Best deals on iPhone navigation apps for Black Friday

With our coverage of the best GPS deals for Black Friday, and our GPS picks among the deep-discount offers, we’d be remiss if we didn’t also take a look at an increasingly popular segment, the iPhone apps. Some apps have special pricing right now, but just like with traditional navigators, there is more to making a selection than dollars.
 
Since iPhone OS 3.0 hit the market, there has been a wave of navigation applications from small companies and corporate giants. Most will get you from Point A to Point B, but there is definite variation in how easy they are to use, what features they include, and how well integrated into the iPhone they are. These differences can be very hard to track, as the software in many cases is routinely updated with greater frequency—like every few weeks—than portable navigation devices.
 
iPhone app updates
The biggest names in iPhone apps have recently updated their software, including Navigon, Sygic, and TomTom.
 
Navigon has the highest grossing app in the iTunes store with its Mobile Navigator. Despite fierce competition, the $90 Mobile Navigator remains one of the best navigation apps available for the iPhone, serving as a viable alternative to a traditional PND. Adding to its appeal is the new Traffic Live information, available for an additional $25 one-time fee.

Sygic Mobile Maps was updated this week with freshened maps and several detailed tweaks that should improve the user experience. Priced at $40, it is an affordable alternative to the more feature-rich, name-brand offerings. (See our Sygic Mobile Maps review.)
 
TomTom recently added spoken street names, lane guidance/reality view, help menu, iPod player control, and updated maps. Further, it has launched a dedicated iPhone mount with a built-in speaker and GPS receiver for improved performance. At $100, the TomTom app is not an inexpensive solution, though thanks to the latest updates, it does effectively replicate the guidance found on the company’s PNDs. The complete combination is a significant $220, however. (See our TomTom app review.)

All three apps performed well in our formal tests.
 
Black Friday pricing
Navigon is offering its Mobile Navigator for $70. In addition, the traffic package is just $15. Combined there is a potential $30 savings, with the complete cost being just $85 – less than even the best deals on portable navigation devices. 

CoPilot Live is also discounted for the shopping holiday, priced at just $20. While we have found the CoPilot is not on par with the better apps, it is a good value at $20.

The cheapest nav app is called Waze, and the price is free. An intriguing concept with real geek appeal, Waze is based on the open-source United States Census Bureau Tiger Map and it is depending on users to build and correct maps. It is in an early build phase. Though it was updated just this week, it should not be considered a primary navigation aid, yet. (See our Waze review.)

See our Black Friday survival guide for tips on making the most of the shopping holiday.

Bottom line
Looking across the growing offerings, there are many choices for iPhone users interested in adding true turn-by-turn navigation to their all-in-one device. We recommend reading our reviews, based on formal laboratory and real-world testing, as well as scanning the user reviews in the iTunes store of the latest software version.
 
For those looking to purchase a gift for an iPhone owner, an iTunes gift card may be a good choice, though do understand, the offers mentioned here will soon expire.

See our full reviews of AT&T Navigator, iGo My Way, Navigon Mobile Navigator, Sygic Mobile Maps, TomTom iPhone application, Waze, and X Road G-Map for iPhone. And our Motorola Droid navigation review.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

  —Jeff Bartlett

Toyota recalls 3.8 million cars to modify gas pedals, carpets, and software

Today, Toyota announced a more definitive recall on eight models to address what has been reported as sudden acceleration.

Beginning next month, the company will begin modifying the accelerator pedals of certain Toyota Avalon, Camry, Prius, Tundra and Tacoma, and certain Lexus ES 350, IS 250, and IS 350 models to reduce the likelihood that they can become trapped under floor mats. Dealers will cut 3/4 inches off the bottom of the gas pedals. Starting in April, replacement pedals will become available to all owners of these models, whether they have had the modification performed or not. 

This was the recall forecast in Japan last week. (See “Toyota may shorten gas pedals in acceleration recall.”)

On the Avalon, Camry, and Lexus models, Toyota will also modify the engine software to include a brake override system that will cut the throttle if the brakes and throttle are applied simultaneously. The brake override system will be standard on all Toyota products for the 2011 model year, but spokesman Brian Lyons says it will take several months to develop and calibrate the system for all the models.

The Avalon, Camry, and ES 350 make up about half the models being recalled. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration applauded Toyota for including the brake override, saying, “NHTSA is particularly pleased that Toyota is taking this additional step.”

On the Camry, Avalon, and ES350, the company will also modify the carpet padding underneath the pedal to increase the distance between the pedal and the floor to allow more room for floor mats. And company Toyota will also replace any old all-weather front floor mats with redesigned ones.

This follows an earlier recall last month when Toyota asked owners of these models to simply remove any drivers floor mats.

Recall notices will be sent to owners by the end of the year, starting with the Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES 350. Some owners may have to take their vehicles in to the dealer twice, once for the pedal modification, and again for the brake override software or pedal replacement.

The models affected are:
2005 - 2010 Toyota Avalon
2007 - 2010 Toyota Camry
2004 - 2009 Toyota Prius
2005 - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
2007 - 2010 Toyota Tundra
2007 - 2010 Lexus ES 350
2006 - 2010 Lexus IS 250 and IS 350

For customer service questions, contact:
Toyota – 800-331-4331
Lexus – 800-255-3987

Or, the NHTSA hotline - 888-327-4236.

—Eric Evarts

Related:
Gas-pedal inspection shows most do not pivot
More than floor mats: NHTSA report gives more details on Lexus crash
Putting a car in Neutral might save your life
Putting stuck floor mat survival strategies to the test
Floor mat survey reveals problem with all-weather mats
Toyota and Lexus floor mat recall is official
Toyota advises 3.8 million Lexus and Toyota owners to remove floor mats
Misaligned floor mat may have caused calamity

TomTom offers "Cash for Clunkers" GPS trade-in program

Competition is fierce this holiday season in the portable navigation device (PND) market, as evidenced by the top brands aggressively pricing their products. (See “Countdown to Black Friday: Best GPS deals.”) Beyond door-buster deals, TomTom is taking a new twist on gaining market share; it is offering to purchase an older unit from customers who buy a new one through tomtom.com. Think of it as a version of cash for clunkers. (This cash for gadgets campaign shouldn't be confused with the "cash for appliances" initiative.)

Once they place an order for a new TomTom, users can then use an estimator to determine the trade in value of their old unit, send it in, and in 7-14 days they will receive a rebate check. The TomTom iPhone app is not eligible for this program. 

The program will likely drive sales, and even convert owners from competing brands. It may also have an environmental benefit, encouraging people to trade-in units rather than toss them in the trash.
 
The program is administered by Dealtree, a company that refurbishes and resells products on eBay and through other auction Web sites. Naturally, this may mean more pre-owned GPS devices may be available online. It is worth noting that the batteries are not replaced during the refurbishing.
 
Customers can receive an estimate for their trade-in value using a simple set of pulldown menus at tomtom.com. Simply choose the brand, model, condition, maps included, and indicate if the product includes an AC charger, DC power cord, car mount, and manual.
 
Looking up sample products, the list is quite deep, though there are some holes. For example, the popular Garmin Nuvi 205 is not an available choice, though there are many other navigators spanning several product generations.
 
We checked several units and found the estimated trade-in value, including a prepaid shipping label, to be quite generous. For instance, a Garmin Nuvi 205W in good shape is valued at $62. Were it in excellent shape, it would be worth $65, and poor is still valued at $47. Those figure seem particularly high when compared against the Black Friday deals we found online. For instance, Best Buy is offering that device new for $100.
 
However, the program is based on purchasing the new model at full price through tomtom.com. Again, we looked up several units to assess the deals. Target will offer the XL 340 S at just $97 (admittedly a screaming deal), whereas the same device is $250 at TomTom.com. We found the Go 730 listed for $175 at Best Buy and for $350 at the TomTom Web site. Admittedly, these retail examples are extreme Black Friday prices, but they do highlight the need to double-check offers before taking the plunge. (See "Black Friday GPS deals online.")
 
For a quick reality check, we find the XL 340 S listed at $160 and the Go 730 at $150 at Amazon.com. Clearly, prices vary.
 
The key thing is to focus on the best units for your needs, then pursue the best prices. To do otherwise risks getting a great deal on a product that doesn’t meet all of your needs.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

—Jeff Bartlett

Koenigsegg will not buy Saab after all

Koenigsegg, a tiny Swedish manufacturer of $1-million exotic sports cars, announced today that it would not buy Saab from General Motors after all. Many observers had questioned whether the tiny exotic car maker that sells 18 cars a year with a staff of 45 could absorb an almost mainstream production carmaker more than 2,000 times its size. Now it would appear the answer is no.
 
GM expressed disappointment in the unraveling of the deal, especially after its agreement to sell its Saturn brand to the Penske Automotive dealer group fell through late September.
 
“We're obviously very disappointed with the decision to pull out of the Saab purchase," said GM President and CEO, Fritz Henderson. "Many have worked tirelessly over the past several months to create a sustainable plan for the future of Saab by selling the brand and its manufacturing interests to Koenigsegg Group AB. Given the sudden change in direction, we will take the next several days to assess the situation and will advise on the next steps next week."
  
Saab is one of four former GM divisions the company sloughed off during its bankruptcy last summer. The company hoped to sell Hummer, Saab, and Saturn. Only Pontiac was to be wound down. Now with sales agreements for Saab and Saturn falling apart, GM may have to add those brands to the list of businesses it needs to shutter.
 
Meanwhile, this news may mean the next-generation Saab 9-5 will never see the light of day.
 
GM is expected to further study its options and make additional announcements in the days ahead.
 
—Eric Evarts

New Mercedes-Benz mbrace telematics system adds features

Mercedes-Benz has launched a new telematics service to replace their now 10-year old Tele Aid. The new system, called mbrace, adds features, including giving iPhone and BlackBerry users the ability to remotely unlock or lock their vehicles and help find their way back to their car using a map displayed on their smartphones. (See our reviews of iPhone and other smart phone navigation apps.) 
 
Like other telematics services, including Tele Aid and the more widely known OnStar for General Motors vehicles, mbrace uses a combination of cellular and computing technology to offer subscribers safety and security features including roadside assistance, stolen vehicle notification, and emergency help. The system will also automatically call an emergency response center after a crash and send the car’s GPS coordinates to aid first responders in locating it. A call center representative then stays on the line until help arrives.  
 
A premium level of service called mbrace PLUS adds weather and traffic information, live help with directions, and a concierge service for restaurant reservations and locating other stores and services.
 
Mbrace is available on all new Mercedes-Benz models, and a complimentary six month subscription is included with all new purchased or leased vehicles. After that, a subscription will run $280 annually. Subscribers can add the premium PLUS services for $20 per month or subscribe for a total of $520 per year.   

Mercedes-Benz and partner Hughes Telematics promise to add more connected features to mbrace in the future, but there’s no word yet on what those might be.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

—Jim Travers

Test drive - Garmin Nuvi 1690 GPS

Premium navigation devices are distinguished by their rich feature sets and real-time information. The all-new Garmin Nuvi 1690 is a full-featured model with a wide screen, reality view, Bluetooth, multi-destination routing, and spoken street names. But what really sets it apart is that it uses a cellular modem to receive information through nuLink Services, rather than use FM-sourced traffic data. 
 
However, the Nuvi 1690 lacks features found on some other upscale Garmin units, including an MP3 player, FM transmitter, 3D buildings, and voice recognition. Admittedly, these features may not matter to most shoppers, though it does underscore the importance of reviewing the specifications for each model you are considering. (See our complete GPS ratings and specifications.)
 
We paid $430 for our Nuvi 1690, with a two-year data subscription to nuLink Services included. Once the trial period ends, the nuLink service is $5 a month.The connection is made through AT&T’s network, which is also the sole carrier for the Garim Nuvifone. (See our full Garmin Nuvifone G60 review.)
 
Key features include:

• 4.4-inch screen
• Spoken street names
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Reality view and lane assist
• Photo navigation with geotagged images
• “Help me” feature for emergency assistance

 
Initial impressions
The Nuvi 1690 is similar to the many Garmin GPS units we have tested. Being similar to other, well-rated models, it is no surprise that the 1690 has the features, easy-to-use interface, and good navigation guidance to excel in our testing.  Where it stands out is with connectivity, as it raises the bar by providing useful information on a more consistent basis than with previous devices. 
 
Most of the features provided by Garmin nuLink were already present on Garmin devices that received information from MSN Direct.  A recurring criticism with the MSN service has been that it frequently takes a long time to acquire any data, and often no information would be supplied at all.  In our initial testing, the nuLink service has been much more consistent, and it reports data very soon after the device is powered on. 
 
The most used feature of the nuLink is the live Google search, which provides more current, local points of interest (POI) listings than the databases that come with a typical PND. Further, it introduces the ability for user ratings of selected POIs. 
 
We have found that other connected services can come in handy, too, such as gas prices, local events, and weather information. The traffic service is ad-based Navteq traffic that is offered free on many Garmin models.  There is no claim of crowdsourcing traffic pattern data, but curiously a user is prompted to share location and speed data at start up.  Hopefully this connectivity will progress to supplement traffic reports.   
 
Garmin typically scores well in our tests with limited complaints, but that does not mean they are perfect.  For some time now, we have consistently mentioned some improvements we would like to see on the Garmin products—now including the Nuvi 1690, as well.  We would like to see the ability to exclude roads from a given route, as well as a more robust detour function.  It also would have been beneficial if the 1690 was given the full feature set, including those functions found on the 700 series devices. As a premium unit, it would have been preferred that the Bluetooth connectivity use A2DP technology that would enable higher-quality audio for streaming to the car and head sets. This feature would also warrant the MP3 player feature.
 
One of the biggest drawbacks for the 1690 is the new mount design.  Most premium mounts have a simple button for quick release of the device that leaves DC power cord with the mount.  The 1690’s mount does connect directly to the power cord, but it is a cheaper design that clips the device into the cradle. 
 
CR’s take
Following the trail blazed by TomTom with the 740 Go Live, the Nuvi 1690 finally brings cell-based connectivity to the Garmin line. The Nuvi 1690 is well done, with some room for improvement (inevitable on future model variants). Its features and price are comparable to the TomTom 740 Go Live, but the 740 Go Live includes just three months of free service. After that, the monthly fee is $10—fully twice the Garmin rate. A good, intuitive device, the Nuvi 1690 has a real advantage in overall ownership costs.

For buyers who don’t need weather information, movie times, and the last POI information, a non-connected device can be significantly less expensive and still provide good navigational aid.

The Garmin Nuvi 1690 will be added to our online GPS ratings this week.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

—Frank Spinelli and Jeff Bartlett

Netherlands to tax drivers by using GPS

Yes, Big Brother is indeed watching. And soon he will be counting miles driven in the Netherlands. The Dutch government has announced that it will introduce a driving tax starting in 2012 to “green” its roads. The program is projected to reduce carbon emissions by 10 percent and cut traffic congestion in half, according to an AFP report on Breitbart. The plan supplants existing sales and road taxes.
 
The average passenger car will see its purchase price drop up to 25 percent, according to the Associated Press. However, this savings would be offset by a driving tax of about seven cents a mile initially, and it will increase through 2018. In principle, this new program charges motorists based on infrastructure use, with the aforementioned benefits.
 
To ensure accurate billing, GPS devices (not navigation units) will be fitted to cars and trucks that will share travel data with a government collection agency. The Traffic Ministry has said the information would not be used for other purposes.
 
Many GPS makers are looking to use devices and even cell phones to provide real-time traffic data here in the United States—a crowdsourcing approach to improving traffic information. What the Netherlands plans goes a step beyond tracking motion; it is track each specific user’s movement.

How would you feel about the government tracking your travels, then billing you for it?

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

—Jeff Bartlett

Update: The maddening Audi key

We have complained about how difficult it is to release the ignition key in our Audi A4 and Q5 full track reports, as well as in the Cars blog. (See “Pet Peeve: Audi Q5 – The maddening key.”) The stubborn key can be quite infuriating because it usually happens when you’ve just arrived somewhere and you’re running late. Perhaps in Germany no one is ever late. We’ll admit, though, that it’s a bit easier to get the key out, even in haste, in our later-built A5 convertible that we’re now testing. All three models share basic components.

It didn’t take long for our recent blog to reach the attention of Audi’s headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany. Audi’s response: “Cars produced as of November 2009 have a redesigned internal release mechanism,” says After Sales & Technical Service Director Marc Trahan.
 
Supposedly, the fix makes the release quicker. Evidently, this issue wasn’t a surprise for Audi. We haven’t tried the new mechanism for ourselves yet, however.
 
Cars with the quicker-release key should have 11/09 or later printed on their door jamb label.
 
—Gabe Shenhar and Mike Quincy

Toyota takes on IIHS Top Safety Picks

Just days after its public shouting match with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over sudden acceleration claims, Toyota is now arguing with the nation’s top private safety organization, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

On Wednesday, the IIHS released its list of Top Safety Picks for 2010. This year the Institute added a new roof strength test to its requirements for cars to receive the rating. That demanding criteria dramatically shortened the 2010 list.

In its press release announcing the results, IIHS called out Toyota for having no vehicles that qualified.

In response, yesterday Toyota called IIHS’s new methodology “extreme and misleading.” In a statement, Toyota Vice President of Public Affairs Irv Miller said, “There are 38 Toyota, Lexus, and Scion models, and only three were tested for roof strength by IIHS: Camry, RAV4, and Yaris.” He said all Toyota products meet government standards for roof crush. The new IIHS test for roof strength is much tougher than the government standard, which NHTSA looking to make more stringent.

Later yesterday, Russ Rader, an IIHS spokesman, essentially told Toyota to put up or shut up. He is quoted in the New York Times stating that all automakers were invited to nominate vehicles to be tested (and reimburse IIHS for the test.) “We don’t think there are automakers who would miss the opportunity to have their vehicles tested if they thought they met the criteria. We can only assume the [manufacturer’s other] vehicles would not do well for roof strength.”

While Toyota still has among the most reliable and fuel-efficient car lineups Consumer Reports has tested, the bloom may be coming off the company’s rose. While its cars generally do well in most safety measures, this pattern of blasting the messenger isn’t helping its public image, an image that is increasingly under attack.

Over time, the IIHS is expected to test more vehicles for roof strength. The test is performed by pressing a metal plate against one side of the roof at a constant speed. To earn a Good rating, a vehicle must withstand a force that is four times the vehicle’s weight before compressing five inches. This tough new test adds another dimension to the Top Safety Picks.

For information on how vehicles perform in government and IIHS crash tests, see the safety tabs in the model overview pages, available to online subscribers.

Watch more than 300 crash tests videos to see how vehicles perform in frontal offset and side-impact tests.

—Eric Evarts

Consumer Reports family sedans chat

Today, Consumer Reports experts will be online to discuss the latest road test group—family sedans—here in the Cars blog at 1 p.m. ET.

As seen in the December 2009 edition of Consumer Reports magazine, we tested several all-new and updated models, including the Ford Fusion, Mazda3 iTouring, Subaru Legacy, and Toyota Camry.

Our automotive experts will field questions about these cars and other sedans during the live, interactive chat, sharing test findings and helping you make the right buying decisions.