Google Earth ending December 2020 for 2018 models or older

[cameraz]

Add me to the list of disappointed customers.

The loss of the Google Maps overlay makes the already overpriced AudiConnect service even less compelling. It costs half the price per month to add a smartphone to my wireless plan than it costs for AudiConnect Prime service.

Add on to that the buggy MMI software that Audi is slow to update (if they will give you an update at all), and I am coming to believe that Audi is giving up their technological edge.

I totally agree with you. The major reason I have updated my Audi Connect subscription four (4) times already is for the Google Maps overlay. I hope Audi is planning to cut the price on Audi Connect in the future, if not sooner. It already is overpriced.

[stwu]

I think AlanZz is referring to pre-virtual cockpit Audis. I was able to use a prepaid Truphone data sim to get Google Earth overlay (and other functions that required data service) on my 2017 Q3 MMI.

I see. Thanks for clarifying. I wonder if there is a way to code it around the internal sim since there is an empty external sim slot in my 2018 model.

[belzebutt]

I just wanted to chime in and make everyone aware that I am paying close attention to this issue internally due to all of the discussion and dissatisfaction on this topic. If new information becomes available rest assured I will provide an update.

Hi Vincenzo,
Any chance you can tell us what hardware is going to be upgraded on the 2019 S5 SportBack that allows Google Earth to continue past 2020? The MMI interface stays the same?

[911 Flavors]

By the way -- I updated another thread with the following: I have a 2019 RS5 (delivered in January of 2019). Notwithstanding the fact that my car is a 2019 Model Year, I was just told that I will loose the Google Earth overlay on 12/31/20. So buyer beware: buying a 2019 model year doesn't guarantee Google Earth overlay past the end of 2020.



https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...Audi-Phone-Box

[JoshDub]

Audi ditches manual transmissions, no one cares

Audi ditches defeatable stability control, no one cares

Audi begins switching out legendary quattro for quattro Ultra, no one cares

Audi drops pixelated tree tops from the navigation system, everyone loses their shit.

[911 Flavors]

Funny but the first 3 items on your list were disclosed to the buyers ahead of time. The last one wasn't: the disclosure was that any model year 2019 and newer would retain the Google Earth functionality. 2 months after I take the delivery of a 2019 car, I am told that the functionality would be lost by 12/31/2020. This si just wrong.

[JoshDub]

I'm trying really hard to sympathise, but I just don't see the outrage.

Google earth is a pretty shitty feature for navigation for starters. Waze is a much better app from both a function (traffic, hazards, police) and a aesthetic (uncluttered) point of view. Google Earth is at best a gimmick. But it's a gimmick that I am sure someone will find a workaround for shortly after Audi stops supporting the feature. Just like how everyone figured out how to get google maps onto older nav systems, and how people figured out how to get audi connect without going through audi. The end is not neigh.

So at worst, you're mildly inconvenienced for a short while. At best, you won't even notice because it's a silly overlay and is hardly something to trade your car in over.


Literally all the things that you could be upset with Audi over and this is it?

[AlisoA4]

Google earth is a pretty shitty feature for navigation for starters.

You are missing the point.

This is not about the quality or applicability of Google Earth overlays, about Waze or about any other navigation app. I have nothing against any of those, but that's not what this is about.

This is about the *availability* of something we bought and paid for in good faith, only to subsequently find that it will stop working due to a deliberate decision by Audi, a decision which was AT BEST very poorly communicated, more likely not communicated at all.

[JoshDub]

I'm not missing the point.

Part of the car purchase at my local dealer included life-time car washes. Shortly after the dealer removed the car wash station. But it doesn't really matter because they did a shitty job anyway.

Is it wrong? Yes. Should everyone be compensated? Sure. Is this really something to get mad over? I guess if you have the time.

But half the responses in here about how they are never buying another Audi are hilariously sad and just ooze first world problem. You (others) want to start a class-action lawsuit because Audi no longer supports a navigation overlay? It's not even that the navigation no longer works, it's just missing the poor resolution satellite image (that made it more difficult to see the route).

One member ranted about how they traded in their two "better in everyway" SUVs so that they could have google earth on their instrument cluster. These responses are so blown out of proportion it makes it hard to take any reasonable argument about this into consideration.

[AlisoA4]

You are missing the point.

This is not about the quality or applicability of Google Earth overlays, about Waze or about any other navigation app. I have nothing against any of those, but that's not what this is about.

This is about the *availability* of something we bought and paid for in good faith, only to subsequently find that it will stop working due to a deliberate decision by Audi, a decision which was AT BEST very poorly communicated, more likely not communicated at all.

Not only this, but the explanation provided by Audi just simply doesn't make sense, and seems like a weak attempt at deflecting blame and get away with doing nothing.

[911 Flavors]

The bottom line is that there was no explanation or prior disclosure about a missing feature that’s important to a particular buyer. I am not threatening to sue - I am just going to take my business somewhere else. Simple as that.

[Highrev6]

So sad to see the feature go so soon after buying my first Audi.

[JoshDub]

I am just going to take my business somewhere else. Simple as that.

This is part of my point.

This guy is threatening that Audi will lose his lease dollars because of the loss of a map overlay. it's a bit dramatic

[spdemon91]

What would be great is a way to video stream from your cell phone into the MMI display. Then we would be able to display Waze or whatever. This would enable Audi customers to be able to keep up with the constant changes in navigation technology without being restricted to whatever is available through the MMI software.

[rgobantes23]

This is part of my point.

This guy is threatening that Audi will lose his lease dollars because of the loss of a map overlay. it's a bit dramatic

The only point you're sending is that your opinion is the only thing that matters. I think we all know who is being dramatic.

[belzebutt]

What would be great is a way to video stream from your cell phone into the MMI display. Then we would be able to display Waze or whatever. This would enable Audi customers to be able to keep up with the constant changes in navigation technology without being restricted to whatever is available through the MMI software.

You're joking, right?

[spdemon91]

You're joking, right?

Not joking, dreaming maybe. Really it would be the best solution. We have this beautiful display, why can't we stream to it??? Any tech they put in the car will be outdated in a few years anyway. A smart-phone interface is the future in my opinion.

[belzebutt]

Not joking, dreaming maybe. Really it would be the best solution. We have this beautiful display, why can't we stream to it??? Any tech they put in the car will be outdated in a few years anyway. A smart-phone interface is the future in my opinion.

You're kidding right? You just described Car Play and Android Auto.

[spdemon91]

LOL! Well then the future is now... So can I do this with the MMI in my AUdi???

[belzebutt]

LOL! Well then the future is now... So can I do this with the MMI in my AUdi???

With 2018+ you can...

[spdemon91]

With 2018+ you can...

Bloody hell, but thank you! I just did some searching and see there may be a way to retrofit this new-age Android Auto future technology you speak of.

Thank you future boy! Now get back into your Deloreon and bring me back one of those sports almanacs!

[spdemon91]

^ Now that was a joke...

[cameraz]

With 2018+ you can...

With 2017+ you can ...

[cameraz]

The only point you're sending is that your opinion is the only thing that matters. I think we all know who is being dramatic.

I agree with you. It's like JoshDub is criticizing others for wanting a certain feature on their car. I happen to love the Google Earth overlay, and the way it lets you see the features of the terrain that you would never be able to see unless you had a drone flying over your car. I have been able to find things -- buildings, lakes, etc. -- that were hidden by a treebelt and not visible from the road. And I never put my nose so close to the screen that the treetops look "pixelated."

[rgobantes23]

I agree with you. It's like JoshDub is criticizing others for wanting a certain feature on their car. I happen to love the Google Earth overlay, and the way it lets you see the features of the terrain that you would never be able to see unless you had a drone flying over your car. I have been able to find things -- buildings, lakes, etc. -- that were hidden by a treebelt and not visible from the road. And I never put my nose so close to the screen that the treetops look "pixelated."

Everyone can like whatever feature that came with car he or she purchased, and should be able to comment about it. Just because someone does not like a feature (or someone thinks the feature is insignificant) does not mean everyone else also has to dislike it.

[rgobantes23]

By the way -- I updated another thread with the following: I have a 2019 RS5 (delivered in January of 2019). Notwithstanding the fact that my car is a 2019 Model Year, I was just told that I will loose the Google Earth overlay on 12/31/20. So buyer beware: buying a 2019 model year doesn't guarantee Google Earth overlay past the end of 2020.

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...Audi-Phone-Box

I have read the other thread and I must say I think your situation is worse than anyone else in this Google Maps overlay thread.

[911 Flavors]

Thanks. The car is missing multiple advertised features -- not much that I can do about it at this point after I bought (not leased) the car and added a full ppf, a radar, ABT piggyback upgrade, AWE carbon fiber airbox and the list goes on.

[stwu]

I have read the other thread and I must say I think your situation is worse than anyone else in this Google Maps overlay thread.

I agree. That sucks, especially you have a RS5.

[GTSurgery]

This is disappointing. I don't have a virtual cockpit, but the google earth overlay is much more interesting than the other mapping.

[rgobantes23]

I see. Thanks for clarifying. I wonder if there is a way to code it around the internal sim since there is an empty external sim slot in my 2018 model.

Probably sometime in the future. I believe the virtual cockpit models has the sim cards built in for the data service, so it is probably harder to find a way around the paid subscription. I am not sure what the empty sim card slot inside the SQ5 glove compartment is actually for, but I have seen other threads that said the sim card slot can be used for data service but with no verification if it really works.

[stwu]

Probably sometime in the future. I believe the virtual cockpit models has the sim cards built in for the data service, so it is probably harder to find a way around the paid subscription. I am not sure what the empty sim card slot inside the SQ5 glove compartment is actually for, but I have seen other threads that said the sim card slot can be used for data service but with no verification if it really works.

Yes, there is a built in sim. I think it can be disabled or bypassed if inserting your own sim in the module inside the glove compartment. However, like you said, unfortunately, there is no verification if it works or not.

[rgobantes23]

Yes, there is a built in sim. I think it can be disabled or bypassed if inserting your own sim in the module inside the glove compartment. However, like you said, unfortunately, there is no verification if it works or not.

The thread post said if you turn off Audi Connect the system will look at the valid sim card on the slot for data connection.

Menu->Connection Manager->Online Settings->Data Connection Settings

Again no proof/verification. Also, Audi could have this function disabled for vehicles made for the US.

[stwu]

I did it one time successfully to disable the data connection and I couldn’t see the LTE icon or bars at all. However, once you do that, you won’t be able to switch it back on. I did a factory reset in order to bring it back. I don’t have a right size sim to try to put in the MIB.

[Caryt]

I only read the first page so this may have been asked, as I read it this only affects '18+ cars not older one like my 2016?

[rgobantes23]

I only read the first page so this may have been asked, as I read it this only affects '18+ cars not older one like my 2016?

It affects model year 2018 and older, so your vehicle MMI will no longer able to view maps with Google Earth overlay beginning January 1, 2021. Apparently, it affects some early 2019 models as well.

[Caryt]

Well S***
I know its not needed but I like it.
Sounds like some tech savey owner needs to rewrite the code.

[stwu]

I guess I will buy a 2020 model then.

[rgobantes23]

I guess I will buy a 2020 model then.

If you are fine with Audi's current Google Earth fine print (key info), ".....Connect Services.....may not be available after 2021 for equipped MY17-20 vehicles" then you should be okay. Google Earth features ending 2020 for MY2018 and older vehicles is still there but now the entire Connect Services "may" end in 2021 for MY17-20 models.

[stwu]

If you are fine with Audi's current Google Earth fine print (key info), ".....Connect Services.....may not be available after 2021 for equipped MY17-20 vehicles" then you should be okay. Google Earth features ending 2020 for MY2018 and older vehicles is still there but now the entire Connect Services "may" end in 2021 for MY17-20 models.

The Audi Connect might end in 2021? Where did you hear that from?

[ZeGerman_A4]

I repeatedly asked Audi and my dealer and they are not aware of changes for the older models after 2020.


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