Wolfreak
07-08-2004, 10:09 AM
For a product that is supposedly mostly aimed at the US market, I found navigating in miles far worse then using metric. I think I now see why people have been complaining about low volume, where I never really have had a problem with it. On my trip through the US I switched to miles and found some subtle, but annoying differences in navigation prompts.
When navigating in km, I find I have to pay very little attention to the iQue prompts, and even then don't really need to hear exactly what she is saying. Whereas in miles, I found I always had to look down whenever she chirped up. My observations:
When in metric, the iQue always gives your last turn directions in meters. This means as long as you can make out the number of sylables being spoken, you generally know when its time to really pay attention to what she is saying. In addition, if there are two streets close together and you want the one slightly further away, she always says turn in 150 meters instead of the usual, final 100 meter prompt. I find freeway exit prompting a little random in how much warning it gives, but it still will always give the last prompt in meters.
When in miles, I could find no rhym or reason to the final turn direction prompt. Somtimes it would tell me 0.6 miles, or switch to feet. I found I missed turns on occasion, because I just wasn't paying attention to the mile prompts. I also found it harder to differentiate the words mi-les and feet with the stereo on as they're both about the same length. Ki-lo-met-ers and met-ers have enough difference between them to pick up even when you can't hear the actual words being said. If there was a pattern to when she prompted about turns, I couldn't pick up on it. Giving me final prompts in miles especially drove me nuts since I'm not use to thinking in miles in the first place.
Now there is a good chance I'm just not use to using imperial, or maybe the difficulty with hearing the iQue's prompts is usually dependant on what system of measure you're using.
When navigating in km, I find I have to pay very little attention to the iQue prompts, and even then don't really need to hear exactly what she is saying. Whereas in miles, I found I always had to look down whenever she chirped up. My observations:
When in metric, the iQue always gives your last turn directions in meters. This means as long as you can make out the number of sylables being spoken, you generally know when its time to really pay attention to what she is saying. In addition, if there are two streets close together and you want the one slightly further away, she always says turn in 150 meters instead of the usual, final 100 meter prompt. I find freeway exit prompting a little random in how much warning it gives, but it still will always give the last prompt in meters.
When in miles, I could find no rhym or reason to the final turn direction prompt. Somtimes it would tell me 0.6 miles, or switch to feet. I found I missed turns on occasion, because I just wasn't paying attention to the mile prompts. I also found it harder to differentiate the words mi-les and feet with the stereo on as they're both about the same length. Ki-lo-met-ers and met-ers have enough difference between them to pick up even when you can't hear the actual words being said. If there was a pattern to when she prompted about turns, I couldn't pick up on it. Giving me final prompts in miles especially drove me nuts since I'm not use to thinking in miles in the first place.
Now there is a good chance I'm just not use to using imperial, or maybe the difficulty with hearing the iQue's prompts is usually dependant on what system of measure you're using.