Google Maps GPS (an idea for Google)

Computing, Electronics, Travel

As some readers may recall, I’m a big fan of many of Google’s free applications, including Google Maps (and its “home” edition, Google Earth).  Awhile ago, I was using an older Magellan GPS unit in the car, which helped with sales calls.  Its shortcomings over Google Maps became readily apparent the longer I used it.  The Amazon Kindle, XM Radio, and Google’s own Android-based “Google phones” gave me an idea of “mashing” a few existing technologies to make some thing new.  I know this makes no sense yet…but read on for more on “Building The Perfect GPS”!

With most in-car GPS units, they do a decent job of routing you where you want to go, but think about it: the day you buy the GPS unit, or the day you buy an upgrade to your maps, it’s already out of date.  Acura has an in-dash GPS unit that receives live traffic data from the XM Radio satellite, so in that respect, you can get current data in your car.  But even with Honda/Acura products, you need to buy an update DVD for your navigation system.

And the map upgrades are expensive.  The older Magellan I tried would have cost me $69 for a map upgrade.

Google Maps has a lot of readily-available data.  Not only do you get access to maps, you get a satellite view (which zooms in remarkably close for a “free” product) and, more recently, a “Street View” that gives you an actual photographic view of many locations in larger cities.  This has helped me in the past when traveling to unfamiliar areas: a satellite view can give you an idea of how an intersection or driveway actually looks, how a building is situated, etc.  And the street view is just as helpful if you have access to one.

Google’s data, like all other mapping companies’ data, is updated constantly, but the difference is that your car’s GPS system has the older data, where with Google Maps, you always get the most current data when you look up a location.

What we need is a GPS unit for the car that can receive Google Maps data, either via satellite (preferred, as you can receive data nationwide that way, like you can with XM Radio), or via the 3G wireless network (as with the Amazon Kindle).  Yes, I know, I know–“my iPhone can do it” or “my Blackberry can surf to Google Maps”.  Well, true, but it’s way too dangerous to fiddle with a tiny device while driving, and for those of us with “older” eyesight, those smaller devices are impossible to read without reading glasses.   You can also hook a GPS receiver to your laptop, but not all of us own (or even want to own) laptop computers, let alone drag it in the car for the mere purpose of navigation.

So what I’m proposing is a new device, a mash-up of a few technologies to make something truly useful for travelers such as myself.  Here’s my wish list for a new GPS system:

  • The interface would be touchscreen-driven, as all GPS units today are, along with some kind of “D” pad and buttons for further navigation.  Ideally, buttons would be situated along the sides of the device for an easy grip, freeing up the face of the unit for the display.
  • The display would feature a large, bright LCD screen with a couple of zoom levels so those of us who are optically-challenged can read it.
  • It would receive live data from Google Maps, including the satellite view and street view.
  • Communication would ideally be via a satellite network, perhaps “piggybacking” a satellite data network onto the XM Radio/Sirius satellites.  This would ensure uninterrupted, nationwide coverage.
  • If not satellite, or in addition to satellite, use an existing 3G wireless network.  With the Amazon Kindle, you do not pay for the wireless–it is included with your Kindle purchase.  As you’d be transfering a lot more data, I would understand having to pay some sort of access fee…BUT, only if it is reasonable ($5/month).
  • Firmware upgrades would be possible via a USB port, and available for free online.
  • Google could (actually, should) brand it under their own label, either as a complete unit (selling it as an electronic device), or licensing the technology (with all features outlined above) and requesting manufacturers to put a Google logo of some kind on it.  (“Google Maps for GPS”, or something similar.)
  • Limited internet access: we don’t need another device to surf the web, but having access to Google Mobile Search comes in handy when trying to locate a business whose phone number and/or location have changed, or trying to find unlisted addresses.  (Example: an address may not show up in Google Maps, but visiting a “corporate” website to look up the location of a branch office or store would be handy.)
  • Car mounting hardware is a must, but also include battery backup in case you want to mount it on a bike or take it while walking.
  • Memory cache: with 4GB flash memory sticks selling for $20 locally, there is no excuse for leaving memory out of the device.   Give us 4GB or 8GB to cache map data (while giving us full options on when and how to cache the data).  4GB is nearly a DVD’s worth of storage.  You could plot out an entire route while at home, and then have access to it instantly as you travel, in case you lose your data signal.
  • Tie your GPS to your Google account: use it to look up stored addresses in your address book, or view your own custom maps that you’ve stored online.

There are probably a few ways to tie all of this in together, but having this in a nice, compact unit that is built only for GPS would be perfect.  I realized many shortcomings of the basic GPS units as I used one for several months.  They’re nice, but there were still times I had to check data online at home or the office before departing for the day.

Price?  I’d pay $299 for a unit like this.  Maybe $50 more if I had the option of an even larger display.  And $5/month for data access is reasonable, as anything higher is another burden on today’s taxed wallets.

Now, if some enterprising company or Google would do this, if they haven’t yet…get to it!