Marcus Hamaker is The Sleepy Geek

In a blog post this morning Google has announced that they are releasing Google Navigation for 11 new countries – Canada being one of them. Well now isn’t that a bit of a game changer. I have a GPS but to have it all in one device; that’s an amazing thing. I have been really excited about the new iPhone, the multitasking, the new camera and all the apps possibilities but now these kinds of things (conveniently being announced now) make me think.

My issue living in Canada is up to date availability. I am pretty much locked in with Rogers. We have to sign contracts to get good deals which sucks. I am used it to it, but it sucks. The iPhone will be available for Rogers but I really wish an Android model newer than version 1.6 would come along. I think Telus has a 2.0 model but it doesn’t help me much.

Given that Google has released this new Maps Navigation feature in Canada if Rogers were to get an Android Froyo version phone I would be VERY tempted to go in that direction. Questions would have to be answered regarding the UI however – you never really know what you’ll find until you have the exact model phone. Most of the vendors that use Android now modify the UI for their own unit.

In the end I just want Rogers to give me that option of having to choose. Right now there is no choice. Even a Blackberry – there are some cool models coming so GET ONE! The only issue is that Maps Navigation is only available on Android units.

Geek on!

I didn’t do much that was geeky this weekend. I spent it taking a trip to Toronto to visit some family, which was nice. However I did use my GPS a lot over the 2 days.

I know how to get to my wife’s uncle and aunt’s house without the GPS but it offers so much more than just turn by turn directions. If you don’t know where you are going that can be the most important feature but it’s also very nice for giving you the exact speed at which you’re rolling, a pretty good estimated time of arrival and when you need to find a point of interest there is no better tool.

I have known for a while that my speedometer is not quite 100% accurate so I use the TomTom to set my cruise control almost every time on a long trip. It’s a nice way of knowing what your speeding ticket will cost. *GASP* Also while traveling with the kids it is handy to have a way to find a washroom fast. There is always that looming “I have to pee” waiting to come from the back seat :)

We also took a trip to my wife’s cousin’s place to which we have never been before. This was once of the first times I have ever blindly taken an address, entered it in the GPS and followed the instructions. It worked great. It took about an hour and fifteen minutes to arrive at our destination which was what we were told it would take. When leaving there we were heading home back in Montreal so we put that in and it gave us a route around Toronto which was nice because we avoided the city traffic.

At this point most of the GPS units out there are about the same in quality. TomTom and Garmin are really popular names, it’s up to you to decide if it has the features you want. If it does, BUY ONE!

Happy driving…