Items tagged with Nav
For companies like TomTom, it's a tough road ahead. Personal navigation devices have lost their luster as people move on to in-car systems and savvy smartphones, but the company is being quite smart about its future. Instead of banking on PND sales, TomTom has just landed a deal to provide the in-car navigation system for Fiat's automobiles. It technically extends an existing partnership between the two, but now -- for the first time -- TomTom navigation will be built-in as part of the Fiat Group's new Uconnect 5" Radio Nav infotainment system. The new infotainment system will initially be available in Fiat 500L series models, and offers a 5" touch screen. Uconnect will feature many of the technologies...
Read more...
The world's first HTML5, browser-based, voice-guided, turn-by-turn GPS nav service has just been released. Got all that? TeleNav is upping their game by adding "one line of code." That line gives evelopers of mobile websites or of apps with local content will have a free and easy way to integrate full GPS turn-by-turn directions into their services, creating a more seamless user experience and increasing user engagement and time spent within their applications. Similar to TeleNav's GPS navigation application, the HTML5 navigation service will include full-color moving maps, audio directions, and automatic rerouting if the driver misses a turn. TeleNav's HTML5 navigation service will be free for...
Read more...
We hate to admit it, but we're having a hard time remembering the last time Garmin spat out a new range of navigators, but it's not surprising. While these things were once hot commodities in the consumer realm, many drivers have reverted to using in-dash GPS systems or their smartphone to get from Point A to Point B. Nevertheless, there's still lingering demand from folks who'd like to upgrade their standard, standalone GPS unit, and that's what the 2012 line of nüvis are about. This new range contains advanced Guidance 2.0 and 3.0 navigation engines for a faster, more intuitive user interface and enhanced features that result in Garmin’s most capable navigators yet. The nüvi...
Read more...
Is the GPS world big enough for both Garmin and Navigon? Apparently not. It's official: Garmin has just completed their historical acquisition of Navigon, bringing together two of the biggest names in satnav history. Cliff Pemble, chairman and COO of Garmin, had this to say: "We are pleased to have the Navigon team join the Garmin family. We are looking forward to expanding our ability to serve our collective customers going forward." The other half, Egon Minar, Navigon’s board member, had this to say: "We are excited to be a part of Garmin and we look forward to turning our efforts toward integration and the opportunities ahead. Navigon has an innovative new product lineup that we’re...
Read more...
Sometimes, getting from point A to point B really is the all that matters. Usually that involves a long haul, where all you want to do is sleep. But what if there was more to navigation beyond that? What if the journey was more exciting? That's what Wikitude promises to provide. The world's first AR (augmented reality) navigation app has just launched in America, just in time for that summer vacation you've been planning. The app has already taken Europe by storm, and now it's time for America's roadways to see the same pizazz. Wikitude Drive overlays the desired navigation route onto the camera view of the mobile device. Instead of using a digital map, the driver simply needs to follow a line...
Read more...
For the road warrior, there's not too many things worse than hitting a traffic jam at an inopportune time. But over the past few years, users of Google Maps have been able to avoid those jams when relying on the GMaps Navigation feature on Android devices. In the U.S., most roads are now covered with live traffic updates, signifying where traffic is congested and giving you options for circling around it. Folks in Europe have been forced to sit around and wait patiently for their inclusion. Now, that's becoming a reality. Just in time for the summer travel season across the pond, Google has announced that Live Traffic is available in 13 nations in Europe. The new feature is a traffic layer within...
Read more...
This world just isn't big enough for the both of 'em. At least that's the impression we get, as Garmin has just announced the signing of a deal that will have them acquiring yet another navigation mainstay, Navigon. Actually, it's a subsidiary of Garmin that will do the acquiring, but it's still major news in the soft navigation market. Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and COO, obviously only had positive things to say about this whole ordeal: "This acquisition is a great complement to Garmin’s existing automotive and mobile business. Navigon has invested significantly in the European automotive OEM business, and we feel that we can rapidly expand our automotive OEM footprint...
Read more...
Going somewhere? Going somewhere where you'll need a rugged navigation system to get you there? Garmin's new Montana handheld offers just that, and the company's calling it the most advanced of its kind. It offers a rugged exterior, with multiple mounting and battery options, dual-orientation and screen layout options and support for a wide range of Garmin cartography. It has a barometric altimeter for elevation profiling and ability to profile the route ahead using included worldwide elevation model, and the included 3-axis compass gives it a heading while standing still or not held level. There's a 4" touch panel, a 5MP camera, sunlight-readable display, and tons of extra features that are...
Read more...
Navigating around in a car is one thing, but now that the summer is upon us, it's time to think about renting that RV you've been dreaming about, packing up, and driving across the country. Rand McNally has just introduced their newest PND, the RVND 5510, which is described as the first navigation device designed specifically for RVers. The device includes legal (including propane and other RV-only), height and weight restrictions, right or left-turn preference based on eleven different RV types, and a quick reference to the Rand McNally Road Atlas. There's also turn-by-turn spoken and text directions, as well as 14 million points of interest (things like festivals, and National, State, and Regional...
Read more...
Personal Navigation Devices are great for getting from point A to point B, but what about keeping you safe? It's a major concern, of course, and TomTom is working to make it even more of a priority. The company has this week revealed their Active Driver Feedback and WEBFLEET OptiDrive, two new features focused at further increasing TomTom’s safety and efficiency benefits for businesses. Active Driver Feedback promotes safe driving by providing drivers immediate feedback on their driving performance via their TomTom PRO navigation devices, while WEBFLEET OptiDrive gives business management an easy tool to help their drivers drive more safely and in a greener way. We're told that both features...
Read more...
The iPhone has become a GPS replacement for many, and smartphones in general are quickly becoming powerful and smart enough to handle navigation duties. But if you have someone riding shotgun, there's obviously a lot of benefit to having a map on a larger display. The iPad already has a couple of GPS options, but one of the best on the iPhone is now being unified with the iPad in a recent release. Navigon's MobileNavigator app has today been upgraded to version 1.7, and it includes a total of six new features. Universal iPad integration, Zagat Survey, Active Lane Assistant, Map Reporter, enhanced Retina display support, and new user notifications are at the top of the upgrade list, and the graphics...
Read more...
Is the best current GPS on the market, just a phone? Some would say that Google Maps Navigation on Android has the navigation thing down, but there's still nothing quite like a dedicated NAV. Garmin's first attempt at combining a GPS and a phone didn't exactly go over well; the original nuvifone took too long to go from introduction to shipping, and then the final product was priced too high for many to consider given the popularity of the iPhone, RIM's BlackBerry line and the growing Android selection. The second Garmin phone, which is simply called Garminfone, is a bit different. The phone is landing with a lower price tag than before, and rather than being completely proprietary, this handset...
Read more...
There has been a lot of action at Google this week, and the Caffeine boost is just the tip of the iceberg. In a move that may be strong European mainstays like Nokia on their heels, Google has just announced that their highly lauded Google Maps Navigation service is finally departing the U.S. and heading elsewhere. But don't worry, it's not actually leaving America--it's cloning itself and becoming available in a variety of other locations. Google Maps Navigation remains one of the major reasons that users are flocking to Android. It's far more functional than the standard Maps application for iPhone, and it runs laps around most other navigation solutions on other operating systems. Just in...
Read more...
The Global Positioning System is something most Americans take for granted. It's one of those things, like radio waves and cellphone service, that just seems "there." As if it were always "there" and will always be "there." It's almost as if the world was created with GPS, mostly because there's no monthly fee to tap into the satellites, and just about every smartphone now has GPS capabilities built right in. So, it's fair to take it all for granted, right? Well, not really. GPS may be there for all to enjoy, but it's not free. In fact, it doesn't even come cheap. The GPS system we're used to now has been around for awhile, and it's about time to start thinking about upgrades. According to a...
Read more...
