Telenav has just launched Scout, an iPhone app which they are calling the “first daily personal navigator that seamlessly works across the web, smartphones, and in-car systems – offering users an easy and consistent experience no matter where they are. As Telenav explains,

Most people still start their searches from their home or office. In fact, according to the same Telenav survey, 75 percent of respondents prefer to use a personal computer over other options to begin their search for local businesses, and 65 percent turn to a personal computer rather than a mobile device to find navigation information.

To ensure Scout users have a rich online experience, Telenav is launching

I needed a car a few weeks ago. That opened the door to my getting some of the neat technology we have seen and reviewed here on the site built into the car. Here was the Gear Diary editors backroom chatter.

Judie:

Question: What color? Answer: black

Question: 2 or 4 door? Answer: 4 door

Carly:

Question: 2 or all-wheel drive? Answer: all-wheel-drive – between where I live and what I do it is a necessity.

Question: hybrid or standard? Answer: Unfortunately standard because hybrid all-wheel drives are rare and the all-wheel-drive kills the gas benefit of the hybrid

Here’s just one small indicator of how much things have changed over the past few years. One of our cars died and is on its way to the junkyard. Prior to having it shipped off we cleared out the glove box. Buried deep inside with these relics of travels past.

Me, “hmmm, New car has nav. I don’t think we need these any longer.”

Elana, “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Let’s just put them in the recycling bin.”

It is a new world and one in which, like phone books, maps are really a thing of the past… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Like many of you, I use my phone for everything! One area I have had mixed results is in GPS turn by turn navigation. The apps tend to be on the pricey side, and they just usually do not have the same feature set found in a stand alone unit. I love my Garmin Nuvi and use it often, but there are times it is not with me and I need another option. I have tried several app options on my iPhone, but have not been satisfied with the lack of features and the terrible sounding voices. Dynavix promises to bring plenty of features and extras and even better voices to the iPhone with… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

I’ve mentioned before that I’m not hella big on navigation software (and hardware).  I find that turn-by-turn, voice-activated stuff to simply be confusing, particularly when I’m driving around cities that I already know, but am just looking for a new address.  (Maybe I need something like Siri, where I can say, “Siri, what part of town is St. Michael’s High School in?”, and have Siri say, “St. Michael’s High School is over off of 360, near where it meets Bee Caves Road”, or something like that.)

But I’m in the minority–the turn-by-turn navigation world is hugely helpful to a ton of people, no question.  Sami was extremely upset when our Honda’s GPS was down… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Smartphones and tablets are “category killers” that have decimated numerous standalone products. As I have written previously, from one perspective the iPhone and the iPad are like “Rorschach devices”. They are “blank slates” (pun totally intentional) that can take the form and function of a wide range of devices depending on whatever software they are currently running. That means that, with the right apps, they can double as a camera and do photo and video editing on the fly. The result has been the demise of the Flip camera and some serious “hurt” on the point-and-shoot camera market. (Once the iPhone 5 and its 8MP sensor is released watch out point-and-shoots!)

Similarly, smartphones and… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The increasing reach of smartphones has called into question the usefulness of many dedicated devices, from music and video players, to compact cameras, and of course the ever-useful GPS.

With GPS and turn-by-turn navigation almost standard equipment on Android devices, and the prevalence of iPhones, one could be forgiven for retiring their trusty nav and leaving their destination in the care of their phone.

Realising this, several of the top navigation device companies have put their eggs in several baskets, with versions of their software and maps available for smartphones across the globe.

A personal favourite of mine is Navigon’s iOS app. It’s clear, easy to use, has excellent mapping display and can harness… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

I’m unusual among nerds in that when it comes to gadgetry, I generally go for function over form.  Let’s take turn-by-turn GPS direction apps–I just want ‘em to tell me where the heck to go.  Most of the time, honestly, I keep the voice turned off, and only watch the map with one eye.

But that’s me, honestly, and as Sami often points out, I’m weird.  Lots of people like a little more interactivity from the turn-by-turn apps then that.  And into that breach has stepped Garmin, with a nerd dream: Darth Vader and Yoda-voiced navigation.  Let’s face it: if this is your thing and you already have a Garmin system, that alone is more than… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

I know what you’re thinking to yourself:  ”Okay, what with all this fancy GPS stuff on my iPhone, there must be more I can do with it!”

You weren’t thinking that?  Well, can you just do me a favor and pretend you were, so’s we can get on with this here news item?  Please?  Thanks.

Anyway, GPS!  You know there’s more you can do with it, and what you need is some programmer somewhere, pushing the bounds of that functionality.  And the Locational folks think they might have done that–their app covers your physical location history like a blanket!  Okay, not a blanket; a web, maybe!  No, that’s not right either.  Anyway, you get the… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

I hate being predictable. I hate being statistic. But Telenav’s new survey basically suggests that I, and I suspect many of you, fall right in line with the data when it comes to out smartphone dependence (read: addiction). The question asked in the survey was, “How willing are you to give up… your smartphone, coffee, shoes etc.”. For example,

54% of all respondents would be more willing to give up exercise for a week than their mobile phone.

55% of respondents would be more willing to give up caffeine for a week than their mobile phone,

63% would be more willing to give up chocolate

70% would be willing to forego

NAVIGON have proudly announced that their MobileNavigator app is now on the screens over 2 million iOS and Android devices, and to celebrate are offering all their apps for half-price.

Having used the NAVIGON app on my iPhone 3G and iPhone 4, it’s easily one of the best on the market, with lane guidance, spoken street names and a simple route options screen to take you where you want to go, the way you want to go. Integrated Google search makes finding POIs a cinch, and the 3D mapping display is clear and easy to follow.

Be quick though, as the sale is only for 4 days!

Pricing available in the press release… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

GPS saves me a lot of hassle. I’m certainly not a human compass, and — especially if traveling to an unfamiliar city — chances are I will get lost at least once if I don’t have a GPS device or very good directions. Looking around for street signs and calculating turns is fine, but what if your GPS was so smart it knew to turn at a specific building or shopping center?

That’s exactly what NAVTEQ and NNG are showing at CES. The iGo My way uses NAVTEQ Natural Guidance™ to give you directions in a more intuitive method, rather than the linear “turn right in 300 feet” option that so many of our GPS… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of NAVTEQ. All opinions are 100% mine.

There are a few key features that MUST in my next car.

Since I live on a steep hill and have a bit of a schlep to get into my office my next car will have to have four-wheel drive.

Since I care about our environment my next car will have to have a hybrid engine or, if available at the time, be fully electric.

Since I talk on the phone while driving my next car will have to have integrated Bluetooth.

And since I often… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Image courtesy of Rightway

Portable GPS units are a dime a dozen these days; I think I even saw them for sale the last time I ran in to the local 7-11 for a slurpee. A few years ago I remember the GPS boom with the 3.5″ TomTom’s flying on the shelves on Black Friday and for Christmas, but I can tell you most of the time you get what you pay for. Some of the flagship units from Garmin, TomTom, and Magellan can easily cost you $500 or more on today’s market. But if you’re in the market for a new personal Nav device, and your cell phone navigator just isn’t cutting it, then RightWay… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

It’s the summer driving season, and you know what that means:  traffic galore.  There are a number of apps out there to help you find and avoid traffic (including the iPhone mapping app, for that matter), so if you’re in the market, you may want to check out Inrix Traffic for the iPhone.  The Inrix app allows you to “real-time traffic and traffic forecasts for more every major roadway in 126 cities across the U.S. and Canada.”

The Inrix Traffic app is available for free via iTunes, with an upgrade to the “Pro” version available in-app for an MSRP of $10/year, or $25/lifetime.  So if you’re stocking up on travel apps for the… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...