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Chris Jacob
they're called cops, and you should drive away from them as fast as possible whenever you see one. it also helps if you make a lot of fast turns in the process while still taking into account the locations of any nearby cherries when formulating your route.
@Mike Zuniga: That was Unexpected: As much as I would absolutely love a car-based GPS game, I would not trust half of the smartphone carrying morons on the road already with a game to play while they're driving.
Yeah, they could bring a friend/navigator along....but they won't.
I'm surprised Apple didn't crap all over the application on the grounds that it doesn't meet Apple's aesthetic design ethos. It's yet another wrinkle in Apple's indiscernible approval process. I guess this one slipped past the "robots." #appstore#magellanroadmate
@ThePaul: The problem I see is that we complain about apps that are not approved and feel that everything short of illegal should make it to AppStore, yet a decent application that doesn't look like an Apple creation doesn't deserve to make it.
I get your point that this is more of a wrinkle in their process and not a complaint on the developers, but I've never seen Apple reject on HIG grounds therefore I don't see the inconsistency. #magellanroadmate
@crackel: Now, I don't know how often it happens, but a couple of the apps I have on my iPhone were updated to meet Apple's HIG, in order that they should more closely reflect the Apple design aesthetic. I can't speak for the consequences of not updating applications, but I'd imagine it was enough to prompt the individual developers involved to include those patches in the updates.
And for the record, I don't feel at all that this application didn't deserve approval. My comment was more on the opaque approval process that sends otherwise useful -- and legal -- applications to the Land of Misfit Apps (aka Cydia). #magellanroadmate
@ThePaul: There's something to ponder, what kind of pressure is Apple applying onto developers to follow guidelines? Could it be longer approval times, or snarkier reps when the do answer emails or phone calls? The truth is that they're rather terrible, it took them 6 weeks just to answer an email I sent about my signature certificate name being misspelled. I can't imagine an easier request. I literally just wanted to update the name on my profile. :/ #magellanroadmate
@Nathan Obbards: I drove into Compton once looking for gas. The guy waving the gun at me on the off ramp didn't seem to like me too much (or maybe it was my driving).
@Nathan Obbards: actually that exchange happens a few miles north of Santa Ana where it's actually nicer. Not to mention that richer areas like Yorba Linda, Walnut, Chino Hills are along the 57. #magellanroadmate
@crackel: Oh, I know, I'm just being snarky. I'm from Orange County, so I have to tease anything Santa Ana just like I have to tease anything Newport Beach. #magellanroadmate
@Nathan Obbards: I want to live in the OC but it's so far away from work! I also hate writing Pomona everytime something asks for my city. I feel I negatively brand myself when I do. Damn you, bills without online payment options!!! #magellanroadmate
@TheSonOfKrypton: These guys are all so screwed. It's like watching the party scene in Independence Day right before the alien beam goes off. #magellanroadmate
@TheSonOfKrypton: Agreed, having the google navigation app now(since we worked so hard on xda-developers to get it to work on the G1), all others look like trash. Even those that cost upwards of $100 pale in comparison. #magellanroadmate
Why does this Google app stop working when I get a phone call? The iPhone map apps can be used during a phone call which is very important when I am in a long call and driving.
This seems so half assed, I still have to carry my Garmin. Does Verizon intentionally block the app during a phone call? If so that sucks.
@vic.nospam: If you notice when you make a call on Verizon, your Evdo bars disappear and switch over to 1x. That's because Verizon can't do voice and data at the same time; you get one or the other. This doesn't happen with GSM technology, which is why you can use maps and call at the same time with the iPhone.
"Google: If you're going to knock everyone else off the mountain, at least give us an app worthy of a king."
This is probably the stupidest thing I've ever read in a Giz review. Here's a question, did you ever consider that they didn't knock everyone off the mountain and if you don't like the Google app you can spend money and buy another app or navigator?
Or is it that since it's free and it's from Google you feel the right to be extra critical and bitch about it?
@kimchibrown: It seems you have a lot of pent up frustration and not enough perspective. I know a few therapists I could recommend if you'd like.
Fact of the matter is, if this thing were widely available (on all Android phones, but especially when and if it makes it to the iPhone), that would be a huuuge dent in the mobile GPS unit market. For the outdoorsy types who would like navigation on the mountains, sure they'll still buy a TomTom. For the ditzy mom that gets lost in traffic downtown? Not so much. This app will do just fine. And you know those giant cities with thousands of people sporting expensive gadgets? Guess which of those two categories they have more of?
Giz is full of a lot of hype. The Apple Tablet rumors are example enough of just how out there their claims can get. This, though? This is dead. on. And no, they don't "feel the right to be extra critical and bitch" because "it's free and it's from Google". They're being critical because that's what they do. This is a software review! What else are they supposed to do? #googlenavigator
I understand that they are supposed to be critical. I usually like Giz reviews. In fact, with anything I am going to purchase techwise, I find info/reviews on Giz.
@OCEntertainment: 'They're being critical because that's what they do. [...] What else are they supposed to do?'
Wait a sec; your take on this is that the author was merely exercising scrupulous diligence? With no overt bias, whatsoever? So, then, you would disagree that he underwent a sea-change in sentiment - accompanied by a charming reversion to adolescent phraseology - at the mere _possibility_ of finding Google Nav on his iPhone? To wit...
'Still, if this was built in to the iPhone's Google Maps, or offered as a free download at the App Store, damn would it steal customers like a mofo. [...] really, this thing would—and probably will—swallow the GPS app market alive.'
For those keeping score at home: the app he calls 'good for free, but far from perfect' will - only if and when it receives the Jobsian imprimatur - 'swallow the GPS app market alive' plus 'steal customers like a mofo'. Seriously, OCEnt, this passage strikes you as critical analysis, rather than...say, the ecstatic babbling of a self-absorbed twit with an Apple/iPhone fixation?
@forum_admin00Yes it strikes me as critical analysis.....of the software. This is a free app that Google is introducing as a competitor to existing products. It is being held to the feature sets and standards already set up by those companies. The summary is that this free app is far from the best you can get. But for free, it's good. I suppose you could take issue with the fact that he didn't say 'great' or 'fantastic'. But I remember when being 'good' was a good thing. I want my software reviews to be overly critical of features to hold them to the highest standards, rather than say, "Well, it's good enough to get by."
As for the claim that it will only be successful when it reaches the iPhone (not exactly what he said, but we'll go with it).....the iPhone has 50 million users! This is an app not a device! Even if 2.0 makes it to all Android phones, that's still a much smaller percent of the market than the iPhone (so far). I actually can't stand the iPhone and really think Android doesn't get the real attention it deserves. Yet, I can't ignore the fact that even if every single Android user was using this app in place of a Garmin or TomTom unit (such a universal is impossible, but I'll give it to you), we still wouldn't be enough to swallow the GPS unit market. Combined with iPhone users, and yes all the new Android users will see in the coming years, that is a force to be reckoned with. That is, simply logistically, what could make this app a threat. It has nothing to do with iPhone fanboyism. The app needs a platform.
And besides, even if it is fanboyism (it's not), that still doesn't mean the critiques of the software are wrong. A piece of software can be good, powerful, and popular while being far from perfect. Gmail, Windows. Heck Gizmodo even.
There's a place for accusations of bias and unfair critiques. This review? Not one of them. #googlenavigator
Let me get this straight: Google Nav (beta) has 'awesome' voice search, 'impressive' free text-to-speech, live traffic (also, of course, free) as well as satellite & Street View -- tho these later features are 'not always useful', eg: you can't access them without touching the screen. And the end result is an overall rating, as shown in the article's title, of 'good but not perfect'?
For a free beta that will be available to all Android phones running v2.0?
Well, bravo for your hard ass stance and demanding attitude toward reviews. No doubt you have taken exactly this cynical, 'glass half empty' approach in any number of pithy iPhone critiques, over the past two years. I mean, I'm sure you'd do that despite being an enthusiastic Mac and iPhone user yourself, right? Please post links to those, when time allows.
I sometimes feel like I'm out of touch, but actually, that is how I'd describe ALL google services: good for free but far from perfect (even the search engine is declining quality rapidly)... At least they give space to competition this way. #googlenavigator
Nice review, Wilson. You didn't mention it, so can we assume that the volume and clarity of the voice were good enough to overtake road noise? Perhaps even with a window down? #googlenavigator
Google does have a POI browser Android app called Places Directory that they released earlier this summer. I would not be surprised if this gets integrated into the Navigator. [googlemobile.blogspot.com]#googlenavigator
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
So where are the ghosts?
11/25/09
they're called cops, and you should drive away from them as fast as possible whenever you see one. it also helps if you make a lot of fast turns in the process while still taking into account the locations of any nearby cherries when formulating your route.
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
Yeah, they could bring a friend/navigator along....but they won't.
11/25/09
11/16/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
I bet Magellan called "parley." Yeah, that's definitely how it was approved. I reject your logic, good sir! #magellanroadmate
11/17/09
I get your point that this is more of a wrinkle in their process and not a complaint on the developers, but I've never seen Apple reject on HIG grounds therefore I don't see the inconsistency. #magellanroadmate
11/17/09
And for the record, I don't feel at all that this application didn't deserve approval. My comment was more on the opaque approval process that sends otherwise useful -- and legal -- applications to the Land of Misfit Apps (aka Cydia). #magellanroadmate
11/17/09
11/16/09
11/16/09
Sadly, this is a true story. #magellanroadmate
11/16/09
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11/16/09
11/16/09
*shame*
Sorry.
11/17/09
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11/17/09
11/16/09
11/16/09
11/16/09
11/16/09
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11/17/09
10/31/09
This seems so half assed, I still have to carry my Garmin. Does Verizon intentionally block the app during a phone call? If so that sucks.
11/01/09
10/31/09
This is probably the stupidest thing I've ever read in a Giz review. Here's a question, did you ever consider that they didn't knock everyone off the mountain and if you don't like the Google app you can spend money and buy another app or navigator?
Or is it that since it's free and it's from Google you feel the right to be extra critical and bitch about it?
10/31/09
Fact of the matter is, if this thing were widely available (on all Android phones, but especially when and if it makes it to the iPhone), that would be a huuuge dent in the mobile GPS unit market. For the outdoorsy types who would like navigation on the mountains, sure they'll still buy a TomTom. For the ditzy mom that gets lost in traffic downtown? Not so much. This app will do just fine. And you know those giant cities with thousands of people sporting expensive gadgets? Guess which of those two categories they have more of?
Giz is full of a lot of hype. The Apple Tablet rumors are example enough of just how out there their claims can get. This, though? This is dead. on. And no, they don't "feel the right to be extra critical and bitch" because "it's free and it's from Google". They're being critical because that's what they do. This is a software review! What else are they supposed to do? #googlenavigator
10/31/09
I understand that they are supposed to be critical. I usually like Giz reviews. In fact, with anything I am going to purchase techwise, I find info/reviews on Giz.
This was just a crappy review, in my opinion. #googlenavigator
10/31/09
Wait a sec; your take on this is that the author was merely exercising scrupulous diligence? With no overt bias, whatsoever? So, then, you would disagree that he underwent a sea-change in sentiment - accompanied by a charming reversion to adolescent phraseology - at the mere _possibility_ of finding Google Nav on his iPhone? To wit...
'Still, if this was built in to the iPhone's Google Maps, or offered as a free download at the App Store, damn would it steal customers like a mofo. [...] really, this thing would—and probably will—swallow the GPS app market alive.'
For those keeping score at home: the app he calls 'good for free, but far from perfect' will - only if and when it receives the Jobsian imprimatur - 'swallow the GPS app market alive' plus 'steal customers like a mofo'. Seriously, OCEnt, this passage strikes you as critical analysis, rather than...say, the ecstatic babbling of a self-absorbed twit with an Apple/iPhone fixation?
10/31/09
As for the claim that it will only be successful when it reaches the iPhone (not exactly what he said, but we'll go with it).....the iPhone has 50 million users! This is an app not a device! Even if 2.0 makes it to all Android phones, that's still a much smaller percent of the market than the iPhone (so far). I actually can't stand the iPhone and really think Android doesn't get the real attention it deserves. Yet, I can't ignore the fact that even if every single Android user was using this app in place of a Garmin or TomTom unit (such a universal is impossible, but I'll give it to you), we still wouldn't be enough to swallow the GPS unit market. Combined with iPhone users, and yes all the new Android users will see in the coming years, that is a force to be reckoned with. That is, simply logistically, what could make this app a threat. It has nothing to do with iPhone fanboyism. The app needs a platform.
And besides, even if it is fanboyism (it's not), that still doesn't mean the critiques of the software are wrong. A piece of software can be good, powerful, and popular while being far from perfect. Gmail, Windows. Heck Gizmodo even.
There's a place for accusations of bias and unfair critiques. This review? Not one of them. #googlenavigator
10/31/09
For a free beta that will be available to all Android phones running v2.0?
Well, bravo for your hard ass stance and demanding attitude toward reviews. No doubt you have taken exactly this cynical, 'glass half empty' approach in any number of pithy iPhone critiques, over the past two years. I mean, I'm sure you'd do that despite being an enthusiastic Mac and iPhone user yourself, right? Please post links to those, when time allows.
10/31/09
10/31/09
10/31/09
10/31/09
10/30/09