So the current version of TomTom USA is on sale for $40 Tommorow Navigon's MobileNavigator USA will be on sale for $50 (there is supposed to be special pricing on the MyRegion apps closer to WWDC) I know we have plenty of users here that have used at least one of these so I thought I'd ask for some insights. Likes? Dislikes?
I have only tried Navigon and love it. Navigon however uses in app purchases for certain things. If you want live traffic reports you have to pay $19.99 for this feature (one time purchase). However those reports are taken real time using a service which takes data from Navigon users and applies it to congested areas to show which routes are backed up and which ones are not. Navigon like Tom Tom has all the map data stored on the device (not OTA) so maps can sometimes be a little out of date but I haven't had a problem with Navigon steering me in the wrong direction. Also this means the app is over 1GB in size, takes time to update but the good is you don't have to rely on cell service when you travel since the data is on board. Navigon has text to speech navigation and a 3D view of your map. Routes can be started but a negative is you can not edit these routes once navigation begins. The software does however adjust your route on the fly if you miss an exit and re routes according to your personal settings (take fastest route, take least busy route etc.). I have heard that Tom Tom has a much better and easier to use UI though and the Navigon menu system is cluttered and takes a little getting used to. You can view the menu system in landscape or portrait mode and listen to iPod music during navigation if you like. Points of interest are shown but the data is a little out of date in certain areas (from what I have noticed). GPS is accurate but can lag at times depending on line of sight issues. All in all I think it is a 4 star app with a few things it can still improve on. From what I have read the Tom Tom car kit works with both Tom Tom and Navigon and is probably a good investment if you plan on using it alot (it is $100 though for just the car kit alone). It is suppose to mount to the windshield (use only if it is legal in your area) and provide better GPS reception because there is a chip inside the mount. Also keep in mind you will be using your phone for GPS. Which means any interruptions (phone calls, text messages, push notifications) can interrupt navigation until OS 4.0 hits public with the background APIs available for developer use. Also you can't play games, send emails or text messages (if you are not jailbroken) while navigating. Of course if you have two phones available this isn't that much of a concern. Just keep it in mind, it is the price you pay for an all in one solution. Check out a YouTuber by the name "insanelygreatmac" as he goes in depth on reviews for both Navigon and Tom Tom and a few other cheaper/less feature rich GPS solutions for the iPhone.
