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TomTom and Navigon Bringing Turn-by-Turn GPS Car Navigation to iPhone

How about a trail app?

What I'd really like to see is a hiking app with topo maps. I don't need a car GPS. The only benefit to me is knowing how long it will be to get somewhere. That silences the kids and their constant "When are we going to get there?" whining.

What I'd really like, though, is a GPS unit with topographical maps for hiking. I do a LOT of cross country travel and it would be really nice to know where I am sometimes.:D
 
Doctor Q said:
Will the compass in the 3G S make any difference to navigation software, or does it make no difference as long as you are moving?
Click to expand...

It might make a difference if you're moving slowly, say walking speed (geocaching apps are a good example here). Otherwise it should have a pretty good idea which direction you're pointing.
 
I would pay more than $80/US. I can get a Garmin Nuvi 255 for $189/US. Why would I spend that much, or more for downloadable app and a base? No way...
 
BornAgainMac said:
Integrated SMS and MMS* texting during navigation using a split screen mode would be cool.
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It won't be long before we see more states outlawing texting while driving. Not to mention that even if its legal, it ain't exactly safe.
 
My guess...

...is that it will be a monthly service fee model, but it will include internet based traffic info that is similar to the now defunct Dash hardware.

Speaking of Dash, they were supposedly trying to enter the PDA GPS app market. I wonder if they are trying to port to the iphone???
 
My big question is how are they going to prevent the Iphone from shutting down from the heat?

When a device is on the dashboard or attached to the windshield, it gets very very hot from the sun.

My Iphone has shut down automatically when I've driven in hot weather with the top down in traffic.

It simply overheats and turns itself off.

Hopefully this problem has been resolved with these GPS solutions.
 
Southernboy said:
I wonder why the Tom Tom adaptor provides enhanced GPS… does the new iPhone need it or just those without the compass I wonder?
Click to expand...

It just means it has a better antenna built into the holder for picking up the signal with the iPhone in the car.
 
the possiblities are endless...traffic, accident alerts, weather advisories, super-imposed weather radar...can't wait to see the options.
 
Is Garmin making a app? If so I will wait for them.

If not I will buy this.


Been waiting forever for this, it's the only reason I upgraded to the 3G iPhone, who knew it would take this long to get a GPS program, using google maps while driving is like a accident waiting to happen.
 
I've been dying for a tom-tom/garmin/magellan/etc type navigator, but for more than $50 they can forget it. I don't care about the mount or anything. If the software is $20 or less, I'll buy it right away. Between $20 and $50, if the reviews come in positive I'll likely grab it. At more than $50 for just the software, I'll stick with google maps. Hopefully google or someone else comes out with something free or inexpensive that is just like xgps is now, which works perfectly fine for what I need.

These companies need to realize that it's not like we have NOTHING right now, I mean, google maps can get the job done, mostly. Sure it's not the best thing going, and a complete PITA to use to navigate you, but it's an alternative, and it's free. For people who just need nav one in a while, like me, I'm not going to shell out for new software. Besides, we can go buy standalone GPS units for close to what you guys are estimating this app might cost... And that won't eat up a ton of my phone's memory. If they try to charge too much, not only are not that many people going to buy it, but it damn well better work PERFECTLY, never crash, great accuracy, etc, etc, and generally work just like a good standalone in the same price range would. Somehow I don't see that happening, at least not on the 3G platform. Maybe on the 3GS platform?
 
Huh?

mrklaw said:
No news on an ipod touch version? Many many more of those than iphones, and I expect many people would upgrade to an ipod touch for good, fully featured apps like this.
Click to expand...

How is this going to work on a touch?
 
BornAgainMac said:
Integrated SMS and MMS* texting during navigation using a split screen mode would be cool.

* MMS not supported by AT&T until the end of the summer of 2009.
Click to expand...

You mean "MMS not supported until some point in the indefinite future by AT&pple."

In any event, I'll be very curious to see how this works - the GPS in the 3G gets disoriented and is often off by a block or more, this will not work for turn by turn without hardware changes.
 
I'm very interested in the price point as well as I'm trying to decide between a Pre and an iPhone and GPS is high on my list of what I want.


Lethal
 
DipDog3 said:
What Happens when I Get a Phone Call in the middle of Directions???
Click to expand...

I was wondering the same thing. I'm sure it won't be able to block the call so it can continue navigating. I don't know. Maybe with background notifications it'll beep at you while you're talking on the phone to let you know you're about to miss your turn.
 
What happens if you're using TomTom on iPhone and you get a phone call?? No more Nav for you :D
 
Buy the TomTom One 130 (for $49 after $20 rebate) or the TomTom One 130S ($69.99 after $20 rebate) refurbished units on Amazon and save your money for the likely very overpriced app. Do you really want to leave your iPhone in the sun on the dashboard anyway for extended periods of time?

Though looking back at the Amazon pages, they seem to have stopped the rebate on the 130 model for some reason but it still seems to be on for the 130S.
 
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TeleNav for the iPhone 3GS

More info here:

http://blog.telenav.com/blog/2009/06/telenav-iphone-update/

I also agree with the speculation that this would be a monthly subscription, much like TeleNav and the re-branded AT&T Navigator apps are today.

It makes much more sense if you consider that the maps are downloaded live over the air when are you create a new route. The entire atlas is not stored on the phone. Thus, you are getting new maps as the central database is updated. No need for expensive annual updates as is the case with stand-alone GPS devices now. You also get traffic and other services, for which again, a subscription based business model makes sense.
 
zombitronic said:
I wish that either Google Earth supported directions, or Google Maps could give you that angled view. As long as they both support compass data, there would be no need for these 3rd party apps.
Click to expand...

The problem is that Google doesn't own the maps, they are licensed. And the licensor would want a lot more money off Google if Google Earth or Google Maps could do what you want them to do.
 
so it is going to pull map data from the internet as it goes, or are users going to have to download a few gigs worth of maps at app purchase? :confused:
 
pj rage said:
I've been dying for a tom-tom/garmin/magellan/etc type navigator, but for more than $50 they can forget it. I don't care about the mount or anything. If the software is $20 or less, I'll buy it right away. Between $20 and $50, if the reviews come in positive I'll likely grab it. At more than $50 for just the software, I'll stick with google maps. Hopefully google or someone else comes out with something free or inexpensive that is just like xgps is now, which works perfectly fine for what I need.

These companies need to realize that it's not like we have NOTHING right now, I mean, google maps can get the job done, mostly. Sure it's not the best thing going, and a complete PITA to use to navigate you, but it's an alternative, and it's free. For people who just need nav one in a while, like me, I'm not going to shell out for new software. Besides, we can go buy standalone GPS units for close to what you guys are estimating this app might cost... And that won't eat up a ton of my phone's memory. If they try to charge too much, not only are not that many people going to buy it, but it damn well better work PERFECTLY, never crash, great accuracy, etc, etc, and generally work just like a good standalone in the same price range would. Somehow I don't see that happening, at least not on the 3G platform. Maybe on the 3GS platform?
Click to expand...

They'll try something high until there is lack of sales or competition. Just like all the games in the app store were $10 for the first month or so until everyone found you could make more money on volume by dishing them out for a dollar or two.

My guess is it will end up around $10-$20. There will be multiple versions with different features and scaling prices in the future. Just like the physical devices.

If it's going to be anywhere near $100 I'll go buy a much better, bigger one for (and NOT TomTom at that) at costco or something for sub $100. Has anyone checked out the current price of these things lately? Dropping like rocks. They keep coming out with bigger screens, or fancy features you don't need and charge hundreds. But the base models are $100.
 
The only question I had was how you were going to be able to keep the iphone charged while using it. Having the Base charge the iphone answered that.

I'm still curious about getting calls while navigating as well.
 
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