Archive for: turn-by-turn
- September 27, 2010 12:25 pm
If there’s one thing I could say I miss most about my Android device after moving to an iPhone 4, it’s Google Navigation. It was free and it was awesome. There’s several free options for iPhone as well, but they’re not all that great (prove me wrong and recommend your favorite in case I missed). But a newcomer that will soon grace the US and European App Stores (already available in the UK and Ireland) looks like it may just cure my homesickness for Google Navigation once and for all.
Developed by Navmii, Navfree for iPhone brings turn-by-turn in a much cleaner and polished package than other apps. However, what notches Navfree one step higher than Google Navigation is the fact that all the maps are stored locally — You don’t need a cellular connection to continue navigating. For users who traverse sparsely covered terrain, this is a god send. Of course, local storage means several GB’s of space on your phone will be taken up by downloaded map data. Again, Navfree isn’t the first to do this, but it’s certainly a rarity in the $0.00 market space.
For now, Navfree is only available in the UK and Ireland App Stores, but the company is actively working on bringing their product to US and other European App Stores. I for one can’t wait. While I don’t venture out into the wilds of the planet that often, having a quality, free, turn-by-turn app is certainly more than welcome.
Stay tuned…
The GPS industry has already had a handful in recent months with Google’s completely free and generally completely awesome mobile navigation/turn-by-turn mobile app that debuted on the Android platform. But the Goog’s has plenty more to dish out as they are planning on releasing Google Navigation for iPhone “and plenty of other mobile platforms“, they announced today at a London Tech conference.
- November 25, 2009 1:23 pm
Think what you will, but navigation apps are pretty much reaching the end of the “feature ladder”. That is, there really isn’t much else you can add to GPS/navigation apps or hardware that will make it any more beneficial. Sure you can find ways to connect the device to more aspects of our lives, but all in all, getting from point A to point B with some goodies in between is straightforward (figuratively). One part of navigation devices (especially software in mobile applications) that frustrates drivers most is coming into a “dead zone”, or an area without any helpful/useful information. This type of frustration usually pertains to user generated mapping services as such a set up is highly customizable and frequently updated though does suffer from basic flaws. Namely, if no one ventures to a particular spot, little information is collected and retained for future users.
With that said, you may recall an app by the name of “Waze” that we covered a couple months back here and here. Just in case you missed the previous posts, the basic concept is easy to understand: Waze is a fast and intuitive user generated turn-by-turn app that manages to retail for free. As mentioned above, areas with little user travel created dead spots in Waze’s mapping data. The problem is obviously figuring out how to get more people traveling though said areas. The solution is clever to say the least. Turn it into a game. A Pac-Man like game called “Road Goodies”… (Video and more inside!)
- November 23, 2009 3:11 pm
If you were eyeing your non-Android 2.0 device because of it’s lack of exciting features — namely Google Navigation — Google would like to extend a welcome Happy Thanksgiving to you. The cause for celebration…? Google has gone ahead and ported Google Navigation backwards to Android 1.6 (Donut) devices. Oh happy day. That pretty much wraps up everyone in the Pre-Droid/Android 2.0 game. Heck, even the goldfish memory sized G1 is getting in on the action. How about them apples? And who says the G1 is dead…
**Update: TechCrunch points out that the Google Nav for everyone misses one key feature — the “Navigate to” voice command. Deal breaker? Hardly.
Google Blog
{Image Source}
- October 28, 2009 12:55 pm
And so it begins…To all of those who thought that Google Navigation either wouldn’t impact the mobile GPS market or would take some time to impact the market, I give you exhibit A above. Traditional GPS makers start to see the cold hard truth. So let’s all ask Garmin: How does it feel to see a billion dollars worth of market cap evaporate since this mornings meeting?
One thing to keep in mind, as @zpower points out, Garmin has several other very large, very profitable divisions. Strictly considering the consumer division however foreshadows to an epic headache for TomTom, Navigon, etc.
This stock slump will probably rebound for the most part within the next couple of days. But it sure is interesting that it took a nosedive so fast and signals that Google just one upped everybody.
IntoMobile > @zpower
- October 28, 2009 11:53 am
Well that was fast. Just yesterday we were talking about the possibility of Google releasing their own map app. And wouldn’t you know it, those sly folks over in Google land did just that. Dubbed “Google Navigation”, the real reason you should care is that it has two very promising, prominent features. First of all, it’s Free. Second, it features turn-by-turn, spoken directions complete with up to date, live traffic info. Those aren’t the only notable features. Another nifty thing you can do with Google Navigation involves searching along your route. It’s really pretty self explanatory. You’re driving along and have a craving for Taco Bell so you fire up Google Navigation and select “search along route” and wallah, up pops the Taco Bell(s) along your preset path. Of course, coming from Google means the superb satellite imagery and highly useful Google Street View will be along for the ride.
Regardless of what TomTom and Navigon among others claim, they should be scared. And they are. Take for example the a blurb from PC Mag’s article on Google Navigation:
…maker Garmin had no comment. TomTom did not immediately respond to a request for comment, as did Magellan.
They didn’t respond because PR is working overtime on damage control. They’re trying to figure out a way to cleverly word how they’re going to continue ripping people off because their programs have “added value”. Now, I’ll give them some benefit that there will be some features in Google Navigation that aren’t as robust as those from other GPS app developers. Although, I see that gap and shortfall quickly closing. Google is offering a service that in many cases will match or exceed similar offerings from said companies with absolutely $0 cost to the end user. Who do you think the typical end user is going to go with? That’s right, the one that costs them the least.
I completely understand that gathering map info and developing a worthwhile mapping app costs money. But at anywhere from $10-$100 for the app alone plus another $5-$10/month for mobile subscription costs means something has got to give — and it isn’t the consumers that are going to budge. We want more affordable options. The prominent mobile GPS app developers can sit back and say Google Navigation is a bad idea and that their own bottom lines are perfectly fine. I highly disagree, especially if/when Google Navigation spreads to more devices. I guess we’re just going to have to keep a close eye on this one.
For now, only those lucky enough to have a new Moto Droid will be able to take advantage of Google Navigation. With as much potential and media attention this is and will garner, I can’t imaging it staying locked on Verizon or the Droid for too long. Look for other Android 2.0 devices to soon get the same functionality and watch a whole new battle on the mobile GPS front unfold.
PC Mag
Want to get in on the turn-by-turn hot action but have a lowly iPod Touch? Such issues, you know, not having a device with access to a mobile network were a problem. I mean, a simple media player has only been able to harness GPS via WiFi locations — something that won’t be very helpful if you’re traveling further than 200 feet from a router. Looking to further expand the iPod Touches potential, Geolife and PosiMotion have teamed up to announce that the first true turn-by-turn GPS app for the iPod Touch as been submitted to the App Store. In order to turn your normal iPod Touch into an iPhone-esque wireless clone, the end user will need two things. First, you’ll need the Geolife Navmii software. Second, some external hardware will be need to turn that iPod Touch into a road warrior. For that task, PosiMotion’s G-Fi mobile network/GPS router works just fine.
The launch of the app/router has spurred quite a bit of excitement from both companies involved. So much so that PosiMotion’s G-FI router is going to be on sale for $99 “while supplies last”. The Navmii apps on the other hand will cost £29.99 for UK maps and $39.99 for US maps. Once the app gets the stamp of approval from Cupertino, interested users can look forward to software/router bundles streamlining the entire process. This might be something I’d love try out. I mean, I already know how the GPS works on my iPhone. It would be interesting to see how performance is with an external accessory set up. Anyone looking to outfit their iPod Touch with one come release?
[Press Release]
- September 22, 2009 8:25 am
Whatever walk of life you choose, whether it be Android, iPhone, WinMo, or Symbian (sorry BlackBerry users), Waze as of today has you covered. If you didn’t already know, Waze is a user input generated GPS app that provides real-time tracking of traffic as well as turn-by-turn functionality. For those looking for a quick look at the iPhone version, take a minute stop over here. While it has already been available for Android and the iPhone for some time now, those two platforms aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. For the individuals who hate all things Apple and aren’t quite down with Android and whom instead use WinMo or Symbian, the alpha testing that I mentioned in my earlier post has ended with the final WinMo/Symbian release announcement coming today at DEMO ’09. As soon as the details are announced, head on over to http://www.waze.com/download/ to enjoy one of the most helpful GPS apps in the mobile app sphere now on Windows Mobile and Symbian. Wrapping it up…if you’re on the fence about Waze, one important thing to remember is that it is FREE. Enticing isn’t it?
- September 14, 2009 12:42 pm
Want to get somewhere but need some help? For many years now, GPS units and more recently, GPS apps for mobile devices has made getting from point A to point B incredibly easy. The next step in GPS technology is that of user generated GPS content. That is, a turn-by-turn GPS app that incorporates user generated content such as traffic conditions etc. Waze, one such app has been available for some time now on the Apple App Store for the iPhone. I’ve given the app a good hour of usage on my iPhone and will continue to test it over the next couple of weeks as I have some travel plans coming up where this could come in handy. So far my initial response is pretty positive. The only complication some may have is that navigation is sort of involved as there are quite a few menu’s to navigate through. Still it’s a solid app worth more investigating.
More importantly however is a new alpha version of Waze for WinMo and Symbian. What is already appearing to be a great little GPS app for iPhone has a bright future on other platforms. If you’re interested in trying out this app and have either a WinMo or Symbian device, you can sign up for the alpha testing at http://www.waze.com/alpha_register/”. Since I don’t have a device with either of those operating systems I’ll have to relay on you fellow readers for any input. Care to share?
**Screenshots inside
