Traffic

Retromodo: Astounding Analog Traffic Signal

This analog traffic signal was in use from the 1940s through the 1970s in Australia, eventually replaced by whatever it is they've got going there now (Koala bears on poles holding flash cards, we think). It's fantastic. More »

3:40 PM on Mon Jun 2 2008
By Jason Chen
13,117 views, 76 comments

Latest by alpayerturkmen: In Turkey, most major city crossroads have those LED countdown timers for greens and reds. I believe those are nice additions for impatient drivers. more »

gps

Dash Express GPS Updates Traffic Models, Software Update Coming

The Dash Express GPS just received its first historic traffic model update using the live Dash data gathered by users. That'll help predict traffic in areas where no Dash or other trusted data sources have been in the last 15 minutes. By end of month, a software update is coming with tweaks in performance, stability and routing. As for today's historic update, Dash recommends all users download the patch by Wi-Fi. Let's hope that more updates come often as this one, and with more features using that internet connection.

9:29 PM on Wed May 7 2008
By Brian Lam
4,496 views, 12 comments

Latest by iCarmen 2.0-Yellow Free Edition!: @Stacky Botrus: No i don't think I can do that!...lemme try......no wait...no wait...NOPE can't do it@ideaman2020: I'm using Safari, idk for some reason Firefox dosn't make me feel good,lol. odd i know! more »

traffic

Microsoft's Live Maps Integrates Complex Clearflow Traffic Modeling Data To Tell You To Avoid Busy Streets

Microsoft's Live Maps is adding Clearflow, a system in 72 cities that takes four years of real-world traffic data and uses it to interpolate what traffic is going to be like "today". The project started with traffic algorithms from GPS units in Microsoft employees' cars, and now has "over 125,000" miles worth of info. This traffic data should be free and available on Live.com for you to plan out your next trip to Albertsons. It's not quite as good as Dash, but it beats going in blind. [NYT via Slashdot via JKOntheRun via Lifehacker]

3:00 PM on Thu Apr 10 2008
By Jason Chen
7,120 views, 22 comments

Latest by ideaman2020: @Admiral Ackbar: If we're unlucky MS will buy Dash. more »

car radar

Ford Blind Spot System Uses Radar to Save your Ass

Ford is going to introduce two new traffic alert systems in their 2009 cars: the Cross Traffic Alert and the Blind Spot Monitoring System, which will alert drivers of potential collision targets using radar technology. Which these new gadgets, instead of having to check the mirror and ignore any cars coming from behind before changing lane, drivers would be able to check a red light that will warn about any incoming vehicles, even if they are hiding in the blind spot. And then, ignore them and change lanes. Example: my radar is saying that there's a press release after the jump. More »

6:30 AM on Thu Apr 10 2008
By Jesus Diaz
6,841 views, 46 comments

Latest by n/a: The problem with adjusting your outside mirrors out or with no body reference is that you could create another blind spot between your inside mirror field of view and your outside mirror field of view...especially in a vehichle with wide more »

question of the day

Do You Use Google Maps Mobile to Check Traffic Alongside Your GPS?

That blurry GPS shot above is of the Dash Express with its IP-enabled mesh network of traffic monitoring. But most of you don't have such tech in your GPS, you've got something else without live traffic data. For those of you who have GPS devices without live traffic, do you use a phone with Google Maps Traffic to check live road conditions as you navigate with your car's GPS? More »

7:16 PM on Mon Apr 7 2008
By Brian Lam
7,155 views, 40 comments

concepts

Nokia GPS Phones to Fight the Traffic Plague

Nokia has developed software that allows data to be received from GPS enabled phones, which is then compiled and interpreted into traffic flow patterns, which is kinda similar to what Dash GPS units offer. However, these plans are currently at concept stage, with a demonstration recently taking place as a joint venture between Nokia, California Center for Innovative Transportation (CCIT), CalTrans, and Berkeley's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. More »

3:25 PM on Sat Feb 9 2008
By Haroon Malik
3,140 views, 10 comments

traffic control in tokyo

Take a Peek Inside the Tokyo Traffic Center

CScout Japan recently had the chance to check out Tokyo's Traffic Center, where a bunch of people work 24-hour shifts and try to stop the city from grinding to a halt. Cameras, helicopters, 17,000 vehicle detectors, as well as reports from both police and civilians, all contribute toward a harmonious transport system. For the full report, check the CScout blog.

[Kilian-Nakamura]

7:44 AM on Mon Dec 31 2007
By AddyDugdale
6,674 views, 31 comments

Latest by n/a: @jatsdoit: I admit that I am shallow and Tom Cruise is a pussy. more »

motorists against detection

Sneaky UK Traffic Cameras Suffer the Wrath of MAD

People just don't like being spied upon. If you live in the UK, you're certainly familiar with those autonomous traffic cameras lurking around every corner that catch you speeding or running traffic signals, and then tattle to the police, resulting in a traffic ticket in your mailbox. A group called MAD (Motorists Against Detection) has been smashing those boxes for the past seven years in retaliation. In fact, the guerilla group claims to have obliterated 1000 of the cameras, and have big plans to step up their attacks on the eavesdropping gadgets. More »

5:20 PM on Thu Dec 27 2007
By Charlie White
7,250 views, 82 comments

Latest by n/a: Well as a Brit I hate them and I say the more taken off the roads the better. The biggest supplier of camera's in the UK and Europe is the Dutch (yes, DUTCH...how is it possible that the most liberal more »

roundup

Afternoon News: Robo-Pimpin' Ain't Easy and Some Other Stuff

• Traffic camera in Capitola, California is way too sensitive, issues tickets to innocent drivers 60% of the time. Makes sense to me, the only California drivers I've ever seen aren't much for speeding. [Ubergizmo]
• UPS using software to minimize left-hand turns in their deliveries, claims it will save three million gallons of gas per year. Not turning left when you have the ability is just rude to guys like this. [NY Times]
• MTV held a Rock Band competition less than a month after the game was released. I can't decide who is more pathetic, the "bands", the people who showed up to watch, or what must be a very desperate Sebastian Bach. [MTV]
• Activision gets sued for claiming Guitar Hero III is in Dolby Pro Logic II when it is actually in mono. The overly-litigious audiophiles may have a point, but they are still dweebs in my book. [Game|Life]
• Toshiba has developed a process to increase the capactiy of flash memory to 12.5GB. If terms like "double tunnel layer technology" get you more worked up than the porn you'll be storing on the drive, read on. [Electronista]

3:59 PM on Wed Dec 12 2007
By Benny Goldman
1,683 views, 6 comments

Latest by OMG! Ponies!: In the douchebags' defense, Activision's response to the mono complaint was just as douchey. They responded that, hey, when you go to a concert, the loudspeakers each output mono so the game is just like being at a rock concert - more »

gps

Becker Drops Two New GPS Modules For U.S. Customers

GPS maker Becker announced the Traffic Assist 7927 and 7928 today, offering a free lifetime subscription to its real-time traffic update service. The traffic service not only displays the current traffic conditions, but will reroute you for the quickest possible trip. The devices come with a mood light, built-in speakers, speed limit notifications and MP3 playback. The 7927 comes with a 3.5-inch touchscreen and will sell for $449, while the 7929 comes with a 4.8-inch touchscreen and will sell for $500. No word on a release date yet other than early 2008.

1:29 PM on Tue Oct 23 2007
By Adrian Covert
2,566 views, 6 comments

Latest by RiceBandit: Pole Position. more »

peripherals

Traffic Light USB Hub May Be the End of You

If you really, really want a USB hub that is fashioned like a traffic light, will record 10 seconds of audio and has pointlessly blinking LEDs; you're in luck. The Traffic Light USB hub will set you back $17.50, but not only will it make you look more stupid than you already do, it will also remind you of the road rage-induced stress from which you suffer. More »

12:33 AM on Mon Oct 8 2007
By Haroon Malik
2,434 views, 5 comments

apple

Video: The iPhone Settings Menu and Microsoft Word + Excel Support

Here's a never-before-seen section of the iPhone: the settings. Which makes sense, because what kind of lame commercial will say "wow, look at all the cool settings the iPhone has!" More »

2:00 PM on Fri Jun 22 2007
By Jason Chen
52,339 views, 52 comments

stuck in traffic

Tele Atlas Software to Make GPS Traffic Data Much More Accurate

Tele Atlas, that company that creates mapping databases for many GPS devices, has teamed up with software startup Inrix, and the result is new trafficking software that uses billions of pieces of historical traffic data to predict how congested roads will be throughout the day. More »

11:40 AM on Thu May 24 2007
By Charlie White
3,099 views, 12 comments

ole

Pranksters Can Now Send Erroneous Messages to Your GPS Navigation

The next time you see "bull fight in progress", "bomb alert", "air crash", or "terrorist incident" on your traffic-update enabled GPS navigation, don't be too quick to assume that's what actually happened. Some "hackers" have discovered a way to inject RDS messages (which use the FM frequency to send traffic and weather information) into your GPS, triggering off a different alert message depending on the message. More »

3:00 PM on Sun Apr 29 2007
By Jason Chen
1,668 views, 8 comments

gadgets

Dash Express GPS Road Test Sign Up NOW: Free Next Gen Navigator Anyone?

Hey, want to play with that Dash GPS I just wrote about a minute ago? Before anyone else has them? For free? If you love driving as much as you love free next-generation gadgets, stop reading Giz, click here and fill out the form to be part of Dash's Road Test. You've got the jump on the rest of the Internet, so go. More »

1:03 AM on Mon Apr 9 2007
By Brian Lam
5,860 views, 16 comments

gadgets

First Shots of Dash's Datalink'd GPS Routing Around Traffic

It was so many months ago when we showed you the first of Dash's first of its kind GPS with a cellular data link inside. Today, here are the first photos of the device's updated interface, including Yahoo! search results for local points of interest. And traffic data measured by some mashup of historical data, time of day, day of week,as well as that uploaded automatically by other Dash beta testers. More »

1:02 AM on Mon Apr 9 2007
By Brian Lam
1,253 views, 3 comments

software

Google Maps Now Show Traffic Conditions In 30 US Cities

Google just rolled out free near-real-time traffic reports for its Google Maps. If you're lucky enough to live in one of the 30 major cities covered and need to know up-to-date traffic conditions on that city's major highways, you can see them on color-coded maps that even differentiate between northbound, southbound, eastbound and westbound lanes. More »

11:33 AM on Thu Mar 1 2007
By Charlie White
7,427 views, 30 comments

smartphones

Windows Live Search For Mobile vs. Google Maps Mobile

Microsoft's Windows Live Search for Mobiles just went live last night, and we took it for a spin, comparing it to Google Maps for Mobile, which has traffic, maps local business searches and directions as well. More »

6:35 PM on Thu Nov 30 2006
By Jason Chen
70,216 views, 40 comments

Gizmodo

Steve Jobs Says He Doesn't Have Cancer (And Why It's Not Your Business...

Gizmodo Team

Gawker Media Network