Driving in the Lake

There has been a lot of discussion the past few days about the iPhone and iPad default map application in its most recent release: IOS6.  Apple switched from using an app developed by Google using the goggle mapping data to its own app using alternate data. (Even though my iPad is wireless, I use the map functions by taking screen shots of where I plan to go rather than printing the directions.) Not only does the new app lack functions people were using in the Google app, but people are finding a lot of errors in the mapping data.

Some of the data they are using comes from Tom Tom (or wherever Tom Tom gets its data).  In the summer of 2011, a friend let us take her Tom Tom with us to Alaska.  It came in quite handy.  We did notice at one point that the Tom Tom cheerfully showed us driving in a lake on the Kenai Peninsula.  We were, in fact, on the shore of the lake at that time.  When I just checked my iPad for the Seward Highway, it looks as though they are still routing it through the lake.  I just took this screen shot:

Someone has started a tumblr devoted to IOS6 mapping errors.

Sunrise by IPad

I’ve had a mild case of iPad lust ever since they were announced two years ago.  (Yes, I made fun of the name, just like everyone else.)  However, there was no way I could convince myself that I NEEDED one, and it was far too expensive as a toy.  It didn’t seem fair when my sister showed up with one when she visited in February.

After the announcement of the 2012 iPad, I just happened to check the price of a refurbished basic iPad 2.  Hmmm…. I asked Jack if I could get one for my birthday and Christmas present this year.  He agreed. We ordered it last week, and it arrived from China on Friday.

I absolutely adore it.  Though I think I will stick to my DSLR camera for most photos.

Wikipedia Goes Dark

Why? Learn more.

As Tim Bray says:

And any­one who claims that unau­tho­rized trans­mis­sion of bits is anal­o­gous to piracy is at least a liar and is deeply dis­re­spect­ful of the peo­ple who are suf­fer­ing the ef­fects of theft, kid­nap­ping, and mur­der right now today in the In­dian Ocean. They de­serve your con­tempt, and they have mine.

via ongoing by Tim Bray · Not Piracy.

10 Tips for Your New eBook Reader

At Dear Author, Jane gives 10 Tips for Your New eBook Reader . When Jack had a Kindle delivered two and a half years ago, I thought he was crazy.  Now I only regret that the original Kindle is so limited compared to the more recent versions.  I still use it a lot, far more than Jack, and it is looking very grubby these days.  It is especially nice when traveling since it replaces the ten to fifteen pounds of books that I HAD to have as entertainment.