Google Navigation, Traffic, and Red Light Cameras

[sloheim]

I love Google Navigation. I think it does an excellent job.

However, I would ALSO like to see an overlay of (a) traffic, and (b) red light cameras (which they are just starting to install in my city).

Obviously I can use Google Nav on its own, and I can use an app like Trapster on its own, but I can't find a way to use them in conjunction. I want (a) to see my turn-by-turn directions to get somewhere, and (b) while following those directions, see that I am approaching a red light camera and/or heavy traffic.

I realize that I can probably see traffic in Google Nav... so maybe that point is moot... but is there any way I can see ALL of these things at once?

Thanks.

 

[Peterpoose]

I would also like to know this, thanks.

 

[Member282753]

There is an app that will do this currently in the Android Market. The app is designed to be setup (i.e., warning distances, etc.) and then it just runs as a service in the background while you use the navigation app of your choice including Google Nav, Mapquest, CoPilot, Navigon, etc. It isn't a bulky standalone app like you mention above. The app can't create a graphical overlay on the Google Nav map, but as you drive it alerts you with speech or tones, to the locations of red light and speed cameras. The cool thing about the app is that the background alert service can (if you wish) be automatically activated and deactivated based on being connected to a Bluetooth profile of your choice (i.e, your car, but not your ear piece).

In the interest of full disclosure and in being a good citizen of these forums, I must say that while I am not the developer of the app, I do have a monetary interest in the camera database that the app can use. Therefore, I will not post the name of the app here unless you specifically say that you are OK with me doing so. You can PM me also if you'd rather do it that way.

 

[sloheim]

I'm fine with you mentioning the name. Any potential solution is worth it to me! Thanks.

 

[Peterpoose]

I'm fine with you mentioning the name. Any potential solution is worth it to me! Thanks.

Same

 

[loick]

Hi there, I'm the developer of "Glob - Traffic & Radars".

I tried to add layers on Google Maps Navigation in order to add my informations in it but Google doesn't let me do such things even after trying many solutions.

So the best I did is warn you while approaching "incidents" with a popup giving you informations like:
- Type of event: Accident, traffic ligth camera, speed camera or speed trap
- Distance with this event
- Voice alerts saying type of event and speed limit if known.

I also added shortcuts in the notification bar so you don't have to switch to my application to notify accidents or speed traps to other users.

I also developed many plugins for this application so if you have any idea to improve the application feel free to contact me.

PS: This application is Free and has about 300 000 users today.

 

[Peterpoose]

Thanks will it a go.

 

[sloheim]

Hi there, I'm the developer of "Glob - Traffic & Radars".

I tried to add layers on Google Maps Navigation in order to add my informations in it but Google doesn't let me do such things even after trying many solutions.

So the best I did is warn you while approaching "incidents" with a popup giving you informations like:
- Type of event: Accident, traffic ligth camera, speed camera or speed trap
- Distance with this event
- Voice alerts saying type of event and speed limit if known.

I also added shortcuts in the notification bar so you don't have to switch to my application to notify accidents or speed traps to other users.

I also developed many plugins for this application so if you have any idea to improve the application feel free to contact me.

PS: This application is Free and has about 300 000 users today.

So the two apps would run concurrently, but Google Nav would stay on top, and popups would display if there are any alerts? Is that true?

 

[loick]

So the two apps would run concurrently, but Google Nav would stay on top, and popups would display if there are any alerts? Is that true?

You're right ;-)

 

[Member282753]

The solution that I mentioned above is called Radardroid. As important or more important than the functionality of the app is the accuracy of the database. Radardroid has over 300,000 users, but partnered with us because they couldn't find a quality database for the US that wasn't one of the large standalone services (i.e., Trapster etc). They were getting lots of complaints because customers were thinking they supplied the data too. There is a lot of pretty weak overseas databases out there purporting to offer US coverage.

There is a Radardroid Lite and Radardroid Pro option. The Lite option doesn't do the background service option while Google Nav is running. But it does let you get a feel for the program for free. Our data is sold in an app called Radardroid US Premium Database Add-in - also in the Android Market.

You can download Radardroid Lite or Radardroid Pro and install it. From within that app when you run it, it will prompt you for the optional download of our database and install it automatically. Updates to both the app and the data come directly through the Android Market. Data updates come about once per month.

All total, you'll have about $11 in one-time (no subscriptions) charges or about 1/10th the average fine of a single violation. I'd be glad to answer any other questions you have.

 

[Peterpoose]

Tried it and it works fine thanks a lot was just what I was looking for.

Couple of things, I'm in London would be nice to have London widget. Also my lock screen disappears when the app is running. Other than that works great.

HTC Desire HD.

 

[loick]

Tried it and it works fine thanks a lot was just what I was looking for.

Couple of things, I'm in London would be nice to have London widget. Also my lock screen disappears when the app is running. Other than that works great.

HTC Desire HD.

Indeed, I planned to add London but it's in testing only for the moment as I need at least 2 weeks of data to build the widget's graph.

Don't forget to got to Glob: The Traffic Info and Speed Cams Community and register in VIP and feel free to do any correction on speed cams and traffic lights radars from the web interface if the side or position is wrong.

As this application is free the community feedback is the only way to keep the database free and up to date ;-)

Don't forget to rate and comment the application on the market ;-)

 

[Dark Jedi]

Just don't run a red light and you wont have to worry about the cameras.

 

[loick]

Just don't run a red light and you wont have to worry about the cameras.

After a long day working hard I often even don't see the light is red thinking about this f.... boss !!! ;-)

Of course this application should be used as a reminder and every one should be careful with speed limits and traffic light ;-)

Don't forget this application is also designed to foresee traffic jams and avoid accidents.

 

[MarkHirt]

After a long day working hard I often even don't see the light is red thinking about this f.... boss !!! ;-)

Maybe you should say off the road, I'm sure the family of five you hit will be sympathetic with you job

 

[Peterpoose]

Maybe you should say off the road, I'm sure the family of five you hit will be sympathetic with you job

50 points for a family of 5

 

[bberryhill0]

Red lights with cameras often have the yellow light time reduced to increase revenue. They don't seem to be installed for safety reasons. If safety was the object the lights would be programmed to show red both directions for a brief time.

 

[theunf]

The solution that I mentioned above is called Radardroid. As important or more important than the functionality of the app is the accuracy of the database. Radardroid has over 300,000 users, but partnered with us because they couldn't find a quality database for the US that wasn't one of the large standalone services (i.e., Trapster etc). They were getting lots of complaints because customers were thinking they supplied the data too. There is a lot of pretty weak overseas databases out there purporting to offer US coverage.

There is a Radardroid Lite and Radardroid Pro option. The Lite option doesn't do the background service option while Google Nav is running. But it does let you get a feel for the program for free. Our data is sold in an app called Radardroid US Premium Database Add-in - also in the Android Market.

You can download Radardroid Lite or Radardroid Pro and install it. From within that app when you run it, it will prompt you for the optional download of our database and install it automatically. Updates to both the app and the data come directly through the Android Market. Data updates come about once per month.

All total, you'll have about $11 in one-time (no subscriptions) charges or about 1/10th the average fine of a single violation. I'd be glad to answer any other questions you have.

I use this tool for more than a year... fine free tool.

 

[robinhirsch]

Thanks for the post. I'd really like to know the name of this application. Apologies if I'm not getting the message to you via the means you intended, but I'm new to this forum.

Robin

There is an app that will do this currently in the Android Market. The app is designed to be setup (i.e., warning distances, etc.) and then it just runs as a service in the background while you use the navigation app of your choice including Google Nav, Mapquest, CoPilot, Navigon, etc. It isn't a bulky standalone app like you mention above. The app can't create a graphical overlay on the Google Nav map, but as you drive it alerts you with speech or tones, to the locations of red light and speed cameras. The cool thing about the app is that the background alert service can (if you wish) be automatically activated and deactivated based on being connected to a Bluetooth profile of your choice (i.e, your car, but not your ear piece).

In the interest of full disclosure and in being a good citizen of these forums, I must say that while I am not the developer of the app, I do have a monetary interest in the camera database that the app can use. Therefore, I will not post the name of the app here unless you specifically say that you are OK with me doing so. You can PM me also if you'd rather do it that way.

 

[RazzMaTazz]

I haven't tried it yet, but Waze (free) seems to be becoming very popular (~50 million installs & nearly a 5-star rating on Play Store) and many people swear that it's a much better navigation app than Google Navigation (in part because it can do automatic, real-time re-routing based on new traffic data). Waze has integrated community-based reporting of both permanent and roving radar/laser speed traps, red-light cameras, accidents, etc.

 

[sleeco]

CamerAlert from play store is what you want.

 

[Member282753]

Radardroid is the app referred to in this thread.