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Posts Tagged ‘Navigation Capabilities’

Two GPS app updates for travelers

Filed under: Software, Odds and ends, iPhone, iPod touch

News in the GPS world keeps swirling around, and for downloaders it’s not too late to get some holiday GPS cheer. Here’s a couple of updates of note.

First, Gokivo [iTunes link] just announced a new pricing option that allows you to download Gokivo for just $0.99 for the first 30 days, and then pay $4.99 per month/$39.99 a year for service from then on out. We reviewed the app in November. It was middle of the road (pardon the pun) in performance and features, but it does have live traffic and text to speech for announcing turns, so it might be worth a look at this lower price.

Meanwhile, Navigon [iTunes link] has launched a version for Mexico at $49.99. The Mexico version includes many of Navigon’s premium navigation capabilities such as Google Local Search, Enhanced Pedestrian Mode, Speed Assistant, Route Planning and even a localized point-of-interest database. If you’re doing some driving south of the border, or happen to live down there, it should be on your list of travel options.

I expect the new year will bring a slew of enhancements and new products for the iPhone and iPod touch — who knows, maybe we’ll even get to see a tablet navigator before 2010 is through.

TUAWTwo GPS app updates for travelers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Garmin-Asus’ nuvifone G60?

The nüvifone G60 took nearly two years to go from introduction to on sale at AT&T, and just weeks after its introduction, it has been nearly completely forgotten. Smartphones like Motorola’s Droid and HTC’s Droid Eris have already snagged the spotlight, and of course, that $300 (on contract) price tag that it debuted with didn’t help attract any eyes, either. That said, we’re sure at least a few (couple?) of you bit the bullet post-price drop, and now we’re overly anxious to hear how you feel about it. After two years, does this thing really live up to the expectations? Are you satisfied with the navigation capabilities? Is the lackluster battery life worrying you yet? Should Garmin-Asus even bother with a second-gen device? Sound off in comments below!

Filed under: Cellphones

How would you change Garmin-Asus’ nuvifone G60? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Maps Navigation: The First Killer App for Android 2.0

Android 2.0 just got its first killer app: Google Maps Navigation. Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0 will be available for free and will be part of the default Google Maps app on Android 2.0 phones. The service offers all the features that users expect from a modern GPS app, including traffic data, 3D view and turn-by-turn voice guidance. Because it’s connected to the Google cloud, the app can also display street view images, satellite imagery and real-time traffic data. Google also implemented a voice recognition feature.

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Disrupting the Mapping Industry One App at a Time

Two weeks ago, Google severed its ties with Tele Atlas and started to display its own mapping data instead. Today’s launch of the Maps Navigation app explains why Google decided to do this. Google can now display these maps without having to pay royalties to a third party and without having to negotiate a new contract with Tele Atlas.

By making this a free product, Google is disrupting the mapping and GPS navigation market. Mapping companies like Tele Atlas or NAVTEQ make their money by licensing their data to GPS developers like TomTom or Navigon. Google, on the other hand, can give this product away for free.

For now, the app will only be available on the Droid, but in a press conference earlier this morning, Google also said that these navigation capabilities would eventually come to other phones, including the iPhone.

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