Careless News

My Complaint turn Suggestion turn Job Application

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:02:50 -0400

I was trying to find some bus schedules from the Viva (GTA’s bus System) site on my iPhone. Unfortunately when I got to the “TripPlanner” there was serious bug that would erase my Location when I typed in my Destination and vice versa.

Obviously being pissed cause I couldn’t - usefully - us my iPhone. I looked up their contact information and wrote them an e-mail:

It is impossible to use the TripPlanner on the iPhone because everytime I select a Landmark the page refreshes and my option hasbeen voided. You should look into this.

I didn’t think this would be much of a problem, there was just a simple glitch in the code. But a few hours later (fast I know!) I got a response from them:

Hello,

Thank you for your email. We appreciate you taking the time to provide your feedback.

PDA users (Blackberrys, Treos, etc.) can open our PDF schedules provided they have Acrobat installed on their device. Our trip planner pages require a lot of bandwidth to process information, more than most mobile devices can handle. Marketing has advised that there are no current plans to implement a “mobile friendly” web site. Your comments have been forwarded to the Marketing department for future consideration.

Sincerely,

Robert Sudak

Slightly confused by their response (and their lazy fuckerness) I decided to give them a suggestion:

I’m not sure what data plans you look at. But I currently have 6gigs of bandwidth to use. I think it’d be REALLY useful to use the iPhone’s GPS to locate the nearest bus stop and to find directions right there. Many countries have iPhone apps for their transportation system. Viva should do the same! And if out guys are really ambitious engineer a method to pay with the iPhone. Thanks for your help.

Then I thought, “If they don’t wanna fix a website, they aren’t gonna make an iPhone App”. And right there I wish I had applied for a job at Viva! Think about the possibility of this iPhone app! (I’m tempted to make mock ups).

You locate yourself on the map, and it directs you to the closest stop (Viva, YRT, GO, TTC, Via Rail) and you type in your destination.
Then the App will show you the different methods you could go there, how long, how far, the exact route on the map, each stop, and how much.
Then it’d be even cooler to allow payment through the iPhone. Right from the app you tap “Buy Ticket” and a barcode would appear that you scan when you get on the bus.

Then I thought - Fuck - you could do loads and loads of shit with the iPhone! Obviously changing the infrastructure of what is currently up is insane. But imagine coding the iPhone app around our current system! Why can’t we go around with “Barcode Apps” that store your card’s information? How come we can’t order food from a restaurant through an App or website?

So what I’m saying is what everyone has been saying. Why don’t we advance in the way we buy shit? (That wasn’t word for word) Is it cause our current system is working okay?

I think its cause every time a cool system comes out it instantly becomes commercialized. The main focus of - making life easier - becomes a clusterfuck of BS.

For example, when Esso announced their “Speedpass” swipe at the pumps it was cool.. you swipe your “stick”, you pump gas then you pay 1 bill at the end of the month. Then Shell suddenly comes out with their “Easy Pay” and it’s exactly the same thing. But right there the “making life easier” gets lost.. now you have to pay 2 bills. Instead of the idea of “one bill pays it all”. SO Why couldn’t these two companies combine their technology and send 1 bill and when the user pays the money is automatically divided respectively amongst the companies? Is it a hassle for these two companies to sort out? Instead let the user do it? What ends up happening is bad user experience. Its not like the companies don’t have the technology to sort out the bills very easily. Its just cause they don’t care about you or your experience/life.

So it all comes back to this: Imagine Apple makes an app that any company can easily hook up too, and payment is done through the iPhone and you pay for 1 bill at the end of the month. If you keep it open like this then companies won’t see the use in developing their own system when a free and reliable system is waiting for them.

Now I know one thing has been lingering in your mind this whole time - isn’t this just like a credit card?

Yeah. Pretty much. Except credit cards (plus company) aren’t so big on the user experience either. Nor are they easy to apply for… The iPhone “Buy” app would be like a dumb down more advance credit card - on your phone. Obviously this article needs much editing, but I really wanted to get this out… I’m positive you guys have arguments.. so please argue. I want more thoughts.

fuck.. I have to learn that a dress shirt is opened at both the top and bottom…. cause I just...

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:28:53 -0400

fuck.. I have to learn that a dress shirt is opened at both the top and bottom…. cause I just sprayed some deo. from the bottom straight into my face…

In Stock

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:02:06 -0400

Apple I seriously want to know why your best selling product is never in stock at your store??! I’d like to get my replacement the day of like every other Apple product.

I’m at pace taking out an old basketball net.

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:46:03 -0400

I’m at pace taking out an old basketball net.

Faster?!

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:21:33 -0400

My sister got a new iPod touch today (talk about bad timing!) and while I’m setting it up, I realized on thing.. This is much faster than my iPhone! Or so it feels like it. Hope Apple fixes that problem in the next firmware update.

iHate

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:18:27 -0400

I hate myself so much. Mentally and physically. I wish I was a whole other person.

I’m at the Apple Store waiting to get my iPhone exchaned.

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:08:36 -0400

I’m at the Apple Store waiting to get my iPhone exchaned.

I’m at the Apple Store waiting to get my iPhone .

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:08:36 -0400

I’m at the Apple Store waiting to get my iPhone .

I’m at the Apple Store waiting to get my iPhone exchaned.

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:08:35 -0400

I’m at the Apple Store waiting to get my iPhone exchaned.

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:08:34 -0400

I’m at the Apple Store waiting to get my iPhone exchaned.

I’m surprised he managed to pull it off!

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:45:21 -0400

I’m surprised he managed to pull it off!

Shit

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:47 -0400

I’m outside frankies tomatoes right now. My sister refuses to leave early so I’m stuck here …. Waiting.

I just figured out how to fix my laptop charger. It included plyers, and bending stuff outta shape.

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:12:28 -0400

I just figured out how to fix my laptop charger. It included plyers, and bending stuff outta shape.

This is sad

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:32:41 -0400

I’m horribly upset that China won in Golds. At least US won in # of medals.

Ps. I wanted to use the word dissapointment…. But I don’t know how to spell it.

E-Mail

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:14:27 -0400

It’s sad letting other people check their mail on my iPhone. Cause it really doesn’t work well with Hotmail or Yahoo, only Gmail.

A Son's Experience with terminally ill mother who chose euthanasia

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:49:35 -0400

A Son's Experience with terminally ill mother who chose euthanasia : I’m really speechless after this incredibly touching article. It really makes me think about my own family.

I’m gonna fucking strangle someone if my fucking laptop does not fucking charge!

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:49:49 -0400

I’m gonna fucking strangle someone if my fucking laptop does not fucking charge!

This is amazing! Mao (That Communist fucking cunt of a...

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:37:42 -0400

This is amazing! Mao (That Communist fucking cunt of a bastard…. please don’t track me) is out of the 10 Yuan bill ($1.53) and the Bird’s nest is in!

msnbc.com

"Jeremy Wariner (US Runner) has way too many glasses."

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:08:00 -0400

“Jeremy Wariner (US Runner) has way too many glasses.”

"If you pronounce “naked” with a “D” why don’t you do the same for..."

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:07:59 -0400

“If you pronounce “naked” with a “D” why don’t you do the same for “baked”?”