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Marvin Hlavac
Canada
6902 Posts |
 Posted - 05 sept. 2004 : 01:58:58
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New wish list for Streets & Trips 2007 is here:
 http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=39704
Streets & Trips 2006 Wish ListLast sent to Microsoft: May. 10, 2005
Compiled by GpsPasSion members.Keep good ideas coming. Updated list will be sent to Microsoft at a later date.
Dumpper’s artistic impression depicts some features on our wish list. Click here for more pictures.
1. Feature requested: 3D-View
Current Problem: At higher zoom levels drivers see more detail of their surrounding, but they only see a relatively small portion of the route ahead of them. To see more of the route, drivers have to use their keyboard and/or mouse to change the zoom level. Changing zoom level is the most common task for a driver using Streets & Trips with GPS. This frequent need to use a keyboard and/or mouse adds to inconvenience and safety risk for drivers who operate their laptops.
Suggested Solution: Implement 3D-View mode (like other GPS navigation software products). In 3D-View drivers can see more detail of their surrounding area and at the same time they see more of the road ahead of them (without unnecessary detail). This would add to more natural look of the map and would be less distractive for drivers because it would require less of their input.
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2. Feature requested: Color Scheme for Night Driving
Current Problem: While driving at night drivers are blinded by unnecessarily bright laptop screens while using Streets & Trips. That impairs their vision and creates unsafe driving environment.
Suggested Solution: Implement new map color scheme specifically designed for night driving. Other similar products use dark blue map background and switch automatically between Day and Night Color Schemes at sunrise and sunset.
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3. Feature requested: Voice Prompts
Current Problem: In order for a driver to use Streets & Trips with GPS to navigate, s/he has to spend unnecessarily too much time looking at the laptop screen. Drivers should keep their eyes on the road more but at the present time looking at the moving map is the only way to know of upcoming turn.
Suggested Solution: Implement “Voice Prompts” feature. Currently, users of navigation products are split in their opinion: one group firmly believes that pre-recorded human voice is superior to text-to-speech because it is easier to understand, it is short and to the point, and it doesn’t waste valuable time by reading of long names of streets (which is critical especially where several consecutive turns are to be made in short time). Second group equally firmly believes that the opposite is true: text-to-speech is better because it offers the reading of street names. Implementing both variants would satisfy all users.
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4. Feature requested: Display Distance-to-Turn
Current Problem: Without knowing exactly the distance to the next turn, drivers using Streets & Trips can only estimate it, and thus they need to glance at the moving map more often than users of software that does provide that valuable information. More time spent glancing at the laptop screen equals less available time for keeping eyes on the road.
Suggested Solution: Distance-to-Turn information is essential and should be displayed right on the map, in the left-top corner of the map and should include a picture of an arrow pointing the direction of the next turn. Avoid placing this information in the GPS Task Pane as users like to keep it closed to maximize visible map area.
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5. Feature requested: Display Real Time ETA, Remaining Time & Distance to Destination.
Current Problem: Travellers using Streets & Trips 2005 for GPS navigation cannot tell, just by looking at the map, such basic information as: what time they will arrive at their destination, remaining time of travel, and remaining distance to destination.
Suggested Solution: ETA, remaining time to destination, and remaining distance to destination are three essential pieces of information for travellers. These three items should be updated in real time and should be displayed right on the map, perhaps in one of the bottom corners of the map. Avoid placing this information in the GPS Task Pane, as users like to keep it closed to maximize visible map area.
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6. Feature requested: Keyboard Shortcuts
Current Problem: Users hitting + or – keys or other shortcuts often find they do not work because the map pane is not in focus. The user of Streets & Trips then has to click with his mouse on an empty area within the map pane to bring it to focus. If however, users click instead of en empty area an intersection or multiple POI area, a dialog box opens up requiring another mouse click on “Cancel” button. This process is way too long, complicated and inconvenient and it may cause a driver to miss a turn. Requiring so much user involvement just to perform simple zoom in or zoom out should not be necessary. It adds to driver distraction and may be affecting safety.
Suggested Solution: Keyboard shortcuts should be single keystroke and they should work regardless which pane is in focus. I developed a little add-on for MS Streets & Trips which I call S&Tkeys. It simplifies the use of the navigation program by giving users a one-click access to the most frequently used features. My wish is that future versions of MS Streets & Trips will make S&Tkeys obsolete by introducing identical keyboard shortcuts as currently available via S&Tkeys. Read more here: http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24519
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7. Feature requested: Custom Toolbar
Current Problem: Tablet pc users may not have easy access to their keyboard and may not be able to use keyboard shortcuts.
Suggested Solution: Implement a custom toolbar in Streets & Trips.
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8. Feature requested: Full-Screen Mode
Current Problem: While using Streets & Trips for GPS navigation users try to fill as much of their laptop screen space with the map as possible. One way to accomplish it is by closing all the tool bars after setting the destination and turning on GPS. But it takes way too many mouse clicks to close all the tool bars and still the Menu Bar and Title Bar are visible.
Suggested Solution: Implement Full-Screen mode. On a large 15” laptop monitor users will gain over ½” of vertical space just by eliminating Menu Bar and Title Bar.
Implement a one-key shortcut access to Full-Screen mode. This would lessen driver distraction and help to keep his eyes on the road and hands on the steering wheel.
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9. Feature requested: Fix Re-Route Bug
Current Problem: Newly introduced feature in Streets & Trips 2005 “Recalculate route from current location” ignores user preferences and always recalculates using “Quickest” setting.
Suggested Solution: Correct the function of this feature so it takes into account user set Route segment preferences.
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10. Feature requested: Automatic Route Recalculation
Current Problem: When drivers miss for example their highway exit they are not automatically re-routed by Streets & Trips but they have to go through doing this manually which may take more than one mouse click if GPS Pane is not open.
Suggested Solution: Implement a new Auto Re-Route feature to make driving and using Streets & Trips a safer combination.
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11. Feature requested: Fix Keep-Position-Centered
Current Problem: There is always a certain element of risk involved when a person driving at a high rate of speed on a highway needs to take his eyes off the road to glance at his laptop screen. The risk increases with the length of time needed to keep one’s eyes not focused on the road conditions ahead. Similar software solutions for in-car navigation display the GPS position icon constantly in the exact same place on the screen so the user intuitively knows precisely where to look. In Streets & Trips the icon will move even several inches on a 15” screen before the map refreshes and the icon jumps back to the centre of the map. Eyes of the driver have to “search” for the icon, thus spending more time not paying attention to the road.
Suggested Solution: The icon should not move at all. Only the map should move. Also the icon should not be in the centre but closer to the bottom of the map so drivers can see more of the road ahead and less of the road behind. The best example of moving map is TomTom GO: even though it gets a new GPS position information once every second (just like S&T), TomTom GO will actually "refresh" its screen 4 times per second (!) which creates a very beautiful and fluid movement of the map.
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12. Feature requested: GPS Functions On When Program Starts
Current Problem: Every time after starting Streets & Trips users have to turn on the same three functions: 1. Track position, 2. Keep position centered, 3. Rotate map to follow travel direction. Currently there is no way for a user of Streets & Trips to specify that these functions be turned on when program starts.
Suggested Solution: When program starts these three functions should be turned on if the user selects it as an option.
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13. Feature requested: Ability to Add Own Routable Roads
Current Problem: It takes approximately 2 to 3 years for a new street to finally make it into Streets & Trips. Users living in areas of new developments are inconvenienced during that period of time. If a new major road or a highway is built in your city it may completely change how people travel in the area and it may make Streets & Trips unusable.
Suggested Solution: Implement a new feature that would allow users to create routable roads by “Create GPS Trail” feature. Users should be able to edit the properties of these roads: direction of one-way street, prohibited turns, road type, and so on.
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14. Feature requested: Ability to Edit Road Properties
Current Problem: When a direction of a one-way street is changed or a new prohibited turn sign is placed somewhere today, it will take approximately 2 to 3 years for that change to finally make it into Streets & Trips. Users who frequently travel on roads affected by a recent change find it inconvenient and annoying not being able to edit the map themselves.
Suggested Solution: Implement a new feature that would allow users to edit the underlying properties of roads: direction of one-way street, prohibited turns, road type, and so on.
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15. Feature requested: Ability to add Custom POI’s & POI Categories
Current Problem: Users complain about the Pushpin function lacking an easy way to turn all or some pushpins on/off. Some users don’t like that pushpins stay the same big size at all zoom levels.
Suggested Solution: Let users add their own Points of Interest and Points of Interest Categories. The ability to add our own POI's and POI categories would eliminate a lot, if not most, difficulties people have with pushpins.
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16. Feature requested: Ability to edit existing POI's
Current Problem: Users complain about some important POI’s being at wrong address or not being on the map at all.
Suggested Solution: Give users the ability to edit existing POI information: address, name, phone number, etc. Also let users delete POI’s and add new ones.
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17. Feature requested: Time-of-day & day-of-week traffic restrictions awareness
Current Problem: Especially large cities set time-of-day and/or day-of week restrictions on some traffic signs to regulate traffic flow in rush hours and/or during specific days of week (e.g. weekdays). Microsoft Streets & Trips doesn’t use this information when creating routes or while users drive and use S&T for GPS navigation.
Suggested Solution: Implement time-of-day and day-of-week traffic restrictions awareness in MS Streets & Trips. To my knowledge at this time no other in-car navigation solution provides this very important feature when generating a route or while navigating with GPS. Microsoft’s large user base would appreciate your leadership in this area.
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18. Feature requested: “Find” function should remember State/Province and City
Current Problem: Most users most of the time search for addresses locally in one State/Province or in one city, but unless they specify this every time they do a search, Streets & Trips will search the whole country, returning possibly too many irrelevant results. Entering the same information (State/Province and/or City) every time a search is done is tedious and should be unnecessary.
Suggested Solution: Modify the “Find” box to let users put a “Remember” checkmark beside City and another one beside State/Province if they wish.
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19. Feature requested: Highway Exit Numbers Search
Current Problem: In earlier version of Streets & Trips users were able to search for highway exits by typing for example “exit 123” into the Find dialog box. Now typing “exit 123” will not return any relevant information because highway exit numbers no longer have the word “Exit” in front of them. Now users don’t know how to search for hwy exits.
Suggested Solution: Implement a new feature for highway exit numbers search.
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20. Feature requested: Automatic Zoom
Current Problem: Especially users with smaller laptop screens tend to use zoom function at every road turn. They zoom in before the turn and zoom out when they complete the turn. This repetitive user input is a constant driver distraction.
Suggested Solution: When drivers are approaching their road turn or highway exit the software should automatically zoom in to show more detail. When drivers complete their turn Streets & Trips should zoom out to the previous zoom level. Users should have the option to use or not use this Automatic-Zoom function.
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21. Feature requested: Move car dealerships from Landmarks to Auto Services or a new Dealership category.
Current Problem: In the 2005 version of Microsoft Streets and Trips a large number of Auto Dealerships was added to the POI database. This was an important and welcomed addition to the program. However, we have two problems now:
1. POI Landmarks category is cluttered with car dealerships which makes searching for other landmarks difficult.
2. Motorists in need of repairs are not able, in most cases, to locate a dealer service facility in Auto Services POI category.
Suggested Solution: Move car dealerships from Landmarks category into Auto Services category, or create a new Automotive Dealerships category.
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22. Feature requested: Improve Map Coverage
Current Problem: In version 2005 there are now missing parts of Canada that were included in previous versions. Now some streets are missing names which in v.2004 did have names.
Suggested Solution: Improve map coverage.
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23. Feature requested: Weather Information
Current Problem: Weather conditions affect driving.
Suggested Solution: iGuidance version 2.1 is a first laptop (and also PPC) navigation software that has just recently introduced one click access to weather information. Pressing W-key on your keyboard brings up a web page showing you current weather in your GPS location. You may also right-click any location on the map and from the menu that opens select “Weather” to get weather information for that location. Mobile Internet access is needed for the function. Many of us do have GPRS modems or mobile phones connected to our computers. A possible improvement of the iGuidance 2.1 implementation of this function would be to overlay the weather forecast right on the map. Another GPS software offering access to weather info is Storm Hawk software.
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24. Feature requested: Create Rear View Camera Interface
Current Problem: Stand alone Rear View Mirror Rear Observation Systems cost around $1,000. They do make backing-up larger vehicles easier and safer. They may save lives or prevent injuries, but are quite costly.
Suggested Solution: Implementing interface between a camera and Streets & Trips would enable drivers, especially those driving SUV’s, RV’s and trucks, to have a very inexpensive Rear Observation System. Replacing the current Overview Map in GPS Pane with Camera Window would be one possible solution. The Overview Map does not serve much purpose and is unlikely used by many users.
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25. Feature requested: Add "Lock aspect ratio" option in "Save as Web Page"
Current Problem: If users wish to save a size different than 1:1, and they know they want the map width for example 500 pixels wide they have to "manually" calculate the map height in pixels just to maintain correct aspect ratio.
Suggested Solution: Implement "Lock aspect ratio" feature to make it easier for users to use the "Save as Web Page" feature.
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26. Feature requested: Eliminate "No GPS Signal" warning
Current Problem: When drivers are in covered parking structures or other areas with poor GPS signal, S&T will pop up a dialog box letting users know there has been no GPS signal detected for 10 minutes. Users are then required to click “Yes” or “No” to instruct S&T if to continue searching for satellites. This request for user input is unnecessary and some users find it annoying.
Suggested Solution: Other GPS navigation products let users know of insufficient satellite signal by just changing color of the icon (arrow, car, etc), or by changing map from full color to greyscale. Such notification is sufficient. Keeping requirement for user input to the minimum lets users concentrate on their driving.
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27. Feature requested: Advanced Option: Search in "Contains" manner
Current Problem: When searching for a “Place/Data”, the search tends to be carried out only in a "Starts With" manner. There is no advanced option for users to specify they wish the search for text be undertaken in "Contains" manner. (Currently, when searching e.g. for “Pearson Airport” we receive no relevant results because the full correct name is Lester B. Pearson International Airport.)
Suggested Solution: MS Streets & Trips has a very powerful and intelligent search engine. However, in some instances users would benefit if an advanced search option would be introduced, which would allow for search to be undertaken in "Contains" manner. This should be implemented just as a user selectable search option so as not to interfere with the way searches are done now.
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28. Feature requested: Advanced Option: Allow users to specify a zoom level above which some objects will not display.
Current Problem: Pushpins, Stop icons, objects created by drawing tools (including text), and saved GPS trail, are now visible at all zoom levels. This behavior is undesirable in most situations.
Suggested Solution: When someone draws an object on the map, add a property to the drawn object that allows the user to optionally specify a zoom level above which that object will not display. So if you have a trip of the US planned, and you zoom out to view the whole trip, you don't have to see every single overlapped detailed drawing you might have placed on the trip.
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29. Feature requested: Add drag-and-drop functionality to Route Planner
Current Problem: Users working with multiple stops cannot manage them inside the Route Planner intuitively.
Suggested Solution: Modify the route planner so that stops can be selected, dragged and dropped elsewhere in the list, rather than simply allowing one level at a time click up/click down. If the person is trying to drag past the displayed limits of the list, and there are scrollable contents, automatically scroll the list. It would be extra nice if the user could select multiple stops at once for this function.
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30. Feature requested: Advanced user selectable option to not change or change zoom level when Get Directions feature is used.
Current Problem: After clicking “Get Directions” it is often undesirable for the map to change zoom level.
Suggested Solution: When a person uses "Get Directions", retain the current zoom level rather than automatically zooming out to see the entire route.
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31. Feature requested: Allow for multiple routes to be displayed simultaniously
Current Problem: Unable to plan multiple routes
Suggested Solution: Allow multiple routes to be displayed simultaneously. Either by allowing routes from multiple .est files to be opened and displayed on one map, or by allowing multiple routes to be created in one file.
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32. Feature requested: Optional "Hide" feature for Stop icons
Current Problem: Currently, if you have a long complicated route and are trying to print the map, the actual route gets obscured by all the overlaid boxes. In most instances users do not want to see the Start, End, and even the Stop icons at all.
Suggested Solution: Allow the option to display the route with the yellow stop number boxes hidden.
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33. Feature requested: High Contrast map color scheme designed for color-blind and visually-impaired
Current Problem: Color blind users find it difficult to distinguish between the green route color and red color of some highways.
Suggested Solution: An S&T user with color deficiency has suggested as a possible improvement to create a high-contrast color scheme: "I suspect that a black and white scheme would be good. A white or 20-25% gray background with all the road black lines with a white or light yellow fill might work."
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34. Feature requested: Route option for cars, RV’s, and large trucks
Current Problem: There are many truckers that use Streets & Trips, AutoRoute, and MapPoint for GPS navigation. Currently these products don’t give users the option to specify what vehicle type they wish to generate route for. Large vehicles may need to avoid height restricted roads, U-turns, sharp turns, narrow roads and dense urban streets.
Suggested Solution: Implement a feature that would allow users to specify in Route Options the type of vehicle to generate route for. For example: Car, RV, or Truck.
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35. Feature requested: Make MS PocketStreets into full featured navigation software.
Current Problem: Many users who like S&T wrongfully assume MS PocketStreets will give them the same functions on their PocketPC device. However, first they blame themselves for not being sophisticated enough to discover on their own how to install the whole map of North America on their new 2GB SD, or 4GB CF memory cards. Then they also keep looking unsuccessfully through the program’s options for a way to generate a route from their GPS position to their destination. But later they are in disbelief when they find out these and other very basic features are just not included.
Suggested Solution: Make MS PocketStreets into full featured PDA navigation software. Similar products sell for about US$100. Perhaps give a 30 day free trial to buyers of S&T, but there is no need to give away the software for free anymore.
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36. Feature requested: GPS locator based on SiRFstarIII chip, and with magnetic base.
Current Problem: Users have complained about the lack of sensitivity of the GPS locator included with S&T 2005. It is noticeably less sensitive to GPS satellite reception than other GPS mouse-type receivers, even those based on the same chip. Users also miss the magnetic base feature found in other similar products.
Suggested Solution: Include an optional GPS locator based on the latest SiRFstarIII chip which is currently the most powerful and sensitive. Include magnet base.
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37. Feature requested: Fix GPS Trail bug.
Current Problem: In some configurations S&T 2005 crashes usually after one or two hours of driving with Create GPS Trail feature enabled. The issue is not related to low computer resources because it does occur even on computers as fast as P4-2.8GHz with 512MB RAM running WinXP SP2.
Suggested Solution: Correct the function of this feature so it can be used even on long trips without experiencing crashes in some computer configurations.
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Regards,
Marvin Hlavac
Toronto, Canada |
Edited by - Marvin Hlavac on 29 oct. 2005 02:34:43
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xcanuk
Canada
77 Posts |
Posted - 05 sept. 2004 : 04:57:15
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Add the missing parts of Canada back to the program. Maritimes seem to be ignored.
Custom toolbar feature
Color Scheme > I switch to Terrian or Political Map View, a little easier on the eyes. |
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Marvin Hlavac
Canada
6902 Posts |
Posted - 05 sept. 2004 : 07:42:16
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Hi Xcanuc,
Could you elaborate a little on the custom toolbar feature...
Agreed about the newly missing parts of Canada. If Gpspassion is right about MS possibly switching to Navteq only coverage we may need to wait till Navteq aquires missing data.
I just tried the Terrain and Political Map color schemes. You are right, especially the Terrain may be easier on eyes for night driving as a temporary solution. What I would like MS to implement is a new color scheme designed specifically for night driving: dark blue background... like other navigation solutions. Old version of iGuidance used to be great:
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Regards,
Marvin Hlavac
Toronto, Canada |
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xcanuk
Canada
77 Posts |
Posted - 05 sept. 2004 : 14:36:40
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| Custom toolbar > much like other Microsoft software, you can create custom toolbars, basically showing the shortcuts you use most. The laptop I use now is a tablet, so keyboard shortcuts are a thing of the past while driving. |
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Marvin Hlavac
Canada
6902 Posts |
Posted - 05 sept. 2004 : 15:59:43
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Xcanuk, I never used a tablet pc so I didn't realize you didn't have easy access to your keyboard. Now it makes sense to me. It needs to be on the list indeed! How high should we put it on our wish list? Very high ;-)
How about a little external keyboard attached to your dashboard?
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Regards,
Marvin Hlavac
Toronto, Canada |
Edited by - Marvin Hlavac on 05 sept. 2004 16:03:24 |
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Marvin Hlavac
Canada
6902 Posts |
Posted - 05 sept. 2004 : 19:21:47
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Gpspassion, I like the .gif on the very top now! Thanks ;-)
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Regards,
Marvin Hlavac
Toronto, Canada |
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gpspassion
93427 Posts |
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xcanuk
Canada
77 Posts |
Posted - 06 sept. 2004 : 04:01:24
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As far as external keyboard, I found I can get away with a small usb numeric keyboard, which allows me to zoom ( + , - ) or scroll with the direction keys. I try to limit my input while driving. If I could program some other shortcuts into it, it would be perfect.
As much as I love the navigation, I don't want to be hunting for commands on a regular keyboard, so I usually set my screen and go. When I'm stopped, the custom shortcut toolbar would make it that much easier to change things. Typing is done through an onscreen keyboard. |
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xcanuk
Canada
77 Posts |
Posted - 20 sept. 2004 : 01:45:19
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New wish. Auto Zoom.
Bare with for a description. I have a preference to view my route maps at medium zoom. When coming up to a turn, I wish the map would auto zoom in so you can see all the details needed, maybe within a 5 km distance to the upcoming turn. (Much like if you printed turn by turn maps)
This could be connected to distance to turn or turn indicator window previously mentioned. |
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Marvin Hlavac
Canada
6902 Posts |
Posted - 21 sept. 2004 : 02:57:00
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True, Xcanuk. Other programs have AutoZoom feature and people like it.
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Regards,
Marvin Hlavac
Toronto, Canada |
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xcanuk
Canada
77 Posts |
Posted - 21 sept. 2004 : 05:01:17
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With more trips, the more I'll get to comment.
Must admit, starting to enjoy the new features.
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dumpper
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - 21 sept. 2004 : 20:04:50
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What about "Altitude tracking" (or "Altitude History") ?
For example, a line graph showing the altitude since the start of the trip, so that you know if you're going up or down a mountain or hill etc., very useful for recreational trips. I don't see many current software have this little feature as they're all obcessed with the trip tracking mostly ...
D.
*** Gears: WinXP SP2 on good old IBM 600E Laptop, Rayming TN-200 receiver, MapPoint 2004, Streets & Trips 2005, Routis 2004, Fugawi 3 & many GPS utility & port splitter software |
Edited by - dumpper on 21 sept. 2004 20:08:41 |
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dumpper
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - 21 sept. 2004 : 20:21:10
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Also, as we're in the 21st century, yet our GPS use & tech are still primitive & expensive. As weather is very much tied to road conditions of your trip, live weather forecast for the current GPS position is as essential as the trip itself. I have posted my question regarding this "live weather linked to GPS" here:
http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15622
Perhaps in a future version of Streets & Trips, we could have live weather forecast feeding directly as some small icons just above the GPS panel (ie. 1) current temp. & weather condition, 2) Road condition, 3) forecast for tomorrow) ... just an idea ...
*** Gears: WinXP SP2 on good old IBM 600E Laptop, Rayming TN-200 receiver, MapPoint 2004, Streets & Trips 2005, Routis 2004, Fugawi 3 & many GPS utility & port splitter software |
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Marvin Hlavac
Canada
6902 Posts |
Posted - 22 sept. 2004 : 02:51:56
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Hi Dumpper,
For that feature to be implemented users would have to have mobile Internet connection. Very few do these days, but that will change in the future I'm sure. I wonder if perhaps Microsoft MapPoint would be more appropriate software for you. There may be add-on software already available for MP that would provide what you need. Try Google search for MapPoint + Weather.
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Regards,
Marvin Hlavac
Toronto, Canada |
Edited by - Marvin Hlavac on 22 sept. 2004 03:07:22 |
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xcanuk
Canada
77 Posts |
Posted - 22 sept. 2004 : 03:59:59
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| well, if you managed some type of internet connection before you leave, you could ask for a weather factor in the same way we gather construction updates. An update should be sufficient for a days worth of car travel |
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dumpper
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - 22 sept. 2004 : 06:07:05
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(It may be inappropriate to discuss about this in this particular thread but since there're some replies to my post, I'll continue here)
I already got the internet connection part (using my home machine to act like an ISP), just need the appropriate software to pull things together. In my research for this topic, I heard that NavTech has already been testing their data, especially weather integration with GPS since last year (Dec 2003). It looks like "Mobile Weather Info Service" is the next logical & popular option to go in conjunction with GPS. Imagine you can foresee the weather surrounding you, wherever you're, in a 50 km radius from your GPS location. You can know in advance that there's thick fog 10 km ahead to make a detour to a better & safer route. How about hail and storm front warning so that you can hide your car in time ? As the winter is approaching, think about snow & windchill while you're driving (if you live in Northern US & Canada. And so on .... Weather is very much tied in with everybody's driving activity, next to the GPS.
Besides, it could be also the next useful thing for the MapPoint Server application to issue weather info to your laptop beside the map info. Streets & Trips could act like a client to process these info altogether ...
Right now, the fastest & most reliable speed for mobile internet connection is just 14,400 bps (9600 bps in reality, without any form of software acceleration), which is still sufficient for downloading satellite maps while driving at 60-70 mph (100-110 km/h). I wish that Streets & Trips could be more active & busy making use of this available resource as the weather info feature is implemented & taken into account along with other GPS & location info to make the driving experience more to "completion".
The idea (weather with GPS) is nothing new and the technologies to make it happen are already there. Just need someone to integrate them altogether, rather than make us the consumers on the upgrade hook for the next several years before it eventually gets done. (-; Moreover, I personally think that "live weather info" is more *predictable* & could be updated easily than the "road construction info", but you have to be well-prepared in advance for nature's "weather" than those man-made "road constructions".
A big developer like Microsoft should (already) think this way: if a necessity like "live weather info download to your GPS laptop/PDA via mobile phone" is implemented in a software like S&T being popularly used by the mass, there will be a boom in the mobile internet sector as different technologies will compete, prices will fall, stock will rise (for certain companies) and so on.
(Right now, weather info to cell phone is still mediocre as most cell phones don't have GPS & even if they do, their screens are usually tiny that they can't well-display the maps & other info simultaneously) |
Edited by - dumpper on 22 sept. 2004 06:46:53 |
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