GPS, Navigon updates US iPhone navigation app, live traffic updates are a go
By Ross Miller 
posted November 9th 2009 7:35PM
posted November 9th 2009 7:35PM
The much anticipated U.S. version of the Traffic Live feature for the NAVIGON iPhone app, MobileNavigator, just became available in the U.S. App Store, as of today. Traffic Live utilizes real-time traffic information to calculate better routes that avoid congestion and get drivers to their destination faster. The feature launches with coverage for the U.S., with Canada soon to follow.
Besides enabling the in-app Traffic Live purchase, the new update also offers an additional extended destination search. This new function helps to find a destination even if the exact address is unknown. The destination pinpoint in the map view can now be moved and placed at any point on the map to navigate there. In addition, the app can now also be launched in landscape mode.
Feature integration of Traffic Live is seamless and the functionality is simple to use. Traffic information is automatically included when calculating a route.
The feature also uses an intelligent fusion of information from traffic cameras, road sensors and conventional traffic messages coming through ClearChannel's Total Traffic Network.
NAVIGON Traffic Live is available as an In App Purchase for $24.99. Users can add the service directly within the MobileNavigator app. For the next four weeks, it will be available for an introductory price of $19.99. After the one-time purchase, users have the service available with no month-to-month service fees[i].
[1] When using NAVIGON Traffic Live without a data package for the iPhone, additional costs for the data transfer can occur
Besides enabling the in-app Traffic Live purchase, the new update also offers an additional extended destination search. This new function helps to find a destination even if the exact address is unknown. The destination pinpoint in the map view can now be moved and placed at any point on the map to navigate there. In addition, the app can now also be launched in landscape mode.
Feature integration of Traffic Live is seamless and the functionality is simple to use. Traffic information is automatically included when calculating a route.
- Users receive immediate on-screen alerts via iconic warnings indicating accidents, construction and other incidents that can cause congestion along the current route.
- Provides detailed information regarding the severity of the incident and the speed of traffic flow.
- Based on the real-time traffic warnings and the excellent mapping functionality the user can determine an efficient, alternative route or stay on the course.
- The software automatically adjusts estimated time of arrival.
The feature also uses an intelligent fusion of information from traffic cameras, road sensors and conventional traffic messages coming through ClearChannel's Total Traffic Network.
NAVIGON Traffic Live is available as an In App Purchase for $24.99. Users can add the service directly within the MobileNavigator app. For the next four weeks, it will be available for an introductory price of $19.99. After the one-time purchase, users have the service available with no month-to-month service fees[i].
[1] When using NAVIGON Traffic Live without a data package for the iPhone, additional costs for the data transfer can occur
Sweet
Yea, now you slobs can find your way to the closest McD's to get some H1N1 tainted fattening food stuffs, then its off to the Apple store to get more crap to make yourself feel hip and slim.
@Name:
You do realize McDonald's doesn't sell pork, right?
@Jason
dont they sell bacon? or is it non-pig bacon?
pork and bacon are different...
Lipstick on a pig?
@Orrett Junior
from our friends at wikipedia:
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig (Sus domesticus). The word pork often denotes specifically the fresh meat of the pig, but can be used as an all-inclusive term which includes cured, smoked, or processed meats (ham, bacon, prosciutto, etc.)
All of that's pretty irrelevant, you can't get H1N1 from eating pork.
Quote from WHO "Is it safe to eat pork and pork products?
Yes. influenza A(H1N1) has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs. Unquote.
When you read scientific legalese like this every day like moi, you will note the key point is the phrase "has not been shown".
It also "has not been shown" that there is water on Mars. You read between the lines....
You can get swine flu from eating pork is someone with swine flu sneezed on it before you ate it. But of course, it doesn't come from the pork itself.
(Lisa) “I’m going to become a vegetarian”
(Homer) “Does that mean you’re not going to eat any pork?”
"Yes”
“Bacon?”
“Yes Dad”
"Ham?”
“Dad all those meats come from the same animal”
“Right Lisa, some wonderful, magical animal!”"
You do realize you all just fed the troll wonderfully well.
Will be interesting to see the pricing bloodbath if Google's navi app gets approved for the iPhone.
Death by Google?
I'll go ahead and post the inevitable DROID comment.
Where's your DROID comment?
the droid comment is that the googlemaps on the droid does live traffic updates and googlemaps is free on any compatible phone, not just the droid.
@Manider Sekhon
No... that was your comment... ;)
About time!! Yeah we all know google's solution is coming at some point but with that option the maps are stored at google and with AT&T "Map" well its better to have them in the phone.
Just downloaded the update and it seems it is only allow "Sandbox" "Test User"s to get the in-app purchase. Looks like they didn't push the right RC.
Maybe if you didn't pirate apps it would work for you...
What's new- it's congested on the Kennedy....
I bought Navigon thank you very much. I also tried to buy the in-app purchase. But I do understand that I'd have no right to complain if I did pirate it.
oh canada too?
do iphone GPS apps (at least the ones that locally store maps) work on iphones with no cell service? i have a 3g that i recently canceled service on (couldnt tolerate at&t's bay area "coverage" anymore), and was contemplating using the device as a standalone GPS.
@word
well, i can always use it as a glorified ipod touch as a worst case scenario.
Did you cancel the service on your iPhone to switch to Verizon for Droid?
Please say yes. It would make my day if just one person in the USofA, who reads Engadget, would make the switch.
I actually canceled the iphone/at&t for the pre/sprint. If it makes you feel better, I would have canceled for the droid as well :)
As far as I am aware, no cellular signal is required for standalone GPS applications to work on the iPhone. That said, I don't have my iPhone yet so I can't confirm for certain.
on droid is free
The game has changed.
These navigation companies have lost.
And so have you
Riiiight. Joe-American is going to use a smart phones for navigation... right after they figure out how to disable user account controls. :/
Unless Google allows you to download their maps to your phone (similar to Nokia Maps), then there is still a great deal of business for Navigon and TomTom (even though I hate TomTom). I personally wouldn't count on data connection alone to get me from point A to B, especially if I'm lost somewhere. It may work well, but then again, it may not, be it AT&T or Verizon.
Imagine that, traffic on 90/94.
That's when it's not collapsing under construction. ;)
Maybe the maps for Google Maps are stored in the cloudosphere but they sure load up fast on my Droid (takes roughly as long as my TomTom takes to change screens), the traffic display is up-to-date and really useful, the GPS is accurate to within a few feet, and it's free. I have yet to find something to bitch about.
If you find yourself in an area without a cellular signal and want to change route, then I believe you will find something to complain about. I can certainly see the attraction in a free service like Google Navigator but I simply do not have sufficient faith in cellular services to trust myself to them and therefore I want a system where the maps are stored locally for the core functions of the device. If you are happy with a cloud-based service then that's fine but they are not directly comparable.
And TomTom Still Sucks Big Ones.
This makes me so so happy.
Not so much the cheapness of the Navigon app - but the shafting TomTom will get and so so richly deserve.
I paid for TomTom on my WM phone. I mean I went to their website and paid them full list price.
I paid for the extortionate version updates, I paid for the traffic and camera service THAT NEVER F'IN WORKS.
I bought new maps - and then immediately got the email to update to the latest version (I assume for maps that actually matched where I went in the US, rather than the ones that confused me when I was there).
I've had phones stolen and sold - and been through the grief of trying to convince tomtom to allow me to use the software I've bought on my new phone.
I know this paints me as a great big sucker - and I know I am. But for one. ONCE. I now get to sit back and watch them burn.
You know you do get Garmin on WinMo too?
The update installed flawlessly. Traffic data was updated instantly via an in-application purchase. Traffic data is delivered via 3G or Edge, so traffic info is available anywhere (even indoors) regardless whether GPS signal is present. The traffic update also allows additional "search" capability for approximate addresses. For those who already own the Navigon application, the app update is free. The additional traffic add-on seems to be worth $20 to me.
The tomtom car kit is actually pretty nice..... I don't plan on paying for the software though.
Well, let's see how long it takes for Navigon to do the same thing here in OZ (Australia for the uninitiated). There is the coriolis effect and we drive on the opposite side of the road (legally) and call things differently but I am sure localisation (see the difference in spelling) will not be a big deal!
I mean what's a few roundabouts and motorways to a computer voice?
I already have Navigon for my iPhone... would love to have live traffic and for the price, too. (Even with conversion that isn't too bad!)
Cheers from Downunder. (it's summer here)
Bing for Winmo has this for free. It also has best local gas prices and more.
Yea that might be true but it doesn't have turn by turn navigation.
How did Navigon news turn into pigs and swine flue and H1N1 news?
when i try to to the update it says "There is not enough space to download this item. Please delete some photos or videos".
I know that I have enough space, but why am I getting this message.
Any workaround for this ?
Thanks.
Santhis, IIRC you need actually more space than what the info tells you to download and install something, diue to compression issues, when you have bot the compressed and uncompressed version on your phone.
My question is, does this 'live traffic' present any data that is not already available in google maps? I still find that data on these apps (and most any where else traffic data is available) is always just a bit too laggy to be useful. It will tell you there is congestion when it has already cleared or show you green lines while you are at a dead stop (just to update to solid red about 10 minutes later). Without some way to seriously crowd source this data in a useful way i can't imagine this traffic data every being truley useful.
looks like apple is once again happy to charge its customers more money for add ons which are already free elsewhere. So underhanded but par for the course for them.
Best to avoid iphone and just get an android. Phone. Better all around anyway.