just to let you know

Wayfinder UIQ version 5 is out

After downloading and installing the latest Wayfinder software on my P910i, it seems that the moving maps are the biggest improvement. Apart from this, a lot of the buttons have changed - not always to their advantage, I must admit. Some buttons were harder to read while driving, I found. The full list of improvements for version 5 is here:

• New graphical user interface


• Improved traffic information visualisation




• Traffic disturbances are visualized in the map with an icon
• Click on the traffic information icon and get more information about the traffic disturbance, e.g. type of disturbance, duration, traffic fluidity etc




• Audio and visual speed camera warnings




• Wayfinder indicate with beep as well as a visual symbol when you are approaching an area with speed cameras


• Visual speed camera warning in include in the map view and guide view




• Save route functionality




• Save frequently used routes in advance and load the route when needed


• Simulate routes
  
  
  
  • Calculate a route and follow the route "live" on your mobile phone display
  
  
  • Show your friends and family that mobile GPS navigation works! You can demonstrate navigation with voice instructions in the living room, without any GPS connection
  
  
  
  
• New user interaction in map view




• An improved cursor. Drag and drop the cursor to point on a location in the map


• Move the map by dragging the cursor to the edge of the screen




• Street names, points of interest names etc are displayed in a new section of the map, when following a route or using the cursor to point on the map

However, one feature I was waiting and hoping for has still not been implemented: using your contacts as start or destination for a route - can this be so difficult? Another one would be a button to calculate alternative routes (a bit like choosing between distance, time with / without traffic info. At least that's how I do it, but do you want to try changing your settings whilst driving?) - a bit more tricky, granted. But the latter is standard functionality in most SatNav systems these days...

More soon.

recently bought an Apple product?

If yes and you had to find out that your shiny new purchase has been replaced by an even shinier fruit-logoed product, you might just have a case for Apple's Self Service Transition Program.

I could have done with it when I bought my eMac back in 2002 and lost £200 in 48 hours.

New Wayfinder UIQ version out soon

Wayfinder support have confirmed to me last week that a new version is due to come out soon. I only spotted it because I was checking for a software upgrade on myWayfinder.com. Current version is 4.57.

There was no information as to what this new release might contain.

Drivin' with Colin Steele - Twilight Dreams

I knew the time would come for me when I would start feeling a bit "farsick" (never realised there is no word for "fernweh" in English - meaning that you are longing to be somwhere else). But when listening to Colin's debut album again in the car this morning there surely was a lot of "Fernweh" about...

I remember well the last time I went to one of his concerts in Edinburgh. Him and his combo played some of the Miles Davis/Gil Evans arrangements - a tremendous evening. I congratulated him on the gig later outside and told him that he is not charging enough for this sort of quality. He laughed and simply admitted he didn't even know how much the tickets were.