Trapster Archive

Speedtrap.org has moved into a full public launch this week. The site is sponsored by the "National Motorists Association" which apparently is the group that got speed limits upped from 55 mph.

The site lists speed traps by state and also lists red light cameras. A search by ZIP code would be beneficial along with a city finder. Currently when you click on a state you get all of the traps in that state in some order which I can’t figure out.

In my testing, many of the Google Maps were also not correct. In this example, the red light camera is on 57th street and 12th avenue in Manhattan, but the map shows Penn Station.

I prefer Trapster because they offer the ability to submit speed traps via the mobile and also view speed traps via the mobile. Trapster uses GPS to locate where you are and automatically beeps when you are near a trap.

SpeedTrap.org has potential especially if it’s backed by some national driving organization but they need to spend time cleaning up the site (ads that say the wrong things) and they need to work on adding mobile functionality.

Trapster is a new startup which helps you locate and avoid speed traps. It uses geolocation on a mobile device to determine your location and send you traps near your current position. Trapster tracks: red light cameras, speed cameras, live police locations, and usual hiding places. The live police locations only live in the system for a short period as the cops will normally move a bit throughout the day.

I’ve embedded a video below that shows you how the application works on a Nokia phone but it’s very simple. After you install the mobile application, just click a command to send in an alert. And the application sits in the background (i.e. minimized) so you can still make and receive calls and texts. Once the app determines you are within range of an alert, a voice tells you which alert you are coming up on. You can click the alert and find out the exact location.

Users can submit anonymously or create an account and earn karma/reputation points. Alerts can also be submitted by email and phone. This could work because it’s so easy and with more people purchasing smartphones, it could take off. It’s certainly not as reliable as a radar detector is, but it’s a good crowdsourcing attempt. Especially for the cameras.

Josh over at Webware has a good review of the app as well and notes that the audible warnings are a bit loud. I didn’t find them loud but you can customize the voice as you wish.

How they will generate revenue from Trapster is anyone’s guess, but ads in the mobile app is one idea. Since the app knows exactly where you are, ads could be geotargeted precisely to you with local coupons and merchant offers. A local business directory could work as a business model as well. 

While cops tend to sit in certain places on the Interstate highways, keeping the list of traps in real-time will be difficult. Let’s hope that drivers don’t try to text in a trap location while they are driving!

Below are five of the newest startups according to Killer Startups for the period ending February 22, 2008. Check out previous Killer Startups posts.

Trapster – Against Speed Traps

See a speed trap (police with radar or laser gun), press a button on your phone, or call a toll free number and it gets sent to Trapster. Others will be alerted by audio from their phone, or SMS, as they approach the trap location. You can also enter “static” location traps such as red light cameras and speed cameras and usual police hiding places. read more »

Start4All – Start Your Own Blog

Start4All.com is a site that makes it easy for anyone to start their own blog for free. At Start4All.com users can create an account and then create their own weblog or personal page where they can add their favorite links. Personal pages give a summary of the topics that are on your blog, they are menu links in the sidebar and menu of your blog. You can add widgets that you have found online to your blog. You can co-write for a blog by inviting your friends to write on your blog. read more »

Pixish – Connecting Image Makers with Buyers

Sure, there’s something hip and alluring about the “Starving Artist” concept, but even artists need to eat sometimes. Enter Pixish.com, a website aimed at connecting those who need art with those who create it. Users can submit assignments for anything from a t-shirt design, to tattoo artwork, to a photo or illustration for a magazine article. Many of these assignments offer the winning artist payment, prizes, and/or exposure, making this an attractive place for artists to participate. read more »

LoyaltyMatch – Trade Air Miles for Stuff You Like

Frequent flyer miles don’t go very far these days, and you’ve got to spend like a mad man to earn them. Frequent black out dates, small print rules, and simple overabundance of accumulated miles with no seats to match basically means your miles are worth peanuts. Enter LoyaltyMatch. This e-swapping site lets users cash in their points for merch. Users search for items they want and LoyaltyMatch will find someone to make a cash or merchandise trade with you. read more »

PdfMeNot – Access PDF Files Instantly

Have you ever been searching for materials and been discouraged because the best documents are in PDF format? PdfMeNot.com gives you a tool which will help you access those PDF documents without having to install or download any applications. To use PdfMeNot.com simple enter the URL of a PDF file and click on the view PDF red button. Your PDF file will then appear in another window for you to view. The PDF file is presented in flash and you can you the forward and back buttons to navigate through the PDF file. read more »