 Apple is pioneering the new era of mobile devices. The iPhone didn’t just make waves when it was released, it caused a tsunami! Since the release of the 3G and 3GS models the number of applications generated have greatly surpassed even the most outrageous of estimates. The GPS navigation applications alone are so numerous they can overwhelm consumers. Macworld.com wrote up a great article comparing GPS apps for the iPhone, Nine iPhone GPS navigation apps compared.
iPhone apps have recently been able to offer features previously only found in stand alone GPS units. Text-to-speech is one such option, giving the user voice directions, including the name of the street to turn on. The iPhone OS 3 was the turning point for these navigation apps, and developers are now realizing the potential. Since the release of iPhone OS 3, the updates to the GPS applications have been plentiful, as the designers have had to keep up with the desires of the consumers.
The article by Macworld.com takes into consideration the fundamentals of GPS navigation: choosing a destination, the accuracy of the route provided, and visual and spoken directions and cues for upcoming road changes. Some of the apps also include real time traffic information, provided at a subscription cost, to select areas throughout the United States.
The costs of these programs vary from $35 to $100, and a monthly cost of $10 for AT&T Navigator. The features compared include ease of use, MP3 and iPod control, contact list integration, modes, traffic and avoidances. In some cases, the comparison data is staggering, with some coming out very strong and others lagging terribly. As the technology of GPS navigation on mobile devices advances, the features and functions will change and improve.
|
