Siri and Maps: on the same page?

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While on travel recently, I had a bit of free time and chose to visit a favorite bookstore: Denver’s Tattered Cover.

A former Denver resident, I was somewhat familiar with the route, but decided to review options. First, I asked Siri and experienced this:

Curiously, Siri offered a list of locations, but did not lead with the closest (I knew the Colfax building was not far). The nearby Colfax address was “beneath the fold”, as it were, on my iPhone.

I reverted to the maps app and tapped “Tattered Cover” into the search box. The nearest location quickly appeared:

I found this experience curious.

Presumably, Siri would display the nearest location first, but did not. Perhaps Yelp or other “weightings” (altitude?) influence the result set within the Siri world, but not maps?

Siri

Apple Maps

“Jesus Wept”

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Tap for a larger version.

Travel offers endless blessings, from people, places and things to contemplation.

And so it was, while walking around Rome (with Stuart Harvey [1]), we stopped to discuss the Arch of Titus [2].

Stuart described Titus’s triumphal arch to us, including “the spoils of Jerusalem”. It was constructed to commemorate Roman victories, including the Siege of Jerusalem [3].

While Stuart eloquently described Titus, I recalled Christ’s words in Luke 19:41-44 [4]:

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

and, Matthew 23:37-39 [5]:

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’[a]”

Good Friday. Holy week timeline.

[1] Rome Personal Tours

[2] Arch of Titus via duckduckgo.

[3] The Siege of Jerusalem – wikipedia. duckduckgo

[4] Luke 19:41-44.

[5] Matthew 23:37-39.

[6] Da Vinci’s Last Supper (Milan): duckduckgo.

I found Elizabeth Bruenig’s recent article: “A Benedictine retreat from political life cannot be the answer for today’s Christians.” interesting.

Salvation optics

Playing not to lose: Tire Rack

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Swapping snow for summer recently, a kind service tech mentioned that it was time to replace my warm weather tires.

I thought a bit while he researched several in stock options. Having purchased tires from tirerack.com before, I looked for them in the app store. Alas, no app, just a “responsive” website. I gave the website a try on my large iPhone. The experience, at best was not great, at worst tedious and unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, the service tech returned with several options, and after offering a reasonable, installed price, I agreed to the Pirellis.

Later, driving with the new tires, I considered the possibilities:

A. What would a great tire app experience be?

B. Why has tire rack avoided an app experience?

C. Have the SEO types won the day at Tire Rack? In other words, playing not to lose?

Some ideas:

1. Simplify

The user takes a photo of the car (and tires/tread?). The app recognizes the car and displays options. Tap to buy (and schedule with my calendar).

The Shazam app experience offers inspiration.

2. Auto-populate details

a. Add metadata including my location, date and time.

b. Leverage car connectivity, from bluetooth to CarPlay and Android Auto.

3. Reminders

a. Seasonal

b. Maintenance

c. Measure wear via the camera app?

d. Use notifications wisely, with an occasional calendar event.

4. Sensors

Presumably smart tires loom.

Might the tire companies leverage the data and build relationships with smartphone users, perhaps part of, or around auto systems?

Greenspace.

I sense that the ingredients are present, if not imminent for an interesting and useful app.

Further, will the auto information layer include an orifice model – my way or the highway – or, will a bazaar approach emerge, where suppliers offer their own services, as part of or around the integrators?