Navigon continues to innovate in rapid fire fashion with some big enhancements to their iPhone platforms announced today. Some may shrug off the social networking thing, others will love it if you use Facebook or Twitter. The big innovation here is the move to start customizing routes based on outside factors, like your driving habits, patters and time of day. The MyRoutes feature starts down the pathway of some very sophisticated planning of routes that go way beyond “Fastest”, or “Avoid Toll Roads”.

Connection to Facebook and Twitter: A simple icon tap posts users current position, destination, and ETA without navigation interruption.

Panorama View 3D: True 3D in-map views obtained from NASA’s height and terrain data enable intuitive orientation of surrounding environment, and what lies ahead with digital landscape elevations, shadows, and geographic images. Panorama View 3D is integrated in-map, independent from the phone’s data connection. The Panorama View 3D feature will be available via an In App Purchase.

NAVIGON MyRoutes: Analyzes driving habits, patterns, location, time/day and provides up to three routes clearly displayed in-map with ETA, distance and driving times for each.

Full press release below……

More at Navigon for the iPhone

NAVIGON AG, the leading provider of mobile phone on-board navigation, today announced a significant update for MobileNavigator, the most feature-rich navigation app available on the iPhone platform. Extending comprehensive functionality, the update adds three innovative features: in-app Connection to Facebook and Twitter, Panorama View 3D with 3D terrain views powered by NASA data, and personalized route delivery via NAVIGON MyRoutes, an intelligent direction provider. NAVIGON is showcasing the update prior to its launch in spring at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco, February 11-13, booth #575.

“NAVIGON, an industry first to launch an on-board navigation app on the iPhone platform, remains ahead of the competition by consistently delivering first to market, full-feature updates. Apple’s App Store is ideal for delivering our latest innovations to our users,” said Gerhard Mayr, vice-president worldwide mobile phones & new markets, NAVIGON. “The upcoming fifth version not only redefines routing capabilities on the iPhone platform but also integrates social media connectivity, and outstanding, reliable 3D environment views.”

Further enhancing the proficient iPhone connectivity capabilities, MobileNavigator allows users to broadcast current position, destination and ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) to favorite social media outlets, Twitter and Facebook, without navigation interruption. The easy access in-app icons seamlessly launch and the Twitter feature automatically limits input to the maximum 140, and provides a character countdown.

Complementing the elegant iPhone UI, Panorama View 3D delivers 3D map views through digitized cartography rendered from NASA’s height and terrain data. The full 3D view delivers an accurate depiction of surrounding environment, and what lies ahead with digital landscapes that include elevations, shadows, and geographic images. Panorama View 3D is integrated in-map, independent from the phone’s data connection.

NAVIGON MyRoutes takes personalized route recommendations to a new level with intelligent, customized direction planning. The feature analyzes individual driving data and designs customized routes. Up to three choices with distance and ETA are clearly displayed in-map for each. One primary recommendation based on the user’s driving habits, the day of week and time of travel is provided and the additional two alternatives provide options to choose a preferred route.

MobileNavigator transforms the iPhone into an inclusive navigation device that relies on the GPS receiver, independent from a cell or wireless signal, to provide the most feature rich on-board navigation application. MobileNavigator offers a familiar, yet streamlined user interface that offers intuitive visual feedback and readily accessible connected features, which takes the efficiency of mobile navigation to new heights. It is the only on-board iPhone navigation app available that includes Google Local Search, Reality View™ Pro, branded in-route POI’s, seamless in-app iPod controls, enhanced pedestrian mode, Traffic Live, and soon in-map social media connectivity in one application.

NAVIGON is dedicated to delivering premium navigation software for multiple mobile phone platforms. The company recently launched MobileNavigator for Windows Phone and announced an application for Android phones. According to the latest market data from Canalys, NAVIGON is the industry leader of on-board/perpetual navigation solutions for mobile phones in the U.S. with a market share of 23 percent.

Version 1.5.0 Feature Highlights:

Connection to Facebook and Twitter: A simple icon tap posts users current position, destination, and ETA without navigation interruption.

Panorama View 3D: True 3D in-map views obtained from NASA’s height and terrain data enable intuitive orientation of surrounding environment, and what lies ahead with digital landscape elevations, shadows, and geographic images. Panorama View 3D is integrated in-map, independent from the phone’s data connection. The Panorama View 3D feature will be available via an In App Purchase.

NAVIGON MyRoutes: Analyzes driving habits, patterns, location, time/day and provides up to three routes clearly displayed in-map with ETA, distance and driving times for each.

Pricing and Availability

MobileNavigator is available for $89.99 in the Apple App Store and is equipped with maps of North America from NAVTEQ®. Special Macworld promotion: MobileNavigator for $69.99 and one time in-app purchase Traffic Live for $19.99 (regularly $24.99) from February 5-15. Panorama View 3D will be available via an In App Purchase for $9.99.

Besides being available for the iPhone 3G and 3GS, the NAVIGON app also runs on first-generation iPhone or an iPod Touch. Additional accessories are required for GPS navigation on these devices.

For more information, please visit: www.navigon.com/iphone.

Source: GpsLodge
Read more here:Navigon iPhone: New Version – Great Updates

Navigon, an early mover on the iPhone App platform, and the market share leader for on-board persistent navigation Apss, has announced that they are going to be launching a Navigation App for the Android and Windows Mobile platform. The very full featured program will include a lot of the key attributes to make up a serious offering in the product including: Pre-loaded on, board maps, text to speech (says road names), Reality View and Lane Assist to help in navigating complex intersections, 2D and 3D views, automatic Day to Night brightness settings, auto Portrait/Landscape switch, and more.

I have to say that just as Navigon exited the US market for stand alone GPS devices, their interface was starting to roll, eliminating some of the real rough spots. While they still maintain an overseas business for standalone navigation devices, their approach to the iPhone App market has been ferocious with upgrade after upgrade, and strong price moves to keep them well positioned in the market. Should be interesting to see how they move in the up and coming Android market. The Android product will be available this Spring, while the Windows product is available now at a special $69 price at PocketGear.

ANDROID

NAVIGON, the leading innovator in the global navigation market, today announced an upcoming release of its on-board navigation application, MobileNavigator, for Android mobile phones in North America. Expected availability in spring 2010, MobileNavigator brings premium navigation features and experience from its well-received iPhone application. This, in tandem with the Windows phone platform announcement today, marks three major smartphone navigation solutions available in 2010 from NAVIGON.

“For over 16 years NAVIGON has been a leader in the development and deployment of exceptional navigation technology, which we now utilize for Android phones,” said Michael Roach, NAVIGON’S president for the Americas. “With a rapidly expanding user base, Android provides an exceptional platform for premium navigation capabilities. MobileNavigator seamlessly delivers an excellent on-board experience comparable to standalone personal navigation devices, without having to purchase, carry and use multiple devices.”

MobileNavigator relies on the devices’ GPS receiver as well as the pre-loaded maps and critical data providing full function navigation capabilities when a cell signal is not available. Off-board navigation, in comparison, is dependent on a cell phone connection to download map and routing data. Therefore, no cell signal renders navigation useless or interrupted until a connection is re-established. According to the latest market data from Canalys, NAVIGON is the industry and market leader of on-board/perpetual navigation solutions for mobile phones in the U.S. with a market share of 23 percent.

NAVIGON’S hallmark navigation features for Android include Reality View™ Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, Speed Assistant and Day & Night Mode. NAVIGON’S sophisticated and elegant map views including branded POIs along the route are also included. The NAVIGON solution is equipped with maps of North America (US, Canada, Hawaii and Puerto Rico) from NAVTEQ®.

Key features of the NAVIGON MobileNavigator for Android phones:

Pricing and Availability

Expected in Spring 2010, the application will be available for a one-time fee.

WINDOWS MOBILE

NAVIGON, the leading innovator in the global navigation market, today announced a North American version of its on-board navigation software for Windows® phones. MobileNavigator converts Windows enabled phones into navigation devices comparable to stand alone solutions.

Following the successful launch of its iPhone navigation app, MobileNavigator, NAVIGON now expands its smartphone offerings in the North American market with the launch of a Windows phone application. “Navigation on smartphones is growing at an exponential rate and NAVIGON is committed to our promise of delivering premium navigation software for several mobile platforms in North America,” said Michael Roach, NAVIGON’S president for the Americas. “Our long standing experience points out on-board navigation, such as ours, is the preferred and most reliable way to navigate.”

On-board navigation saves the total map material on the device and relies on the GPS receiver as well as the pre-loaded maps making it fully functional when no cell phone signal is available. Off-board navigation, in comparison, is dependent on cell phone connections, and must constantly download map data. Therefore, no cell signal renders navigation useless or interrupted until a connection is made. In addition, users often have to pay subscription fees for off-board navigation and are forced to subscribe to data plans, which can add further monthly costs. According to the latest market data from Canalys, NAVIGON is the industry leader of on-board/perpetual navigation solutions for mobile phones in the U.S. with a market share of 23 percent.

“Microsoft is pleased to see NAVIGON bring its on-board navigation software to Windows phones,” said Jason Lim, director of ISV and developer experience at Microsoft. “Simply put, MobileNavigator makes it easy for people to find their way at any time while using a Windows phone.”

The Windows phone software includes many of NAVIGON’s hallmark navigation functions not found in other systems such as Reality View™ Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, Speed Assistant and Day & Night Mode. It also features NAVIGON’s sophisticated and elegant map views including branded POIs along the route.

Key features of the NAVIGON MobileNavigator for Windows phones:

The NAVIGON solution sells for $89.00 and is equipped with maps of North America (US, Canada, Hawaii and Puerto Rico) from NAVTEQ®. It will be available for a promotional price of $69.00 until February 14, 2010 at Pocketgear.com and Smartphone.net within the next week; with more retailers to follow.

Source: GpsLodge
Read more here:Navigon Announces Navigation for the Android and Windows Mobile Phone Platform

Navigon announced that they are updating their iPhone App with a new version 1.4 that will be a free update to owners of the previous version. They just recently released the update that offers in-app purchase of traffic services fed by Inrix, and now are adding several cool enhancements.

Google Local Search – adds the ability to find local businesses and great new places to spend money and time.

Coordinate Navigation – Plug in your Lat/Lon coordinates and navigate there. Seems basic – a GPS system navigating to a latitude and longitude, but not all do. I like this feature to drive to a trailhead or campsite.

Pedestrian Navigation – You can now navigate as a “Pedestrian” in an enhanced mode to help you find your way along busy one way streets or through pedestrian only areas. If you have the iPhone 3GS, it will use the built in electronic compass.

In the cool department you will be able to email your own current location to others.

Look for approval in a week or so from Apple and then it will be available in the App store.

Source: GpsLodge
Read more here:Navigon updates their iPhone GPS Navigation App – Ver 1.4

Navigon has released their traffic capability for their iPhone navigator application adding another feature to their already high end iPhone application. The traffic capability will cost an extra $25 per year, on special for the first few weeks at $20. With increased bandwidth, the traffic information quality will be much better than the over the air FM based TMC systems, offering finer slices of each roadway’s actual traffic situation instead of a broad average across long stretches. The purchase can be made in the App itself.

“By including real-time speed data from drivers on the road, we are adding a next generation traffic service to our app that goes beyond traditional traffic functions which work with radio transmitted messages only. This is clearly raising the bar for iPhone GPS applications,” said Gerhard Mayr, Vice-President Worldwide Mobile Phones & New Markets at NAVIGON. “Providing the driver instantaneous traffic conditions, and offering efficient, alternative routes to the congestion, saves time, fuel and money. The ability to know and navigate around gridlock is a crucial function and we are thrilled to be the first major GPS company to announce this critical, and sought after service for an iPhone navigation app at a flat fee.”

The App will be using a crowd sourced + probe traffic gathering solution that has about 1.3 million probes out in the market. The App is also designed to monitor traffic data and send back anonymous reports from your traffic conditions too.

• Users receive immediate on-screen alerts via iconic warnings indicating
  accidents, construction and other incidents that can cause congestion along
  the current route.
• Provides detailed information regarding the severity of the incident and
  the speed of traffic flow.
• Based on the real-time traffic warnings and the excellent mapping
  functionality the user can determine an efficient, alternative route or stay
  on the course.
• The software automatically adjusts estimated time of arrival.

More at Navigon for the iPhone or at iTunes

HAMBURG–NAVIGON AG, the leading innovator in the navigation market, today announced live traffic capabilities for its iPhone navigation app. The feature, Traffic Live, will be available in October for the North American version of the MobileNavigator for the iPhone. It utilizes real-time traffic information as well as historic data to calculate better routes that avoid congestion and get drivers to their destination faster.

“By including real-time speed data from drivers on the road, we are adding a next generation traffic service to our app that goes beyond traditional traffic functions which work with radio transmitted messages only. This is clearly raising the bar for iPhone GPS applications,” said Gerhard Mayr, Vice-President Worldwide Mobile Phones & New Markets at NAVIGON. “Providing the driver instantaneous traffic conditions, and offering efficient, alternative routes to the congestion, saves time, fuel and money. The ability to know and navigate around gridlock is a crucial function and we are thrilled to be the first major GPS company to announce this critical, and sought after service for an iPhone navigation app at a flat fee.”

NAVIGON’s new Traffic Live provides the most precise traffic information available today. It uses real-time speed data from over one million drivers across North America including commercial fleets such as trucks and taxis but also regular drivers with a GPS system. So if for example several vehicles on a road report slow speed, the system recognizes congestion and provides an alternate and faster route. The feature also uses an intelligent fusion of information from traffic cameras, speed sensors and conventional traffic messages coming through a radio network. In addition, the system includes historic traffic data to assist with the prediction of road conditions when calculating a route. This includes information about traffic conditions on certain holidays or yearly events, allowing the driver to avoid taking routes that traditionally are congested on a regular basis.

Feature integration into the MobileNavigator is seamless and the functionality is easy to use. The software automatically includes the traffic information when calculating a route, and users receive immediate on-screen alerts via iconic warnings indicating new incidents and congestion along the current route. The NAVIGON MobileNavigator provides detailed information regarding the severity of the incident and the speed of traffic flow. Based on the real-time traffic warnings and the excellent mapping functionality the user can determine an efficient, alternative route or stay on the course. The software automatically adjusts estimated time of arrival.

NAVIGON Traffic Live will be available as an In App Purchase for $24.99. Users can add the service directly within the MobileNavigator app. For the first four weeks, it will be available for an introductory price of $19.99. After the one-time purchase, users have the service available with no month-to-month service fees1.

The MobileNavigator transforms any iPhone 3G, equipped with at least Apple OS 3.0 operating system, or iPhone 3G S into a complete navigation device. It is the leading iPhone navigation app in its class with unique features such as Reality View™ Pro which displays 3D views of complex highway interchanges and exits helping drivers to orientate on the go. MobileNavigator is the only flat fee navigation app to include spoken street names (text-to-speech), seamless access to all iPod functions while navigating as well as the display of route specific branded POI’s which allow easy identification of any points of interest along the way.

The NAVIGON MobileNavigator for the iPhone is available for $89.99 in the Apple App Store and is equipped with maps of North America from NAVTEQ®. There are no subscription fees attached and no map downloads during navigation.

For more information and FAQs, please visit: www.navigon.com/iphone.

Source: GpsLodge
Read more here:Navigon adds Live Traffic to iPhone App – Now Available

Among the Top Grossing Apps at the iTunes store are games, utilities and three Navigations Apps for your iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS.

• #3 – Navigon for North America- They were a first mover and are not pretty high on the list coming in at $89. They continue to add features and are readying a subscription traffic feature for the software later this year.
• #7 – Motion X GPS Drive – The low cost solution delivers a navigation solution that needs to be connected to pull down the map set. Other solutions include the maps in the download, while this solution pulls them down live over the air. Lose your connection and lose the ability to pull down new maps. Priced at $2.99 makes it pretty popular to be able to hit the 10 grossing applications
• #33 – TomTom North America – This application offers a lot of capability but not all of the capabilities that one might find in a higher end unit. Very solid navigation from this App – Read my full review of the TomTom App that I posted earlier this week. Available for $99.
• #90 – Co-Pilot Live – at $35 this is a pretty amazing price for the features – they are delivering monthly Highway map updates to you for this price. Quarterly updates to North America helps keep the rest of the roads up to date.

at iTunes – Top Grossing Apps

Source: GpsLodge
Read more here:iPhone Navigation Apps – Top Grossing Apps in the iTunes Store

(Credit: TomTom)TomTom has finally released pricing for its iPhone car cradle, which is due for release next month. You can expect to lay down $120 when you go to pick up your cradle. That price doesn’t include the TomTom turn-by-turn iPhone software which will add an additional $99 … Originally …

Read more here:TomTom prices iPhone car cradle