Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
European nav app first out of the gate for iPhone
It looks like our European friends will get first crack at an advanced turn-by-turn navigation app for the iPhone/iPod touch. MobileNavigator Europe [App Store] requires the 3.0 software, and looks to be fully featured:- 2D and 3D map displays
- Can be used in portrait and landscape format
- Branded UI features such as Reality View Pro, Lane Assistant Pro & "real signpost display"
- Speed Assistant with adjustable audio-visual warning
- Direct access and navigation to contacts saved in the iPhone's address book
- The latest NAVTEQ maps, 2M+ European POIs (points of interest)
- Navigation is automatically resumed after an incoming phone call
- Quick access to user-defined POIs in the area and along the route
- Take Me Home function with a single click
The Navigon app is US $94.99 (!) this month only, then the price goes up (!!!). The Navigon website doesn't yet show a list of the supported countries, but it's displayed in iTunes and is quite extensive (Albania to Vatican City with Estonia, Macedonia, San Marino & Slovenia + more in between). The app supports ten different languages and will automatically switch based on the selected language for the iPhone itself. The download weighs in at 1.65 GB.
This quick release of high quality navigation software should set mouths watering for a release over here, but I'm a bit troubled by the pricing, as you can buy a pretty fully featured low-end navigator for only a few more dollars.
Update: Our readers have also mentioned Gokivo, with a continuing US$9.95 a month subscription, and Sygic, which provides turn by turn navigation in Austrailia and New Zealand.
Thanks to Gaspare for the original tip and our alert readers for more suggestions!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Zach said 4:07PM on 6-20-2009
Wow. Ridiculously overpriced. Makes me fearful of what this kind of app is going to cost here in the US. Guess I won't be getting rid of the stand-alone GPS I currently own.
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Matt said 4:57PM on 6-20-2009
Why is it overpriced, what would you be willing to pay? If it works as advertised, it'll navigate you all over Europe. They've got 40 countries listed and some nice looking features, I think it's a great price if it does what it says it will.
Naturally, if you've got a GPS system that does the same thing already, there's no point in doubling up. The price seems competitive when compared to stand-alone systems that cover the whole of Europe, however.
Zach said 7:13PM on 6-20-2009
Wow. Ridiculously overpriced. Makes me fearful of what this kind of app is going to cost here in the US. Guess I won't be getting rid of the stand-alone GPS I currently own.
caleb said 10:01PM on 6-20-2009
It's ridiculously priced because you've already paid for the hardware. Look at apps like Dynolicious. They replace $200-$300 hardware solutions for under $15. The software has even been tested as being more accurate and user friendly than the more expensive competition.
Tom Payne said 11:02AM on 6-21-2009
IMHO:
There are 7 reasons the Navigon is over priced.
1. I've purchased a 4.5 inch voice turn by turn from Navigon for $99.99 at Staples after Christmas. It comes with charger, mounted holder.
2. Navigon charges extra for updating your maps;
3. Navigon charges extra for updated Points of Interest
4. Navigon charges extra Zigot updates
5. Navigon charges extra for traffic information.
6. Their customer service sucks, it can take days for an email reply which directs you to the FAQ's which you've already attempted to find a solution
7. Their customer service is in Germany so you can't reach a live person
8. Unlike competitors you can't just download any of the updates directly to the unit via the usb cable. This is true for Windows as well
As we'll have already purchased the Hardware, unless they make 2-5 free with the $99 price, and voice turn by turn is part of the basic program we're all better off waiting for TomTom or Garmin
Hickeroar said 3:06PM on 7-10-2009
I suppose it all depends on your perspective. If you would spend 120/year on a new GPS device or map upgrades, (or 240 over two years if you only upgrade every other year) then the deal is actually pretty good. It just depends on how well it works....
I'm looking forward to the tomtom software because they have a whole handsfree phone/speaker hardware package that comes with it.
apple1loop said 4:09PM on 6-20-2009
Sorry guys. Looks like you haven't seen Gokivo+ in the App Store since 3.0 launch: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=319730506
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Bloobie said 4:57PM on 6-20-2009
At $120 a year? I don't think so.
mr. Obsession said 5:03PM on 6-20-2009
How is $9.99/month a good deal?
Sean Peters said 8:34AM on 6-21-2009
At $9.95 per month I could just about buy new standalone GPS hardware... and throw it away and buy a new one every year. Are they high? At these prices, I'll stick with google maps, thanks.
apple1loop said 10:42AM on 6-21-2009
You say that, Sean, but look at Verizon's "VZ Navigator" service. It's $9.95 a month (or $2.99 per day if you pay by the day). It seems that $9.95 has become an industry standard. Map licensing from NavTeq is expensive, and until http://www.openstreetmap.org/ becomes a viable alternative, these are the kinds of prices we will see on navigation apps. I agree, it does seem a bit outrageous, but $94.99 is still a lot of money for an iPhone application, even if it is a flat rate. When it hits the US, we'll see how it does.
Olek said 4:11PM on 6-20-2009
I think the first turn-by-turn navigation app in AppStore is Sygic.
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ranova said 5:15PM on 6-20-2009
actually the "first" "turn-by-turn" app in the appstore was g-map 1.2 - which works pre 3.0. Sygic or Gokivo are the first turn-by-turn with VOICE
mvn said 4:23PM on 6-20-2009
54.99 pounds! No reviews yet, wonder why. It might make more sense to allow people to purchase the framework and one country then allow further countries to be purchased using the in app purchase system, this would allow the initial cost to be more acceptable. The majority of people are unlikely to require every country in europe.
It might seem expensive but their Windows mobile or symbian products are more expensive, about 60 pounds for one region (ie UK/Ireland) with europe for around 90 pounds, so maybe this is good value. Although one thing they do offer is a free trial for win/symbian, something that iphone users do not get.
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Ramesh said 4:28PM on 6-20-2009
"Telenav has pre-announced its iPhone offering"
What's a pre-announcement? Isn't it just announcement?
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Michael Rose said 4:55PM on 6-20-2009
Take a look at the link and their blog post. "We don't have anything to announce yet but keep watching this space." Hence, pre-announcement.
Mike McGregor said 8:50AM on 6-21-2009
Any idea on if this can allow music to play at the same time as the app is operating? None of their technical details suggest if you can or can't.
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Mike McGregor said 8:53AM on 6-21-2009
disregard, activated same comment twice by accident (question already answered, you can)
Carl Davies said 4:49PM on 6-20-2009
it is a bit steep and I agree with MVN, pay £20 for the app and £5 per extra country or something like that, I only want to use this once a blue moon when i'm going away with work etc!
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David owens said 5:10PM on 6-20-2009
the europeans are not our friends.
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