Are There Any Real-Time GPS+Traffic Solutions? 21
Anonymous asks: "I've been wanting to buy a GPS unit for my car, especially since having to drive on the California freeways lately. However, it kills me to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on one of the available units, knowing that right around the corner, I'll see devices that can factor in live traffic data. Or maybe something like this already exists? California does offer ways of downloading their freeway sensor data on the web (this is what sigalert.com uses for their cool maps). For example, this text file is updated frequently with the latest speeds for all the listed sensors. And most GPS units will let you choose between the 'shortest' route and the 'fastest' route. If only we could re-write the algorithm for 'fastest route' to take into effect real-time traffic speeds, check alternate routes, etc. Still, I'd be willing to pay thousands of dollars for a really good GPS+Traffic device that JUST WORKS. Are there any? Are they any good? Are there any on the horizon that you're drooling over?"
Back from Japan recently... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Back from Japan recently... (Score:2)
Re:Back from Japan recently... (Score:2, Interesting)
You mean like GPS units that have been on sale for several years [google.com] (screenshots) here in the US from companies like TomTom [tomtom.com]?
Re:Back from Japan recently... (Score:2)
Re:Back from Japan recently... (Score:2)
Re:Back from Japan recently... (Score:2)
Re:Back from Japan recently... (Score:2)
Better get started today. (Score:2, Funny)
Funny you should ask.... (Score:4, Informative)
Engadget posted something just yesterday about one of Garmin's new StreetPilots that does just that!
XM & Sirius Radio (Score:4, Informative)
http://www.xmradio.com/newsroom/screen/pr_2004_11
Sirius has something going on with NavTEQ
http://www.navteq.com/NewsUserServlet?action=News
Re:XM & Sirius Radio (Score:1)
TomTom Navigator 5 (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:TomTom Navigator 5 (Score:1)
Re:TomTom Navigator 5 (Score:1)
Update: It's finally available via circuit city [circuitcity.com] for $855 (not cheap).
Honda uses XM NavTraffic (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Honda uses XM NavTraffic (Score:3, Informative)
Forgot to mention that XM's system is also available via two different Pioneer AVIC [xmradio.com] after-market products.
resolution (Score:2)
PharosGPS (Score:1)
A difficult and expensive problem (Score:2)
In my Real Job (tm) I'm working on a system that does things with GPS data, including plotting the results on maps.
The main cost is the map data, and software to draw maps from umpteen gigs of raw data. They ship the main portion of the data (streets and highways for Canada and the U.S.) on 3 DVDs, a great improvement over the release before that came on 15 CDs. The hardware requirements are non-trivial too, and can really add up.
Even with the map data you then have several problems that are hard to g
Re:A difficult and expensive problem (Score:1)
Actually, I don't drive... I take public transportation. But I always end up giving driving directions to family/friends that come to visit my city apartment.
(You're the one driving... YOU should know the streets. How can it be that I, who has never been behind the wheel, can tell you how to get from anywhere to anywhere else!?)