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Time for a Beer?

i am fartacus writes: "Good news for thirsty beer lovers in a strange town, this will help you find the nearest pub... hmmm beer .... and help you stay on time. " The gist of this is that it's a watch with a GPS transmitter that can show you the distance and direction to the 4 nearest pubs. Ingenious!

50 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. An invention clearly ahead of its time by pheph · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ofcourse we'd need a watch with a GPS to track where the 4 nearest bathrooms are

    1. Re:An invention clearly ahead of its time by yobbo · · Score: 2, Funny

      And the ability to differentiate between the Men's and Ladies. Unless it just does what I do and points you towards the Disabled toilets instead...

    2. Re:An invention clearly ahead of its time by linzeal · · Score: 2, Funny

      Or an upgrade to find the 4 nearest AA meetings after you become an alcholic in 6 months.

  2. Still don't need it... by TheQuantumShift · · Score: 3, Funny

    The day I need a device to find me beer...

    --

    Shift happens. Fire it up.
    1. Re:Still don't need it... by buckeyeguy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Amen. I don't need to find beer... beer finds me.

      --
      I'd have a personalized plate on my car, but "toxic bachelor" won't fit into 7 letters.
  3. Of Course... by Nathdot · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...operating a GPS device in order to bar hop while completely stone drunk, and swaying all over the pavement shouldn't prove a challenge at all.

    Man I have to hold my wrist with the other hand just to look at the time.

    And another thing; Who wants to bear witness to such truly horrible pick-up lines as:

    "Hey baby! Wanna see my GPS device?! Yowzer!"

    :)

  4. Not ready for prime time. by CarbonJackson · · Score: 4, Funny

    In my opinion the watch needs two key features before it can be succesful.

    1. The ability to track my house so I can find my way back home.

    2. An ugly girl detector, so the previous feature doesn't allow me to make it home with the wrong girl.

    Figure it out Mr. Scietists and sign me up!

    --

    MikeAtIF*ckStuffedAnimalsDotCom
    1. Re:Not ready for prime time. by Aceticon · · Score: 5, Funny

      The ability to track my house so I can find my way back home

      For a find home system i recommed a donkey or a mule. They can always take you home no mater how drunk you are. Sure, they're a bit out of fashion nowadays, and it's a bit hard to get them in Chrome-blue or Fire-red colors but:
      - They're 100% environment friendly
      - You can fuel them up by just leaving them in a grassy field for some hours
      - They come in a wide variety of grey/brown shades
      - You can fit two of them in a garage

      Furthermore, they have a long proven track record at taking drunk people home

  5. mutually exclusive? by MiTEG · · Score: 2, Funny

    find the nearest pub.... and help you stay on time

    Aren't those two mutually exclusive? Unless, you're trying to get to the pub for happy hour or something.

    --
    The future isn't what it used to be.
  6. Wonderful by starvo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Finding beer pubs.
    And idea who's time has finally come.
    Ingenious, and tasty.

    --
    http://thepoliticalgeek.com/blog/ Politics for Geeks.
  7. Really? by The+Musician · · Score: 2, Insightful
    ...it's a watch with a GPS transmitter...

    Wow, I didn't know they could make GPS *transmitters* that small!
    1. Re:Really? by BrookHarty · · Score: 2

      Wow, I didn't know they could make GPS *transmitters* that small!

      Easier to track you after you hit the pub! The police will love it!

      -
      I want an M-Life.

  8. Stay on time? by jaredmcook · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can't go into a bar without losing a few hours. Sometimes I go into some kind of wierd time/space warp where I suddenly wake up in strange places.

  9. Just a nit picking thing by ergo98 · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's a GPS receiver, not a transmitter. GPS works passively by listening to the timing differences of time-encoded signals from up to 12 satellites at once (there are 24, but generally the most you'll be able to "hear" at once are 12). Here's the dummies guide to it.

    It is funny though how GPS is a basic technology, but every application of it is treated as some new discovery: i.e. I'm going to make a piece of software that has a database of all movie theatres, and when you have a GPS on your PDA it'll point you to the nearest theatre: Whoopee, I've developed a new theatre detector! Blah. As a sidenote: MapPoint 2002 is a very nice product. The breadth of information in it is astounding.

  10. Fantastic! by alfredw · · Score: 2

    This is great! We can integrate into Woz's new handheld - and you'll be able to work at the local bar, no matter where you happen to be travelling!

    I can feel my productivity rising...

    --
    In Soviet Russia, sig types you!
  11. Exportation... by mirko · · Score: 4, Interesting
    There are obviously countries in which this product won't be possibily exported : These are the countries which somehow forbid the consumption of alcohol or just its advertising.
    For example, in France, you can't just advertise for Health-hazardous stuff, so you see, this is not only a matter of talibanism.
    But if they added the possibility to just find whatever with this, I'd be interested, especially for
    • gas stations (which'd seriously help people driving to their tank limits),
    • garbage or ashtrays to incitate people to keep their environment clean
    • hairdresser (if coupled with a camera and face-recognition software : "Mirror, am I the most beautiful ?")
    • coffeee shops or brothels, for the Amsterdam tourists (don't mod if you've not been there)
    • surprise option for the tourist (takes at random a monument, a museum or a pub)
    • CowboyNeal... oups.. it is not a /. poll but it could actually help to be able to point towards other similarly featured devices to quickly find somebody lost in a crowd... But wait. I don't want this to become a new kind of digital id / (aka tracking / spying / bug)...
      So, let's just do it the old fashioned way : ask people, you may even make friends :-)
    --
    Trolling using another account since 2005.
    1. Re:Exportation... by glwtta · · Score: 2

      Toilets goddamnit, toilets! That is by far the best application I can find for this.

      It would also have to be intelligent enough to direct you to a deserted alley when no public restrooms are available in the vicinity.

      Oh, and for European public restrooms, I guess some sort of "gay sex/no gay sex" option would be nice.

      --
      sic transit gloria mundi
    2. Re:Exportation... by slashdot.org · · Score: 2

      ... countries which somehow forbid the consumption of alcohol or just its advertising.
      For example, in France ...


      Wow, talk about a _bad_ example. ;o)

      I know this quote takes it somehow out of context, but France will probably be the _last_ country to forbid alcohol. Or wait,- wine isn't really alcohol, is it?

    3. Re:Exportation... by gorilla · · Score: 2

      They've had this for a long time in hand-held & dashboard mount devices. My Garmin Vista lets me look for the nearest food & drink, lodging, attractions, entertainment, shopping, services, transportation, and emergency & government. Most of those are subdivided, so for example on food & drink I can choose a style, under services I can search for Bank/ATM. Of course making this database costs money, which is why you have to buy it, and it's only available for major metro areas.

    4. Re:Exportation... by morie · · Score: 2

      Or rather, what wonderfull things do I have in my life to occupy myself with, rather than drugs or paid-for sex.

      --
      Sig (appended to the end of comments I post, 54 chars)
  12. who needs it? by Samari711 · · Score: 2, Funny

    as craig kilborn said: "who needs GPS when all you have to do is follow Prince Henry"

    --

    I never said I was smart, I just said I was smarter than you

  13. fooled me by Maskirovka · · Score: 2, Funny

    I bet a a buddy of mine a pint that the link would take me to the product on thinkgeek. Good thing we didn't shake on it!

    maskirovka

  14. This is not what I need by joonasl · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Something really useful would be a device that would help you find your way back home from the bar and/or make a taxi appear with a push of a button. Finding a bar has never been the problem, atleast for me :)

    --
    "There is a terrorist behind every bush"
  15. Some situations where it might be useful by Ryu2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    For instance: If you're pubbing, and you've just heard that the Earth will be destroyed by aliens in 12 minutes to make way for a new space highway...

    --
    There's 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
  16. About as useful... by Metrollica · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think this is about as useful as the Matrix Binary Watch reported on Slashdot here.

    Seriously, if you have a couple hundred dollars to waste on device like this, perhaps you should think about donating to a charity or something at least worthwhile.

    --



    --Metrollica
  17. Paves the way for something related by kingdon · · Score: 2

    Now we just need to modify it to show the closest Linux User Group. Of course, that might be somewhat redundant with the advertised function ;-).

  18. It also has a anti-blur device. by tonywestonuk · · Score: 2, Funny

    When activated, the screen shakes, and becomes double, in exact opposite to what your eyes may see after a fair few pints, thereby cancelling out the effect, and giving the sozzled user a valuable aid to get back home afterwards.

  19. but it would make for killer.... by gladbach · · Score: 4, Funny

    pub crawls.... just imagine.

    "follow me guys, this thingy says the next pud is THAT way!!!" *walks headlong into a wall*

    : D

    --
    "Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms,
    1. Re:but it would make for killer.... by Marcus+Brody · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes. A friend once dragged me out on a pub crawl after a trekky convention. I was the only one not dressed as a Klingon, StarFleet, Data (3 of them) or Vulcan.

      Furthermore, one of them constantly had out his tricorder:

      "High levels of antonioum-C indicate that a licensed establishment is somewhere in the vicinity. The phase-inducer indicates that there could be a "wine-bar" 200 yards south-east and a "public-bar" further to the north. Captain, what do you suggest?"

      And that was before they got drunk.......

      oh boy.

  20. Vindigo already does this by MrRagu · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you have a handheld (Pocket PC, Palm, and certain internet enabled cell phones) and live in a major city, this has been available for months from a free app called Vindigo. Its even better in that it tells you directions to the nearest bars, restaurants, stores, and movies and it doesn't even need GPS as long as you know what block you're on. It also has reviews for everything -- which is extemely useful.

    I don't want to sound like a marketing guy, but IMHO Vindigo is indispensible if you live near a place like NYC and often have trouble finding places.

    Downsides: It is currently only offered in 18 cities and has ads but I bet that watch doesn't work all over the place either. The upsides are tremendous, though. Having a bar finder in a watch is all well and good, but if you already have a Palm you might as well get all the other useful info as well. You'll never have to wander around the Village looking for the Original Ray's Famous Pizza again.

    --


    No brain, no pain!
  21. What's More Important... by Murdock037 · · Score: 2

    ...is a GPS transmitter that can locate the nearest four drunken cuties in the bar.

    Why do I want to be stumbling around in a bar full of drunk MEN?

  22. Combine it with a blood analyzer.. by jmerelo · · Score: 2, Funny

    and it will make you walk a bit more, or beep, when alcohol level is over or below a certain limit...

  23. More info... by superpeach · · Score: 2, Informative

    For more information on the watch and other Bristol uni wearable stuff look at http://wearables.cs.bris.ac.uk

  24. Invasion of Privacy! by Alsee · · Score: 4, Funny

    GPS devices are pretty cool, but the last thing I want to be carrying arround is a GPS transmitter broadcasting my location! Maybe we can hack this thing so it's just a GPS receiver?

    -

    --
    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    1. Re:Invasion of Privacy! by Alsee · · Score: 2

      There isn't such a thing as a GPS transmitter.

      It was a joke. The article said the watch contained a GPS transmitter.

      P.S.
      There are GPS transmitters. They are all in space.
      You could put GPS transmitters on the ground too. Depending on how you configured it, it would either increase your position resolution, or it could intentionally falsify your location. In either case you would usually be breaking the law.

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  25. wOz's first device? by MikeyNg · · Score: 2

    Why does this sound like something from Wheels of Zeus? I'm waiting for "Beers of Zeus" myself! The BoZ is back!

    --
    Where the wind blows, the tumbleweed goes.
  26. Pub Database by JimPooley · · Score: 2

    The usefulness of this device depends entirely on the kind of pub it takes you to.

    It would be a tragedy if such a device were only able to offer the locations of trendy bars which only sell loathesome fizzy piss.

    Obviously, it should use the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) database of pub locations, so that you can always be assured of a good beer at the end of your journey.

    --

    "Information wants to be paid"
    1. Re:Pub Database by wumingzi · · Score: 2

      Obviously it should use the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) database of pub locations, so that you can always be assured of a good beer at the end of your journey.

      The question which would come up is what would happen if you took such a device to the United States, where there are swatches hundreds of miles wide with nothing proper to drink?

      Disclaimer: I live in the U.S., in a zone which (thankfully) has extremely good beer, so no harping!

    2. Re:Pub Database by Arandir · · Score: 2

      There would obviously need to be an US plugin available to find decent US brewpubs. But without a quality assuring organization like CAMRA, it might lead us to one of those trendy shits like Los Gatos Brewery, and not to where the the REAL ale is served, like Faultline, Stoddard's or Seabright. Heck, with the right plugin, it might even beep to let you know that the Anchor tour is starting...

      --
      A Government Is a Body of People, Usually Notably Ungoverned
  27. The important question by simong · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is can it be made to interface with the guidance system on your Beer Scooter?

  28. Re:One question by radja · · Score: 2

    not a big one. any alcoholic worth his salt (to go with the tequila) already knows where the closest bar is.

    //rdj

    --

    No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness.
    --Sheikh Abd-Al-Kadir, 1587
  29. I don't get it.. by jonr · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Isn't this over-specalized? Wouldn't it be much simpler just posting waypoints for current GPS instruments? Then I could just download it to my Garmin/Magellan/Whatever GPS receiver? What next? Another Gizmo for strip clubs?

    J.

  30. Security by bedders · · Score: 2, Funny

    1. Steal GPS device from drunkard.

    2. Steal house keys from said drunkard.

    3. Point GPS device towards "home"

    4. Steal cool geek stuff from drunkards house.

    5. Repeat

    --
    "Aww, bugger" - Unlucky Alf
  31. GSM location services by Colin+Smith · · Score: 2

    You can do that and a lot more with a bog standard GSM mobile phone.

    Why would I buy GPS on a watch?

    --
    Deleted
  32. Fave feature on my GPS by mwillis · · Score: 2, Informative

    I have an eTrex by Garmin. It has MapSource installed, giving it points of interest data. Finding the nearest bank machine or pub or gas station is pretty cool, and has proved truly useful at times.

    If anyone is interested, you can browse the maps online; e.g. Like Here

  33. Almost good enough by r_j_prahad · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nice idea, but personally I'm going to hold out on buying one of these until they've developed a nudie-bar add-on.

  34. It's "Will ROBINSON" by volpe · · Score: 2

    I presume you're impersonating the robot on "Lost In Space". The family's name is Robinson.

  35. This may not be needed in all locations by PW2 · · Score: 2, Funny

    In Wisconsin, every other building is a pub; :)

  36. tcejbuS by Legion303 · · Score: 2
    They should couple this with an HUD feature for your car that maps out the shortest route back home.

    Oh, wait....

    -Legion

  37. Prior arts ("ingeneous"=="patentable") by xixax · · Score: 2
    It's a nifty app, but so many people have been doing so many similar apps for so long. Look at the Writing messages in empty space story that ran here just the other day, and think about piping the content of that through anything device that can determine it's location and access the data. As well as pubs, you could tell it to grep for coffee bars, service stations. You could also filter out records from organisations who you don't like:

    SELECT coffee_shops FROM locations WHERE coffee_shop_owner!="Starbucks" AND radius(1,km);

    People have been working on the infrastructure for this kind of stuff for ages. I'd hate to see it all patented by the first halfway competent company that manages to get a vaguely workable implementation.

    Xix.

    --
    "Everything is adjustable, provided you have the right tools"