MAMA's Techno-Geek Thread

[snid]

Isn't option 8 a bullet, for a bulleted list? So option shift 8 is a "shifted bullet"? Why anyone would need such a thing is beyond me, though.

[m2smith]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell

Funny. I've always typed it as opt-shft-8. And now that I try both, they both produce slightly different symbols. ° º Which is which?

opt-shft-8 is the degree symbol ( 3° is wicked freakin' cold)
opt-0 is an ordinal indicator ( first, second, third = 1º, 2º, 3º)

And a helluva trivia question!

[jwardell]

thank you--I win!

[Cape Cod MINI]

Anyone have real world or anecdotal information about the
The VCommand Voice Interactive Navigation System?
I think I could but not totally convinced I can live without the map.
I like the idea of not having to look at the map all the time and
relying on more concise voice directions. Also, the input is voice
recognition. When I'm driving the RX-8 and trying to find the nearest
restaurant or ATM machine it gets rather dangerous trying to input via the console....it's as irresponsible as holding and yapping on the cell while driving.

[GadgetGav]

Haven't seen that one, but I know the TomTom units (and PDA software) can do spoken instructions. No voice recognition with that though. You could always pull over to enter a new destination..!

[Cape Cod MINI]

I was most interested in the Tom Tom series but the more I read the less I liked. I think I'm sold on the idea of not having to pull over and manually enter information. Found this VCommand promo video. I think I'll get it.
Evan and I have a big road trip coming up in February and I think it'll come in handy.
http://www.advancednav.com/product_i...roducts_id=134

[Oldpaint]

The voice programming is a great feature provided you are a good speller. I have a tomtom and I can tell you that programming it while driving is not a good idea. But one advantage of screen based gps is being able to glance at the map at night to show you the curves in the road ahead. Nothing is perfect.

[Pamlico]

The maps and customer service used in the TomTom systems reportedly aren't up to par yet, although reports from Europe are excellent and there's no reason not to think that they'll get up speed in the US relatively soon.

I have a Garmin StreetPilot 2610 which comes with a remote control that allows the user to do everything without having to use the touch screen. Once you learn the way the menus are structured it's pretty easy to run everything from the remote. The 2610 also has a voice that announces what's going on (e.g. "turn right in 400 ft"). The newest Garmin systems announce the street names as well (e.g. turn right in 400 ft. onto Main Street), although some users find this text-to-speech annoying.

The voice recognition is a potentially nice feature, but having the maps to look at can prove helpful. The one thing that makes or breaks a GPS system is the accuracy of the maps. Check to see what type of maps the sysem uses, how frequently they are updated, and how much the updates cost. Also, can you download upgrades to the system firmware. I think I recall reading the VCom has to be returned to the factory for upgrades - a major inconvenience.

Another nice feature is a 'detour' function. If you're stuck in traffic you tell the device you want it to make a detour for x number of miles and it will do so and get you back on the original route.

The VCom's voice recognition seems like a pretty good idea, but I like the having the a display available as you get an idea as to when a turn is coming up, etc. I'd want to be sure that this is primarily a GPS with voice recognition, rather than a voice recognition system that happens to have a GPS tacked onto it. There don't seem to be a lot of reviews of that system on the various GPS web sites which may or may not be indicative of anything.

Good luck.

[bethandlouis]

I have the streetpilot C330. I don't know what I did without it. It's great. Would like voice recognition when on covert operations without Louis, but with a navigator he puts in all the info.

[GBMINI]

Steve,
My new TomTom is OK - but it sucks around the big dig. It tries to get me to take roads that are about 50 feet above me, for example.
If you are around MoP in the next few days, give me a call and you can borrow it for a while if you want ...

[Pamlico]

Ian -

Given that the whole BigDig area is a total rebuild it's not surprising that your TomTom (or any GPS for that matter) is inaccurate around there. Even the most current versions of the maps on these devices are at least a year or so outdated, although the latest version on my Garmin seem to show some of the new routing around the old North Station area . Once the BD is finished (it will be finished some day won't it?), the maps used by the different GPS companies should catch up.

[Actual Size]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cape Cod MINI

I like the idea of not having to look at the map all the time and
relying on more concise voice directions.

Sit....Stay....Fetch

[GadgetGav]

Yeah... big dig and GPS..? Given that the Big Dig website that used to have maps and construction updates long ago got rolled into the Turnpike website, and stopped getting updated and given that they consider it finished now that the Albany ramp is open 24 hours, I think anyone who produces GPS / GIS data (NoNo?) is going have their work cut out...
I wonder when we'll see Matt Amarillo (is that the Turnpike guy) in front of a 'Mission Accomplished' banner..?

[GadgetGav]

Quote: Originally Posted by Actual Size

Sit....Stay....Fetch

Or how about "No! You fool! I said RIGHT!!"

[jwardell]

Let me get this straight--it is all voice and no map?
So in otherwords, it is completely useless in mass.
What happens when you come on the common 7-way intersection? Which right do you take? A simple glance at a 3D map answers your question. A voice won't help you one bit.

Also, I actually use my TomTom without the navigation guidance most of the time; I simply turn it on for a nice 3rd person view of the road ahead. I know if there is a hidden curve ahead, how sharp a curve really is, if there are upcoming intersections, etc. I turn it on all the time when driving at night or on a road I'm unfamiliar with.

For those on a budget or just wanting things simpler, I was impressed with the $200 Garmin i2 as well. At that price everyone should have one.

Yet another reason why I wrote up that GPS page.