TomTom's
much-ballyhooed iPhone GPS app best step its game up, else it'll get left in the dust by none other than
Navigon. The lesser-known nav company today introduced the second major update for its MobileNavigator iPhone app (our
impressions are here), and the feature additions aren't anything to scoff at. For starters, the program has become the first on-board navigation app for the iPhone to gain text-to-speech functionality, and just in case hearing street names belted out through a robotic voice ain't good enough for your high standards, the inclusion of iPod control should win you over. At long last, drivers can access the full range of iPod functionalities with a single click from map access, and it even recognizes the shuffle feature to keep you guessing. Finally, a location sharing function has been added to make stalking your pals that much easier; to close, Navigon has knocked $10 off the purchase price, bringing it down to a nearly-palatable $89.99 -- and yes, those who already own it can download the update gratis.
[Via
HotHardware]
posted September 10th 2009 10:29AM
If only my iPod Touch had GPS!
I agree. Is there a third party adapter like the Nike+ sensor for the nano that could plug into the iPod Touch to give it GPS? I would buy that.
You don't want the contract, you don't get the perks!
The iPod touch is a gaming device, the iPhone is PDA... you get what you pay for!
If you wait a few weeks and then buy the TomTom cradle, your touch WILL have GPS.
It's built-in to TomTom's cradle, which TomTom have said will work with other navigation software.
That's funny because when I bought my iPod Touch, the only thing you couldn't do was play games on it. (Not trying to argue your point, only saying it's funny how it is with how much has changed.)
Keep your eyes on a company called Kensington…
It doesn't need it; it's a great gaming machine.
GAH!!! iPods are crap!!!
Gonna wait for another Navigon version on ZuneHD.
.
@StephenD
I have also heard that the TomTom cradle will enable GPS services on the iPod Touch and can also be used by other GPS applications, of which the later is the more interesting part for me given that the TomTom application itself isn't supposed to very good. However, I wonder what the other navigation companies need to do in order to take advantage of it. I'm certainly finding it hard to believe that it will automatically work and that some sort of software update will be necessary, after which it becomes a question of when will this happen? I also wonder what sort of price TomTom is going to charge for it and whether we can expect to see a general market in GPS-enhanced cradles from other accessory makers.
How is this compare to TomTom software or other stand alone GPS unit?
Currently Tom Tom is only version 1.0. There are still room for improvement such as text to speech, traffic updates, gas prices, etc.
don't know but I am PISSED Navigon no longer makes U.S. GPS's
Does anyone know if these GPS apps require having a signal for data service? That was always a drawback when using google maps and I was curious...
Really?
Have you been under a rock for the past 3 months? NO. They come with maps that are loaded onto the iPhone, so all you need is a GPS lock, no data required.
The app includes the entire map database. No need to call out for extra service.
@Andrey settle down...not everyone keeps up on how each and every iPhone GPS app works. There are some that store the entire files on the iPhone, there are others that download as needed.
@Andrey
Are you kidding me? Its not like Apple and ATT are some benevolent companies that wouldnt do something to screw you to serve their own needs or anything....
Navigon has the maps preloaded (which means it's a huge download) so I don't think there's a need for constant cell service. I know the iphone uses assisted gps though, so i'm not sure how long satellite acquisition would take without any cell service
@ spankdog42
Touche.... Salesman.
I forgot what companies are involved in the transaction aside from Navigon... ATT already released their navigator for like $10/mo or something and it still required cellular... like a glorified google maps.
My fault.
yawn...its nice I don't have to pay extra to use navigation on my Palm Pre on Sprint.
...this end my trolling of this news story. Thank you.
That's some nice lookin' Nav software. I wish Sprint Nav looked like that.
Then again, Sprint Nav was/is free..
why wouldn't i just buy a refurb navigation unit from newegg for $49 plus the iphone battery would die in an hour if you don't plug it in. the iphone as a navigation unit doesn't make sense. if the app was 9.99 then it would. if you buy an iphone 3gs to be a navigation unit it will cost you $299 (if subsidized) plus the $89 or $99 for the app and the cost for a cradle this would come out to something like $400.
I don't know. Why wouldn't you?
I actually don't believe anyone is actively stopping you from doing that.
If one already has a cradle and and iphone... what's another $90. Well, unless one is perfectly happy using google maps for navigation which fits my profile.
I have both. I like having a fully-featured GPS app in my pocket. I used it the other day taking a bus I'd never taken so that I knew when I was close to where I needed to get off. I have an iPhone dock in my car so battery is not an issue.
I agree with ash, I have both. I have, ironically, a Navigon standalone unit, and the Navigon software on my iPhone. The Standalone stays in my car, and my iPhone goes with me. So if I am in a friends car, or out walking, ect, ect. I have a fully featured nav unit in my hands. It's really handy to have it, but also on long trips to have a separate unit to take over that duty. And for only $90, its not too shabby.
@ ash
Just curious about the scenario you described - wouldn't the native gps ability in google maps suffice for something like a "where am I" now situation?
I'm sure people can use the car charger and any cell phone cradles to solve your problem. Remember a standard USB car charger not only for iphone but all USB devices. Mine happens to be some mount that can extend to hold an iPhone or wider devices with rotation. I can rotate the screen while driving for movies and GPS.
My iPhone 3GS currently has iGo My Way 2009, Navigon, and Tom Tom. I would say, 1. Navigon due to the newest update, 2. iGO my Way b4 update, and 3. Tom Tom. Tom Tom is only good at supporting multi lingual voice direction. The map is choppy compare the other two.
I treat Apps as software that you normally purchase for PC. iPhone is at the end a pocket computer. Once you buy it, you can redownload again for free including free updates. Apple only selling you the hardware and Operating System not apps.
However, if you jailbreak the iPhone 3GS, you can *Cough* get all these for free *Cough*.
I bought iGo My Way 2009 $79.99 with 3D landmark and Navigon $69.99's sexy text-to-speech girl. I think it's worth for the free future updates espeically iGO My Way free map updates until 2010 and update quarterly. Not so for Tom Tom at $99 which luckily I didn't buy.
You can think about the cheapest way to get a phone and GPS together, but iPhone does all with Internet capabilities in a small form factor. Maybe adding an external USB battery such as Sanyo KBC 5000 mAh for $25 from Costco can solve the iPhone battery problems with a cheaper way compare to buying other "Works for iPhone" products.
I have already told myself to NOT buy any standalone GPS -- PND. Because back in 2005, PND cost more than $500 to $600 in general. For that price, I would rather get a multi purpose device to do not only navigation but mobile computing. So I went for the DELL Axim v50x. I was satisfied with the solution for more than 2 years until the map got really outdated. I then got a free TOM TOM PND as a gift. That's the first time I really used a PND. It was pretty good but still dangerous to have a PND left inside a car. What happen if somebody broke in and stole your PND? They immediately knew your home!
So I got iPhone 3GS which has now completely substituted the TOM TOM 130 PND!
The iPhone's Internet and GPS combination proves to be the best solution to get gas, food, and motels when you are travelling to places that you are not familiar with.
Google Map is good for searching POI, but that's about it. It's really useless when you are in an area with absolutely NO cell signal such as San Francisco's Point Ray Station. Standalone GPS Apps, therefore, completely solve the problem. Moreover, when you are travelling to Europe, you can download the European GPS Navigation Apps so you don't need to use any Data for GPS! How convenient!
@spankdog42> you don't need a data plan...the data plan is required for google maps because it "streams" the maps. These GPS apps come with the full maps so there is nothing to download.
@Itedo> I've been using TomTom's app because of it's polish but I don't like as much as Navigon for it's GPS-abilities. I'm going back to Navigon because of this update.
lol i have both 2 - i'm waiting for the torrent on this one - great news!
going back to navigon - my only issue with navigon was the interface wasn't as nice as the tomtom - but i did miss the lane assist
i also found that the start up of the navigon was EXCRUCIATINGLY LONG for the 3G - vs the tomtom.
i found that the POI are more detailed in the Navigon as well
good news!
Buy iGo My Way 2009. It has the best and easiest to use interface compare to Tom Tom and Navigon. The current version has a serious bug but once they fixed that and adding traffic, text-to-speech, i'm sure iGo My Way is the best! Coz it has 3D landmark!
I've also tested out with phone conversation at the same time with Backgrounder!
It works well with GPS, phone call and paused iPod music.
For non-jailbreakers, you can always do the following:
Assuming you are using a Bluetooth Headset or any sort of headphone or car Bluetooth whatever, click on home screen, and click on the GPS App, you can immediately have Phone conversation and Navigation ALL AT THE SAME TIME!
Though as people already pointed out that it takes couple seconds to reload the App. That's why you HAVE TO JAILBREAK YOUR PHONE TO MULTITASK!!!
Traffic! The first app with good traffic reporting and avoidance will get my money. I'm holding off until that. I was surprised that TomTom didn't have this feature since their stand-alone units have had it for a while.
I hope the competition heats up enough for this to be the killer feature.
Navigon has stated i believe that it is on the way. I would put my money on Navigon getting it first, but Tom Tom could throw a curveball. Honestly, now that Navigon has left the US market, I think they want this iPhone market more than anything, and willing to do just about anything to get it.
the problem i see with mixing navigation with phones is there will inevitably a time when you have to make a choice about risking missing an important turn or risk missing an important call. both options suck. standalone units will always be better for this reason alone.
I hope Apple will come to their senses and at least give special permission for some of these critical applications to multitask.
Until Apple decides to allow phone calls to be a background process... so you can use your bluetooth headset to take a phone call while the app runs.
you can switch back to the nav once you've accepted the phone call (hit the home button and fire up the app again) - but granted if the phone rings your kicked out of the nav while you accept the call.
@sam - i was saying that presumably you would miss an exit because you were taking a call.
@steve and wolf - i have a palm pre that can multitask just fine. this does not fix the problem entirely. admittedly, a hands free device would fix the problem entirely, but i just hate those bluetooth headsets. everyone looks like a jerk wearing one.
this happened to me with the TOMTOM - i was in a new area - and needed an exit soon - and a call comes in!!!!!!!!!!!!
even when dismissing the call you have to wait for it to re acquire your GPS Location and the 3G's aren't that fast.
so i missed my exit :(
sux
I'm sure a lot of jailbreakers already know. Jailbreaking iPhone supports Multi-task!
I've tried it and it works flawlessly! I even run Navigon, iGo My Way 2009 and Tom Tom, playing iPod all at the same time! There is some lag but still MULTITASK MAN!!!
It's called Backgrounder from Cydia!
Jailbreaking only takes you 5 mins!
Finally! I have loved the app since the last update (no GPS malfunction since then), but this is great news. Next stuff I want is better integration with google search and better address input method.
It's really nice to see some competition in this area. Although I not sure that a phone is the best choice for turn-by-turn, maybe one of these companies can pull off an agreement with Apple to not close it's app when a call comes in. This is what competition does, it causes companies to try to "one up" each other. Here's to these apps getting better and better. The ball is in your court TomTom...
I'm feeling quite stupid because I went with brand loyalty and bought TomTom Navigator. I hope they have an update in the works becasue Navigon just added the one feature I'd kill for in TomTom, iPod integration.
i haven't had a chance to use a navigon but the screencaps of the street and road rendering look AMAZING.
For what it's worth, the rendering is very good. It reminded me of how clunky my old garmin was in rendering graphics. I just wish the icons were a little easier to read from the dash - maybe making the size adjustable in prefs?
Does it have the ability to list directions yet? Without that, Navigon is entirely useless to me...
Check out Co Pilot. It's half the price of Tom Tom or Navigon.