How Not to Get Rich Quick with Google Maps
I discovered a feature on my new Blackberry the other day — in the Google Maps application — in which I can perform voice searches. I push the “walkie talkie” button the side of my phone, say the name of a business, an address or something I’m looking for and Google produces a list for me.
To test, I tried speaking “Safeway” into my phone. A few seconds later a list of Safeways appeared, ordered by distance from my current location. Impressed, I tried “train station” and a list of MAX stops appeared. I was then completely out of ideas and moved onto something else.
Later, I was showing the feature to my GF, demonstrating by speaking the names of a couple local businesses into it. We then tried a couple vague searches; “ice cream” or “sushi,” for example. I am now testing the limits of this feature’s usefulness, having searched for, with disappointing results, “bag of money,” “buried treasure,” and “missing children.” Searches for “cocaine” and “heroin” produced only places at which I can receive treatment.
Curiously, “prostitutes” produced a list of businesses. If any of you plan on visiting me in the near future and need to track me down, these results should give you a good idea of where to I can be found.
Speaking of which, yes, I got a local Portland number. You should have received a text with my new number. If you didn’t, my new number is listed on my Facebook. If you neither text or use Facebook, I’m not entirely sure why or how you’re friends with me, since those two things are really the only way I’m capable of communicating anymore.
July 30th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
You should test for “PBR”.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I don’t know how to work my phone and am not on facebook… I’m sorry you ended your friendship with me this way.
August 5th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Oh yeah, I don’t have a data plan or anything, so when you sent me the text of your new number, that shit cost me ten fucking cents.
You owe me ten fucking cents motherfucker.
Cough it up.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:10 am
you should search for ‘blog update’.