Navigation with Google Maps

They could have this thing nailed.. but are missing the vision.

Maps are for mobility, GPS is for location, and a car is what makes up mobile. Put the network in the car! Google must run with out connectivity 100% of the time. Just allow Google to sync on occasion, like when its sitting in the garage to get new content, to sync with where the computer has been, to sync with the music and pod casts, to sync the weather, traffic, satellite, coupons, advertisement etc. What is so difficult??

Computer in the car-- conceptually take a notebook computer throw out the keyboard and screen, stick it under the seat or dashboard somewhere... hook up the video output to the nav screen aux, extend the USB to hook up an iPod, find a power supply that connects to 12v, use a mini wireless keybd and mouse that will snap to the back of the center console lid... (the primary interface must be the touch screen). Now wire in the GPS antenna, and connect a bridge to the ECU to pick up mileage, gas gauge, fuel use... after all you do want to know when to buy gas so that the software can tell you where your fav gas is the cheapest. Plus any diagnostics. Google can do the software. Dell or Apple can do the hardware.

• I believe many of the places I look at on Google maps will be place I will go
  
• I believe that many places I go to, will be places I return to... dropping off the kids... I have to pick them up. Driving out of town to friends.... Going to a lake house...
  

Remote Control

Imagine something like this next to a light switch in everyroom.... but instead its the iPod UI with a nano screen. Not only will it act as a dimmer switch, but it can do all things you would expect it to

• Dim lights
• Adjust volume and change music, play list, stream
• Mated with a thermometer, adjust heat/cool
• With networking over the wiring or WiFi
• In package adaptor
• In location change out (replaces the single pole switch)

Home Gateway

Apple buys Tivo

Updates hardware... box made mini mac like, add 802.11n, add a iPod connector in the case cover, change remote to have iPod interface. These are a $100 value.

Software updates can be later... UI made mac like. unit to be the storage for time machine, program from mac, schedule on mac, mac a remote, add external gateway capability.. for thermostat, security, sprinkler, video doorbell

Market entry

Auto PC... go after municipal vehicles... police cars, utility trucks, garbage trucks, buses, postal vehicles...

computer in the vehicle
GPS... simple, one click reporting of pre-entered entries..

• road repair
• traffic signal out
• traffic accident
• tow required
• ambulance required
• unusual situation, police visit
• 
  

Web 2.0

Service providers will end up handling the control layer and the bearer layer being routed point to point.. with the cotrol layer looking at the clients and t invoking a trancoding function if required.

Web remote

How 'bout a small, lightweight portable remote... device connects via Bluetooth 2 (longer range) to a tv/pc... it would provide a local screen with internet access.
TV Guide
PVR programming
email
call logs
and the web

Nokia 770 Internet Tablet Features

it would just remote the screen from the PC
a lite weight process, bluetooth, no HD, a couple of gigs of flash or a slot for flash memory so the thing could lug mp3s and video
no wifi because that would require too much power
but there would be a mouse, roller ball
key board (with better mouse rollerball) connectivieyt via bluetooth
a 7" screen
and a cradle charger... several hours of battery
non-vol memory so nothing gets lost
click button and screen on remote is on tv

Networked cars

What about itunes, podcasting, one button voicemail, maps, weather maps, traffic, maps from google that in my car that I surfed on the web, location based services (like where is the closet gas station when my gas light goes on? where is my favorite gas brand/or the cheapest 91 Octane on my side of the road, when my gas level is 1/8 of a tank), how about arming my security system to away, and chaning my thermostat settings, changin my sprinkler settings at my home. what am I asking too much????

Needs traffic software, tracking of 'routine routings' so that means can be generated and evaluated.

Why aren't cars networked??

Think of a Minimac, a touch screen and a Apple remote, voice rec/and a bluetooth keyboard. Move the SuperDrive of the Mac to CD player location, and add a wireless broadband EVDO or UMTS radio module and a GPS antenna, add fan and its done. Minimac would be modifed by removing the DVD drive (moving it to the dashboard), adding a fan and radio module, moving antenna for 802.11n/GPS/cellular to a roof mount, and adding a heat sink in steam in a vent.

Cost:

• $700 Mac or IPX system
• $700 Screen
• $300 Radio
• $100 antenna and coax
• $50 cooling
• Harness for wireing and harness for connecting to ECU $100

Say a 4 hour install time

Apple, cell phone guys, software guys, networking guys, computer guys, retail (Best Buy) and the auto companies all win...

Everyone wins.... computer guys get another enviroment, cell phone guys sell another device, service providers sell another account at at least $10/mo plus data, people like Vonage win because they can use it as a launch point for converged voicemail, people like Sony/Clarion/Pioneer etc. get a new aftermarket category, BestBuy wins.... pod casters win