Is there anyone on here that has the Columbus system and can tell me what Gracenotes is and what it does...

I don't have it, but gracenotes is a database of music Artist/Album/Track information. So when you pop a CD in, Columbus checks the built-in database and can display the name of the band and the song.

I don't know if the database in the Columbus system is updated periodically for any future releases though?

Gracenote is only any practical use with normal shop bought music CDs, however its only as good as when the data was loaded. Gracenote serves no purpose for your ipod, SD Card, DVD or whatever with MP3 files on. 

... and it seems to be quite out of date, and doesn't update with the map updates.

 

Not found a way to update it yet ......

 

It includes album art for some albums if you are ripping direct from CD to the Columbus hard drive (Jukebox).

Mine's just been to the dealer and had a software update. I'll bet this includes the Gracenote db.

Mine's just been to the dealer and had a software update. I'll bet this includes the Gracenote db.

 

I guess it depends what counts as a software update. The downloadable navigation updates don't seem to have extras. Perhaps a "core" update is different though.

 

http://new.skoda-auto.com/en/experience/service/maps-updating

I guess it depends what counts as a software update. The downloadable navigation updates don't seem to have extras. Perhaps a "core" update is different though.

 

http://new.skoda-auto.com/en/experience/service/maps-updating

It was an attempt to fix a problem, so it was a "core" update. I did the map update a few weeks ago.

I would assume it comes as part of the navigation/map updates (when there is a new gracenotes database available).

I found in some German skoda forums people discussing different Gracenote database versions for Columbus but no-one seemed to be able to give a good answer for how to update to the latest level.

 

In the Columbus manual it says:
"Gracenote® is a database stored in the unit containing information and album covers. For more information on updating the data, please visit the ŠKODA website or contact a ŠKODA Partner."

I would assume it comes as part of the navigation/map updates (when there is a new gracenotes database available).

I found in some German skoda forums people discussing different Gracenote database versions for Columbus but no-one seemed to be able to give a good answer for how to update to the latest level.

 

In the Columbus manual it says:

"Gracenote® is a database stored in the unit containing information and album covers. For more information on updating the data, please visit the ŠKODA website or contact a ŠKODA Partner."

 

It isn't part of the map updates. I asked the dealer who didn't even know how to do a firmware update, or what Gracenotes was or how it is updated.

 

I think "For more information on updating the data, please visit the ŠKODA website or contact a ŠKODA Partner." roughly translates as we don't know how it gets updated, and neither do our franchised dealers, so don't ask.

It isn't part of the map updates. I asked the dealer who didn't even know how to do a firmware update, or what Gracenotes was or how it is updated.

 

You are right, the official Skoda map update website is actually from Navteq (it seems lots of manufacturers also use the same navigation system).

So it seems you can only download the latest maps from them (it doesnt update the software of the navigation unit, only the maps)

 

The Gracenotes database must be part of the main software for the complete navigation unit so I guess it would have to be updated by the main dealer.