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

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

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

Video: New GPS navigation buying guide

As we have often said, the portable navigation device (PND) market is fast moving, with innovations and new products appearing every few months. In particular, we have seen a dramatic increase in the quantity and quality of cell-phone based navigation solutions just since summer. (See our iPhone navigation app reviews.) While we have been busy testing the significant devices and software as they become available, it was time to update our GPS buying guide video to reflect these new products and trends, as well.
 
In this video, we highlight key considerations for GPS buyers and share our related buying advice. Seeing features demonstrated and explained in the video may help in making the right choice for you. Also shown is our GPS product selector tool, which allows online subscribers to quickly sort and filter our vast ratings to show the models that best suit your needs and budget. There are almost 300 GPS navigators in the tool currently. If you find products of interest, you can move on to the product pages for detailed information, or use the pricing tool to compare prices through approved, safe vendors in an ad-free environment.
 
When it comes to shopping for a navigator, the right place to go is the Consumer Reports GPS buying guide.

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

By the numbers: How many apps are there?

98,750

The marketing phrase “There’s an app for that” has become ingrained in our popular culture, and over time, it rings increasingly true. So, just how many smart-phone applications are available? Consumer Reports Information Services found that as of October 23rd, there were a total of about 98,750 applications available for the top-selling smart phones.
 
The GPS team has been busy since this summer evaluating iPhone applications and recently the free Google Maps Navigation on the Motorola Droid. And no wonder, prolific application development is creating an exponential increase in available software, expanding in both quality and diversity. We have seen early navigation apps designed for iPhone OS 3.0 evolve quickly since August, with new features helping them to better work with the phone and more closely replicate the experience using a portable navigation device (PND).
 
That said, the distribution isn’t equal across all platforms.
 
We found that apps break down as follows:

iPhone/iPod Touch – 85,000
Android – 10,000
Symbian – 5,500 (“content items”)
BlackBerry – 3,000
Windows Mobile – 550
Palm – 200

The Apple iPhone touts a huge quantity advantage over competing operating systems, and more recent figures show it has since crested the 100,000 mark. (This is made more impressive by the fact Apple approves each app!) In reality, you may just need a few targeted apps for your needs, plus maybe a couple for pure entertainment.

Another piece of trivia: The top grossing app is the Navigon Mobile Navigator.

As significant automotive applications become available, we’ll be taking them for a test drive, between evaluating the latest portable navigators and hiking devices. Looks like we’ll have our work cut out for us!

What apps have you used that are worth testing? Submit your suggestions in the comments field below.

See our full reviews of AT&T Navigator, iGo My Way, Navigon Mobile Navigator, Sygic Mobile Maps, TomTom iPhone application, 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

Test Drive: Live traffic data on Navigon Mobile Navigator iPhone app

Navigon was the first major GPS maker to offer a downloadable iPhone navigation app, porting over its graphic interface and features to the popular cell phone. Today, the Navigon Mobile Navigator stands as the top-grossing application in the Apple iTunes store, though until this week it has lacked one key feature: traffic information. (See our Navigon Mobile Navigator review.)
 
Navigon has pioneered many features on portable navigation devices (PNDs), such as reality view and free, real-time traffic data. Now no longer offering devices in the United States, Navigon is focused on applications, Navigon continues to innovate by offering Traffic Live as a premium iPhone app with a one-time fee. Navigon Mobile Navigator is now a $90 application. Traffic Live adds another $25, though no monthly or annual fee is required. The costs do add up, but the total price is still significantly less than purchasing a comparable PND. This add-on is purchased through the Mobile Navigator application, rather than from the iTunes store.
 
As with past Navigon PNDs, the Traffic Live information is aggregated from road sensors and traffic cameras, and supplied by Clear Channel’s Total Traffic Network. Navigon claims to supplement this traffic information with real-time speed data from commercial fleets, as well as regular GPS users. The most exciting development is adding crowdsourced data from Navigon application users who choose to share their current speed and location.
 
The traffic information is neatly integrated into the iPhone application, which has a similar look and feel to the traffic menus on the discontinued Navigon PNDs. Traffic Live provides information such as the start and end point of an incident, the average speed of traffic, a description of the traffic type (construction, accident, road closed, etc.), an expected time delay, the distance to incident, and length of the traffic incident. Users can decide if they want traffic information to be automatically included when calculating a route or upon request. 
 
Traffic incidents can be viewed in a list and can be sorted a number of ways.  For example, surrounding traffic can be displayed or only incidents on the current route. Incidents can be further filtered by distance to event, road, or expected delay time. When selecting a traffic incident from the list, it is displayed on the route with an overhead view, along with related information, such as traffic speed.
 
In our initial tests, we found a Garmin Nuvi 1690 found more traffic incidents, though it is hard to say which system is better. Remember, more alerts isn’t the goal. Timely, accurate reports are more valuable. Due to the variables in testing, we do not rate traffic services on accuracy. However, we expect the crowdsourcing aspect to significantly aid Live Traffic as more users download the add-on application.
 
We can say, the traffic integration is well done, though there remains room for improvement regarding color coding, especially on the main map screen. (Many competitors overlay traffic conditions in different colors on the main map screen so a user can see upcoming incidents at a glance.)
 
Bottom line
The Mobile Navigator remains one of the best navigation apps available for the iPhone, serving as a viable alternative to a traditional PND. For $25, Traffic Live is a natural choice for users looking to add traffic information. However, our long-standing advice remains that any traffic information can be inaccurate or outdated, as is the case with other competing products, whether apps or PNDs. Navigon’s edge is in tapping users to be mobile traffic sensors, and given the popularity of the iPhone and this software, the company has a better chance than most of making good on the promised benefits of crowdsourcing traffic info.

See our full reviews of AT&T Navigator, iGo My Way, Navigon Mobile Navigator, Sygic Mobile Maps, TomTom iPhone application, 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 and Frank Spinelli

TomTom to update, improve iPhone navigation app

TomTom has just announced improvements to their iPhone navigation app, some of which address shortcomings we have criticized in the past. (See our TomTom app review.) The upgrade adds three key features routinely found on TomTom stand-alone navigation devices, including:

• Text to speech, which announces proper street names and locations rather than simply saying “turn right” or other generic instruction.
• Lane guidance/reality view, providing a realistic view of complicated interchanges and indicating the best lane choice as the driver approaches an exit or intersection. Works in vertical and horizontal modes.
• Help menu, which provides emergency phone numbers and directions to the nearest hospital, police, or other emergency help.

Music fans will be glad to hear the upgrade also now enables control of the iPod from within the application. Previously, users could not adjust volume, change selection, or make other adjustments to music while navigation was in use.  

Customizable audio warnings are also included to warn when the driver exceeds the speed limit or approaches safety cameras. A safety camera map and free database update are also included.

TomTom says the upgrade has been submitted to Apple for review, and once approved will be made available free to users who have already purchased the app. Once available, we will evaluate this new app version, along with the TomTom iPhone mount.

See our full reviews of AT&T Navigator, iGo My Way, Navigon Mobile Navigator, Sygic Mobile Maps, TomTom iPhone application, and X Road G-Map.

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  

2009 SEMA Show: New iPhone apps for auto diagnostics

New iPhone apps seem to be appearing daily in the Apple iTunes store, if not by the minute or even second, and car-related ways to utilize the popular convergence device are no exception. (See our iPhone navigation application reviews.)

Two exhibitors at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) show brought devices that can turn an iPhone or iPod Touch into a vehicle diagnostic tool, maintenance minder, mpg meter, and provide performance-oriented drivers with customized gauges and track mapping for weekend racers. In fact, they offer many additional features, too numerous to list here.
 
The Kiwi Wifi from PLX devices and goLINK Protocol Converter both connect to the On-Board Diagnostics II (OBDII) system in your car to transmit all sorts of vehicle data and information. The big difference is the Kiwi Wifi (you guessed it) transmits the information to the phone wirelessly, and goLINK uses a cable to link directly to the iPhone. Both are compatible with passenger vehicles built after 1996.
 
The Kiwi Wifi and goLINK offer similar menus for iPhone users, partly because they work with some of the same software providers. They’re also priced the same, at $150 each. A number of add-on software options are available at the Apple apps store to take advantage of the connection. One such app is Rev by Devtoaster ($39.99), which records and displays real-time vehicle data like horsepower, torque, fuel consumption, and myriad powertrain details to aid tuners and racers (shown here).
 
The Kiwi Wifi module is available now. The goLINK device comes on the market in January 2010. Details can be found at gopointtech.com and plxdevices.com.

—Jim Travers with Liza Barth

Also see from the 2009 SEMA show:
Better than expected, future looks greener
Tire testing and the transformation of the tire industry
Our favorite modified Chevrolet Camaros
World's fastest Honda Civic circa 1976
All shades of green project cars
Surfrider Toyota Camry hybrid CNG
Kustomizing the Toyota Prius
Hot rodders turning green
Auto aftermarket prepares for show time in Las Vegas

Review: Motorola Droid with free Google Maps Navigation

Navigation options continue to expand, with cell phones and smart phones providing alternatives to traditional portable navigation devices (PNDs). The latest such option is Google Maps Navigation, included in beta form on Android 2.0 devices. While Google Maps has long been available on the iPhone, this latest version offers true Google turn-by-turn directions for the first time on a mobile device. (Read our Android 2.0 navigation preview.)
 
The free Google Maps Navigation launches on the Motorola Droid phone with Verizon service. The Google service will expand to other phones and smart-phone platforms running other operating systems.
 
We tested the Google navigator on the Droid, a slider-style phone with a full QWERTY keyboard. The Droid has a 3.7-inch screen, giving it an advantage over the 3.5-inch iPhone screen. It also has the ability to run multiple applications at once, unlike the Apple phone. Perhaps the greater advantage is that it is on the Verizon network, rather than AT&T, which as been higher rated in our national cell phone surveys. (See our iPhone navigation app reviews.)
 
Verizon has the exclusive on the Motorola Droid, which is priced at $199, after a $100 rebate. Nationwide cell-phone voice plans begin at $40 a month, with e-mail/Web data plan adding at least $30.
 
Like other cell-phone navigators, Google Maps Navigation is server based—meaning it downloads maps and points of interest data as needed, rather than storing a large database on the device. Consequently, a data plan is required to use it. In addition, a cell signal is needed—limiting its usefulness in some remote places. In areas without a 3G network, downloading maps and recalculating routes can be slowed. An upside of this approach is that there is no need for map upgrades.
 
Test findings
As a navigator, Google Maps Navigation has common features, including spoken street names, and provides adequate routing. However, it does not include some features found on mid-priced PNDs and even some iPhone applications, such as reality view and lane assistance.
 
On the other hand, the free, bundled Android application has some of the more enticing features found in the online version of Google Maps. For example, a user can layer additional information on the main map screen, such as real-time traffic patterns, selected POIs, and satellite imagery of the actual landscape. “Street view” provides a photographic street-level representation, with the ability to zoom and pan the area. This could potentially be helpful when identifying a destination. All navigators indicate “you have arrived,” though this can theoretically literally show your destination.
 
These innovative features are novel, but the practical use when driving is limited. The satellite layer makes it more challenging to interpret the map at a glance, and street view can be confusing, as we found it often wasn’t accurate.
 
Following the connected trend among navigation devices, Google Maps Navigation taps users to supply traffic information, to provide user reviews for POIs, and to share their current location with Google Latitude.
 
Basic route guidance is adequate, providing turn-by-turn directions. Address entry is mixed. Some users found the onscreen menus to be less intuitive than those found on a traditional PND, and the touch-screen operation is less intuitive. The slide-out keyboard provides an alternative method to entering data, but its keys are small and closely placed. We found using it to be more difficult than with other competing devices. However, the Droid does have plain-speech voice recognition, allowing for verbal data entries in a more natural way than premium PNDs with voice recognition. We found this worked well.
 
The application sometimes feels more like using Google.com via a handheld, than an integrated solution. For example, a query from the main menu leads to Google.com, which can be confusing. To get results like on traditional PND, a user must be on the map screen (or navigation) then perform a search.  This will drop pins on the map and a user can select a pin to navigate too. The user can view the results in a list, as well, by tapping an icon.
 
When receiving a call, the screen changes and the map is no longer visible. This effectively negates the Android’s multitasking capabilities, whose chief in-car benefit would be to use the phone and navigation simultaneously.
 
Bottom line
The power and potential of Google Maps Navigation has captured the attention of the GPS industry and tech enthusiasts, but this service has a way to go to be compared among the best solutions for GPS navigation. That being said, if you decide to buy a phone with Google Maps Navigation preinstalled, it is adequate and would eliminate the need to pay for GPS and traffic services. But don’t let this software be the leading reason to purchase an Android 2.0 phone.

As we have seen with iPhone applications, software can advance rapidly. Clearly, Google Maps Navigation has promise. Consequently, competitors will likely redouble their development efforts, ensuring consumers have better navigation choices down the road. For now, we favor the better iPhone applications such as Navigon, Tomtom, and MotionX offerings for the combination of software and hardware.

For frequent use, a dedicated portable navigator remains the best choice.

 —Jeff Bartlett and Frank Spinelli

Also read:
Droid vs. iPhone: A 10-round bout
Our first impressions of the Motorola Droid
Garmin Nuvifone G60 navigation review

See our reviews of AT&T Navigator, iGo My Way, Gokivo, Navigon Mobile Navigator, Sygic Mobile Maps, TomTom iPhone application, and X Road G-Map for iPhone.

Images courtesy Motorola and Google.

Distracted driving: Government pursues texting law

The issue of distracted driving has been propelled to the forefront of top transportation safety issues, but the larger question is what to do about it? Following on the heels of last month’s Department of Transportation two-day Distracted Driving Summit, which discussed the problems and addressed possible solutions, the issue is now hitting Congress. Two bills have been introduced in the Senate that take different approaches to programs and incentives for the states to enact to help combat this growing problem. (Read our highlights from the Distracted Driving Summit.)
 
One bill, titled the Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2009, was introduced by Senate Commerce Committee chairman John Rockefeller of West Virginia, and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas, among other Senators. It offers financial incentives to states that enact texting bans, require using a hands-free cell phone device, and prohibit young drivers from using any cell phone while driving. To qualify for the grant money, there are a number of provisions:

• The state law must make a violation a primary offense, which means that police can pull over a driver without any other moving violation.
• Requires a minimum fine for first and increased penalties for subsequent violations.
• Civil and criminal penalties to a driver who causes an accident due to cell phone use.
• The subject of distracted driving must be added to the state’s driver’s license exam.

Some exceptions include calling 911, use by emergency personnel, and using the phone in a parked vehicle.
 
The money for the grants will not involve an additional financial burden as it will come from redirecting unused surpluses from the seat-belt safety program. Once states enact these laws, they can then apply for the funds to use in driver education programs on the dangers of distracted driving and for other projects that improve traffic safety. This program will model the already successful drunk driving and “click it or ticket” seat-belt campaigns.
 
Additional provisions of the bill include a national driver distraction education program run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and further research, data, and reporting of accidents by police.
 
The second bill, titled the ALERT Drivers Act of 2009, was introduced by Senator Schumer of New York along with three other Senators, earlier this year. Senator Schumer testified at last week’s Commerce Committee hearing in support of his bill; he is also a cosponsor of Senator Rockefeller’s bill. The ALERT Drivers Act takes a “stick” approach, as opposed to the “carrot” approach of the other bill, by reducing the amount of Federal highway funds available to states that do not enact a law prohibiting drivers from writing, sending, or reading text messages or e-mails while operating a motor vehicle. At the hearing, there was debate among the Senators about whether the “carrot” or the “stick” method is the better way to approach this epidemic.
 
Currently 18 states, plus the District of Columbia, have a law addressing texting-while-driving. Use of cell phones by novice drivers is restricted in 21 states and the District of Columbia, and seven states, plus the District of Columbia have statewide hand-held driving bans. 
 
A 2008 government study noted that in any given moment there are 812,000 distracted drivers on the road. This bill aims to make sure that their lives, as well as their passengers and everyone else on the road, are not at risk.
 
—Liza Barth 

For more information on distracted driving see our related reports:
Hands-free cell phone laws: Are they effective?
Distracted driving summit: The highlights

Choosing words wisely in the distracted driving discussion
Distracted Driving Summit: The hands-free debate
Defining the problem: Casting a wide net over driver distraction
Automakers agree to ban
Anti-texting video to scare drivers straight
Using wireless communication devices while driving
Cell phone use and driving laws
Dangers of cell phones while driving
Should cell phone use by drivers be illegal?