Google Offering Live Traffic Maps via Cell Phones 178
Kranfer writes "Reuters is covering the newest offering from Google: real-time traffic mapping on your cell phone. Now you can check how the traffic is ahead of you, of course as long as you don't cause the traffic incident yourself by checking the local issues on your cell phone while driving. Point your cell phone browser to http://google.com/gmm to get your local traffic maps if you live within one of the 30 U.S. cities where this is available."
I don't like this (Score:4, Insightful)
You KNOW the times it'll be most hit is when people are stuck in traffic, which is when they should be most attentive to the road, not to their toys.
Bleh to this.
Re:I don't like this (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:I don't like this (Score:5, Insightful)
Radios aren't the same as they are passive devices (except for those ADD types who can't leave the dial alone, and in that case, they are just as bad .
If it takes your eyes off the road, it is bad. Plain and simple. Live traffic updates on a cell phone is just about guaranteed to do this.
Re:I don't like this (Score:2)
Maybe they should add messing with your radio to the driving test, but they're legal and it's the driver's responsibility to use it and control the vehicle.
Re:I don't like this (Score:2)
Re:I don't like this (Score:2, Funny)
That would be bad (Score:2)
Re:I don't like this (Score:2)
It's all a matter of the driver understanding proper priority and responsibility. It is possible to use a hands-free phone safely while driving, just as it is holding a conversation with a passenger.
Re:I don't like this (Score:1)
Re:I don't like this (Score:4, Interesting)
Sure, there are similarities and differences between using a cell vs a radio, but I believe that the current cell implementation is much, much worse.
Similarities, people can be distracted while fiddling with cells and radios. More so with changing a CD than changing the station. But it pretty much stops there.
Cell phone conversations while driving seem to be increasing and the radio is pretty much a constant. Cell phone users while driving often appear (and statistically are similar) to drunk drivers. Actually, they drive worse because drunk drivers are more careful because they are scared of being caught. They often drive below the speed limit and/or speed of traffic. They make erratic and impulsive turns. They don't stay in their lanes. They are more engaged in their conversation than driving. The list goes on.
I would bet that my cell phone driver vs drunk driver detection skills have a ratio of about 10:1 probably closer to 50:1.
Now, with the new Google offering. Close but no cigar.
I've been talking about a new p2p user contributed realtime traffic, police, roadblock, etc monitoring system with a good UI that "just works".
To me, that would be excellent, and will happen. Kinda like the CBs of yesteryear, but more 2006ish.
Re:I don't like this (Score:5, Insightful)
I am curious why they don't have a "show traffic" option on their normal web-based interface, though... you'd think it would be pretty wildly popular with people about to leave to/from work.
I agree with that (Score:3, Insightful)
It's just unfortunate that there's a big enough percentage of people who aren't you that we all know this won't be when it's used.
Re:I agree with that (Score:4, Funny)
"I was driving along checking traffic on my cell phone, rear-ended someone in front of me, and my accident showed up on Google in just X minutes!"
Minor improvement (Score:2)
Re:I agree with that (Score:2)
Re:I don't like this (Score:4, Informative)
Re:I don't like this (Score:3, Insightful)
Try living in L.A.. If you're pulling out your phone to get a traffic update, the odds are pretty darned good you're already stopped.
Re:I don't like this (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I don't like this (Score:2)
I agree with you, partly. Users are definitely responsible for misusing the tools they are given, but tool developers have the responsibility of creating tools that don't facilitate potentially damaging uses, or do so in the smallest way possible. We already know people are stupid, so we should develop tools under that assumption.
Re:I don't like this (Score:2)
Re:I don't like this (Score:2)
All within reason. You're referring to the accidental misuse of a rarely used household item. Furthermore, this accidental use causes harm to the user and nobody else.
In this case we're talking about intentional misuse (people are well aware of the dangers) of an almost ubiquitous device while handling a very dangerous (and also ubiquitous) piece of equipment. It's a public hazard, and has and will t
Re:I don't like this (Score:2)
Re:I don't like this (Score:2)
Who decides when harm is being done? You? Me? No, there's usually some regulatory system that deals with this, and, ideally, it's properly tuned to ensure the well being of the majority. This is exactly what I mean about having a compromise. If you know that some product is going to be mostly used in a way that will cause harm to others (drugs and weapons come to mind) then it
Re:I don't like this (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes people will likely abuse it, like they abuse other tools. Complaining about useful tools. that could be abused is irritating and pointless.
Maybe they should shutdown their search engine too, I heard you can search for porno, bomb making materials, drug recipes, and lots of other naughty stuff. Heck maybe they should shut down the whole Internet because you KNOW people use it to steal credit card numbers, send spam and exploit children.
Short sighted, close minded people who shun new technology really drive me crazy, mainly because this knee jerk mentality is most often associated with the politicians, and lobbyists.
Oh well... My little comment and opinion won't change anything, but at least I got it off my chest.
BtW... The mobile maps application seems pretty slick in the few minutes I played with it (sitting at the safety of my desk). I am looking forward to some real word trials.
-MS2K
Re:I don't like this (Score:2, Informative)
Re:I don't like this (Score:2, Interesting)
Instead of cities having traffic cameras every two miles, maybe Google can get people to stop in traffic and take pictures with their phone so we can have live shots every 50 meters?
A GoogleRewards program for every 10th upload from a major freeway.
Re:I don't like this (Score:2)
Well I do. (Score:2, Insightful)
I *hate* this (Score:2)
This may be the first time I'm actually *glad* I no longer have a street bike, and it's making me wonder if it's not time to trade in the Miata for a surplus HumVee with armor plating.
Re:I don't like this (Score:2, Insightful)
Now, I still agree with you, but I imagine the intent here is a stepping stone to real-time in-car routing that factors traffic in
Re:I don't like this (Score:2)
Hummm, Brain... what are we going to do tonight?
Re:I don't like this (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:I don't like this (Score:2)
Smart people give the map, or the hardware, to their passenger. Or they pull over to consult it if they don't have a passenger.
Windows mobile? (Score:4, Interesting)
If this thing's not going to work on Windows Mobile 5.0, I'm not sure for whom it's intended.
Re:Windows mobile? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Windows mobile? (Score:2)
Re:Windows mobile? (Score:2)
Re:Windows mobile? (Score:2)
Re:Windows mobile? (Score:4, Informative)
Not out of the box, but you can get a J2ME engine from IBM that supports several combinations of OS/Hardware: IBM WEME [ibm.com]
There's a few other JVMs for WM out there, i.e Mysaifu.
Re:Windows mobile? (Score:2)
Re:Windows mobile? (Score:2)
Great, just great (Score:5, Funny)
Wonderful.
Re:Great, just great (Score:1)
That's a good point -- it seems like this would make a lot of sense integrated into the normal browser-based Google Maps app so that you can have a look at traffic and perhaps decide to change your route before leaving the house or office.
Re:Great, just great (Score:4, Insightful)
There are other options, so stay off the cell.
Re:Great, just great (Score:2)
Re:Great, just great (Score:4, Insightful)
And there you have it. You can already get this information via the radio in most metropolitan markets, so what's the point? Unless you're Speed Racer, real-time traffic updates aren't going to be of much use. And here's a little point to consider: where are they getting the traffic information from? Answer: the same sources that provide it to the radio and TV stations. Unless Google is going to build its own traffic sensing network (and don't put it past them), their data is only going to be as good as the last update you would get from the traffic reporting agencies anyway. Let's face it, when an accident happens, even with all the people who own mobile phones, how long does it take before it's reported to the traffic monitors? ANd even then, how many times have you heard reports of an accident that have long been over and traffic is flowing again, despite the traffic report saying that things are still backed up? Nope, this is just Google pushing the limits of what they should be doing to try and establish themselves in another niche market.
Re:Great, just great (Score:2)
And there you have it. You can already get this information via the radio in most metropolitan markets, so what's the point?
Just a quick FYI. NYC != most metropolitan markets. I live in a city with 2 million people and don't have this option. I for one welcome our new google traffic on cell phone overlords.
Also, when am I going to get this to interact with dodgeball [slashdot.org], so I don't have to worry about losing my friends who are following me in the thick of battle^H^H^H^H^H^H^Htraffic
Completely insufficient. (Score:2)
Radio and other passive communication methods completely fail - I need to be able to say "I
Re:Completely insufficient. (Score:2)
-molo
Re:Great, just great (Score:2)
The point is that when you can poll the traffic sensors via Google, rather than wait for "Traffic On The Ones" there's no race condition.
It seems to happen far too frequently that just as the traffic report comes on, I enter a tunnel or some other AM interference zone and miss the 5 second mention of my particular route.
Or, another all too common situation: I'm three minutes from a highway junction for
Re:Great, just great (Score:2)
This service is something badly needed.
Re:Great, just great (Score:2)
Re:Great, just great (Score:2)
The problem with radio traffic reports in the DC area is that they spend their 30 seconds telling you about the same main roads (beltway, I-66, I-270, and I-95), which are always in the same state of congestion and the people that use them all know this. They spend no time telling you about the arteries where there are alternate routes that have random activity th
Re:Great, just great (Score:2)
I think most people would agree (and yes, I'm making presumptions based on my own experiences and those I know) that they are able to identify more individuals who are obviously driving while on a cell phone (via visual inspection) than individuals who are obvio
Re:Great, just great (Score:2)
The other problem I have with the "cellphones as bad as being drunk" claim is that if you look at the past 10 or 15 years, the number of cellphones has exploded; there ought to be a huge and obvious increase in the total number of auto accidents per year, roughly proportional to the adoption of cellphones. I've never seen anything that suggests this. In fact, the driving fatalities per million miles travelled has gone down over the past 10 years, as cellphone use has increased. While cars have go
Good Idea? (Score:3, Funny)
Palm no go (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Palm no go (Score:2)
Re:Palm no go (Score:2)
It looks like one possible solution is Mobile GMaps [mgmaps.com], which has the added advantage of also being able to use the Yahoo and Microsoft mapping services as well. Additionally, and this is very nice, it can use Bluetooth GPS or your phone's internal GPS system (if it has permissions and the right APIs - aka, if you're lucky).
-Erwos
Re:Palm no go (Score:2)
Re:Palm no go (Score:2)
Treo 650 (Score:4, Interesting)
Google Maps
Sorry, Google Maps does not work on your Palm Treo-650.
I figured I'd use it before heading out on the road to find the best way to get somewhere, NOT while driving. That'd just be foolish.
Re:Treo 650 (Score:3, Insightful)
If it doesn't work on my device, for all practical purposes it doesn't exist. *shrug*
(Not to mention that the Treo 650 is UNBELIEVABLY COMMON these days....)
Not real-time in nature (Score:5, Funny)
We understand your privacy concerns and can assure you that the satellite images are taken from a variety of commercial and public resources and are not real-time in nature. The images that Google Maps displays are no different from what can be seen by anyone who flies over or drives by a specific geographic location.
Whew! For a minute there I thought I saw black helicopters in my rear-view mirror soon after I searched Google traffic to go get a loaf of bread.
Which US Providers? (Score:1)
Re:Which US Providers? (Score:2)
Re:Which US Providers? (Score:2)
Re:Which US Providers? (Score:2)
Re:Which US Providers? (Score:2)
Works for me... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Works for me... (Score:2)
You luddites need to get a grip.
CRASH! (Score:5, Funny)
Sorry.
pizza? (Score:2)
tom
Come on (Score:5, Insightful)
- Get the destination from my Google Calendar
- Calculate the time of travel to my destination. Factor in traffic and construction.
- Tell me when I need to leave in order to arrive on time
- Tell me alternate routes to take based on which one is fastest right now
- Message me on my phone when it's time to leave.
You have all the information. Put it together into something helpful.
Re:Come on (Score:2)
In fact, if they made it available to try out on normal browsers first, that might get more people interested in it on their cell phones.
Anyway, in the meantime, anyone aware of a cell-phone-browser-emulator for firefox?
Re:Come on (Score:2)
I did have the same thought, though. First, I tried to load the page in my browser. Then, I looked for a cell-phone emulator.
Re:Come on (Score:2)
Re:Come on (Score:2)
Re:Come on (Score:2)
- profit
Re:Come on (Score:2)
- Advertisements for restuarants to stop for lunch on the way back.
Data plan required (Score:2)
Re:Data plan required (Score:2)
DUH!
Why would you think there wouldn't be a data plan required? You are going to be downloading data, from google.com.
Requires Java :( (Score:2)
A simple html based page would have been much better.
Will wait and see what Windows Live Local and Yahoo Maps will cookup. Maybe they will have a more workable product.
Re:Requires Java :( (Score:2)
Is that so? And how would you expect them to accomplish this with "simple html"?
Google's Beef with The Treo 650? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Google's Beef with The Treo 650? (Score:2)
Re:Google's Beef with The Treo 650? (Score:2)
Which Cities ??? (Score:2)
How helpful! Especially since their dang fake cell phone demo that they make you go to doesn't even seem to work correctly, so I cant even tell.
Anyone have a list of cities where this is available?
Blackberry Support (Score:2)
*Favorites -- now I don't have to type my home address in everytime I want to map from my house to somewhere else
*Details about locations - how long is that place open? (only works with some places, none of which I can find yet)
*Live traffic -- we'll see how well it actually works. Keep in mind, I know the int
Screenshots on a 9500 (Score:3, Interesting)
No workie (Score:2)
Feh. I need a real phone.
- Necron69
Neat, but SLOW (Score:2)
For some reason my RAZR needed a WML page loaded before the HTML page. I also made arrangements for the close-ups of the different areas. All of which can be found
here [spiceware.org]
Spoof from a computer? (Score:2)
Re:Spoof from a computer? (Score:2)
Go to their web site. They have a live demo available that runs as an applet.
Unlimited GPRS (Score:2)
T-mobile works for me... (Score:2)
I installed it on my Nokia N90 that I have through t-mobile with their unlimited GPRS/EDGE plan and it works just fine.
Been doing this for years (Score:2)
The 9300 is in a cradle (not a lame one against the windshield) and the php page auto refreshes every five minutes so it's all quite safe. Saves me a lot of hassle becaus
Google Maps on phone rules! But 1.3.0 is buggy... (Score:2)
For the $30/mo I pay for T-Mo's unlimited GPRS/EDGE + T-Mo Hotspot access, I have found my way to too many locations using Google Maps to count.
Now that they've added traffic-density functionality, my drive can only get better...
Other than that, the app is great and I love Google.
Re:Data Rates and the need for true Wireless inter (Score:2)
Re:Data Rates and the need for true Wireless inter (Score:2)