4Prox

Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking about them

A number of Proxpro Prompt  users (the GPS Calendar)have jokingly suggested that "pretty soon we won't need a brain".  Certainly "no brains required" is part of Proxpro Prompt's mission,  A. N. Whitehouse sums up why situational awareness and intelligence augmentation is so important to civilization.

A. N. Whitehead (1861-1947)

"By relieving the brain of all unnecessary work, a good notation sets it free to concentrate on more advanced problems, and, in effect increases the mental power of the race....... By the aid of symbolism, we can make transitions almost mechanically by the eye, which otherwise would call into play the higher faculties of the brain.   It is a profoundly erroneous truism, that we should cultivate the habit of thinking what we are doing.  The precise opposite is the case.  Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking about them."

Thank you to Daniel Peters for making me aware of these wise words.

Will Mobile GPS Calendars win the turn-by-turn navigation war for mobile?

Troy Wolverton, Silicon Valley.com wrote an excellent article on mobile GPS applications click here to read it.

I added a comment saying that PNDs woes will only get worse and mobile navigation companies still don't have the experience right.  Here is a copy of my argument.

I agree the mobile navigation services are very high quality, and the touch screen form factor of mobile now addresses the user interface advantages previously advocated in favor of personal navigation devices (PND).  The availability of contacts is handy, but a trick has been missed as mobile GPS navigators simply copy the PND functionality.  The feature that will tip the balance, irredeemably in my view, is Prompt, the mobile GPS calendar, click here to learn about Prompt.  A Mobile GPS Calendar monitors calendar appointments for an offsite meeting, kids sporting event or a trip to the airport, checks the route for real-time traffic and tells the driver precisely what route to take to avoid congestion and when it is time to leave.  As 80% of journeys are familiar there is no need for voice directions, furthermore 80% of the unfamiliar journeys the route is known too,  voice is an unnecessary distraction.  A GPS Calendar, integrated to voice directions is ideal with the added advantage the driver will always arrive on time.  The stand alone PND will continue to find it hard to compete.  GPS Calendars also use a fraction of the battery power.

Julian Bourne

Prompt - The Mobile GPS Calendar (patents pending)

www.proxpro.com

Arrive on time every time (integrated to voice directions meaning the device knows where you are going so you don't have to enter the address)

Prompt: How to Customize BlackBerry Audible Alerts

What if while you are finishing breakfast there is a huge crash on the route to your  next important meeting, the traffic is backed up for miles and delays are unavoidable.  We know Prompt will "push" its time to leave, alert you in plenty of time, but you might not SEE the warning if your phone is in your pocket. 

Take the following steps and you will hear an audible notification 30 minutes before your departure deadline.  You will see the precise location of the incident and will be given directions to avoid the hold up!  With Prompt you arrive on time every time.

Prompt GPS Calendar

Click Menu and select preferences:



Select the radial button for audible alerts



Press back button and save preferences:



Then choose the BlackBerry profiles icon on the Home Screen



Scroll down to "Advanced"



Click advanced and the Blackberry profile currently in use is highlighted "Active.  Highlight this active profile. press menu and edit



Here you will see all the functions of your BlackBerry.  You can change all the LED, notifications and alarms for all your applications.  Select Prompt | menu | edit



The cursor will move down the right hand side column.  You have options in holster / out of holster.



Here are my settings which works well for Prompt:
I love the sonar notification, it gives the impression Prompt has surveyed my route and is coming back with trustworthy information.

Out of holster:                Tone
Ring tone:                    Notifier_sonar
Volume                         High
Number of beeps             1
Repeat notifications        0
Number of vibrations        2

In holster                same as above but with vibrations

Then edit the profile for vibrate.  You don't want Prompt sonar going off in your next meeting.  But vibrate and the LED would be helpful.

This is another tip on how to use Proxpro Prompt to make sure you arrive on time every time for every appointment.

Drive safely and always Prompt.

Prompt GPS Calendar Tips and Tricks: Radio Traffic Reports are not Reliable Enough

The trouble with traffic reports on the radio is they are so generic.  I want to know for certain if an incident is on my route, if it will delay me and by how long; will it be all clear by the time I get there?  One reason Proxpro Prompt users have achieved a 97% on time record (3% arriving within 5 minutes of target arrival time) is because Prompt is so personalized and automatic.  Prompt monitors your calendar, compares current location with location of your meeting, analyzes traffic on 3 routes and chooses the optimum, computes real-time and predicted travel time for your future journey and tells you precisely when to "hit the road."  Enjoy the newspaper and a cup of coffee in the morning, Prompt will get you there on time every time!  

 

A World First: Prompt gives time and location-based weather

Of the many new features in Prompt v1.1.2 time and location-based weather is a favorite.

Never has weather been so personalized. 

The Prompt calendar maps your own personal weather, wherever you plan to be. Will is be raining when I step out the car in Washington DC. Will my flight from Cleveland be delayed? Prompt automatically predicts the weather for your calendar events so you are never in doubt.

 

The Best Apps for your BlackBerry Bold

The App icon real estate on your BlackBerry Bold is valuable property.  Only the 18 best or most useful apps win this visibility.  Others lurk below the fold or in the applications folder, but they don't meet the usefulness criteria.  Here are my choices what are your favorites?

The best New Apps:

Proxpro Prompt v1.1.2 (of course) - GPS Calendar - it is simply the most useful GPS application for business.  Punctuality is a cardinal virtue for all professionals.

FaceBook v1.6.0.17 - they've improved interactivity no end
Google Mobile Search / Maps / News - still the best for long tail searches
EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour (R) 09 - Great golf game on Nintendo Wii but good enough on BB
The Weather Network - easy local weather look-up
BlackBerry AppWorld - Growing fast
TinyTwitter - I'm new to TinyTwitter but it's seems easier than Twitter website.
Intelligolf - For Golf yardage and stats it's the oldest and the best

7 BlackBerry Native Apps: email, Phone, Contacts, Browser, Apps Folder, camera and calendar - forget all the rest (waste of space)

Which apps do you cherish?  Which apps deserve prime real estate on your BlackBerry Bold phone?