Posts by mcv 3 publicly visible posts • joined 8 Dec 2009
We've recently noticed a lot of problems with TomTom. Very outdated max speed info (despite a recent update), and it sent us in the wrong direction more than once.
And yes, TomTom needs a ridiculous amount of time to get a GPS lock. Perhaps we should try Google Nav for a while, and see if we like that more.
That's exactly what I came to say. NoSQL DBs aren't meant to replace relational databases, they're trying to solve a completely different problem. Relational databases with their ACID are meant for keeping rigid, highly structured data consistent. NoSQL databases are for storing data where size, speed and scalability are far more important than consistency.
Google, for example, uses their BigTable for matching ads with your surfing behaviour -- if it messes up every once in a while, nobody will even notice, let alone care. But for their paying adword customers, you can bet they're using a relational database. There, accuracy and consistency is far more important. It's the difference in scaling requirements between tracking billions of internet users, and tracking maybe millions of paying advertisers.
Few small companies are likely to have to worry about such Google-scale issues, so for them RDBMSs are fine.
There is a really good reason why it doesn't come with Google Nav in Europe. Check the copyright on Google Maps in Europe. They get their maps from TomTom, and as you might imagine, TomTom wouldn't be terribly happy if their big customer drives them out of business by giving their stuff away for free where TomTom tries to sell it for big money.
We'll get Google Navigation as soon as Google has their own maps for Europe ready.
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