Products & Services
Ovi App spotlight: I Parked Here
By JBC on 06 August 2009
GLOBAL – We’ve ripped the Conversations Torch from its packaging, loaded it up with some new batteries and we’re now shining it directly at the latest and greatest from the Ovi Store. First up for the Ovi App Spotlight treatment is a handy little number dubbed I Parked Here. Now, is it me or are car parks getting bigger? All the whilst car spaces are getting smaller. I Parked Here is designed to help you around that particular problem, by showing you the way back to your parked car. Simple, but brilliantly clever at the same time.
See, I Parked Here taps into Skyhook Wireless’s network of logged cell towers and WiFi hotspots. This means you don’t always need a GPS signal to find your car (we all know GPS doesn’t work too well in multi-story car parks). What’s more you don’t need to wait for a GPS signal, which can take a little longer in built up areas (just the kinds of places where you’re likely to forget where exactly you parked your car).
I Parked Here also flies a flag in the face of parking wardens by adding in a parking meter alarm function, so you can get to your car before the warden does. When the alarm sounds, you can find your way back to your car on a choice of maps and it’ll even plot a little walking route for you.
You can pick up I Parked Here from the Ovi Store for about €3. That’s about one twentieth of the cost of a parking ticket in the UK. Mmmm.
Every week we’ll be shining the Conversations torch on a new app from the Ovi Store. If you’ve used one you think we should spotlight, let us know in the comments below.
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Tags | I Parked Here, Ovi Store
August 6th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
This is a pretty decent app for car owners. Seeing that our cars do not light up with signage to tell us where it is, I can see this app going really far.
It would be interesting to see how Augemented Reality can play into the role of this app and cars.
Kudos!
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Nuno Pereira Reply:
August 6th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
@Jonathan James, some cars light up if you press the remote button.. Mine does it..
The thing is, it isn’t as eefective as it can be.. Its signal isn’t that good, and if i’m far from the car (about 50mts), i will have no luck at all.
This app really solves it all (or atleast it looks that way), but i have to say, i DON’T pay for something i haven’t tried, and it looks to me that trial isn’t available. (sorry if i’m wrong but i have no way to check it as i’m using a simple Nokia 1600).
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jbc Reply:
August 6th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
@Nuno Pereira, Have you ever tried holding the keyfob against your head when you’re standing too far away from the car (more than 50m)? I don’t know how or why it works, but it does.
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Nuno Pereira Reply:
August 6th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
@jbc, i’ve heard about it too.. but like sockatume said, it’s not related to the head
August 6th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
It works because you’re holding the keyfob up. If you hold it above your head it’s even more effective.
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jbc Reply:
August 6th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
@sockatume, I just went out and checked and you are indeed right. Physics never was my strong point.
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August 6th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
What happens to all the software you pay for when you transfer to a new phone?
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August 7th, 2009 at 8:25 am
I’m sure Jerry Seinfeld and the gang would have LOVED this app during the “Parking Garage” episode…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6dk34omd_4
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