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Oct
16
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I just installed and had a quick play with Google maps on my Treo; for a first release it's pretty good; but it's along way from being a replacement for TomTom navigator - ie. no GPS link and the maps are a little slow to download. One neat feature is the (presumably) live traffic updates - though I'm not sure it will route around traffic hotspots like TomTom does.
It's a shame mobile browsers aren't more capable - downloading a native app. for every neato AJAX-heavy application isn't really the answer IMO.
That said, I'll definitely take another look in the future.
Technorati Tags: ajax, google map, treo|
Nov
2
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As much as I like my Treo650 (see previous posts here and here) and use it for pretty much everything - navigation (via BlueTooth GPS), listening to audiobooks, music and podcasts, email, news alerts, checking the weather, browsing, general organizing and occasionally making phone calls; it's not quite the 'one gadget to rule them all' - but it does come pretty close. I'm constantly thinking ways that tighter integration of the features would really add value above and beyond the value of the individual features.
Here's a couple of examples, the latest version of the TomTom nav. software I use has a couple of neat features :
1. TomTom allows you to get real-time traffic information for the route you currently have planned - I have used this feature and can confirm it works - I've even used it to re-route around an accident. Neat but no good enough - the majority of hold ups I encounter are just your run-of-the-mill high traffic density delays - and TomTom doesn't really provide much detail about those - presumably because there's no sensor grid covering all the freeways in the US to give accurate traffic flow information. But hold on - what if every GPS system had the ability to share local information - ie. could share speed / route telemetry with a central server that could build up an accurate real-time picture of the traffic flow - ie. drivers ahead of you on US 101 could essentially help you avoid the slow jam they were in. That would be neat - share local information to everyone's benefit.
2. TomTom has a nice feature in it's directory lookup - eg. mid route, you can lookup the nearest gas station, kids park, store or restaurant - it even gives you the opportunity to phone them (eg. if you wanted to check they were open). Again, pretty good - but not good enough - TomTom hs it's own internal and fairly limited database - what I really want is to be able to quickly do a search (ala Google) with some implied search terms related to my current location and future destination. So when I'm driving back from Soccer - I can simply ask to be routed to the nearest Taco joint or more likely in my case the nearest chiropractor ;). This would be an especially useful feature when you're travelling - eg. in a foreign city (where asking directions is often a challenge).
3. Here's another idea - now that I have added location to my identity - how can I share it ? Just as I share my photos and thoughts on the web - in certain cases, I'd actually like to share my location - especially with friends and co-workers - if you've travelled you've probably had that call @ 3am in the morning on your cell phone from one of your office neighbours to see if you want to go for a coffee (they didn't know you were in a different time-zone). Another example - when I'm at a conference - I'd like to know if some of my contacts on my social-network are around - it would be nice to meet in person. Clearly - I want to control who I share my location information with because I don't want to start getting smart-location-aware-spam !!
If you work for Palm (or other gadget vendor) and want more ideas - I'd be happy to share in return for toys !!
Technorati Tags : Treo650, Mashup, Location, Web2.0, Phone2.0
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Sep
26
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About six months ago I bought TomTom Navigator for my Palm Tungsten (see my previous blog entry) and more recently upgraded my Palm to a Treo650 (blog entry). The GPS receiver for the TomTom was the serial cable type which doesn't support the Treo650 (different physical connector) so I've been looking to upgrade to a Bluetooth GPS receiver so I can sell the Palm Tungsten and wired GPS receiver on ebay and just use the one device. TomTom doesn't sell just the wireless receiver so I had to take a bit of a risk and buy one from elsewere. As it happens my concerns were unfounded; after a little research I bought the GlobalSat BT308 Bluetooth GPS receiver which I also believe is called the iTreck M3. I'd originally envisaged connectivity or compatibility problems but the device was detected immediately (and having added it to my Treo650's trusted device list - connects quickly whenever the two devices are close enough).
The GPS receiver is very compact - about the size of a very small cell phone; and very light. It has a couple of LEDs (indicating power, satellite acquisition and bluetooth activity) and a power button - very simple. It can apparently handle up to 20 satellites (but TomTom Navigator only display 14 and I've only seen 8 acquired) and the battery lasts up to 17 hours (yet to test this). It has a good auto-power off feature - so you can throw the device in your glove-compartment or bag and forget about it - when it fails to find a bluetooth device for a while it'll turn off and save your battery.
I haven't really 'test driven' the combo yet - the latest version (5.0) of TomTom Navigator provides new route setting features for pedestrians / cyclists and over the weekend I did try that out (whilst trying to get Jack to sleep) - though next week I should get to try it out in the urban canyons of San Francisco as I'll be attending the Web2.0 conference. To me this is the ideal trip for a portable GPS - driving to a place you don't know well (and having to deal with roadblocks and grid-locks) then parking and having to navigate at street level.
It'll be interesting how the combo deals will cell phone calls (using a BT headset) whilst navigating - I don't know if the Treo650 (or BT in general) handles multiple concurrent device sessions - I'll let you know when I find out.
