Bi-lingual Navi System
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From: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Bi-lingual Navi System
Not sure how long this has been available, but there is a bi-lingual navi system developed by Nissan available from authorised dealers.
Does anyone in JP have any experience with these things? What can you comment?
I am getting fed up of carrying around and furiously page flicking between three road maps whilst driving!!!!
This is what I read recently.
Quote:
Review of Nissan Birdview Bilingual Navigation System
For years people have been asking me if they can buy an English Language Navigation system for their car and is it good value. The short answer has been no, until now. Nissan has just released a bilingual navigation system that is not bad. The initial release was just for Nissan vehicles but you can now buy this for any vehicle.
It comes by the name of Birdview and that is not the only fuzzy English you are going to see come across the system, but all things considered it's not bad. It is simple to use, all the menu bars are in English and with a few simple clicks you can navigate your way around the system.
It comes with all the basic features you would expect of a navigation system and has an easy to read 15 x 8.5cm LCD screen. True to its name the display lets you change the map displays from standard, to 3D and also a birds eye view from above called Stereoscopic Birdview.
The most useful features you will find are the locations registration features that allow you to program in your home or office and simply hit take me home and the system will calculate the fastest way to the destination giving you the option of standard roads or the toll freeways. You can also enter a telephone number and again the system will calculate the trip route, but keep in mind this only works for registered numbers such a companies and businesses and you are not likely to find residential addresses this way.
The most accurate way to get where you want to go is to input the address, but this is easier said than done. While the menu buttons are in English the map and address feature are all in Japanese. It is a well thought out system and if you can recognize the kanji of the address you are looking for you should be able to work your way though it.
Other features I like are registering places of interest such as Tokyo Disneyland or of you wish the location of speed cameras and the VICS system (Vehicle Information and Communication System). VICS gives you road and traffic information and lets you know how crowded the roads are ahead. It can also calculate the approximate time to destination. You can set the display to show you where the service stations, convenience store and banks are etc. and get information on recreation facilities at the destination. The categories available here are numerous and quite varied and there is a lot of information stacked into the system.
What else can it do? Well it talks to you, and this is quite helpful when the roads are busy and you can't look at the screen, but it can also become a little monotonous. Television is an extra, is all in Japanese and you can't do anything about the programming. Alas there is no CNN!
Where can you get it and what does it cost? The best places to buy Birdview are Autobacs on Komaza dori Tel: 03-3719-2100, Yellow Hat on Yamate dori Tel: 5773-3700 or at Occidental on Meguro dori Tel: 03-5768-6022. We have a working model in our show room so feel free to come and check the system out.
The cost is between 260,000 and 300,000 yen installed depending on the type of car you have and display screen you choose. It takes 2-3 hours to install the system and it's quite a big job, so give yourself plenty of time if you want it done while you wait.
Good value? Well, this is a personal assessment but we think it is a good system and fun to use. Your other option is a 1,500 yen bilingual map.
End Quote
Does anyone in JP have any experience with these things? What can you comment?
I am getting fed up of carrying around and furiously page flicking between three road maps whilst driving!!!!
This is what I read recently.
Quote:
Review of Nissan Birdview Bilingual Navigation System
For years people have been asking me if they can buy an English Language Navigation system for their car and is it good value. The short answer has been no, until now. Nissan has just released a bilingual navigation system that is not bad. The initial release was just for Nissan vehicles but you can now buy this for any vehicle.
It comes by the name of Birdview and that is not the only fuzzy English you are going to see come across the system, but all things considered it's not bad. It is simple to use, all the menu bars are in English and with a few simple clicks you can navigate your way around the system.
It comes with all the basic features you would expect of a navigation system and has an easy to read 15 x 8.5cm LCD screen. True to its name the display lets you change the map displays from standard, to 3D and also a birds eye view from above called Stereoscopic Birdview.
The most useful features you will find are the locations registration features that allow you to program in your home or office and simply hit take me home and the system will calculate the fastest way to the destination giving you the option of standard roads or the toll freeways. You can also enter a telephone number and again the system will calculate the trip route, but keep in mind this only works for registered numbers such a companies and businesses and you are not likely to find residential addresses this way.
The most accurate way to get where you want to go is to input the address, but this is easier said than done. While the menu buttons are in English the map and address feature are all in Japanese. It is a well thought out system and if you can recognize the kanji of the address you are looking for you should be able to work your way though it.
Other features I like are registering places of interest such as Tokyo Disneyland or of you wish the location of speed cameras and the VICS system (Vehicle Information and Communication System). VICS gives you road and traffic information and lets you know how crowded the roads are ahead. It can also calculate the approximate time to destination. You can set the display to show you where the service stations, convenience store and banks are etc. and get information on recreation facilities at the destination. The categories available here are numerous and quite varied and there is a lot of information stacked into the system.
What else can it do? Well it talks to you, and this is quite helpful when the roads are busy and you can't look at the screen, but it can also become a little monotonous. Television is an extra, is all in Japanese and you can't do anything about the programming. Alas there is no CNN!
Where can you get it and what does it cost? The best places to buy Birdview are Autobacs on Komaza dori Tel: 03-3719-2100, Yellow Hat on Yamate dori Tel: 5773-3700 or at Occidental on Meguro dori Tel: 03-5768-6022. We have a working model in our show room so feel free to come and check the system out.
The cost is between 260,000 and 300,000 yen installed depending on the type of car you have and display screen you choose. It takes 2-3 hours to install the system and it's quite a big job, so give yourself plenty of time if you want it done while you wait.
Good value? Well, this is a personal assessment but we think it is a good system and fun to use. Your other option is a 1,500 yen bilingual map.
End Quote
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: South Staffordshire
that's at the high end of cost.
there are a lot of bi-lingual systems - but not with English letters on the menus.
also there are now DVD portable systems for around !50,000 yen - quite good since you can watch DVD movies also outside of the car and it's not fixed investment.
I don't really drive around enough to find the benefit of one of these systems - though it seems every other person has one.
there are a lot of bi-lingual systems - but not with English letters on the menus.
also there are now DVD portable systems for around !50,000 yen - quite good since you can watch DVD movies also outside of the car and it's not fixed investment.
I don't really drive around enough to find the benefit of one of these systems - though it seems every other person has one.
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From: FCUK
I have the Japanese system fitted, I can use a few of the functions now, the best one being typing in the phone number and being led the whole way there by the system .... 
though I do usually have a map with me just in case of mishaps!!
I know that there is an English only system available from a company in the Tokyo area, which is about Y170,000 I think, which can be fitted to any car, but is a bolt on, not in the dash like the Honda system .....
I guess I am just going to have to start learning Kanji now
though I do usually have a map with me just in case of mishaps!!I know that there is an English only system available from a company in the Tokyo area, which is about Y170,000 I think, which can be fitted to any car, but is a bolt on, not in the dash like the Honda system .....
I guess I am just going to have to start learning Kanji now
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From: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Originally posted by tokyo_james
I know that there is an English only system available from a company in the Tokyo area, which is about Y170,000 I think, which can be fitted to any car, but is a bolt on, not in the dash like the Honda system .....
I know that there is an English only system available from a company in the Tokyo area, which is about Y170,000 I think, which can be fitted to any car, but is a bolt on, not in the dash like the Honda system .....
Originally posted by tokyo_james
I guess I am just going to have to start learning Kanji now
I guess I am just going to have to start learning Kanji now
heh heh