I’ve been playing with Nokia’s Smart2Go and the Maploader recently, and thought of some things that I think would be great. First off, I’ve formatted my phone several times recently and noticed each time that downloading the same Texas map from the Maploader gets a little bit faster, so good job, Nokia. I’m convinced that within a few months even a map that size (104mb) will only take a few minutes.

So here’s my thoughts: Maploader as we have it now is pretty basic. You pick the map you want, click the little plus sign, and off you go. When it’s done, you put your memory card back in your phone and go to town (pun intended). However, why not make this more robust, for more users?

By "more robust" I mean let me plan a trip on the computer and then sync via Bluetooth or data cable. Or why not let me backup all my Landmarks onto my computer, or add them on the computer? This way when I update the firmware on my phone, or get a new phone, I may have to download a new map, but at least all my favorites are still intact.

This would all only further entice people to use Smart2Go, in my opinion. I already have PC Suite loaded up to sync everything else on my phone. Now, when I connect, it automatically sync’s my Landmarks, as well as the paths I took.

Speaking of paths, that’s my other suggestion. I’m probably an anomaly, but I don’t use GPS to find my way to places. Most days, I drive from my house to my office, and then from the office either to my girlfriend’s apartment or back home. Not much chance of getting lost. What I use it for, though, is for finding POI, for instance, if I’m driving somewhere and I start craving Jack in the Box. I can punch that in on the GPS and find the closest one.

But when I drive to the office in the mornings, the GPS always suggests that I go one way, which is probably physically the shortest route (cause that’s what I told the GPS I wanted) but usually it has the most traffic, both in the mornings and in the evenings. Why not compile route data (not user data, just the route) to automatically adjust how, in the future, it not only directs me, but others in my area?

Let’s see if I can clarify this: There’s 2 ways to go to my office. Path A is physically the shortest distance, but usually has ALOT more traffic, so I choose Path B every single day. When I do this, the GPS has to take a few minutes to recalculate. What if, after a set number of times, my GPS program basically learns that I don’t like to go that route, and stops suggesting it first. Then, let’s say Joe Average lives near me and goes roughly the same route, since he works in the building next to me. Other than the fact that we should probably carpool, Joe probably doesn’t want to sit in traffic any more than I do, so he follows my alternate route. What if HIS Smart2Go app on HIS phone knew that I don’t go that route, and assumed that he didn’t want to, either?

I realize this is alot of algorithms and whatnot, but I think in a few years maybe this could be a reality. Thoughts?

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