I love my GPS, which I bought a bit over two years ago. I use it all the time. But there are a few things that I wished it could do.
First, the maps and location data it has on board are static. Each year, I can purchase a disc with an update, but that data is already a few months out of date by the time the disc goes on sale. I wanted downloadable updates on a more frequent basis.
Second, while the travel time estimates are generally fairly good, they don’t take into account the fact that traveling during rush hour is different from traveling at noon or at midnight. Plus, whatever data they’re based seems to reflect a theoretical speed rather than actual historical speed. I wanted my GPS to notice my actual travel times at different times of day and adjust its calculations accordingly.
Third, while some traffic data is available through a subscription, it’s rather general data about routes to avoid, rather than specific data on travel times through problem areas. I thought it would be really cool if GPS units could connect to the cell phone network and upload data about the traffic conditions and travel speeds they encounter.
Well, someone’s gone and built a GPS that does all that: the Dash Express Two-Way Internet-Connected Portable GPS Navigator.
Unfortunately, at $400, I can’t afford one right now. But it’s cool just knowing that it exists.