TomTom iPhone app hits 1.3, gains real-time traffic and Google local search
By Darren Murph 
posted March 13th 2010 3:22PM
posted March 13th 2010 3:22PM
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted March 13th 2010 3:22PM
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Google local search I think is worth the price if admission. I have Navigon which is awesome but the search engine just plain sucks! Everyone should have google seach!
@TheOrioles33
I agree everyone should have google search driven navigation results...which is why I have a Droid. :-D
@TheOrioles33
Navigon 1.4 has Google Search, not sure what you are talking about
No Thanks, I have the wonderful DROID which gives me an amazing free navigation system out-of-the-box.
I'm an idiot! Navigon does have Google seach after the last update. Guess I don't use it enough!! :)
Yeah, I envy the google maps on Android. Why Gmaps on iphone does not support turn by turn with the gps is beyond me... At these prices though, I think I'll just stick with my garmin.
@Standingfast
When thinking of why you can't get the droid version of gmaps on an iphone, perhaps it's best to point to apple not supporting itunes connections from the pre. It's all about competition
Now google may release that tomorrow for iphones, but why would they if it drives people to android for that one feature? Microsoft held out for as long as possible with activesync but finally had to relent.
@Standingfast
same reason Google Voice isn't available in the app store. Duh.
*points and laughs* *hugs nexus one*
@B3astofthe3ast
Calls B3astofthe3ast a nerd, proceeds to take off pants.
@B3astofthe3ast
-laughs head off-, see that guy hugging a phone, spose if it's all that you can get.
Ahh, the beauty of having a phone where all models are compatible is accessories.
Tom Tom car kit for iPhone, gold bruz, gold. GPS booster, hands free, works with any app. Then use Google Maps free, the kit makes fr instant lock and tight travel.
Wanna know some funny shit though, your free Google maps, they are upto 2yrs out of date. Free is free though, love free eh. Gimme more of that free, mmm Google's spy cam up your a$$ to spam ya with ads eh, ads you pay for in download. Oh yeah Google's special free land, yeah like the free fun park for kids at Neverland.
Enjoy your "Google controlled" not really open-source fragment phone. Or should I say Google spy device and spam delivery system.
Free...
Yeah. I'll pay eh and be allowed to keep my pants on.
Oh and... F off out of a thread you just want to troll in.
Ahhhhh, that was fun
@Cy Starkman
I use iphone too (only cuz it's the best u can get here in Australia) but I couldn't help LOLing at ur full page rage reply for a one line comment.
@Cy Starkman 2 years my ass street veiw took a pic of my mom getting into her car the the g1 first came out then theres one of the new car my sister got last month parked in our drive way so take the b.s. else where Google constantly updates
@Atlantian
So you use street view for turn by turn navigation, how novel.
Google has a 2yr cycle for maps. I just used Google maps as a nav tool half way around Australia, the giant freeways and other developments of equally significant dimension were missing, fortunately I used my brain and didn't end up in any paddocks.
@Cy Starkman
"Ahh, the beauty of having a phone where all models are compatible is accessories."
Funny, the Logitech speaker/dock next to my bed doesn't charge my iPhone 3GS but my iPhone 2G was fine and the remote is effed as well. Funny, my Kennsington Dock with RF remote has the same prblems. My Klipsch speakers/dock in the living room? Ditto.
Traffic and Google local search? Just like Waze has always had, hmm.
@Chroma
This app is giving users access to IQRoutes for routing (over 8 billion miles of traffic history downloaded for accurate driving routes and times) and the Live traffic uses both TrafficCast and TomToms own probes which number well over a million in the US along with public highway traffic sensors in cities whereas Waze recently announced 550,000 users worldwide. Well worth the $20 a year charge.
Additionally traffic avoidance is built into the routing something Google does not yet have either. The maps also exist on the phone which is an advantage over the Google deal also.
I guess TomTom just doesn't get it.
People want navigation related software for free. You can charge SOME money for it, but not $20 for an update only.
Adding $20 more bucks to an already absorbent $69 is insane.
I can see paying $20 for the entire TomTom software setup with free updates. But that much just for just the update is ridiculous.
Prices on anything iphone related make me happy that i always stick with unlocked nokias, no i don't get the fancy capacitive screen (yet) but everything i want to do is pretty much free, including tethering, free navigation without data use, and the $10 internet plan doesn't hurt either.
@jcar302
I think you mean "exorbitant"...unless TomTom got into the paper towel selling business and I just didn't realize it.
@AndroFan
No, he's right, it absorbs your money.
In the UK, the iPhone version of Navigon route selection sucks compared with TomTom (or logic for that matter!). Regardless of what you can search for locally, if the navigation aid cant get you to where you want to be using the quickest/easiest route then its useless.
Navigon looks better but Tomtom works better. Now there's another substance/style dilemma for iPhone users when choosing their Nav App!!!!!
@spikeuk76
I have not tried the tomtom app but here in the US Navigon's route selection has been great, often the same one I would plot out myself. It has actually found me a few shortcuts, I've been extremely happy with it.
Can you receive call while using TomTom on iPhone?
@ewlung
I would also like to know the answer to this questions? The iphone needs to have multitask for this reason and many more.
@ewlung
You can and then lose the nav software. More importantly you lose the nav just to be advised of the incoming call regardless if you want to answer it.
It is hopeless, from personal experience and not even a multitasking issue. SMS and push pops up, iPod pops up without closing your app. Once you accept/make a call you can open any app and use it while the call goes on.
You just can't receive a call without everything bombing out to home screen. If the app doesn't have state saving your screwed. Many don't. Including engadget's app.
@schmidt1985 The iPhone has basic multitasking for some built in apps. Ie.: you CAN listen to music and websurf unlike what some of the trolls say. A phone call doesn't cut you off, even using the built in 3-way calling, etc.
@ewlung Why couldn't you? You can receive calls in any app.
Or you could just use the free stuff bundled with Android or Symbian....
@I was swhite237 I lost my passwo Ill wait for the iPhone 4. Tmobile in my area sucks so that counts out the N1. The droid is one of the ugliest phones ever. I think the next iPhone is gonna knock it out of the park. Nothing against Android, just don't like their phones or providers in my area.
@Motlee "I think the next iPhone is gonna knock it out of the park."
I really doubt that. I bet I'll be just as impressed with the iPhone 4G as I was when the iPad was officially unveiled... not at all.
@beano311 i can see it now. they'll come up with the super revolutionary feature, 3rd party app multitasking.
Yup, incoming calls are easily accepted when navigating. You get the option to ignore the call too.
@dhamson
Do you still get voice navigation whilst taking the call through the app?
@MacMan no, the app is essentially turned off while taking a call. It resumes automatically when you hang up.
"and the ability to add locations from other apps and websites."
I can't figure out how to do either of these...got any tips?
"Every couple of weeks, it seems that MobileNavigator is getting yet another fantastic update". Really, what have you heard beyond your Feb 9th post of a pending upgrade. The version in the App Store is still Dec 17th, 2009. It's good, but hardly upgraded every couple of weeks. 3 months at this point.
As far as charging for upgrade, it's the real time traffic being offered as an addition for $20, not the app update. Folks, map data isn't free. Somebody pays for it. You can either do it once, or pay for it monthly with your data plan.
Posts like these make me love my Android phone even more.
I can't wait till Gmail, search, and all other Google products get removed from iPhones.
Man that's going to be a great day.
Tomtom and navigon are the best navigation apps on the iphone!
fanboys finally can laugh finally. it only took two years. definately not the last laugh tho. lol
Aww man. I have sygic
Are you guys comparing TomTom and Navigon with the Google Maps which doesn't offer offline navigation, totally useless out of home country? It's like saying everyone should use OpenOffice because it's free, you know, some people may prefer paying for something better...
@some1
openoffice is great, and it does more for me than office could. besides, i couldn't be had with paying for the windows version of office, i was stuck with the mac version of office first.
Because the iPhone competes directly with android (google) phones?
That was supposed to be a reply to Standingfast Why Gmaps on iphone does not support turn by turn with the gps is beyond me...
It ceases to amaze me. Look, just about any phone, especially the iphone, does NOT have the native GPS sensitivity (satellite) that a native gps has. The google app, and any app just on the iphone does not have a strong GPS signal, as it uses mostly Agps. At least the tom tom cradle, that everyone says is way too expensive, HAS an additional sirf lll gps chip imbedded in it, to give MUCH better navigation. Let's see how well you folks like navigon and google when you are out in Nevada, or wyoming, or really any large state, and go off the interstates. You will find the signal, and maps, quite lacking. Me, I will stick with telenav, or garmin for Blackberry on my BB for city use, and go to my real, dedicated Garmin GPS when traveling cross country.
@rkevwill totally agree. There's a significant lag when you compare, say, my Blackberry's GPS navigation to my mother's BMW's navigation.
Interestingly, and somewhat related, apparently the iPhone integration kit for BMWs actually uses the car's little sharkfin antenna to get a stronger cell phone signal.
@HurricaneDC
Yup Hurricane, this is why the only navigation app/hardware I have considered for an iphone/Touch, has been the Tom Tom package. Their additional GPS chip in the holder, makes the package comparable to a dedicated GPS unit. Before I posted, I took a look to see if the navigon cradle also had a gps chip. Nope! just a holder, and charger. Too many people that slam the Tom Tom package just don't understand the cradle is not eye candy, it completely upgrades the total experience, especially the GPS signal.
@rkevwill This is why I'm not sold on the the iPhone or iPod Touch with gimped Bluetooth profiles. At least with the other OSs, you can still BT sync to an external GPS so ALL gps programs benefit. Seriously Apple, gain some power abilities to make it easier for some of us to transition to your platform.
I'm sorry but why is it when iPhone folks make snarky comments on non-iPhone articles they get slammed and whatnot but the opposite is tolerated? This article is about an iPhone app. I don't see anything here about Android phones.
@(an unfortunate $19.99 add-on)
This is when I'm glad I had Android N1 with free GPS turn by turn with voice and all that good stuff. Use to have iphone though, but I don't see why I should pay so much for a GPS apps and then upgrade some more. Iphone consumer is getting rip-off in my opinion.