GPS restaurant database irritations

[Carbon]

GPSs have come a long way. There are some features that are not what they should be. The restaurant database is one area that should be improved.

1. In the restaurant database, they should identify the hours. If I am using the feature, I want a place that is open. The restaurant hours should be listed. The GPS knows what time it is, so it could even let me only see restaurants that are open for at least the next hour.

2. The restaurant database should identify if the place has seats or is takeout-only.

These are more important than the selection of whether the restaurant has American, Italian, Chinese, etc food. It could be argued that keeping the hours up to date is impossible; just give a disclaimer.

 

[jmac]

Heck, I would settle for some of the GPS's just getting the restaurant in the correct location and not 1/2 a mile away and on the wrong side of the freeway.

 

[dparm]

This is why I use Google Places on my smartphone -- hours and menu available.

 

[The_Jeff]

I presume you have some software update package with the GPS?

I'm just happy when mine doesn't send me on telephone pole maintenance trails, counting them as "roads".

 

[UNC017]

Standalone GPS units are a dead technology. You can get a FAR better GPS app for a smartphone now than most standalone GPS units, and since data like restaurants, stores, hotels, etc. comes right off the net instead of being pre-loaded, you get much more up-to-date-info.

 

[doitmyself]

This is exactly why one should pack survival gear and rations when venturing out on the open roads.

 

[Bill in Utah]

I'd just like for the restaurants to be OPEN! (like still in business)

With the economy quite a few are gone. Even the ones in my Smartphone are gone. Forget the ones in my Tom-Tom.

Also remember that most Smartphones are pretty dumb when out of most cities. A stand alone GPS works most places.

Bill

 

[kb01]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Standalone GPS units are a dead technology. You can get a FAR better GPS app for a smartphone now than most standalone GPS units, and since data like restaurants, stores, hotels, etc. comes right off the net instead of being pre-loaded, you get much more up-to-date-info.



I'm still a big fan of having a ruggedized GPS for backpacking and hiking and a separate auto GPS that I don't have to worry about leaving on a hot dashboard when driving in the summer, or have a heart attack when it falls of the dash if I stop suddenly.

I have an iPhone (my work gave it to me) that is great but all of the GPS apps either need a constant data connection for base maps or gets its memory filled with a few gigs of base road maps.

 

[Al]

They give you the phone #...Call them.

I think most restaurants are open during 99.9% of the time when people are eating.

 

[JHZR2]

I prefer a super-dumb GPS for navigation and then a smartphone for information. Lets the nav part get covered and done well and then flexibility for the rest of the info (that is up to date).

 

[DragRace]

Never had any issues with my GPS's, in regards to restaurants.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: kb01
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Standalone GPS units are a dead technology. You can get a FAR better GPS app for a smartphone now than most standalone GPS units, and since data like restaurants, stores, hotels, etc. comes right off the net instead of being pre-loaded, you get much more up-to-date-info.



I'm still a big fan of having a ruggedized GPS for backpacking and hiking and a separate auto GPS that I don't have to worry about leaving on a hot dashboard when driving in the summer, or have a heart attack when it falls of the dash if I stop suddenly.

I have an iPhone (my work gave it to me) that is great but all of the GPS apps either need a constant data connection for base maps or gets its memory filled with a few gigs of base road maps.


Agree on hiking.... but not driving. If I think that I'll be in a coverage dead zone (which I have only found so far between Alpine and Terlingua in West Texas, and that wasn't a large area either) then I do a "preload maps" on Motion-X Drive before I start driving.

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Cell signal travels a long distance in flat Texas.
I've been in places here in AK where cell signals disappear in the middle of town, thanks to a mountain shadow.

 

[kb01]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum

Agree on hiking.... but not driving. If I think that I'll be in a coverage dead zone (which I have only found so far between Alpine and Terlingua in West Texas, and that wasn't a large area either) then I do a "preload maps" on Motion-X Drive before I start driving.


I live in a rural and mountainous state, so the situation is a lot different. Once you get a few miles off a major road, cell coverage is hit or miss. Preloading maps really isn't practical, especially since I rarely intend on using a GPS and only break it out once I'm lost.

As much as I like my iPhone, the GPS isn't nearly as sensitive as any of my Garmins. I do a lot of geocaching and prefer using my iPhone when possible but it just has issues getting a lock under even light canopy or in valleys (it's only a 3G, so maybe the new ones are better).