Do businesses provide input on where they'd like to be categorized, or is it just someone's blind guess based on the name of the business or its listing in the Yellow Pages?
Speaking of categories, does anyone know who (as in what company) actually puts that data together? I know that the map data comes from companies like NavTek, DeLorme, etcetera, but are they also the ones that categorize businesses and keep track of businesses as they open, close, and re-locate?
Do businesses provide input on where they'd like to be categorized, or is it just someone's blind guess based on the name of the business or its listing in the Yellow Pages?
Last edited by ScottRiqui; Dec 13, 2007 at 05:53 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 6
Speaking of categories, does anyone know who (as in what company) actually puts that data together? I know that the map data comes from companies like NavTek, DeLorme, etcetera, but are they also the ones that categorize businesses and keep track of businesses as they open, close, and re-locate?
Do businesses provide input on where they'd like to be categorized, or is it just someone's blind guess based on the name of the business or its listing in the Yellow Pages?
Do businesses provide input on where they'd like to be categorized, or is it just someone's blind guess based on the name of the business or its listing in the Yellow Pages?
GPS and mapping systems will never get you exactly to every address or POI unless you personally stored a waypoint on the GPS device. Most systems I've used get you with a block or so.
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
The Garmin portables have the same problem (bizarre choices when it comes categorizing/subcategorizing businesses), but I never realized how bad it was because I could just default to the uncategorized "search by name".
Speaking of categories, does anyone know who (as in what company) actually puts that data together? I know that the map data comes from companies like NavTek, DeLorme, etcetera, but are they also the ones that categorize businesses and keep track of businesses as they open, close, and re-locate?
Do businesses provide input on where they'd like to be categorized, or is it just someone's blind guess based on the name of the business or its listing in the Yellow Pages?
Speaking of categories, does anyone know who (as in what company) actually puts that data together? I know that the map data comes from companies like NavTek, DeLorme, etcetera, but are they also the ones that categorize businesses and keep track of businesses as they open, close, and re-locate?
Do businesses provide input on where they'd like to be categorized, or is it just someone's blind guess based on the name of the business or its listing in the Yellow Pages?
EXACTLY! But even with that said, I never have any problems finding POI's in my $200 Garmin handheld, my $3000 aftermarket unit in truck, and in my wifes Audi, which doesn't even have a screen, it's only voice, and is from 1999.
This data is Navtechs, and it's really bad compared to all others I've looked at.
Last edited by Birdman; Dec 13, 2007 at 06:10 PM.
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
This brings up an interesting question. I've found most maps aren't very accurate when it comes to addresses and POI locations. My favorite local Italian restaurant is off by about 2 blocks. They have been in business over 54 years. In the same location and same building. How it could possibly be wrong for 54 years and never corrected I don't know. Whoever originally came up with the map/address data was wrong. No one really corrects these things. Some of the mapping companies give you a place on their website to submit map changes. I but they get some new roads that way but not updates on addresses.
GPS and mapping systems will never get you exactly to every address or POI unless you personally stored a waypoint on the GPS device. Most systems I've used get you with a block or so.
GPS and mapping systems will never get you exactly to every address or POI unless you personally stored a waypoint on the GPS device. Most systems I've used get you with a block or so.
That's one example. But if you ask me, it's amazign how accurate they are. Think about how many streets are in America....
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: South Orange, NJ
I discovered today that neither my local locksmith nor Home Depot were findable in my new Tom Tom One 3rd edition.
I too shall be starting a law suit if this gross case of false advertising isn't rectified to my satisfaction.
I too shall be starting a law suit if this gross case of false advertising isn't rectified to my satisfaction.
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
Thanks for pointing out that detail to us!!! More fuel to the fire!! Thanks!!
So the fact that Home depot isn't in the db, has nothing to do with the problem. The problem is, we can't do a reasonable search to determine whether Home depot is in the db or not!
See, the difference is, you were ABLE to find out that Home depot wasnt' in your Tom Tom in about 20 seconds. Whereas in the MINI, you would have to spend the better part of the day to make that determination because you have no way of searching all the data for the name, like you did on the Tom Tom...
Banking and Shopping (vs Car and Travel, Business and Services, Dining and Entertainment, Recreation and Attractions or Emergency and Public Places)
Home Improvement
Home Center
Search "HOME"
Voila
I just did it in about a minute.
Bad example.
Really.
Would it be nice/should there be a 'Search All', yes.
Does it take 'the better part of a day' to search for something because there isn't? No.
I do hope that you're successful in your quest.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: South Orange, NJ
See, the difference is, you were ABLE to find out that Home depot wasnt' in your Tom Tom in about 20 seconds. Whereas in the MINI, you would have to spend the better part of the day to make that determination because you have no way of searching all the data for the name, like you did on the Tom Tom.
Thanks for pointing out that detail to us!!! More fuel to the fire!! Thanks!!
So the fact that Home depot isn't in the db, has nothing to do with the problem. The problem is, we can't do a reasonable search to determine whether Home depot is in the db or not!
Thanks for pointing out that detail to us!!! More fuel to the fire!! Thanks!!
So the fact that Home depot isn't in the db, has nothing to do with the problem. The problem is, we can't do a reasonable search to determine whether Home depot is in the db or not!
Again, I'm sorry the MINI software wasn't written in a fashion that is acceptable to you but your Nav ain't broken and this issue isn't and never will be a law suit.
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
OK, lets see you find "Emblem Embroidery". I'll give you a hint, they are in LI NY. Now, you don't know whether or not they are in the db, correctly or not.
Let me know after you have searched and found, or not found it and are 100% sure where it is and how long it took to find it.
hmmmmm wonder what category they might be in?
Good luck!!
Let me know after you have searched and found, or not found it and are 100% sure where it is and how long it took to find it.
hmmmmm wonder what category they might be in?
Good luck!!
So now your standard has changed from "you can search 6 million POIs" to "Of the 31 million businesses in the US, and who knows how many storefronts, you can immediately determine whether the particular storefront you're looking for exists in our POI database"?
Yes, the Nav could be changed/improved. But I don't recall anywhere that MINI claimed that with the Nav, you would never need to use any other resource to locate any particular destination you choose.
MINI offers an integrated Nav solution. They also offer, possibly because of their choice of integrated nav supplier, a Garmin based nav solution which may or may not meet your needs. From the sounds of it you would have been happier with the alternative solution.
As before, I wish you luck in your endeavor. Though at this point I'm having trouble figuring out what your desired goal is.
A 'search all' function?
Revised POI categories/categorization of POIs?
A comprehensive listing of all Long Island, NY locations?
Me, I'd like a 'sticky' location search so that it only searches California unless I tell it otherwise.
Yes, the Nav could be changed/improved. But I don't recall anywhere that MINI claimed that with the Nav, you would never need to use any other resource to locate any particular destination you choose.
MINI offers an integrated Nav solution. They also offer, possibly because of their choice of integrated nav supplier, a Garmin based nav solution which may or may not meet your needs. From the sounds of it you would have been happier with the alternative solution.
As before, I wish you luck in your endeavor. Though at this point I'm having trouble figuring out what your desired goal is.
A 'search all' function?
Revised POI categories/categorization of POIs?
A comprehensive listing of all Long Island, NY locations?
Me, I'd like a 'sticky' location search so that it only searches California unless I tell it otherwise.
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
We have stated here at least 40 times, we simply need the ability to search the POI database for a name, WITHOUT having to select a Category. CASE CLOSED.
Add that simple, five minutes of programming change, and the system would no longer be BROKE as it currenly has been sold to us. We currently do NOT have the ability to search the entire advertised "6 Million POI db" unless we were some kind of special clairvoyant like the lucky previous posters above, that knew for sure ahead of time, that a winery would of course fall under subcategory of "BANKING AND SHOPPING".
Like I have said, there are at least 75 to 100 other simple programming changes I would LOVE to see them make. But those are things as the one you just mentioned, that would fall into the category of convenience, or making the software easier to use. That's a whole nother story. Things like Save the current State as the default, so I don't have to scroll thu 40 somehting states each time to get to NY. I'm always in NY!! Your always in CA, why should you have to select it each time? Or how about, after actually finding a POI (a rare event, I know!) getting the option to SAVE it in the Address book? (without haveing to select it for navigation, then stop navigation, then go to previous destinations, then select it, then select Save to address book. OR how about FIX the data in the first place so the category's are more intuitive like the rest of the systems are, or that things are in the correct categorys (Pepboys was found under Rental Cars, remember that?). There are lots of these types of things they should change. But they are not making the POI database useless, only difficult to use. they are not show stoppers. The search buy category only function, is a show stopper.
With the SEARCH ALL function, that is fixing something that is broken. Currently, you can NOT find about 75% of the POI's in a resonable manner. That's BROKEN and MINI needs to fix it!!
Add that simple, five minutes of programming change, and the system would no longer be BROKE as it currenly has been sold to us. We currently do NOT have the ability to search the entire advertised "6 Million POI db" unless we were some kind of special clairvoyant like the lucky previous posters above, that knew for sure ahead of time, that a winery would of course fall under subcategory of "BANKING AND SHOPPING".
Like I have said, there are at least 75 to 100 other simple programming changes I would LOVE to see them make. But those are things as the one you just mentioned, that would fall into the category of convenience, or making the software easier to use. That's a whole nother story. Things like Save the current State as the default, so I don't have to scroll thu 40 somehting states each time to get to NY. I'm always in NY!! Your always in CA, why should you have to select it each time? Or how about, after actually finding a POI (a rare event, I know!) getting the option to SAVE it in the Address book? (without haveing to select it for navigation, then stop navigation, then go to previous destinations, then select it, then select Save to address book. OR how about FIX the data in the first place so the category's are more intuitive like the rest of the systems are, or that things are in the correct categorys (Pepboys was found under Rental Cars, remember that?). There are lots of these types of things they should change. But they are not making the POI database useless, only difficult to use. they are not show stoppers. The search buy category only function, is a show stopper.
With the SEARCH ALL function, that is fixing something that is broken. Currently, you can NOT find about 75% of the POI's in a resonable manner. That's BROKEN and MINI needs to fix it!!
Last edited by Birdman; Dec 17, 2007 at 08:19 AM.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: South Orange, NJ
Add that simple, five minutes of programming change, and the system would no longer be BROKE as it currenly has been sold to us. We currently do NOT have the ability to search the entire advertised "6 Million POI db" unless we were some kind of special clarivoyant like the lucky previous posters above, that knew for sure ahead of time, that a winery would of course fall under subcategory of "BANKING AND SHOPPING".
Currently, you can NOT find about 75% of the POI's in a resonable manner. That's BROKEN and MINI needs to fix it!!
Currently, you can NOT find about 75% of the POI's in a resonable manner. That's BROKEN and MINI needs to fix it!!
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 107
From: Arizona
This POI debate has gone on longer than anything I've seen on NAM. It's really pretty simple to me: requiring a category is wierd and cripples the thing. No other Yellowpages search that I've ever seen asks for a category. You start typing letters and stuff starts showing up in a list. Type AP and Applebees, Apple computer store, Appliance City, ect. The more you type the fewer things show up. It isn't rocket science. I use one on my phone all the time, I love it. Some dude had a few too many when he thought up the category idea for Mini. It pretty much disabled the function if you ask me. I know most of you don't care about it, you are happy that the Nav gets you from point A to point B (with traffic reroutes), but it's a fact that most portable Navs today will serve other functions easily, and the Mini's is flawed in that regard. It's not really up-to-date at all, which is fine if you know that upfront, before you pay your $2275 for it. I think that's really what Birdman has said all along. I fail to see why others are so critical of that point of view. The facts are the facts after all.
