Keeping your GPS's maps up-to-date is one of the most important thing you can do to ensure the best navigation performance possible. Current maps make sure your GPS knows where you are, where you're going, and also updates the POI (Points of Interest) database.
Garmin currently releases mapping updates every few months. Garmin's new nuMaps Lifetime subscription program lets you download up to 4 updates per year for the life of the nuvi GPS. That can add up to a significant savings, and will help make the device last for years to come.
Here's everything you need to know about Garmin's nuMaps, including how to buy, download, and install the updates onto your GPS.
UPDATE: Since this article was originally posted, you can now purchase the Garmin nuMaps Lifetime map subscription directly from Amazon.com
Continue reading "Hands-on With Garmin's nuMaps Lifetime Subscription: Pay Once, Update For Life" »
I keep wondering when these GPS companies are going to get it. Garmin used to do a smart thing letting you update two devices, so at least you had incentive for your second GPS (eg other family member) to be a Garmin.
By making this for the lifetime of the device, they are ensuring that you don't have an incentive to upgrade to newer devices because you'd be "throwing away" the subscription. And then there are issues like how they will handle devices that are stolen or break.
They should be giving you an incentive to buy more than one Garmin, and to keep buying new Garmin units.
Not a bad idea - maybe Garmin should let you add a second device to the nuMaps subscription for half the price.
Had GPS stolen, Garmin only credits you for 50% of your next LifetimeNuvi.
I'm confused. You say Garmin releases mapping updates every few months. However, I'm under the impression it's more like every 12-18 months. Would you please clarify the frequency of mapping update releases?
Garmin releases one map update per year in the form of a retail DVD that you can buy in stores. This is the "Garmin Map Update 2009", for example.
However, Garmin now releases incremental map updates much more frequently, and distributes them via their website. The updates can either be purchased one at a time whenever you want to update, or you can get access to 4 per year via the new nuMaps program.
This is an improvement over the old, one map update per year model, because now you don't have to wait a year between updates.
Awesome! With a $500 investment in a nuvi780 last year and the current state of the economy, I'm pretty certain I will not be looking to upgrade the GPSr for at least another 3-4 years. So the lifetime map upgrade seems like a pretty sweet deal to me.
I agree with Roger if my device is "STOLEN" or breaks and I buy another Nuvi I'm screwed!! I'd stay away from this method unless Garmin addressed that issue.
Getting quarterly updates makes this worth the money. I got the update for $100 from an online seller, while I paid $60 last year for map on disc. I intend to keep the GPS in the family for a few years as I will hand it down to my kids when I get a new GPS.
The latest update had much better road and POI info for my area. I look forward to not having to wait a year for an update.
With the current cost of NEW PND being in the $200 average price and the average unit will last about 2 years, you are basically paying for a two year update because if you have to send your unit in to replace the battery, you will be better of buying a new product every few years with fresher maps.
NavTeq and TA understands that the new PND now sold for $100-$200 is not going to last forever so life time maps mean nothing.
How old is your cell phone? The hardware will be way outdated and that is the reason they can provide a life time map solution.
It's a nice idea but buying a new product every few years would offer you the same benefits almost.
If you are not a delivery person or a realtor, do you really need fresh map every few months. They will cover new development and some corrections, but not much more else.
I'm wondering if there have been any updates since the initial release of 2009 last year. I don't find anything when I go to Garmin and look around. Are the intermediate updates only viewable and available after you subscribe to the lifetime updates?
Free map update for life - bittorrent, infidels. Allahu Akbar!
I understand North America NT 2009.11 is the latest release. Is there anyway to know what the changes are from update to update?
I have an nuvi 680. Would a 2009 update contain such new features such as "lane assist" etc?
No, they're updating only the maps and points-of-interest data. "Lane Assist" and other features would be a part of functionality update.
Now, Garmin provides FREE software updates throughout lifetime of the product. For example, new updates are still coming out for my Nuvi 350. However, they include fixes, refinements, and optimizations, but not altogether new features like "Lane Assist" or "Reality View" or what have you. If Garmin did that, they wouldn't be out to market and sell NEW units, would they?
There is also set time frame as to the life expectancy of the NUVI 770. Dose anyone know what this is?
Actually, the nuvi 770 has already been discontinued, and is replaced by the nuvi 775T.
I purchased this service and I have yet to get it working.
The update is 1.92 GB and it takes a very long time to download. I've tried extracting the files several times and it always fails with the message "File is corrupt". I've downloaded the update several times with no change.
I've been on the phone on hold waiting for an hour to speak with Garmin technical support. Has anyone actually got this to work? I am very disappointed.
I ended up spending well over 2 hours on the phone with Garmin. Their response was to blame everything except themselves. At their request, I just downloaded the update for the second time today, this time with the anti-virus disabled. The downloaded file is exactly the same size and it also fails to unpack due to corrupted files. According to WinRAR, the files have the same CRC. Now I'm trying to download the file again without using their download manager. Has anyone got this to work? If so, please contact me.
Ok, I made some progress. I bypassed the Garmin Download Manager and the download seemed to have worked. It extracted 100% of the files and is now doing the update. I waited another 2 hours to speak with Garmin and they all but admitted this is a known problem.
Yesterday I sucessfully updated my PC and my Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx to CN NA NT 2010.1 using the lifetime subscription.
Dispite the misleading product name, many models other than tne nuvi's are able to use subscription service.
I'm with the guys who say hold off on this for awhile. The clencher for me is that the subscription is tied to just one device.
So if it is stolen, breaks, you want to get a newer model, or if Garmin discontinues the model, you are SOL.
And what's with the bogus $70 price tag for yearly updates. You can easily find them for less than $55 at Amazon.
And when you think about it, how many of us will go through the hassle of downloading updates 4 times a year anyway? Most people don't update their maps until they get the warning message saying their maps are 18 months old.
I would be more inclined to pay $199 for just ten years of quarterly updates, if they allowed me to transfer the subscription to a new device.
Just a few items to point out in response to your post:
1. Technically - if your GPS is stolen, you can provide Garmin a copy of the police report and they will let you transfer the subscription.
2. The $70 yearly update price is MSRP - most retailers sells things the less than the company's official website.
3. 10 years? It's highly unlikely you will be using the same GPS for 10 years. The logic behind the updates is that the lifetime subscription is the same cost as around 3 yearly updates. So if you plan to keep your GPS for more than 3 years, this is a cheaper option that also has the benefit of more frequent updates. It's not a required purchase, just a nice option for those who like to keep their GPS up to date, or plan to use it for more than 3 years.
Is this only for a nuvi GPS or can a zumo use the same maps?