Ok so recently I went on a trip from Christchurch to Dunedin, the perfect opportunity for me to play with my TomTom car kit and really give the tun-by-turn apps a run for their money…. or so I thought.

I have been in New Zealand for a while now and whilst I know it’s not that hard to get from Christchurch to Dunedin (SH1 all the way) I figured it would be good to give everything a run, so I programmed everything and off I went.

Everything was going great, I had my music playing from my iPhone whilst getting directions from ‘Serena’ (I don’t think my wife likes Serena because she knows too much), that is until we hit Timaru. We pulled in to get some coffee and lunch and when I disconnected my iPhone I noticed that the battery level had dropped. CocoaLove had posted about this on our forum so I wasn’t overly suprised but as you can see from my comment, it was my belief it was actually charging and there may have been a setup error. Well let me be the first to say I was wrong.

As…

Another day, another GPS turn-by-turn navigation app! Or at least that’s the way it seems with so many coming along recently. This time we’re looking at iGO My Way 2009 from NNG Global Services of Hungary. By now the turn-by-turn GPS navigation app market is becoming pretty saturated with some very solid offerings from reputable companies already on the table, so any new entrant is going to have to put out something pretty compelling to compete with the established choices — so does iGO cut it? Read on for our review.

By this stage we are all well aware of the basic functions of a GPS app, and what to expect of them. As we’ve seen in our reviews of the other apps out there, the core look and feel is all much-of-a-much — tiled, touch-screen menus, 3D maps, spoken driving directions, the ability to look up POI such as restaurants, shops and petrol stations, and so on and so forth. So what, if anything, makes iGO different to the rest?

Well, for one thing it has to be said that iGO’s menu structure is among the best we’ve seen. Often-times the menus of…

So you got a new iPhone for Christmas, huh? Lucky you! Learning how to use your iPhone is the easy part, but there are some essential things you need to know to get the most out of your new toy and to make it safe. Here are our ten golden rules.

1. Add a lock-code.

Your iPhone, once set-up, contains and gives access to a lot of very personal information – identity details, email accounts, website log-ins, contact details, possibly even banking information. If you had all this information written down in a book, you would never allow a complete stranger to pick it up and start rifling through it, yet if you don’t protect your iPhone with a lock code this is exactly what you’re risking. Check out our guide to setting up passcode protection right here and secure your data right now.

2. Get on the right data plan.

If this is your first iPhone, it may take some getting used to the fact that the whole device is geared around access to the internet. So much so, in fact, that unlike many other devices you really can’t stop it. There are no “launching…

‘Tis the season to be frugal, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la! For any of you out there who still haven’t invested in a turn-by-turn GPS app, now might be a good time to treat yourself as all of the major GPS apps for New Zealand are enjoying price-drops for the festive season including Sygic Mobile Maps, TomTom, CoPilot and iGo My Way (a review of which is coming soon as it’s a new release). Hit the link for more details.

– Sygic Mobile Maps 2009 (review here). Currently $74.99 down from $84.99.

– TomTom (review here). Currently $99.99 down from $120.

– CoPilot Live (review here). Currently $59.99 down from $84.99. (Price still showing $84.99 at time of going to press, assume this is in the process of being updated so check before you buy).

– iGo My Way 2009. Currently $94.99. This is advertised as a promotional price but the normal price is not stated.

The only GPS app we’ve reviewed that isn’t joining in with the festivities is Ndrive New Zealand, but that’s no loss. Wherever you’re heading this Christmas break, may we remind you to be responsible with…

In a somewhat questionable move, CoPilot have enabled text-to-speech in their recent app update, however there’s a catch… they want you to pay for it.

Given how competitive the iPhone turn-by-turn app market has become and given that the major competitors such as Sygic Mobile Maps and TomTom have provided text-to-speech via free updates, this is a surprise move and a bit of a gamble for publishers ALK.

Sure, an extra $6.49 may not sound like much when compared to the initial purchase of $84.99, and I’m sure existing owners of the app will (reluctantly) part with the cash to unlock a pretty major new feature, but it could turn new buyers away.

Anyhow, the update is available now and the TTS add-on is available from the new ‘CoPilot Store’ feature within the app’s settings menu.

CoPilot Australia / New Zealand

Bought the Text-to-Speech add-on? What do you think of it? Let us know in the comments.

When you think you are done with all the turn-by-turn apps, along comes another. We received a number of tip offs yesterday letting us know that NDrive New Zealand had hit the AppStore. But at a cost of $84.99 how does it fair, is it a Sygic/TomTom/Co-Pilot beater??

Well, unfortunately no it’s not. As Steve said, “until one allows me to use KITT for a voice then they’re all much alike” and this is true for the most part with the exception that this app is missing some other key features that should have been there from day one. It is late to the app store (compared with the others) and should therefore have the full feature set. It takes roughly two weeks for an app to be approved so they knew certain features were already available in the current alternatives.

The app itself is pretty much the same as we have seen before, after all it’s just another turn-by-turn app. So really we look to features. What does this have over the competitors. The answer…… nothing. Infact I would suggest you put your money towards any of the others (Sygic being my favourite) and…

Here’s an update we’ve been waiting for (it seems like was ages ago we first announced this). The TomTom car kit for iPhone should be available within a week and the price……..The car kit will set you back $199 plus the cost of the app ($119.99)

It will be available from Harvey Norman and Super Cheap Auto (unconfirmed)

So at a total of $318.99 for app and dock is it worth it, to be honest I think it probably is. The lowest stand alone unit runs at $299 and that doesn’t have hands free calling (via bluetooth) included. To get that you are going to be looking at spending at least $599 (for a TomTom unit)

Note: Prices taken from TomTom website and do not reflect any specials individual stores may have

Read our review of the car kit here.

Read our app review here. Not got the app? get that here.

What do you think? Worth the money? Let us know in the comments.

Well folks, after only a couple of days and hot on the heels of TomToms release Sygic have released an update as well. Gotta love competition
Head past the read more to see what’s included in this update and hit the link to download.

The new features included in the update are:

-A free map update (with navigation enabled via tasman Bridge, Hume Highway and Lane Cove Tunnel)
-200k new restaurants, petrol stations and other points of interest
-music does not mute before the voice instruction, it just decreases the volume
-improved navigation to addresses stored in Contacts by added ZIP code search and company search
-connecting the iPhone to a car audio will not mute voice instructions
-radio apps playing in the background will not mute when navigating

The update weighs in at a whopping 390MB so you’ll need to be on Wi-Fi

– Sygic

Got the update? Let us know what you think in the comments

Tips have been flooding in that version 1.2 of TomTom’s iPhone GPS app has just hit the App Store. There’s no doubt that it certainly has some ground to make up against the competition, so do the new features cut it? Continue reading for details of what’s included in the update.

The new features included in the update are:

Updated maps
Updated IQ Routes database with “millions of new measurements”
Text-to-speech (finally!) in UK, US and Australian accents
‘Help Me!’ emergency menu (nearest Liquor King?)
‘Safety Cameras’ database update (presume they mean speed cameras)
Customisable audio warnings for speed limits and safety cameras.
iPod controls
Support added for original iPhone and iPod touch (for use with TomTom car kit presumably)

The update weighs in at 154MB so start your engines!

– TomTom New Zealand

Got the update? Let us know what you think in the comments

After months of impatient waiting with little chance of seeing the Tomtom car kit hit the New Zealand retail market anytime soon, I decided to source one via the UK. I had a friend purchase one from the Tomtom UK website and mail it to me in NZ. Hit the link to read my review of the cradle and find out if it’s worth the cash!

The car kit seemed to be an object of myth and I couldn’t believe it when it landed on my desk – this object just seemed so out of reach yet here it was, in my hands and before even Ingram Micro (Distributor for Tomtom in NZ) had them!

So, What’s in the box? The box contains a manual, a car charger, a sticky backed disk (for dash mounting) and the iPhone cradle, just the basics to get you going but surprisingly no audio cable. Given the cost of this item I would have thought an audio cable would be included.

On initial inspection the car kit quality is top notch, and feels very solidly put together. The EasyPort mount is attached to the cradle via a ball joint allowing for minor adjustment,…

We have word from ALK Technologies, the team behind CoPilot, that an update for their GPS navigation app has been approved by Apple and is being rolled-out across the App Store as we speak. Hit the link for the low-down on what’s new in the update and some screenshots.

According to Helene Luis, ALK’s European PR & Events Executive, here’s what’s coming up:

The latest update brings a number of improvements, including enhanced GPS performance as well as iPod controls within the application.  This means that users can now control their iPod through the CoPilot Live application, making the application even simpler to use.  This automatic update is free to all existing users.

Since its launch in August, CoPilot Live continues to prove extremely popular with consumers in Europe, currently retaining top position amongst the paid navigation apps on the Apple App Store.  The CoPilot application also holds the number one position in the iTunes Top Grossing Apps chart, meaning that it has generated more revenue than any other app sold via the Apple App Store in some European countries.

The latest CoPilot Live iPhone app update has been approved and is now available via AppStore in North America, UK+IRE,

…

Ouch. Did you hear that? That was the sound of a hundred hearts missing a beat over at TomTom / Sygic / ALK headquarters. Google has just announced an updated version of Google Maps for Android that includes built-in turn-by-turn GPS navigation that makes use of all the technologies already present in Google Maps such as its satellite imagery, StreetView, and even voice search… all free. And according to TUAW, the iPhone version has been submitted to Apple where it is currently awaiting approval.

Check out the Android version of the app in action:

We’ve got to admit it, the app looks incredible. But the one critical downside to this for New Zealanders is that this will be pulling all its data from the net, just like the existing Maps app, and with all those StreetView and satellite images streaming to your device this could turn out to be an expensive option in terms of data usage, whereas the current GPS navigation apps cache their data and cost nothing to run beyond the initial purchase.

If you’re hungry for more information, check out the links below to hear it from the horse’s mouth. But before…

Yesterday’s launch of CoPilot Australasia was a surprise indeed, but a welcome one. New Zealand typically gets overlooked in so many ways so it’s great to say that we’re now officially spoiled for choice when it come to GPS navigation apps for our iPhones. CoPilot arrives third to TomTom and Sygic Mobile Maps, but does it have what it takes to take the crown?

Upon firing up CoPilot for the first time, the initial impression is that this is a highly polished affair – not as ‘basic’ looking as TomTom and more ‘iPhone-y’ than Sygic, but only just. The inital setup goes through the usual options – pick your units of measurement, pick your voice for verbal instructions and so on. It also allows you to setup ‘my places’ which include your home, work and favourites. Setting these makes life much easier in the future.

The main menu includes the usual suspects such as ‘Destination’ and ‘My Places’ but also includes a couple of neat touches such as ‘Quick Stop’ which will let you quickly and easily find the things you’re most likely need to find in a hurry when in…

New Zealand just got a whole new load of GPS navigation love in the shape of CoPilot Australasia [iTunes Link]. Priced at $94.99, the app is another major GPS app in the same vein as TomTom and Sygic and features maps for both Australia and New Zealand. American and European versions of CoPilot have been out for a wee while with Gizmodo even naming it ‘Best Cheap GPS App’. We will be testing the app on the mean streets of Christchurch today and will report back with a full review either this evening or tomorrow morning, so keep your eyes peeled here is the review. In the meantime hit up the ‘read more’ link for the official blurb to whet your appetite!

Here’s the official blurb for CoPilot:

CoPilot Live is the award-winning GPS Sat Nav system that runs on your iPhone, with complete street maps of USA and Canada. It’s your personal travelling assistant that’s always at your side, ready to guide you with turn-by-turn directions and keep you better informed with useful live information about your route.

Every journey easier
CoPilot Live is packed with sophisticated features, previously…

We have just received an email from the press secretary to Steven Joyce, Minister of Transport, in response to an email we sent to Andrew Knackstedt of the NZ Transport Agency this morning. In it, we have received confirmation that the Road User Amendment Rules 2009 is to be amended to allow the continued use of GPS Navigation apps in mobiles phones.

In our email to Mr Knackstedt this morning we posed the following questions:

1) Why does the ministry consider that using good quality turn-by-turn GPS navigation aids on a mobile device such as an iPhone represents more of a hazard than a dedicated GPS unit such as a TomTom, Navman etc. despite their implementation and use being almost exactly identical?

2) Is there evidence to support this belief by way of investigations / studies / reports? What research has the government done prior to the introduction of this particular facet of the legislation?

3) Why has the government continued to allow the sale of devices with this functionality built-in, and the sale of add-on applications specifically for this purpose despite intending to ban their  use?

4) Does the government plan to ban the sale / purchase of such

…

According to an article on stuff.co.nz this morning, the Ministry of Transport’s Road User Amendment Rule 2009 which will become law in November, will outlaw the use of satellite navigation apps on mobile phones, even if it is mounted to the dashboard.

[jump to petition]

The article quotes Transport Ministry spokesman John Summers as saying “The Road User Amendment Rule 2009 means drivers will not be able to look at a navigation aid on a mobile phone when driving, even if it is mounted on the dashboard. You can use a mobile phone held in a cradle while driving, but only to make, receive or terminate a phone call. You cannot use them in any other way, such as reading a GPS map, reading email or consulting an electronic diary.”

Want some salt for that wound? While the government is adamant your copy of TomTom or Sygic for iPhone is going to wreck lives and kill people, it is perfectly happy for you to have a dedicated Sat Nav unit. It’s also perfectly happy for you to put a paper map on the passenger seat and have you glance down at that.

We’re…

As reported earlier, a major update of Sygic Mobile Maps 2009 [iTunes Link] has gone live through the App Store today. Weighing in at around 350MB, it’s a fairly hefty download which introduces a good amount of new features and a number of improvements and fixes. One of them – text-to-speech – is an exciting and major introduction which could give it quite an edge over the competition. But how does it stack up in real-life use?

The text-to-speech function actually works very well. Instead of just generic “turn left” and “turn right” announcements, Mobile Maps now reads out explicit instructions including the street name, thus eliminating any confusion as to which street you are being directed to. There are four English-language voices to choose from that support text-to-speech – an American male and female, and a British male and female. All four voices are very clear and sound a bit more polished than the original voices (which are still available should you prefer them).

Pronounciation of English / Western names is very good on the whole, with streets like Hereford Street, Gloucester Street, Queen Street all sounding very natural and almost recorded. Unfortunately, though, it does struggle…

It’s been a long time coming but the update for Sygic Mobile Maps 2009 Australia / New Zealand (and international flavours) is now available. We’ll be reporting in-depth on the changes later on today once we’ve had a chance to take them in, but read on for a brief round-up of the changes.

- Text-to-speech announcement of street names (I’m really interested to see how it handles these in NZ!)
- Obtain addresses from your contacts
- Music playback now fades out when verbal instructions are played. (YAY!)
- Improved GPS lock now faster than ever
- Smoother position display
- Increased font size for road names and “information bars”(?)
- No disclaimer warning message after completion of phone call

This all sounds very promising and addresses pretty much all of the issues we raised in our review. Visit us later on today for our in-depth re-visit.

We have been receiving a lot of questions about the car kit for TomTom, so we thought we’d get in touch with them to get some answers. Unfortunately at this stage they haven’t given us any details on pricing but have said that they expect it will be available at the end of summer (US). Here’s what they said….

“More information on the specifications and pricing as of the car kit as soon as the car kit becomes available, which we expect around the end of summer.

Some of the details we can share are:
The TomTom car kit for iPhone is a new car kit especially developed for the iPhone 3G and 3Gs. It ensures easy and safe docking in the car to securely hold and power the iPhone while driving.

Furthermore it offers:

• enhanced GPS performance especially in areas where GPS reception is limited, i.e. when driving through a city with high buildings or forests
• a Built-in speaker for loud and clear voice instructions and hands-free calling in the car
• optional music playback over the car stereo, via standard audio cable (not included with the car kit)
• car charger to charge the iPhone to avoid

…

Well, we’ve had a chance to put it through it’s paces and here it is, the first review of the TomTom iPhone App.

This app needs no introduction and  I would suggest that most people have heard of TomTom. They are quite the household name when it comes to Turn-by-Turn navigation and finally the wait is over, from what feels like such a long time ago when it was announced at WWDC in June.

First things first, price. TomTom for iPhone will set you back $119.99, that’s $35 more than it’s closest competitor Sygic, but are you just paying for a brand name or is it worth the extra money? The TomTom New Zealand app is just that, for your money you only get the New Zealand maps, if you want the Australian maps you are going to be stumping up an extra $104.99, totaling $225 for both sets of maps whereas Sygic will only set you back $84.99. Now if you are not a big traveler it might not make much difference to you, but for people who regularly visit Australia this could be a deal breaker.

When…

The New Zealand version of Tomtom’s turn-by-turn GPS navigation offering for iPhone has been released today. The app is priced at $119.99 and we will be reviewing it in full later on today once have reviewed it now we’ve had a chance to put it through its paces, so keep your eyes peeled for updates.

Here are the prices for the 4 options available:

- U.S. & Canada [App Store]: NZ $124.99
- Western Europe [App Store]: NZ $179.99
- Australia [App Store]: NZ $104.99
- New Zealand [App Store]: NZ $119.99

Convergence, sweet convergence. First your iPhone let you chuck out your iPod, your PDA, your dusty old filofax and even your lame netbook. Now, you can burn your road maps and even bin your in-car GPS, thanks to iPhone 3.0 and the introduction of turn-by-turn GPS apps. The first such app to hit The Store in New Zealand is Sygic Mobile Maps 2009, but is it any good?

Sygic may not exactly be a household name, but they’ve been quietly developing GPS systems since 2002. Based in Bratislava, Slovakia, the company started out gearing up taxi drivers, truckers and other road-based industries. Here in 2009, they’re a full-fledged consumer brand offering turn-by-turn navigation on many mobile platforms including Symbian, iPhone and soon Android. Priced at $84.99 and available through the App Store, Mobile Maps 2009 covers both Australia and New Zealand in one combined app.

Firing up Mobile Maps for the first time will take you through a quick wizard where you can choose from some core basic settings such as language, unit of measurement, spoken language (the app has an American or British voice, but sadly no Kiwi), but there is extensive customisation available beyond…