Navigon Offers Full-Featured iPhone GPS Navigation for a Single Upfront Fee

[MacRumors]

German GPS firm Navigon has finally released MobileNavigator North America [App Store, $69.99 through August 15th and $99.99 thereafter], one of the first full-featured turn-by-turn GPS navigation applications for the iPhone. While several subscription-based GPS applications, including AT&T's own service have appeared since the release of iPhone OS 3.0, MobileNavigator represents the first full-featured GPS application bearing a single upfront cost to reach North America, beating out the much-anticipated hardware/software combination coming from TomTom. Navigon released a European version of MobileNavigator late last month.

The new North American package contains maps for the United States (including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) and Canada from NAVTEQ. Features include:

- Reality View™ Pro displays photo-realistic 3D views with actual road signs and lane guidance for virtually every highway interchange and exit drivers will encounter.
- Lane Assistant Pro helps drivers prepare to make an upcoming exit or turn by providing a lane map complete with arrows and actual road geometry.
- Speed Assistant with adjustable audio-visual warning.
- Day & Night Mode for map display.
- Direct Access allows navigation to contacts saved in the iPhone's address book.
- Branded POIs and POIs along the route
- 2D and 3D map view.
- Automatic switch between portrait and landscape format.
- Intelligent address entry.
- Real signpost display.

Navigon promises a free update coming soon to add such features as multiple-destination routing, additional view options, integration of points of interest entries with the iPhone's phone and address book features, and optimized volume control when using iPod functionality. Navigon has also released a video preview the new North American application.



Article Link: Navigon Offers Full-Featured iPhone GPS Navigation for a Single Upfront Fee

[swb1192]

Can't wait to see the reviews. The GPS on my iPhone 3G S doesn't seem accurate enough to use while driving.

[Kilamite]

It's progress.

Hopefully TomTom will follow suit. I am keeping my cash for TomTom's release though.

[dwman]

This looks pretty sweet. If they hold true to their word about free updates, then this is a bargain at $70.

[Moof1904]

I'd be curious to know how they're planning on handling map updates. If map updates are costly or too infrequent, it would be a negative for me.

I love my Garmin but with only a two year old unit the cost of a map update is about the same as buying the same unit as a refurb from a reseller.

[urbanlung]

Will there be a UK or international version?

[Doctor Q]

How do I use it safely while I'm driving?

My question isn't specific to this application, but to iPhone navigation apps in general.

[NinjaHERO]

One time flat fee. I can get behind that.

[optophobia]

Originally Posted by urbanlung

Will there be a UK or international version?

Country specific map material first for Europe, then "DACH" (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), UK (first step), BeNeLux, Nordics, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy (second step), later on: North America and then Australia.

[gathart]

Just wondered: is it likely that there will be a big difference between this application and other navigation apps like TomTom. I use an old but reliable Tomtom in my car and i am pleased with it so i don't need on right now.

[nws0291]

Originally Posted by swb1192

Can't wait to see the reviews. The GPS on my iPhone 3G S doesn't seem accurate enough to use while driving.

Have you tried it in other cars? Once mine locks on the sat it is very accurarte and quick with the direction of travel as well. Just as fast and accurate as the iDrive in my 650I.

Do you possibly have metalic tint blocking the signal? I have ceramic tint and have no issues with cell or GPS signal in the car.

[macduke]

If TomTom doesn't get their act together by August 15th then I'm going with Navigon.

Interested to see what TomTom's response will be, both in terms of release date and pricing. If they would at least annouce the pricing of the TomTom app in advance, and if it beats this one, then I could justify waiting. I wonder if their strategy all along was to see how the pricing worked out with their competitiors so that they could undercut them.

[optophobia]

Originally Posted by Doctor Q

How do I use it safely while I'm driving?

My question isn't specific to this application, but to iPhone navigation apps in general.

Attach iphone to holder mounted on dashboard.
plug in destination.
Start car and move, following audio directions. Glance at iphone if directions are not clear.
Eat chips in left hand while drinking a beer in the right hand, with a cigarette hanging from your lips ?

[QCassidy352]

will be interesting to see how well this works, given tomtom's implication at WWDC that the iphone hardware alone is not good enough.

[optophobia]

With this release and the special pricing, my guess is Tomtom is going to release their App on August 16th !!!

[imwoblin]

Very coolio and it's a good start, but the download is hefty at 1.3GB and doesn't include Text-to-Speech?

[PharmD]

Looks impressive but I'll wait for the Tom Tom app and comparison reviews before buying anything.

[bbplayer5]

Originally Posted by QCassidy352

will be interesting to see how well this works, given tomtom's implication at WWDC that the iphone hardware alone is not good enough.

Thats wrong. Sygic (even though it sucks) always knew where i was. The directions it gave were horrible, but it always had me in the right place. The attachment for the TomTom is more for iPod owners, and MAYBE big city skyscraper iphone 3G customers.

[BeyondtheTech]

I think the bigger question on everyone's mind - or at least mine - is...

Will TomTom release their version before August 15th?

I should have pulled the trigger on G-Map when it was $19.99 a long time ago. Now that they've updated the product for current customers, then cranked it up to $34.99 (note that either price was for half of the US only), I've regretted not picking it up sooner.

I can stomach Navigon's price of $69, but I'm a fan of TomTom's interface, but can't wait forever either, so I'm kinda in a toss-up.

[optophobia]

Originally Posted by QCassidy352

will be interesting to see how well this works, given tomtom's implication at WWDC that the iphone hardware alone is not good enough.

They wouldn't just say this to make you buy one of their cradles would they...

[duncanapple]

Am I the only one that thinks this is a bit of a rip off? Keep in mind they have zero hardware costs, zero packaging costs, zero manufacturing costs, and pretty much zero advertising costs. and who knows the quality of the antenna in the iphone for decent GPS reception. Plus you need to buy a mount to get the same use as a stand alone GPS unit. Before the mount, this costs $100 (assuming you dont buy right away)?! You can get a garmin stand alone for right around or less than that.

Now, Im sure someone here will say "if you dont like it dont buy it." Given this is a forum for opinions, I will go ahead and give mine. I will def not be buying this at this price. Not from Garmin, TomTom, and certainly from a non household name like "Navigon."

Bring the price to something like $30-$40 and I will consider it. Anything above that and I will stick the proven stand alone units, plus my iphones built in gmaps and gps chip for non turn by turn directions in a pinch.

[swb1192]

Originally Posted by nws0291

Have you tried it in other cars? Once mine locks on the sat it is very accurarte and quick with the direction of travel as well. Just as fast and accurate as the iDrive in my 650I.

Do you possibly have metalic tint blocking the signal? I have ceramic tint and have no issues with cell or GPS signal in the car.

I've been in my friends' cars and even when they make a turn, the map shows that I am still going forward on that street... then it realizes that I turned so I "go through a few houses" and then it adjusts and goes back into the street.

[billchase2]

I love Navigon, but $70 is too much for me. I spent that much on my physical GPS unit that is running Navigon...

[ortuno2k]

Wow - it's quite large! Anyways - I don't see myself paying for this, or anything like it. I don't go to unknown places all that often to justify the expense. Not even Tom Tom's product is enticing to me, but I guess people who drive all over the place would benefit.
Still - what shocks me most is the download size...ouch!

[BeyondtheTech]

Originally Posted by imwoblin

Very coolio and it's a good start, but the download is hefty at 1.3GB and doesn't include Text-to-Speech?

Where do you see that it doesn't include text-to-speech? I can't play the YouTube video here at work, so I'm curious.