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It's about time: TomTom submits updated nav app to Apple

by Mel Martin Nov 13th 2009 at 11:15AM

Very welcome news for owners of the TomTom iPhone nav app [iTunes link for U.S. version]; the company has announced a free update that includes many of the features that people were craving.
  • Advanced lane guidance giving drivers extra clarity when navigating difficult junctions. For the first time this is in both landscape and portrait mode.
  • Text-to-speech helping motorists to keep their eyes on the road by enabling street names and places to be read aloud as part of the spoken instructions.
  • "Help Me" providing direct access to emergency numbers and directions to the nearest emergency providers.
  • Updated map and safety camera database (Europe only)
  • Customizable audio warnings when approaching safety cameras or driving over the speed limit, increasing driver safety and saving money.
  • iPod player control ensuring drivers can conveniently control their music from within the application.
TomTom submitted the new version to Apple yesterday, and as usual, it's anybody's guess when it will emerge. It won't be fast enough for TomTom owners, who have seen their app fall behind the feature rich Navigon app and other GPS offerings.

The joker in this particular deck is still the free Google Navigation app, which is trying to get onto the iPhone and will have a gaggle of features no one else is offering.

[via Engadget]


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Very welcome news for owners of the TomTom iPhone nav app [iTunes link for U.S. version]; the company has announced a free update that...
 

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David

Anyone have tested the Magellan GPS? I always like their GPS and if the i-phone version is like their GPS I use... It could beat all the other outthere.

http://www.magellangps.com/iphone/iphoneapp.asp

November 16 2009 at 11:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David

Ok, something that I am really unsure off here and would love it if someone could clear this up?

How is the Google app going to work outside of built up areas, the UK has good mobile data coverage and granted 3G/UTMS works well on the M roads at sub 70 MPH as we have great infrastructure on them but I really don't see it holding up in our windy B roads. I hear AT&T is pretty awful, what happens if you are in a rural area in the states?

Are Google planning on allowing a map download like TomTom then just supplying poi and map updates? Its just I haven't seen anything about this or people questioning its reliability compared to the paid solutions.

November 15 2009 at 4:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Fred

The only update they really need is a massive price drop. But as with all things on the App Store it'll happen with time.

November 13 2009 at 5:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
chiaspod

"How about the ability to use GPS without any other radio on?"

Two things, really:
a) TomTom does work without available 3G/WiFi.
b) How are you turning off 3G/Edge?

November 13 2009 at 3:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Arsei

How about the ability to use GPS WITHOUT ANY OTHER RADIO ON? I swear, I got the European version to take with me on a trip but turned off 3g and Edge so I wouldn't get raped for data but alas, it wouldn't work. Ignoring the fact that the app is over a gig and is supposed to contain all the maps you need WHY does it require 3g or Edge to use the GPS receiver?? >_< What a waste of $140

November 13 2009 at 2:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
josejrp

I have a number of questions about the Google Navigation app... Has it been developed yet? If not, when will it be finished? Has it been submitted to Apple for approval? Will it have to wait for an iPhone OS update (since Google Maps is part of the iPhone OS package)? All I've heard so far is that Google wants to bring it to the iPhone, but basically I have no idea of the timeframe we are talking about...

November 13 2009 at 11:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to josejrp's comment
Galley

My guess is the Google Nav app could come anywhere in 2010. In other words, who in the heck really knows?

November 13 2009 at 2:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pcdsim

The last and only word on it was on Gizmodo: "...Google implied they are working closely with Apple now on it". Nobody know when it will come out. My best guess would be on iPhone OS 4.0.

November 13 2009 at 6:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Noah Ramon

So, they're getting up to speed to where Navigon was in the last revision. Good for them.
I went with Navigon recently, and I've been looking to see what TomTom would do to induce buyers remorse with their package and car kit - 'cause they're a big deal, and they wouldn't just half-ass this one, right? Right?

Evidently, they would.

November 13 2009 at 11:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jon

You know, I almost pulled the trigger on Navigon last night, but didn't. I really love the TomTom interface, but the traffic updates on Navigon are tempting. Disappointing that TomTom didn't include traffic in this update (maybe they never will..). I guess I'll keep waiting to replace my stolen Nuvi

November 13 2009 at 11:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Greg

The Google app might be free, but the tom tom app will work on my iPod touch with the gps cradle... google's app won't.

November 13 2009 at 11:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
4 replies to Greg's comment
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