January 16, 2010:

MINI link

I’m sure you’ve all heard about it by now, “>MINI USA’s latest release for the iPhone is a possibly-neat-and-useful app that shows MINI related stuff in your area:

I downloaded and tried it this morning. First, it plays a much too loud at 8am sound EVERY time it loads but then second, I was pleased that it knew my GP VIN# (GPs have unusual VINs, different to all other MINIs) – and it even displays a GP image on the map!

As you see, it shows a number of local “hotspots”; there’s local dealerships MINI of Peabody and Herb Chambers MINI of Boston, and an assorted list of other places – but no MINIs!

There’s also what seems to be a bug (or maybe a wierd feature?); as you zoom out, instead of getting more and more places listed, you just get ones further away – no use at all for seeing what might be on some route you’re planning!

I decided instead to look down in Florida, where GPMINI actually is – and here I found some MINIs!

There’s even an upcoming event down there (do I need to book flights for next weekend?):

I did try to create an event for MINIsOnTop; the first time the app crashed as I finished creating it (the third crash in 5 minutes of testing), and the second time the event disappeared off the map moments after showing up. Maybe the events are vetted before showing – or maybe the app is just a bit buggy and unreliable.
Either way, it’s not so useful yet …