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My 5 favorite apps for holiday travel
Yes, it's that time of year again. Travel by car, plane and train. New places to visit, with lots of places to locate, for shopping, dining, sightseeing and (I hope not) emergency facilities. In this post, I'll describe my favorite travel apps. My first choice for turn-by-turn navigation is Navigon. (Navigon USA is US$32.99.) Navigon stores maps locally, so travel between cities guarantees me good data. Google local search is available for complete destination information, and Google Street View shows what my destination will actually look like. I added the 3D Panorama view as an extra add-on because I like to see the mountains, and I added live traffic and USA speed cameras. I do think Apple Maps has improved greatly, and I love that I can ask for a destination with Siri, but Navigon is still my favorite for finding a distant or a local destination. Navigon also integrates Glympse. More about Glympse later. When I've arrived at my destination, and want to find out what is worth visiting, I'm very happy with Where To? This $2.99 app has an extensive database of points of interest, and includes crowdsourced ratings. Locations can be saved to your contacts, and shared via email, Twitter or Facebook. The app also knows what navigation apps you have, so you can send your destination to Navigon, Apple Maps, Google Maps and several other similar apps. That's a great idea. Ok, now to talk about Glympse. Glympse (free) sends alerts to those awaiting your arrival as you travel. They can view a real-time map that shows your location and estimates when you will arrive. It beats constant calling or sending texts. A Glympse can be sent to a smartphone or a computer. Lately, the Glympse GUI has regressed in ease of use with click and slide actions, which are frustrating some people, but Glympse does what it does very well, and I use it almost weekly. Even when I am meeting someone for lunch or dinner, it's great to let them know when I'll get there. Travel by air is surely not as fun as it used to be, but it's made easier by using Flight+ ($3.99). I can track any flight in the world, easily search for flights a variety of ways, see detailed gate and time information and see seat maps of any plane I'm going on. Flights can be traced via a detailed map, and there is detailed weather information for my destinations. Flight+ provides alerts for time changes, as well as gate and terminal changes. It also gives me Departure and Arrival reminders, which is handy if I am picking someone up at the airport. Finally, I frequently use Gate Guru. This free app also contains flight notifications, but is most useful at the airport when looking for a specific restaurant or service. The app contains 35,000 reviews of airport food, and TSA security wait time estimates. It also contains weather, and you can book a rental car at the last minute if you need to. I don't do any travel by train, so I have no favorites, but people who do are impressed with Roadify Transit. It covers buses, subways, trains, bikes and ferries. The app offers walking directions, real-time service advisories, and it covers public transportation in many US cities. The app is free. Holiday travel can be a challenge, and sometimes frustrating. These apps are my favorites for reducing holiday travel stress. Have a safe trip, and don't forget to keep checking TUAW when you are on the road.
Testing the Garmin Heads Up Display (HUD) for navigation
Garmin is just beginning to ship the company's first HUD (heads-up display) unit for in-car use with Garmin and Navigon apps. The U.S. $129.99 device (sale pricing for the summer) sits on your dash, and can project navigation information on your windshield using a supplied transparent film or a built-in reflector. DESIGN The unit plugs into a 12-volt supply in your car with an included cable and then connects to your iPhone via Bluetooth. The HUD notifies the driver of upcoming turns with an arrow in the appropriate direction and the distance until the turn. It also gives you your estimated time of arrival at your destination, along with your current speed. It also notes the speed limit for the road you are on if that data is in the Garmin or Navigon databases. (Most public roads are.) Turn by turn spoken directions come through your phone speaker. The hardware does nothing on its own, so if you don't already have the Garmin Street Pilot or Navigon apps, you'll need to include those in the projected cost. %Gallery-195858% FUNCTIONALITY I gave the Garmin HUD a lengthy test today. Pairing the unit with my iPhone was quick and easy. After the link was successful, I received a message that there was a firmware update needed. I downloaded that through the Navigon app I was using. On a 4G connection, it took less than a minute. Then I was off. I selected a destination, and the navigation information was instantly posted to the HUD. I was afraid the display would be dim in the bright Arizona sunlight, but the display was easily visible. In the gallery below, you'll see 2 sample photos of the display that I took when the sky was bright. The HUD also has automatic brightness control so it won't blind you at night. It was a pleasure driving with the Garmin HUD. Even with my car navigation system, I am always taking my eyes off the road. With the HUD, I can keep my attention on the road, even though my eyes need to refocus on the HUD screen. I only saw one glitch with the unit; when I was driving on a road where Navigon did not know the local speed limit, the estimated speed I was driving was about double the real thing. I did not see this error when the HUD was displaying the speed limit and my current speed. This should be an easy fix, but you have to wonder how the error slipped through quality control. I wasn't wild about the power cable hanging from my dash, but I understand the HUD has power requirements that would make battery operation impractical. I didn't try the stick-on film (knowing I would have to pull it off to return the sample unit), but the add-on reflector lens worked great. It also means the HUD is great for travel, because it can be placed on the dashboard of any rental car. The HUD unit has a sticky bottom, and even during some aggressive turning on winding roads I never saw the HUD move. I didn't expect to like the Garmin HUD, but I really did. After I got used to it, driving without the HUD felt a bit naked and unsafe. PROS Easy to install and pair Easy to upgrade firmware Integrates perfectly with Garmin and Navigon apps Bright display even in lots of sunlight Should provide additional safety factor to keep your eyes on the road Can easily be moved from car to car using reflector lens CONS Power cord hangs from dash Speed not always reported correctly -- firmware bug Pricey (It's on sale this summer for $129.99 but will then go up to $149.99)
Garmin announces a portable heads-up display for StreetPilot and Navigon apps
Garmin is bringing something new to smartphone navigation in cars. Today, the company announced the late summer availability of a portable heads-up display (HUD) for iPhones running the Garmin StreetPilot app or a Navigon app. The unit will retail for US$129.99. "HUD redefines the navigation experience by allowing drivers to find their way without taking their eyes off the road," said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. "Head-up displays currently have their place in select high-end cars, but HUD makes this technology available as an aftermarket accessory for any vehicle, at an affordable price." The unit, designed to sit on your dashboard, will provide turn-by-turn navigation, plus distance to the next turn, current speed, speed limit and estimated time of arrival. It even lets drivers know what lane to be in for the next maneuver and alerts them when they exceed the speed limit. HUD also warns users of potential traffic delays and upcoming safety camera locations if that is a feature of the navigation software you are using. The display automatically adjusts the brightness level so the image is visible in direct sunlight or at night. Hooking up the unit requires power from your car, and the HUD has a USB port so your iPhone can be plugged in and charged from the device itself. Garmin will ship the unit with a transparent film for the windshield or a reflector lens. The film pasted on your windshield could give a purchaser pause, plus setting it all up will make for a tangle of cables at the top of the dashboard. Given the always-on nature of the display, battery operation is probably not an option. The Garmin HUD is an interesting idea as an after-market device. Heads-up displays are increasingly popular as built-in features of some of the latest cars. We'll have a review unit shortly and will let you know how it works.
Navigon and Garmin GPS navigation apps get updates and new features
Garmin and Navigon have a barrel full of free updates today, bringing the two GPS navigation solutions into closer parity. This seemed inevitable, since Garmin acquired Navigon in 2011. Both iOS apps now support voice directions through your car speakers if your iPhone has a Bluetooth connection to the car. Audio sources fade out for voice direction announcements, then increase back to the original volume. The apps also gained Wikipedia integration, allowing users to search local points of interest and displaying Wikipedia icons on maps to indicate places of interest. The update also improves Foursquare integration by showing Foursquare locations on your maps. Integration with Glympse, one of my favorite standalone apps, has also improved and now allows you to add or delete contacts or change the expiration time of an active Glypmse. The Garmin app added the ability to download maps by region, something the Navigon app has featured for a while. That means users can be selective about what maps to store on their device if space is at a premium. It is nice to see these enhancements, as nav apps compete with the free Google and Apple offerings. I still like Apple Maps for quick trips due to the Siri integration, but Garmin and Navigon offer better data, on-board maps, Google local search, Google Street View (Navigon) and Glympse built in. Until April 8, the Garmin and Navigon apps are reduced in price by US$10, with Garmin USA and Navigon USA both selling for $39.99. Other deals are available for different versions of the apps, so be sure to check the app store.
TUAW's Best of 2012 Personal Picks: Mel Martin
Well, it's time for the year-end best-of post, and this one is a pleasure to write. There is a real explosion of useful apps that can make our lives easier or more fun. Happily, since the apocalypse didn't destroy us all on December 21, we're all here to enjoy them. To get on my list, the app had to either come out this year of be significantly enhanced in 2012. These apps also have to be apps I use a lot, not just on occasion. Navigon and Glympse These are my go-to apps for travel and local navigation. Navigon is not new but continues to have continual worthwhile updates. Apple Maps and Google Maps are free, but both have their weaknesses. Navigon has its maps loaded in the app, so I can be in the middle of nowhere and still navigate. When I have data services, Navigon offers Google local points of interest, and street-level maps. There are also destination weather, parking info and the ability to send your route to others. A great new feature is the addition of Glympse, which is a favorite all by itself. It lets your friends or family know when you are going to arrive, and they can see your progress via smartphone, tablet or computer. Glympse is free as a standalone app. But built into Navigon, it's doubly useful. Navigon is a paid app, with lots of options and a range of prices to fit your needs. Snapseed There are hundreds of photo editors, but I keep returning to Snapseed, which started as a Photoshop plug-in and now is on iOS for free after being bought by Google. What I really like about Snapseed is that you can improve your photos without making them look garish or like op-art posters. Yes, you can do all that with Snapseed too, but I like the light touch I can get from Snapseed. Photoset It pulls photos off your camera roll and publishes them to the web. No charge, no signups. You can re-arrange your photos the way you like and upload them. You'll get a URL to send to friends and family. This app is free and easy to use. The only downside is you can't select multiple photos at once. Just Landed This app gets my vote as the most innovative travel app for people meeting planes. Just Landed tracks a flight, gets arrival gate information and tells you when to leave for the airport, taking current traffic into account. It's a clever and useful idea. I've used it several times, and it always makes meeting a flight a lot less stressful. It's worth spending the US$0.99. All the apps have been optimized for the iPhone 5. All but Just Landed are universal apps or have iPad versions. Happy Holidays to all our readers, and here's looking forward to 2013.
Garmin and Navigon integrating Glympse and Foursquare into nav apps
This is cool. I'm a big fan of the Navigon family of apps, and also the Glympse location-tracking app. Now they are together, and it seems a natural fit. The integration of location-sharing service Glympse allows you to easily share your location with friends and family, so they always know where you are. To help you discover new places, Garmin's apps now also integrate Foursquare locations and special deals. Additionally, you can check into venues on Foursquare upon arrival –- right from your Garmin app. The new StreetPilot Onboard and Navigon app versions integrate Glympse directly into the mapping and navigation feature set. Users simply click on the Glympse icon in the sidebar, select any recipient from their address book, and then choose for how long to share their location –- from a few minutes to a few hours. The selected recipients will receive either a text or email message with a link to a Glympse tracking map, where they can see the sender's current location, arrival time and speed. This feature is a great tool to help you meet up with friends or family, so they know where you are and when you will arrive. %Gallery-173633% The integration of Foursquare features allows you to easily search for locations, trending venues and special deals within the Garmin apps. This makes it easy to discover new places and directly navigate there with just a few clicks. If you link your Foursquare account, you'll also be able to easily check into venues and view personalized POI suggestions based on your check-in behavior. In addition, both the Garmin and Navigon apps support iCloud, so you can sync your destinations across several iOS devices. Also, all Garmin and Navigon apps are being reduced 25 percent until January 7. There are a wide variety of apps on sale, so be sure to check the app store and see which one matches up best to your needs. The added features are a free update to current Garmin and Navigon customers. With all the excitement of the new Google Maps app, there is plenty of room for others to innovate, and we're seeing some interesting products emerge. I think particularly, the merging of navigations apps with Glympse is very sensible and desirable. Some sample screen shots are in the gallery above.
Problems with Apple's Maps have helped third-party developers
I was wondering if the range of issues with iOS 6's Maps app caused a spike the sale of paid 3rd party navigation apps. The answer appears to be yes. I talked with Johan-Till Broer, who represents Garmin and its subsidiary Navigon, to see if the brouhaha over Maps -- which, with its new turn-by-turn and voice navigation features, was seen by some developers as a threat -- has actually boosted attention and uptake of these apps. "We definitely saw an increase in sales for our navigation apps over the last couple of weeks due to the recent interest in map and navigation apps for the iPhone. It should be noted, though, that App Store dynamics are very complex and it's always difficult to reduce a spike in sales to a single factor. The fact that we were one of the first navigation apps to integrate with Apple Maps and provide public transit directions, the brand awareness that Garmin has as the global leader in GPS navigation as well as the fact that Apple suggested our apps as map alternatives in the App Store also played a significant role." Garmin and Navigon get, I think, a significant boost because those solutions include Google Local Search and Google Street View, both of which left the bundled Maps app when Apple moved away from Google as a data provider for mapping. Both are still available as standalone free apps, by the way, and Google has now integrated Street View into its web-based maps for mobile. [Just a reminder that the pre-iOS 6 Maps app was also developed by Apple, not by Google; while it's been informally referred to as "Google Maps" since the map data was provided by Google, technically the app itself was always "Apple Maps." We'll try to use "iOS 6 Maps" and "pre-iOS 6 Maps" for clarity, and reserve "Google Maps" to refer to the current web-based solution. –Ed.] Broer also points out that there were other free third-party navigation apps on the iPhone before Apple made its move, but paid maps have always had significant sales. Even on Android, where most phones work with Google's free turn-by-turn navigation option, paid apps still sell, including CoPilot Live, Magellan and both Navigon and Garmin. One of the main reasons is that many of these apps have all the map data onboard, and are not dependent on a data connection. Both the iOS 6 Maps app and the Android navigation app require data connections to function, though there is some built-in caching; iOS 6's app in particular seems pretty good about allowing navigation based on pre-loaded data. For many users, Apple's Maps or some of the free solutions like Mapquest or Waze will be enough. For those wanting a premium experience, and are willing to pay, it looks like third-party navigation apps are here to stay. Apple's Maps "upgrades" haven't hurt the paid app suppliers at all, and in fact, seem to be driving sales of alternative solutions.
Nokia inks deals to be maps force behind BMW 7-series, bring guidance to new Garmin apps
While all the talk of late is about Cupertino's newfangled Maps application, Nokia's currently keeping busy by doing some behind-the-scenes legwork, including signing new deals with car and navigation system manufacturers. Most recently, the Finnish company announced it's partnering with BMW to power the "next-generation" navigation system in the upcoming 7-series, which will bring features like Enhanced 3D City Models and an Eco Pro Route that chooses the most fuel-efficient way to get you to your destination. In addition to the BMW alliance, though, Nokia has also teamed up with Garmin to bring Transit and Pedestrian maps in the form of an Urban Guidance feature that will be available on iOS and Android devices. For those interested in learning more, the pressers below will fill you in on all the nitty-gritty.
Navigon updates iOS apps with links to Apple Maps
Navigon has quickly updated its apps to mesh with iOS 6 and the new iPhone. The apps have added public transportation features, Apple Maps integration and support for the new 4-inch screen on the iPhone 5. The apps already support Google Street View and searching with the Google POI database. "With our recent updates our apps can now serve as an extension to Apple Maps, providing iPhone users advanced navigation capabilities," said Joern Watzke, vice president mobile phone business at Garmin Wuerzburg GmbH. "This includes our new public transportation functionality as well as many additional premium features that aren't available on free navigation apps." Navigon users can select any address or point of interest in Apple Maps and they will be offered an option to navigate to the selected destination using their Navigon app. Due to the way Apple Maps work the method to do this may not be obvious. Select an address in Apple Maps, then click on "get directions." Then select the bus icon at the top of the screen. That will enter the destination in your Navigon app and you are on your way. Since Apple has left a gaping hole in public transportation routing, the Navigon update adds a US$2.99 feature called Urban Guidance which allows users to integrate public transportation into their route, complete with detailed itineraries of transit stops. The new feature considers trains, trams, buses and water taxis when calculating pedestrian routes. Users will be guided to a transit stop by foot and be able to look up detailed information on what line to take and where to get off. The new Last Mile function automatically saves the location of the user's car when continuing by foot, making it easy to find it on the way back. To depict the user's surroundings, the Garmin StreetPilot Onboard app for iPhone will now also include new graphical features like Google Street View. Navigon apps are up to 25 percent off until October 3, 2012. The in-app purchase Urban Guidance is 40 percent off. Navigon is now owned by Garmin and StreetPilot Onboard will be updated soon with similar features. Apple has created an opening for third-party navigation providers like Garmin and Navigon. Apple Maps will certainly improve over time, but some of the weaknesses of Maps are being addressed by these paid apps. The Navigon apps require iOS 4.3 or greater. Some sample screens are in the gallery below. %Gallery-166134%
Navigon and StreetPilot Onboard update adds public transport, Apple Maps and iPhone 5 support
Navigon's gearing up for tomorrow's big day by updating its, erm, Navigon and StreetPilot Onboard apps. The refreshed software adds support for the iPhone 5's new 4-inch display as well as baking in public transport listings to Cupertino's presently underwhelming mapping offering. It's also gaining the promised "last mile" function to record the location of your car when finishing your journey on foot, sparing you the embarrassment of getting lost in the multi-storey lot when you return. The company's offering a $10 discount on its apps if you pick 'em up before October 3rd, while the in-app purchase of Urban Guidance has been reduced from $5 to $3 for the same period. Update: We've had a note from Garmin to say that while Navigon update is now available, StreetPilot Onboard has been slightly delayed.
Garmin/Navigon announce new pedestrian and public transportation features
Garmin today announced updates for StreetPilot Onboard and NAVIGON smartphone navigation apps to provide better orientation in cities. With Urban Guidance, users are able to integrate public transportation into their route, complete with detailed itineraries of transit stops. The new Last Mile function automatically saves the location of the user's car when continuing by foot, making it easy to find it on the way back. To better depict the user's surroundings, the Garmin StreetPilot Onboard app for iPhone now includes new graphical features such as Google Street View and Panorama View 3D. %Gallery-163751% "Taking into account the specific needs of city navigation, our upcoming app updates streamline directions for driving, walking and public transportation," said Joern Watzke, vice president mobile phone business at Garmin Wuerzburg GmbH. "Users can now get directions for different forms of locomotion, all integrated in one app right on their smartphone." Urban Guidance considers public transportation options, such as trains, trams, busses and water taxis, when calculating pedestrian routes. Users will be guided to a transit stop by foot and offered detailed information on what line to take and where to get off. The new Last Mile feature provides users a streamlined navigation experience when continuing by foot after parking the car. When approaching a destination, users will be informed about local parking garages. Once the car is parked, the app will automatically save its position and switch into pedestrian mode to provide walking directions. Since the car's position is saved, the app can easily provide directions back to it at any time. Last Mile Navigation is already available for the NAVIGON Android app but will be new to the NAVIGON iPhone app with the upcoming update. The Last Mile feature will not be available for the Garmin StreetPilot iPhone app at this point. I think the activity in iOS nav apps is being pushed because Apple is delivering a built-in navigation solution in iOS 6, and these new features from Garmin/Navigon address some weaknesses in the Apple Maps app, such as no pedestrian or mass transit information. Of course the Apple app could add features before its released. The updates will be available this fall, with no specific dates being offered. Check the gallery for some screen shots of both the Garmin and Navigon updates.
Garmin, Navigon GPS apps now consider mass transit, remember where we parked
Third-party navigation apps still tend to fall apart when the keys are out of the ignition -- try to cut back on car use and you're often kicked over to another app with its own set of rules. Both Garmin's StreetPilot Onboard app and its Navigon equivalent are getting a much more holistic experience through respective upgrades due this fall. Android and iOS users alike can soon buy an Urban Guidance pack that factors buses, subways and other forms of public transportation into their on-foot routes. The playing field is leveling off for drivers willing to stretch their legs, too: iPhone owners with Navigon's app get the same last-mile walking directions and parking finder as their Android counterparts. StreetPilot iPhone app users are left out of this last addition, but they'll see compensation in the form of an optional Panorama View 3D mode and the Google Street View they're about to lose from Maps in iOS 6. The updated titles will still cost $30 for Navigon-only regional packs, $50 for editions with US-wide maps and $60 for all of North America, although you'll need to spend $5 more ($3 during the first two weeks) for Urban Guidance and $10 for the Panorama View 3D pack.
Navigon boosts iPhone app to version 2.1, discounts purchases through July 16th
Navigon's hitting those holiday roads a day early, releasing version 2.1 of its iPhone app. The free update adds Google Street View, which pops up as you approach a destination, along with a Cockpit display, which includes G-force, speed and compass information for an additional $6. There's also a new Manual Route Blocking feature, enabling you to force the app to offer an alternate path after identifying a section of road that you'd prefer to skip, along with improved start-up and map rendering performance, and Retina iPad compatibility. The USA version of the app is available for $30 (a $20 discount), while the North America version is also 20 bucks off, at $40, and regional flavors will be available for $20 ($10 off). In-app purchases are also discounted, including FreshMaps USA for $15 (normally $40), FreshMaps North America for $10 (down from $20), FreshMaps MyRegion for $20 (instead of $50) and the aforementioned Cockpit for $4 (regularly $6). All of the discounts run through July 16th, so hit up the App Store and get your download on now.
Navigon adds Google Street View and other features, lowers prices
Navigon is releasing a solid update to its iOS navigation app on Tuesday morning that should please holiday and nonholiday travelers. The app adds Google Street View, providing users with a street-level image of their destination before starting a route. Before starting the journey, users can look at a full screen 360° view to get a better understanding of their destination's surroundings. Shortly before arriving at the destination, the Google Street View image slides in again, making it easier to identify the correct location. This new version also adds Navigon Cockpit as an in-app purchase. It displays relevant driving data in real time on a cockpit-like screen. Captured data includes G-forces (current and maximum value), speed, horizontal and vertical position, and an adjustable speed and altitude graph. Drivers can use this information to see a snapshot of their driving habits. Also included is a dedicated off-road screen with compass and altitude information for off-road driving. The update also includes performance enhancements and support for the Retina display on the latest iPad. Starting Tuesday and running until July 16, the Navigon USA app has been reduced to US $29.99 from $49.99. The three regional versions, where you can download just a certain section of the country, drop to $19.99 during the sale. The Navigon Cockpit add-on is $3.99 now, and after the sale will be $5.99. I think Navigon and other providers will be pushing and enhancing their apps in response to Apple's free mapping and turn-by-turn navigation offering due in the fall with iOS 6. Check the gallery for screen shots from the new version. %Gallery-159619%
Competitors react to announcement of Apple nav app in iOS 6
I wasn't sure if any competitors to Apple in the nav space were going to react to Apple offering free turn-by-turn directions in iOS 6, but I did get some interesting comments from the folks at Garmin/Navigon. Johan-Till Broer at Garmin International shared this statement from Garmin today: "We've been competing successfully with free navigation on Android phones, and through third party apps also on the iPhone, for a couple of years now, and it has been widely anticipated that Apple would introduce a new maps app with navigation functionalities. It is, however, too early to provide a qualified evaluation of this new iOS feature. Garmin has over 20 years of experience in navigation technology and our navigation products offer a wide range of unique features that provide drivers highly accurate and reliable road guidance." "We think that there is a market for smartphone navigation apps, PND's (personal navigation devices) and in-dash navigation systems as each of these solutions has their own advantages and use case limitations and ultimately it's up to the consumer to decide what they prefer. We will take a look at Apple's new app and will continue to innovate in the navigation app, PND and auto OEM space to offer our customers a premium navigation experience that goes beyond the capabilities available from free smartphone services." Fair enough. Competing with free is quite a challenge, but I hope Apple's announcement will force competitors to attain new heights in features and new lows in pricing. All consumers will benefit from that.
Clarion's Android-running Mirage IVI: a head unit that can play Angry Birds
Remember the Clarion Malaysia IVI that was teased back in December? The company's just unveiled the finished product, which you can call Mr. Clarion Mirage. The Android-running car stereo, head unit, erm, In-Vehicle Infotainment system is a hefty Double DIN unit, with a 6.5-inch display up front and plenty of tech packed inside. Intel's embedded systems division Wind River supplied the customized version of Froyo, Navigon offered up a navigation engine and industrial designers Plextek helped design the hardware. The Clarion Mirage has USB and AV-out ports, an SD card slot and is designed to be as flexible as a smartphone: capable of playing back music and video, running apps from Google Play or working as a display repeater with consoles. There's no official word on pricing or availability, but the scuttlebutt says it'll arrive in Q4 of this year. We've reached out and will update if we learn more.
A Navigon update will soon offer street level views
Google Street View is coming to Navigon iOS apps. The app will pop up a street-level view as you arrive at your destination so you can, for example, identify a particular building that is your destination. That should be of significant help when you are heading to an unfamiliar area. Navigon was recently acquired by Garmin, but the lines of iPhone navigator software have remained separate. It will be interesting to see how the street view feature works in practice. Some of the Google images are out of date, and as any navigation app user knows, keeping the software updated is an ongoing issue. Navigon doesn't have a date for the new feature as yet, but we're told to expect it this spring.
Why can't navigation apps be fun?
With all the holidays, many of us TUAWians spent more time on the road over the past few weeks than we normally do. And when it comes to tech-savvy bloggers, more time on the road means more time with navigation apps. And more time with navigation apps made us ever more aware of our lingering frustrations with the most popular apps. Sure Navigon and TomTom will get us from here to there, but they represent not just the lower end of design possibility, but the most Windows NT-like user experience. (We say that as an insult. We're Apple bloggers.) We're talking Soviet-era usability. On a platform that sports such shining examples of beauty and design, including Omni's suite of tools, Apple's brilliant in-house offerings, and so forth, why does utilitarian nonsense dominate the navigation market? So we huddled around the 8-bit fire in the center of the TUAW backchannel chat room (we're retro like that) and brainstormed about what we wanted to see nav apps evolve to, and what better apps are out there already. Steve Sande highly recommended the new Waze GPS & Traffic app. Powered by live community-sourced traffic data, it provides turn-by-turn guidance as you drive as well as social integration for carpooling and checking in. The app passively allows you to contribute traffic and road data, just by leaving it open as you drive. You can also share road reports about accidents and speed traps, although we recommend that you only do so as a passenger or when stopped at traffic lights. Some of us focused more on data. I personally felt that we needed more features like those currently available in popular running apps. Take Runmeter, which is my sports-tracking app of choice these days. It logs all your stats for walks, runs, bike rides, and more. You can monitor your efficiency, discover how long you were stopped, how far you went, how much you improved. In other words, it provides a full suite of analysis for after you've arrived at your destination. That's the kind of data I'd want to see integrated into turn-by-turn navigation apps. For each trip, I'd love to know how many miles I went, how efficient my gas usage was, what my high speed was, compare stretches to past runs of the same route, and so forth. I contacted Abvio, makers of Runmeter, to see whether this was an area they might eventually explore. A company spokesperson politely responded that "Turn by turn isn't something on [our] immediate road map, but [we] do get requests for it on occasion." And what about weather? Why don't current navigation apps offer real-time weather updates displayed on the route? With some apps, like Navigon, you can get a destination forecast, but as you're driving it's far more important that you know about the weather where you are, or when you're just about to be there. Road Trip Weather, which offers on-route weather updates, was our recent daily iPhone app. It is not, however a navigation app itself. On a side note, it would also be great if we could automatically pause navigation. Nothing more embarrassing than having your pocket announce that you should turn right in 1.5 miles -- as you're sitting at a table at Burger King. The final item on our wishlist was more game-like challenges for real-life chores. We'd love to see navigation apps integrate more tightly with GTD apps, schedules, and calendars, but do so in a way that's fun and light. Why not unlock achievements or earn points when stopping by the market, or remembering the dentist appointment? After all, a lot of our day in the modern world centers around travel. Shouldn't navigation apps better integrate with that? Sure, we'd probably skip @baobab68's suggestion of achievements like "15 Stop Lights Missed" or "Avoided Slow School Bus", or @andyflisher's hint that users should be able to finish the game despite no mirrors, bumpers, or windscreen. But why shouldn't navigation apps be more like games, with charts, records, scores, check-ins, and achievements? How would you like to see navigation apps evolve? Did we miss your favorite app? Drop a note into the comments and let us know where you see nav apps going in the future.
Navigon finds itself atop TUAW Best of 2011 voting results
The results of our reader poll for the best iPhone navigation app of 2011 are in. Navigon's iPhone navigation products lead the pack with 46.7 percent of the votes, besting second-place TomTom with only 21.7 percent. Navigon's products include regional, national and continent-wide GPS navigation apps. Starting at US$19.99 for the Navigon U.S. West, Central or East apps and going up to $69.99 for the complete Navigon Europe, these apps are full-featured. They are easy to set up and run, give understandable voice turn-by-turn instructions, show the lane that you're supposed to be in for turns off of major highways, include a 3D map display, and can even provide pedestrian navigation in major cities. Congratulations to Navigon for coming out on top in this highly-contested category in the TUAW Best of 2011 voting.
TUAW Best of 2011: Vote for the best iPhone navigation app
The nominations are in, and the poll is ready to go! The TUAW Best of 2011 awards are all about you -- the readers -- and what you think is the cream of the crop of Apple or third-party products and software. To vote, select one entry from the top nominations made by readers. We'll be announcing the winner in just a few days. Vote early and often! TUAW is asking for your votes for the best iPhone navigation app of 2011. The readers have spoken, and the nominees for best iPhone navigation app are (in no particular order) Motion X GPS Drive (US$0.99), Navigon ($29.99 for Navigon USA), the popular and free crowdsourced nav app Waze, and TomTom ($39.99 for TomTom USA). All of these apps have one thing in common -- they provide point-to-point navigation to points of interest. Another app that uses the iPhone's GPS capabilities but doesn't provide directions to anything except virtual treasure gathered a nomination as well. Traveler's Quest ($0.99) is a virtual treasure hunt that has been around for a few years but is constantly adding in-app purchases for new maps and treasures. And now, let the voting begin! The results will be announced on December 27, 2011. %Poll-72282%
