GPS sends street directories down a dead end?

Halcon (Advanced member):

That's an absolute nonsense!
An street directory in printed format is still essential for reference use, I was about to buy the 2009 edition of the UBD street directory, but I decided not to buy it because it did not included the DVD ROM version of the directory.
If this could be included in the 2010 edition then I will buy 3 of them, because this is a good gift idea for Christmas time.
I hope the publishers keep making this "tool" of reference available in printed format, I do not drive a car, but this is still useful; moreover, the DVD ROM is the excellent online reference when using the PC.

CCCMikey (User):

Hmm. UBD for you, Google Maps and Whereis.com for me thanks :)

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

Batteries never go flat in a street directory... And they don't suffer from signal issues when it's stormy or in dense trees/buildings.

Printed street directories still have a place. I'd buy one every 2 years or so if I lived in a city. But since I live in a town small enough that I could probably map 75% from memory, I don't really need one.

The Big Baboo (User):

Here,Here :) Keep printing them I say:)I own a motorcycle myself and with the amount of vibration you get plus the fact that it's bloody dangerous taking your eyes of the road to consult your GPS. I'd rather stop now and then,look at my street directory or map and then go on with my journey. Call me an Old F..T but that's the way I've always done it and that's the way I'll keep doing it till I meet The Big Bike Maker In The Sky :) Have a good one all :)

McBanjo (User):

Pathetic. They've known they were being taken over by computer mapping for ages. They should've jumped aboard that train a decade ago. UBD is a solid brand, and would have plenty of credibility if you saw it as part of a GPS system. You'll get no pity from me. Keep ahead or GTFO.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

duplicate

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

duplicate

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting McBanjo:
You'll get no pity from me.

And you'll get no pity from me. I don't know what was the trigger of your outburst but we don't exactly see anyone pleading for pity. The only pity is in your inability to accept that not everyone will be in a similar set of circumstances to yourself.

I wont be losing too much sleep over the demise of printed directories but it will be sad to see the drop in accuracy of information.
While it should be far easier to keep electronic maps up to date than printed ones the reality is quite the opposite.

Some 12 years after the installation of traffic lights at my Sydney suburb Sensis and most other GPS maps still have the junction on one of Sydney's major roads shown as a roundabout.


Quoting McBanjo:
Keep ahead or GTFO.

The pathetic side to your reply was your need for such comments. FO highlighting the immaturity supplied without cause.

McBanjo (User):

I was referring to the fact that UBD still does not have a Google Maps equivalent, and hence they are losing sales from their books.

There's obviously some insecurities going on here, so I'm just gonna take the personal attack.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting McBanjo:
I was referring to the fact that UBD still does not have a Google Maps equivalent

that's fine that was the purpose of the article, what spurred on the calls of pathetic or GTFO? A diet high in red meat? Too much cordial.

Who says UBD or more importantly their parent even wants to participate in electronic mapping? Nothing pathetic at all about a wish not to participate.


Quoting McBanjo:
so I'm just gonna take the personal attack.

What personal attack? Asking you to consider your one eyed ranting and control your language is far from a personal attack. Best to consider where any insecurities actually lie.

Anonymousewiuu2945u389 (Frequent poster):

Quoting McBanjo:
I was referring to the fact that UBD still does not have a Google Maps equivalent, and hence they are losing sales from their books.


Doesn't WhereIs use UBD mapping data?
Also, UBD produce the Australian City Streets softwa... wait, it doesn't work on Mac OS X

Potoroo (User):

Quoting Raindog:
While it should be far easier to keep electronic maps up to date than printed ones the reality is quite the opposite.


That is an important point. If it was easy to make accurate maps of large cities then Melways would have succeeded in Sydney and UBD in Melbourne, but the reality is each dominates their home market and has virtually no presence outside it. And yet we're expected to believe that every brand of GPS is going to be up to date in every market. It's a pipe dream.

TV Bis (User):

Quoting Raindog:
Some 12 years after the installation of traffic lights at my Sydney suburb Sensis and most other GPS maps still have the junction on one of Sydney's major roads shown as a roundabout.

Most in car GPS systems these days have the option of uploading corrected information from the user back to the directory providers.
I have even corrected my house street number to the correct side of the road. I think it is a great idea to be able to do this because the people who use the roads know it best. It's just unfortunate that most people would like to complain more than to actually do something about it.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting TV Bis:
Most in car GPS systems these days have the option of uploading corrected information from the user back to the directory providers.

They do? A good many of the budget ones don't. (the models and brands which will be in most common use.) The integrated systems supplied in some of Australia's best selling cars do not either. The maps on my Nokia handset don't offer such facility either.


Quoting TV Bis:
I have even corrected my house street number to the correct side of the road. I think it is a great idea to be able to do this because

Funny I never needed to personally crayon in road changes for the printed edition and mail them back to the publisher for their subsequent editions to be up to date. Paying for accuracy and then being able to correct the mistakes at your own expense. Is that what they call progress?


Quoting TV Bis:
It's just unfortunate that most people would like to complain more than to actually do something about it.

Or is it simply unfortunate that in the frenzy of consumers to have new gadgets and the frenzy of manufacturers to meet that demand, that accuracy once taken as a given has gone out the window?

As I stated previously it should be much easier to keep electronic maps accurate than to their printed equivalent, yet this is far from the reality. Is that really the fault of the consumer?

Halcon (Advanced member):

UBD Street Directory have been available in print edition and DVD ROM, both formats has its advantages from different perspectives.
It would be sad to see no more print editions of the Street Directories, its time the publishers know there is still some needs to use both types of formats available.
It would be a complete ignorance to say GPS mapping is good and the street directory is not needed anymore, due to the constraints of these devices.

JGrant (User):

The price of updating the maps on GPS systems is ridiculous. The only people I know who use them are the people useless with directions or reading maps, having a GPS hasn't got them to places with any less confusion in what I've seen. They always end up calling me to ask where to go! My mate's tom tom doesn't even list train stations...

Hemma (User):

Quoting JGrant:
The only people I know who use them are the people useless with directions or reading maps, having a GPS hasn't got them to places with any less confusion in what I've seen.

Is technology making us stupid? I was in a cab and noticed that even taxi drivers are using them. He was just following the GPS to get to the destinations. Although it was good in showing me that he wasn't trying to rip me off, but back in the days before GPS, most competent cabbies knew where they were going anyway, and knew how to avoid traffic by taking other routes.

The Big Baboo (User):

Quoting Hemma:
But back in the days before GPS, most competent cabbies knew where they were going anyway, and knew how to avoid traffic by taking other routes.
Ah yes Hemma but that was back in the good old days when most cabbies could understnd English and at least 60% of them could read a map. If they couldn't,they usually asked you how to get there :)

LADunn (New user):

I definitely get what you're saying because it's the same with my friends. I personally dont drive (or own a SatNav) but regardless who im in the car with I always end up being navigator with the melways as none of the others can understand a SatNav whether they drive or dont. I've even sat down 1 mate and spent over an hr trying to explain how to use her NavMan and it was only the next night she was calling me at 2am asking for directions. For her next birthday i gave her a melways and SHOCK HORROR i havent had any calls yet.
I known you could say it's stupidity but not everybody can find their way just like everyone else. Some can look at the map online and store it to their memory, others need a visual aide to see further ahead instead of the next 500m (melways) or some the spoken instructions (SatNav)

JGrant (User):

Quoting LADunn:
For her next birthday i gave her a melways

I'm glad your friend found a solution. Mine seem to not even have the ability to know which direction they're heading and fail to read a map before taking off in the car haha.

The best thing about the paper melways is it has eh errrmm... got a huge screen, is wireless, is super high-res and the firmware update is only $30 per year. (it also smells nice)

If there was a GPS this good it would cost thousands hehe (yes I know about the guided instructions before it's mentioned, I'm just kidding around).

kevin_walker (New user):

GPS systems are OK for city work, but try them out in rural areas and there are some deficiencies e.g.
1. There are roads that either have never been built or have fallen into disuse and are overgrown.
2. There are roads that have been upgraded years ago but have not been upgraded on GPS maps. I have encountered a number where intersections have been changed but the GPS maps show left/right turns where none exist any longer.
3. There are council maintained creek crossing where ther GPS shows no crossing - resulting in it plotting significant detours.
4. There is even a road that crosses the QLD/NSW border, but the GPS shows a break in the road at the border.
In rural areas, it's best to check with a street map and/or Google before believing a GPS.

Zeb (New user):

As much as the internet has made our libraries obsolete. There will always be a place for the physical written word on. A reduced changed capapcity perhaps but never 'the end'.

Halcon (Advanced member):

Its ridiculous to think this will be end for the good street directory in printed format, the GPS technology is not perfect and is not going to be the preferred way to go, there was a problem with this gadget somewhere in the world, a bad mapping was about to create a disaster with a motorist that wanted to go home, following the directions of the device the driver of the car was about to go down a precipice, a very horrendous death, there are some more examples out there of situations like this, accidents waiting to happen all this due to the blind reliance to a device that is not accurate than the trusty street directory, this one cost a faction compared to the much talked GPS units, even I do not rely on the maps included with my mobile phone, I prefer the printed directory, this is a wise decision you should consider, if the technology is good enough then use it but better off to have a second source of reference.

Andrew M (New user):

As a transport driver, i still use the printed street directories. I replace them every 2-3 years and have no problems. However, i find that the GPS can be quite useful in distance and speed checking as the Authorities are more interested in lining their pockets than safety and will move a large transport along if you are stopped on the side of the road just to check your street directory. I know. I drive a large vehicle @19 meters long and 4.6 meters high, and a $156.00 fine for "obstructing" traffic just to check directions is not funny!

syro (New user):

They fine you for that? Why don't they fine the clowns who tow their caravans at 70kph in the hundred zone obstructing all the trucks and other vehicles. It would be a better money raiser than hasseling the guys that keep this country alive, there sure are a lot of caravans being towed very slowley around this country.

daggy_cool (New user):

KEEP THE MELWAYS GOING ;its part of our lives wheather you like it or not , we allways refere to melways diretions ,you can never get lost using a melways ,GPS is fun but using them is like leading blind freddy to never land and when they play up which they do it takes you twice as long to get to point b

Anonymousewiuu2945u389 (Frequent poster):

Quoting daggy_cool:
KEEP THE MELWAYS GOING


Fortunately, there wasn't even talk of cancelling Ausway directories

http://ausway.com/home/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=CfkMLaiBA%2bg%3d&tabid=134&mid=466&language=en-US

bugsy (New user):

street maps forever!! no going down dead end streets and dirt roads with these.

JaydenLesky (New user):

Sydney residents should switch to Sydway. I can't stand the layout of UBD or Gregorys

Loan Library (New user):

Surely they should have seen this coming five years ago and diversified their businesses?

Anonymousewiuu2945u389 (Frequent poster):

Well, it is now 2010, and we have updated editions for Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth (although some cost-cutting measures have been undertaken ie no more plastic jacket for protection) Not sure about Sydney, although I heard rumours that CityLink was due out on New Year's Day, and I guess UBD Melbourne could well be presumed dead if there isn't a complete miracle. Although there are Ausway publications in those two cities (and Brisway 2010 is due out in March, so I've heard), and Ausway have also entered Perth market by taking over publication of the former Perth StreetSmart. No sign of Gregory's, though.

Anonymousewiuu2945u389 (Frequent poster):

Sydney UBD due out 1/2/2010, so I heard.

Anonymousewiuu2945u389 (Frequent poster):

"The ability to look up and then print out a route on Google Maps has also given casual drivers a cheaper and more accurate alternative to buying a street directory."

More accurate????!!!! Then why doesn't it show the Mitchell Freeway extension (Nov 2008), Mandurah Railway Line (Dec 2007) or Clarkson to Currambine Railway Line Extension (Oct 2004)? I'm sure there are other examples as well, but I can't be bothered finding them.

And Google's maps are nowhere near as detailed as even the least detailed directories - don't even show traffic lights. And it chews up data for those on Tel$tra plans, while taking an age to load on slower connections.