Car Symbol in Maps

[AndyMcCullough]

In Maps there is a car button to the right hand side. What does this feature do??? I didn't see this in a topic yet, maybe I'm just to lazy to look. But can someone help me.

[eh270]

It does the same thing as clicking on the "Traffic" button in google maps.

[ccleve76]

Originally Posted by AndyMcCullough

In Maps there is a car button to the right hand side. What does this feature do??? I didn't see this in a topic yet, maybe I'm just to lazy to look. But can someone help me.

the car button gives you traffic conditions, when your looking for driving directions

[AndyMcCullough]

So is it tracking me as I go? Or just based on my directions

[eh270]

It doesn't track you. Go to maps.google.com, look at a map of a big city, and press traffic. It just shows you traffic conditions. I think if you ask for driving directions, it calculates them WIth traffic estimations.. but.. iPhone has no real GPS in it, so it won't track you.

[farnoud]

apple may release GPS accessory for iPhone,Good idea isn't it?

[AndyMcCullough]

I did see on the att website a bluetooth GPS Device.

Maybe in time will work with that.

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-pho...sku=sku1000215

[uptick]

Originally Posted by AndyMcCullough

So is it tracking me as I go? Or just based on my directions

Basically, it REDRAWS the map with GREEN, YELLOW, or RED lines to indicate traffic conditions.

"What do the colors represent on the traffic data?
If available in your area, real-time traffic conditions will be displayed over the highway as color coded lines. Each color represents how fast the traffic is moving:

• Green: more than 50 miles per hour
• Yellow: 25 - 50 miles per hour
• Red: less than 25 miles per hour
• Gray: no data currently available

hmmmm... so I guess those random utility boxes with the solar panels to the side of the highway are reading and transmitting all this "real-time" data? :P

[farnoud]

and black for no road available

[kdarling]

Originally Posted by uptick

hmmmm... so I guess those random utility boxes with the solar panels to the side of the highway are reading and transmitting all this "real-time" data? :P

Exactly. About every two minutes, data is collected from sensors all over major roads, and distributed to traffic control computers, police traffic monitors, and public map consumption.

So instead of needing cameras and live operators everywhere, they can get realtime alerts of something wrong, and change traffic flow and send help.