http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=chincholi+bunder&daddr=19.05104,72.864678+to:19.0683573,72.9852756+to:19.0876051,73.0031591+to:19.0970546,73.0722318+to:Dapoli,+Maharashtra,+India+to:Murud,+Maharashtra,+India+to:Chiplun,+Maharashtra,+India+to:Guhagar,+Maharashtra,+India+to:Velaneshwar,+Ratnagiri,+Maharashtra,+India+to:anjarle+to:Kelshi,+Maharashtra,+India+to:mandangad+to:Goregaon,+Maharashtra,+India+to:Mangaon,+Maharashtra,+India+to:19.14945,72.98736+to:19.15575,72.88396+to:chincholi+bunder&hl=en&geocode=FXqoJAEdiHZXBClBD5UF-rbnOzERn6PQT9Tpvg%3BFSCyIgEdptNXBCkXlHEzxcjnOzFrE5ApYBY0UA%3BFcX1IgEdu6pZBClDrL-CtsbnOzFw5axSvceXZw%3BFfVAIwEdl_BZBClthzCsL8HnOzHBlnWC4WzRfw%3BFd5lIwEdZ_5aBCmvAa0WzMHnOzEiJqp6dL1rGw%3BFRjkDgEd3sJcBCl7TV9m3sPpOzE06FEe2TIaQQ%3BFRAmDwEdALlbBCmLfvDuzMDpOzGWWv8Brse5Gw%3BFZB8CwEdgNNhBCn_8PaVLAbCOzHtfiNZumfGVQ%3BFYfECgEdJtRcBClZsHwL8PHpOzHiwGl12IchZA%3BFfwWCQEduT5dBCldsKspVvbpOzH6MbLCKdZE2A%3BFb9mEAEdUExbBClzeNgu98fpOzHeoeVUL8jLFg%3BFRNwEQEd4dtaBCkhDkvjR7bpOzGuilkzquOyow%3BFWVnEgEd0LRdBClBK5b87s3pOzGix-idLM2O9A%3BFZgNFQEdVWdeBCntbhC94S3oOzFx7suQQa41cg%3BFXhGFgEdEjheBCmV7Kjc_C_oOzGV9HUfbMFH_Q%3BFYoyJAEd4LJZBCnvAWE5rLjnOzFp_MEE7ier3g%3BFSZLJAEd-B5YBCmJ4wL8krfnOzGQ3KZjEWMeiA%3BFXqoJAEdiHZXBClBD5UF-rbnOzERn6PQT9Tpvg&mra=mru&via=1,2,3,4,15,16&sll=17.41977,73.292542&sspn=0.188684,0.308647&num=10&ie=UTF8&ll=18.20848,73.526001&spn=2.504509,3.515625&z=8&output=embed<br /><small>View Larger Map</small>

Augmented reality, not doubt, has a great future. Most of the currently available applications are to explore and know more of new places. Therefore, if you are in your own city I don’t think it is of much use – well if you want to see twitter comments it works.

But you really can’t indulge in the bigger fun of exploring and learning of new places, when you are in the place, because of the seriously expensive data charges. At around Rs. 100 (1.7 euros) per MB it is a non starter. The same reason as to why Google Maps also don’t work.

If you are looking for navigational aids, better to buy some offline map applications.

If you are looking to explore the place, do it before hand and go there – don’t rely on augmented reality to help you.

Objective: Pack in as much of F1 as possible and obviously see new places

The two F1 stretches where you typically have races in consecutive weekends are

1) Monaco – Catalonia

2) Nurburing (Germany) – Budapest

Already been to Budapest and therefore the 1st options looks great. 

The drive along the coasts of Spain should be great. See the route map below.

<br /><small>View Larger Map</small>

My last Europe tour, guided by Navigon’s Iphone offline GPS maps says select the options of

1) Scenic drive

2) avoid all motorways

3) avoid all toll roads

4) take as many wrong turns as possible

to really experience a great drive.

Potential schedule

• Book car at Monaco with drop off at Barcelona
• Monaco – land and explore Monaco on Saturday with the 1st F1 on Sunday
• Monaco – Barcelona drive – as per Google map, if we follow the above route, it is a 21 hour drive. With 10 hours of driving everyday, with lots of stops and intentionally taken wrong routes, reach Barcelona on Thursday morning
• Stay at all nondescript places, extremely cheap etc, if you like the place than extend stay by a day types during this drive
• Set Barcelona as base and drive to Catalonia
• Budget permitting do a Saturday – Sunday F1 program
• Fly back on Monday afternoon

Download now or watch on posterous

IMG_0006.MOV (1591 KB)

Sent from my iPhone

Download now or watch on posterous

IMG_0007.MOV (1471 KB)

Sent from my iPhone

Sent from my iPhone

The Mobile Phone Becomes Self-Aware: Introducing Nokia’s Mobile Bots

Despite the heavy press coverage of smartphone operating systems like iPhone and Android, sometimes the most intriguing mobile innovations come from other companies. Case in point: Nokia’s newly released “bots” for its Nokia N97 line of handsets. These four individual software programs run in the background, learning your mobile habits by passively collecting data on how you use your phone. After gaining a sense of your daily tasks and routines, the bots personalize your phone, doing everything from rearranging your applications based on usage to automating the switch between mobile profiles. Incredible!

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Four Smart Bots

There are four distinct mobile bots now available as a bundled download here from Nokia Labs, the community site featuring beta, non-commercialized programs for Nokia handsets.

Currently, the collection includes the following:

• Profile Bot: This bot automates switching between mobile profiles – like switching to “silent” mode when you’re in a meeting and switching back to normal mode when the meeting is over. The bot can be configured to suggest profile changes that can be activated with a single click or it can be set to full automation.
• Alarm Bot: The alarm bot learns when you go to bed and when you wake up. At night, the bot suggests alarms and profile changes via your homescreen. With a single click, you can set the phone to silent mode and create a new alarm to wake you in the morning. 
• Shortcut Bot: The shortcut bot learns what mobile applications you use the most and updates your homescreen accordingly. The bot reconfigures your phone’s homescreen to feature shortcuts to your most frequently used applications. As your habits change, the bot updates these links.
• Battery Bot: This bot keeps an eye on your battery’s status. If your battery needs a recharge before bedtime, you’re reminded to plug it in.

In combination, what these bots deliver is a more adaptive UI and mobile phone experience. As your behaviors change, the bots learn and their suggestions change. More importantly, you don’t have to configure these bots – they figu…