OT trafficmasters

MartinM said:

Just looking at the Halfords Xmas flyer, those gizmo in car directional
thingies seem to be a must-have; why are they allowed in the front of a
car when TV's are not? they are far more of a distraction, even more so
perhaps than mobile 'phones.

My one never was, but then it was an Oracle, not a screen variety.
Bloody useful, and I wish I still had it (it went back with the car, and
they only seem to come with Vauxhalls, can't be got and retrofitted to
others). Made my job/life much easier. I've contemplated a screen
version, but suspect that they might be more distracting. What I'd
really like is one that'll tell me of jams (just like the Trafficmaster
Oracle) but also do navigation for me.

I don't hold out any hope of getting something like that through on
expenses though, unfortunately.

--

Velvet

MartinM said:

Just looking at the Halfords Xmas flyer, those gizmo in car directional
thingies seem to be a must-have; why are they allowed in the front of a
car when TV's are not? they are far more of a distraction, even more so
perhaps than mobile 'phones.

If it is like the one I used to have then you don't need to look at them
very often, and the screen seldom changes so it's not like your
attention is riveted to it. You just check it every few minutes.

It saved me many hours round Birmingham when I used to travel from
London to Manchester regularly, but the subscriptions were quite expensive.

Pete

Ningi said:

MartinM said:

Just looking at the Halfords Xmas flyer, those gizmo in car

directional

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

thingies seem to be a must-have; why are they allowed in the front

of a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

car when TV's are not? they are far more of a distraction, even

more so

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

perhaps than mobile 'phones.

If it is like the one I used to have then you don't need to look at

them

Quoted message said:

very often, and the screen seldom changes so it's not like your
attention is riveted to it. You just check it every few minutes.

It saved me many hours round Birmingham when I used to travel from
London to Manchester regularly, but the subscriptions were quite

expensive.

I don't doubt that they are useful but if using one on your own in the
front of the car surely they should "talk"?
Having used one as a passenger they seem to take a lot of button
pushing to get the right magnification. Ones on bikes are even better,
have seen a few riders entering the route sheet for an Audax into them.

Velvet said:

MartinM said:

Just looking at the Halfords Xmas flyer, those gizmo in car directional
thingies seem to be a must-have; why are they allowed in the front of a
car when TV's are not? they are far more of a distraction, even more so
perhaps than mobile 'phones.

My one never was, but then it was an Oracle, not a screen variety.
Bloody useful, and I wish I still had it (it went back with the car, and
they only seem to come with Vauxhalls, can't be got and retrofitted to
others). Made my job/life much easier. I've contemplated a screen
version, but suspect that they might be more distracting. What I'd
really like is one that'll tell me of jams (just like the Trafficmaster
Oracle) but also do navigation for me.

A have an Oracle in the car that talks to me and tells me directions and
when and in which direction to turn in a dulcet female voice and will
even display a map with my estimated position highlighted if asked.

Unfortunately, she's not very accurate. She's gotten better in the
years I've been married to her, but is still less accurate than a
random brownian motion thing in a really hot gas going for the world
record Maximum Entropy Navigational Path in the World's Worst Navigator
competition, Especially [censored] Class!

Perhaps it's time to replace her with a computer, I bet they're not
programmed to go into a huff when the finally admit to being lost?
Inless they're programmed on top of Windows CE, of course.

--
Trevor Barton

Trevor Barton said:

Velvet said:

MartinM said:

Just looking at the Halfords Xmas flyer, those gizmo in car

directional

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

thingies seem to be a must-have; why are they allowed in the front

of a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

car when TV's are not? they are far more of a distraction, even

more so

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

perhaps than mobile 'phones.

My one never was, but then it was an Oracle, not a screen variety.
Bloody useful, and I wish I still had it (it went back with the

car, and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

they only seem to come with Vauxhalls, can't be got and retrofitted

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

others). Made my job/life much easier. I've contemplated a screen

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

version, but suspect that they might be more distracting. What I'd

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

really like is one that'll tell me of jams (just like the

Trafficmaster

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Oracle) but also do navigation for me.

A have an Oracle in the car that talks to me and tells me directions

and

Quoted message said:

when and in which direction to turn in a dulcet female voice and will

Quoted message said:

even display a map with my estimated position highlighted if asked.

Unfortunately, she's not very accurate. She's gotten better in the
years I've been married to her, but is still less accurate than a
random brownian motion thing in a really hot gas going for the world
record Maximum Entropy Navigational Path in the World's Worst

Navigator

Quoted message said:

competition, Especially [censored] Class!

Perhaps it's time to replace her with a computer, I bet they're not
programmed to go into a huff when the finally admit to being lost?
Inless they're programmed on top of Windows CE, of course.

http://www.need-directions.co.uk/

sorry if that is not the Ann Summers one; my work net nanny will not
allow it

Velvet said:

My one never was, but then it was an Oracle, not a screen variety.
Bloody useful, and I wish I still had it (it went back with the car,
and they only seem to come with Vauxhalls, can't be got and
retrofitted to others). Made my job/life much easier. I've
contemplated a screen version, but suspect that they might be more
distracting. What I'd really like is one that'll tell me of jams
(just like the Trafficmaster Oracle) but also do navigation for me.

Izzat the one which steadfastly refuses to accept the existence of Uxbridge?

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
World Domination?
Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the
floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine)

On 16/11/04 10:36 am, in article [email hidden], "Dave

Larrington said:

Velvet said:

My one never was, but then it was an Oracle, not a screen variety.
Bloody useful, and I wish I still had it (it went back with the car,
and they only seem to come with Vauxhalls, can't be got and
retrofitted to others). Made my job/life much easier. I've
contemplated a screen version, but suspect that they might be more
distracting. What I'd really like is one that'll tell me of jams
(just like the Trafficmaster Oracle) but also do navigation for me.

Izzat the one which steadfastly refuses to accept the existence of Uxbridge?

No bad thing IME...

...d

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 23:07:25 GMT, Velvet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

MartinM said:

Just looking at the Halfords Xmas flyer, those gizmo in car directional
thingies seem to be a must-have; why are they allowed in the front of a
car when TV's are not? they are far more of a distraction, even more so
perhaps than mobile 'phones.

My one never was, but then it was an Oracle, not a screen variety.
Bloody useful, and I wish I still had it (it went back with the car, and
they only seem to come with Vauxhalls, can't be got and retrofitted to
others).

Wrong widget, I think. TrafficMaster Oracle isn't a GPS/navigation
thing.

Dave Larrington said:

Velvet said:

My one never was, but then it was an Oracle, not a screen variety.
Bloody useful, and I wish I still had it (it went back with the car,
and they only seem to come with Vauxhalls, can't be got and
retrofitted to others). Made my job/life much easier. I've
contemplated a screen version, but suspect that they might be more
distracting. What I'd really like is one that'll tell me of jams
(just like the Trafficmaster Oracle) but also do navigation for me.

Izzat the one which steadfastly refuses to accept the existence of Uxbridge?

No idea :-) You can't tell it anything, it'll just tell you how many
miles of slow/stationary traffic coming up on such and such
motorway/major A road etc.

--

Velvet

Al C-F said:

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 23:07:25 GMT, Velvet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

MartinM said:

Just looking at the Halfords Xmas flyer, those gizmo in car directional
thingies seem to be a must-have; why are they allowed in the front of a
car when TV's are not? they are far more of a distraction, even more so
perhaps than mobile 'phones.

My one never was, but then it was an Oracle, not a screen variety.
Bloody useful, and I wish I still had it (it went back with the car, and
they only seem to come with Vauxhalls, can't be got and retrofitted to
others).

Wrong widget, I think. TrafficMaster Oracle isn't a GPS/navigation
thing.

Er, Yes, I know that. I was pointing out how useful I'd found my
gadget, and at the same time that, since it wasn't a GPS thing, far less
distracting.

I've considered a gps-screen solution, but similarly am concerned about
screen being distracting, even if it does have a 'voice only' mode.

--

Velvet

Velvet said:

I don't hold out any hope of getting something like that through on
expenses though, unfortunately.

I have SmartNav in my car. It is made by Trafficmaster and my
installation has no screen. Press a button and you get a mobile link to
a real person who downloads the route to your car. Very useful on all
trips as it will offer to re-route you if there are traffic problems.
This has saved me hours of frustration.

www.smartnav.co.uk

Cost last year for me was 650.00 (inc installation) plus annual
subscription.
--
Tom Anderson
Leighton Buzzard, England.

Tom Anderson said:

Velvet said:

I don't hold out any hope of getting something like that through on
expenses though, unfortunately.

I have SmartNav in my car. It is made by Trafficmaster and my
installation has no screen. Press a button and you get a mobile link to
a real person who downloads the route to your car. Very useful on all
trips as it will offer to re-route you if there are traffic problems.
This has saved me hours of frustration.

www.smartnav.co.uk

Cost last year for me was 650.00 (inc installation) plus annual
subscription.

Yes, I think the 650 quid bit is what'll give the bean-counters the
problem ;-)

--

Velvet