UConnect Navigation Update Email - "NO THANKS RAM"

[Squatch79]

So, I get an email from RAM regarding my Navigation system being out of date. Hmm, pretty sure it was out of date when I bought the truck. The OEM navigation on these units are absolutely awful. It will send me 30 minutes out of my way to get to a destination that would normally only take 15 minutes. How do they even sell these "updates" if the navigation system sucks that bad. I'll just do myself a favor and use Apple CarPlay and Google maps for FREE. What a joke......

 

[DEG]

My Uconnect maps are far more reliable than CarPlay and I've not had a problem with it leading me astray. It also continues to work in remote area's where my phone's maps won't because I keep losing a cell signal.

 

[go-ram]

Both are fine - if you prefer map apps on your phone, use them. If you like Ram's built-in navigation, that's fine as well.
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I've had a couple of times when Google Maps on the iPhone couldn't get me to a residential address, whereas my 2020 Ram with Uconnect-4 took me right there perfectly.
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Redundancy is good to have - when one fails, at least we all have another system at our disposal as backup.

 

[larryinokc]

I just use my phone for navigation. For whatever reason, Ram uses TomTom nav, and it sucks. You can't update the nav system OTA anymore either, you have to install the 2024 update via flash drive, takes about 45 minutes, and your truck has to be running, not just turned on.

 

[FastBlackRam]

I just use my phone for navigation. For whatever reason, Ram uses TomTom nav, and it sucks. You can't update the nav system OTA anymore either, you have to install the 2024 update via flash drive, takes about 45 minutes, and your truck has to be running, not just turned on.

Not to mention the new maps are out of date before you install them. You can't beat Google Maps or Apple Maps. They are the most up to date possible and constantly updated.

 

[go-ram]

Not to mention the new maps are out of date before you install them. You can't beat Google Maps or Apple Maps. They are the most up to date possible and constantly updated.

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Maybe, but as I noted in a previous post, I've had a couple of instances where Google maps couldn't deliver, whereas the nav built into my Uconnect4 Ram got me there correctly, without any fuss. So it's not like Google Maps is the only thing that works.
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Not to mention, Google Maps user interface has become so cluttered with useless info & sponsored crap on the map display, it's frustrating to try to negotiate the interface. Do I really care that a boutique shop I'm passing by is having a sale today? Do I care if a restaurant or store has coupons today? Hell no! You can shut off the overlaid sponsored crap in desktop versions, but Google doesn't allow the overlay crap to be turned off in the mobile version.
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The there's the long-term consequences of continuing to blindly feed the Google machine...
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[Merlin]

I haven's ever seen the ads on my display when using Google maps. Maybe because I am on uconnect 4 on the 8.4 inch screen? Google maps has been my go to, got tired of waze pretty quick. I decided not to update the factory navigation because it won't be nearly as accurate as the phone based apps.

 

[HSKR R/T]

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Maybe, but as I noted in a previous post, I've had a couple of instances where Google maps couldn't deliver, whereas the nav built into my Uconnect4 Ram got me there correctly, without any fuss. So it's not like Google Maps is the only thing that works.
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Not to mention, Google Maps user interface has become so cluttered with useless info & sponsored crap on the map display, it's frustrating to try to negotiate the interface. Do I really care that a boutique shop I'm passing by is having a sale today? Do I care if a restaurant or store has coupons today? Hell no! You can shut off the overlaid sponsored crap in desktop versions, but Google doesn't allow the overlay crap to be turned off in the mobile version.
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The there's the long-term consequences of continuing to blindly feed the Google machine...
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I can honestly say I have never gotten any ads on my phone when using Google maps. Maybe it's because zmI have a Google phone?

 

[HSKR R/T]

I haven's ever seen the ads on my display when using Google maps. Maybe because I am on uconnect 4 on the 8.4 inch screen? Google maps has been my go to, got tired of waze pretty quick. I decided not to update the factory navigation because it won't be nearly as accurate as the phone based apps.

It's funny, I had issues with Waze as well, but Google owns Waze now so you'd think Waze and Google maps would pretty much be the same.

 

[Merlin]

It's funny, I had issues with Waze as well, but Google owns Waze now so you'd think Waze and Google maps would pretty much be the same.

Waze just annoyed the heck out of me. I couldn't turn off the railroad warning ahead notifications off. Kept interrupting my music. LOL

 

[larryinokc]

It would be great if Rand McNally could create/incorporate a navigation system for vehicles. They are the gold standard for the trucking industry. They make tablet type navigation devices that mount in trucks. I wouldn't think it would be that difficult to create an in-dash system for cars/light trucks, and they are constantly updating their maps.

​

 

[FastBlackRam]

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Maybe, but as I noted in a previous post, I've had a couple of instances where Google maps couldn't deliver, whereas the nav built into my Uconnect4 Ram got me there correctly, without any fuss. So it's not like Google Maps is the only thing that works.
.
Not to mention, Google Maps user interface has become so cluttered with useless info & sponsored crap on the map display, it's frustrating to try to negotiate the interface. Do I really care that a boutique shop I'm passing by is having a sale today? Do I care if a restaurant or store has coupons today? Hell no! You can shut off the overlaid sponsored crap in desktop versions, but Google doesn't allow the overlay crap to be turned off in the mobile version.
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The there's the long-term consequences of continuing to blindly feed the Google machine...
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Ok, let me rephrase. The only thing I use google maps for is on my phone when looking up services at home. Like a restaurant menu or phone number. For directions in my vehicles, its apple maps on car play all the way. However my wife does use google maps in the 2021 BMW via car play. And she has never complained about it.

 

[go-ram]

I can honestly say I have never gotten any ads on my phone when using Google maps. Maybe it's because zmI have a Google phone?

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My phone isn't a Google phone, but it's running Android 11. These aren't conventional pop-up ads that open a separate popup window, these are plastered all over the map as text, some with links. Open Google Maps, zoom in a bit, Here's what's plastered all over the UI at various businesses (that have obviously paid Google for the extra info to show up):
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"Santa Monica Audi: E-Tron offers"
"Lexus Santa Monica: New Lexus ES inventory"
"Colapasta: Top-rated"
"St. Paul's Lutheran Church: All are welcome at God's table"
"Slovenian Hair Extensions: Russian hair extensions store. Premium Extensions for Pros"
"North Italia: Enjoy the best sips of summer"
"El Pollo Loco: Famous fire-grilled catering"
"Tees Unlimited: Print your own designs"
"Walgreens: Pick up in as little as 30 minutes"
"FIrestone Auto: Coupons available 10% off"
"Modern Core Health & Wellness: Pelvic floor physical therapy"
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And as you zoom in trying to see which side street to turn onto in a business district, the UI updates with fresh advertising trash like all of the above examples, making it difficult to see the lines of the actual streets & their names. Google Maps has become a nightmare in terms of a ridiculously cluttered UI, at least on my phone, and there's nothing special about my phone at all, so I assume everyone sees the same crap I'm seeing on their phones.
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Yes, Google Maps is technically very competent, but as far as user experience on mobile, it's an absolutely annoying POS. From what I understand, Maps is different on desktop, in that supposedly one can turn off the extra advertising layer or whatever. I've never put Google Maps on my Ram's nav screen, because I don't want Google in my underwear sniffing around trying to determine what I ate for dinner last night. That's how invasive Google is, with Maps, email, photos, texts, etc. Combine that invasiveness with the ridiculously cluttered Maps UI for generating revenue for Google, and I'll use anything else except Google Maps if I possibly can. G-Maps is always my last resort, and I use it reluctantly.
.

 

[go-ram]

Ok, let me rephrase. The only thing I use google maps for is on my phone when looking up services at home. Like a restaurant menu or phone number. For directions in my vehicles, its apple maps on car play all the way. However my wife does use google maps in the 2021 BMW via car play. And she has never complained about it.

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Whatever works is good. I've never put G-Maps on my nav screen, only on my Android phone, so I can't comment on what it's like when displayed on the vehicle's screen. I have relatives that are Android/Google fans that prefer the standalone Garmin devices on the dash and take it from vehicle to vehicle, whatever they're driving. Whatever works for a given person is good.
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[desdinova70]

Waze just annoyed the heck out of me. I couldn't turn off the railroad warning ahead notifications off. Kept interrupting my music. LOL

Each Waze alert (including railroad) can be independently enabled/disabled in the settings.

 

[HSKR R/T]

.
My phone isn't a Google phone, but it's running Android 11. These aren't conventional pop-up ads that open a separate popup window, these are plastered all over the map as text, some with links. Open Google Maps, zoom in a bit, Here's what's plastered all over the UI at various businesses (that have obviously paid Google for the extra info to show up):
----------
"Santa Monica Audi: E-Tron offers"
"Lexus Santa Monica: New Lexus ES inventory"
"Colapasta: Top-rated"
"St. Paul's Lutheran Church: All are welcome at God's table"
"Slovenian Hair Extensions: Russian hair extensions store. Premium Extensions for Pros"
"North Italia: Enjoy the best sips of summer"
"El Pollo Loco: Famous fire-grilled catering"
"Tees Unlimited: Print your own designs"
"Walgreens: Pick up in as little as 30 minutes"
"FIrestone Auto: Coupons available 10% off"
"Modern Core Health & Wellness: Pelvic floor physical therapy"
----------
And as you zoom in trying to see which side street to turn onto in a business district, the UI updates with fresh advertising trash like all of the above examples, making it difficult to see the lines of the actual streets & their names. Google Maps has become a nightmare in terms of a ridiculously cluttered UI, at least on my phone, and there's nothing special about my phone at all, so I assume everyone sees the same crap I'm seeing on their phones.
.
Yes, Google Maps is technically very competent, but as far as user experience on mobile, it's an absolutely annoying POS. From what I understand, Maps is different on desktop, in that supposedly one can turn off the extra advertising layer or whatever. I've never put Google Maps on my Ram's nav screen, because I don't want Google in my underwear sniffing around trying to determine what I ate for dinner last night. That's how invasive Google is, with Maps, email, photos, texts, etc. Combine that invasiveness with the ridiculously cluttered Maps UI for generating revenue for Google, and I'll use anything else except Google Maps if I possibly can. G-Maps is always my last resort, and I use it reluctantly.
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I don't have any of that on mine. Not sure what to tell you

 

[busa2009]

My Uconnect maps are far more reliable than CarPlay and I've not had a problem with it leading me astray. It also continues to work in remote area's where my phone's maps won't because I keep losing a cell signal.

You funny asf 😂😂😂