Custom POIs - lack of indication of contents

[chaicka]

Hi,

I am looking for a list of custom POIs which would be useful for me in Singapore, however, due to lack of description of each Custom POI if it contains/applicable for Singapore, I am having a tough time choosing which ones should I grab.

Eg. I think school zones custom POI does not contain any for Singapore. Am I right?

Would it be more end-user friendly if each custom POI list location that is applicable? No need exact locations, just a simple SG or West MY would be great.

[stratman2]

Hi,

I am looking for a list of custom POIs which would be useful for me in Singapore, however, due to lack of description of each Custom POI if it contains/applicable for Singapore, I am having a tough time choosing which ones should I grab.

Eg. I think school zones custom POI does not contain any for Singapore. Am I right?

Would it be more end-user friendly if each custom POI list location that is applicable? No need exact locations, just a simple SG or West MY would be great.

Yes, by and large our MFM cPOIs do not cover SG and you can safely assume that. The school zone cPOI which I did encompasses mostly schools in Peninsular Malaysia, located along main roads in small towns and rural areas. Those in the cities are excluded as they usually have speed humps, zebra crossings or traffic lights. Having school zone waypoints in densely populated areas would be somewhat redundant and can become tiresome to those who ply the roads next to these schools daily.

Should a cPOI exist for Singapore, it should preferably have a prefix or suffix "SG" to differentiate it from Malaysia. Since the MFM cPOIs were originally made for Malaysia we didn't see it necessary to tag them with "MY".

[chaicka]

Here are my thoughts:

I am sure there are pple out there who would want to move away from MSM POIs since it may not be accurate when used with MFM maps. With lack of MFM cPOIs for SG (far behind MSM), it makes using purely MFM map quite lack of essential functions eg. alerts for stationary speed cams/traffic light cams/ERP gantries.

[antyong (retired)]

My thoughts:

If the data for speed cam, traffic light cam and ERP is easily available, just compile it into CPOI. Bro Stratman2 compiled many CPOIs for Peninsula Malaysia on his own. Can't those living in SG form a team to compile these CPOIs?

[stratman2]

Here are my thoughts:

I am sure there are pple out there who would want to move away from MSM POIs since it may not be accurate when used with MFM maps. With lack of MFM cPOIs for SG (far behind MSM), it makes using purely MFM map quite lack of essential functions eg. alerts for stationary speed cams/traffic light cams/ERP gantries.

My two cents:

Very true, but as brother Antyong has said, someone else has to volunteer to compile cPOIs for SG. He has already advised us not to lift data from our friendly competitor and I'm sticking to his advice.

The easiest and most obvious way is by porting existing cPOI data from the other forum. The hardest way is compiling the waypoints yourself by browsing the MFM map. But then your handiwork will be deemed as original and nobody can accuse you of copying stuff from that side.

The inaugural versions of the speedtrap and redlight cPOIs had raw data from the other side (hey, I had to start off with something!) but the subsequent versions were amended with various contributions from the selfless folks only from MFM. My other cPOIs were derived solely from MFM's maps and I did the first releases myself without anyone's help. Really.

Try to imagine yourself browsing Mapsource on a laptop with a 14" screen and identifying hundreds of road junctions, rural schools, sharp bends and you'll see what I mean. It will drive you nuts after an hour or two.

So, if you were going to volunteer to compile ERP Gantries for example, which route are you gonna take - the easy way or the original way?

[alihms]

I’m newbie here and maybe this suggestion has been proposed before or is already in MFM’s future plan. I saw several custom POIs such as Pasar Malam, Speed Traps, Sharp Turns etc have a dedicated (or rather volunteered) person maintaining them. Can MFM organize people handling businesses based POIs. Examples of these POIs are :

Workshops / Car accessories shops
Motorcycle Outlets / Workshops
Car wash centers
Launderettes / Dry Cleaners
Florists
Tailors
Cake & Pastries shops
Barbers / Saloons
Kindergartens / Child day-care centers
Hardware Stores / Sundries shops
Bookstores / Newspaper kiosks
Computer stores
Electrical goods stores
Handphones & Gadgets stores
Shoes / Apparels shops
Photo shops / studios
Money changers
etc….

These POI data should come complete with addresses, telephone numbers, opening hours, prices and so on. One person manning each (or several) of these POIs would make the task more manageable.

Or.. rather than using custom POIs, is there a better way that I am not aware off which we can use to organize these data? I’m new to this GPS thingy anyway.

[stratman2]

I’m newbie here and maybe this suggestion has been proposed before or is already in MFM’s future plan. I saw several custom POIs such as Pasar Malam, Speed Traps, Sharp Turns etc have a dedicated (or rather volunteered) person maintaining them. Can MFM organize people handling businesses based POIs. Examples of these POIs are :

Workshops / Car accessories shops
Motorcycle Outlets / Workshops
Car wash centers
Launderettes / Dry Cleaners
Florists
Tailors
Cake & Pastries shops
Barbers / Saloons
Kindergartens / Child day-care centers
Hardware Stores / Sundries shops
Bookstores / Newspaper kiosks
Computer stores
Electrical goods stores
Handphones & Gadgets stores
Shoes / Apparels shops
Photo shops / studios
Money changers
etc….

These POI data should come complete with addresses, telephone numbers, opening hours, prices and so on. One person manning each (or several) of these POIs would make the task more manageable.

Or.. rather than using custom POIs, is there a better way that I am not aware off which we can use to organize these data? I’m new to this GPS thingy anyway.

Hi alihms,


I suppose I could do all that by myself, but considering the sheer amount of effort involved, I would charge RM50 per download to make it all worthwhile.

The nice gentlemen behind the scenes make these custom POIs as a hobby in their spare time. They are not under any obligation to create new ones or update their existing cPOIs on a scheduled basis. Custom POIs augment the MFM map - they're not an absolute necessity for your GPS. The routable map is however, necessary for navigation - otherwise your GPS will be naught but a very expensive compass, speedometer, tripmeter and a location finder.

Car workshops, car wash centers and accessory stores are already listed under "Auto Services" in your Nuvi. Electrical goods stores, computer/software, convenience, department, apparel, etc are listed under "Shopping". Look for cake shops under "Food". It's all there.

Barbers/hairdressers are not that really useful POIs. Chances are you already go to your regular barber and you know where to find others in your vicinity. Even if you're travelling to a different city and you suddenly feel you need a haircut, all you have to do is ask the locals where the nearest barber is. Chances are it's within walking distance of your hotel. Even if you don't know where the location is, the locals will just tell you "It's along Jln Wong Ah Fook, near this restaurant, etc". All you have to do is to look up that landmark along Jln Wong Ah Fook on your GPS.

These POIs are already programmed into the MFM map and categorized by MFM's mappers. Having separate cPOIs for the above would be a duplication of effort and make the built-in POIs redundant. Also consider that your custom POI directory in your GPS will be overpopulated with POIs that you really don't need in the first place.


Please spend more time with your Nuvi - get acquainted with its features!

[alihms]

Hi alihms,


I suppose I could do all that by myself, but considering the sheer amount of effort involved, I would charge RM50 per download to make it all worthwhile.

The nice gentlemen behind the scenes make these custom POIs as a hobby in their spare time. They are not under any obligation to create new ones or update their existing cPOIs on a scheduled basis. Custom POIs augment the MFM map - they're not an absolute necessity for your GPS. The routable map is however, necessary for navigation - otherwise your GPS will be naught but a very expensive compass, speedometer, tripmeter and a location finder.

Car workshops, car wash centers and accessory stores are already listed under "Auto Services" in your Nuvi. Electrical goods stores, computer/software, convenience, department, apparel, etc are listed under "Shopping". Look for cake shops under "Food". It's all there.

Barbers/hairdressers are not that really useful POIs. Chances are you already go to your regular barber and you know where to find others in your vicinity. Even if you're travelling to a different city and you suddenly feel you need a haircut, all you have to do is ask the locals where the nearest barber is. Chances are it's within walking distance of your hotel. Even if you don't know where the location is, the locals will just tell you "It's along Jln Wong Ah Fook, near this restaurant, etc". All you have to do is to look up that landmark along Jln Wong Ah Fook on your GPS.

These POIs are already programmed into the MFM map and categorized by MFM's mappers. Having separate cPOIs for the above would be a duplication of effort and make the built-in POIs redundant. Also consider that your custom POI directory in your GPS will be overpopulated with POIs that you really don't need in the first place.


Please spend more time with your Nuvi - get acquainted with its features!

I understand all of this is voluntary job. Millions thanks to all of you. I agree they are not an important POIs and the priority should be on getting the routing part of the map complete.

The reason for my suggestion was simply because the information I sought was not there. My wife and I were having a dinner when she suddenly remember that she should get a cake for a little office party she will be having the following day. At that time it was around 8:30pm and the cake shop we usually patronize closes at 9:00pm. I knew we can’t make it there on time since we were quite far from home. I searched my new toy and found none that was close enough. In fact that cake house we patronize was also not also listed anyway.

We finally headed to nearby Tesco instead. It wasn’t the type of cake she had in mind but well...

Expecting too much out of my new toy, am I?

[attahun]

its a never ending effort by the good folks at MFM...for the rest of us who rely on them, lets do our part and make it easier for them...if u have any useful POI just post it into this forum. make it an effort to post in the POIs if you expect them to be in the maps. cheers

[chaicka]

My thoughts:

If the data for speed cam, traffic light cam and ERP is easily available, just compile it into CPOI. Bro Stratman2 compiled many CPOIs for Peninsula Malaysia on his own. Can't those living in SG form a team to compile these CPOIs?

I can give it a try if there is guidance on how to pick up the rope to compile cPOIs.