deCarta and TomTom Team Up Against Google Maps

Posted on 26/10/2014 by Alexandru Chiuariu

Providers of maps and personal navigation devices have a really hard time competing against Google, not only because the search giant’s maps are very accurate, but also because they are offered at no cost.

TomTom has made a name for itself over the years with the help of the mapping products it created. When Apple ditched Google Maps in 2012, it was TomTom it turned to. Well, that’s not a particularly cheerful thing to bring to mind, as at that time Apple Maps weren’t exactly accurate. deCarta, on the other hand, specializes in mapping software and local search. The solution resulting from this collaboration will tackle, among others, connected mapping and navigation, local search and real-time traffic.

In an interview with Greg Sterling of Search Engine Land, Kim Fennell, CEO of deCarta pointed out that the mapping product made in collaboration with TomTom is very flexible and permits customization to a higher degree than Google Maps. Keep in mind that the products these two companies are currently working on are not for consumers, or at least not directly for them. Instead, developers and business such as car makers, carriers, device makers are targeted as the main customers.

This is TomTom’s statement regarding the newly launched product line: “As well as integrating TomTom’s existing navigation software and service products, such as NavKit, NavKit Worker and NavCloud, customers and developers can now integrate TomTom’s online turn-by-turn navigation. This also includes TomTom’s latest maps, real-time traffic, best-in-class routing, a comprehensive search function and easy-to-use software development kits.

TomTom’s new online navigation service enables mobile device vendors and web service providers to provide online mapping and navigation applications that don’t require an offline map. The new service is also well-suited for products in the emerging wearables and internet-of-things product categories.”

Fennell is confident about their product’s success: “In August we replaced Google local search on Blackberry phones in 122 countries and we just replaced Bing at OnStar.” It’s interesting how he doesn’t regard Microsoft as competitor, saying that only TomTom, Nokia and Google are fighting for the supremacy. I don’t know how Microsoft’s mapping software looks like in cars, but the desktop version of Bing Maps is actually quite decent, and I wouldn’t hurry to dismiss it so easily.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the TomTom GPS smartwatch for golfers and the Nokia Here maps that are coming to Android.

Magellan SmartGPS review: further proof your phone is the only navigator you need

Posted on 14/06/2013 by Darren Murph

When speaking with executives from the Google Maps team earlier this year at I/O, I was reminded that Maps wasn't even a product in 2004. In less than a decade, one of Google's bright ideas has completely and unabashedly transformed the entire routing industry. (Avid readers will no doubt recall this graph, depicting real moves in the stock market moments after Google Maps Navigation was first introduced.) That development, coupled with the explosion in smartphone adoption across emerged markets, has left players like Magellan in quite the predicament. It wasn't that long ago that dedicated PNDs (personal navigation devices) were the gift to get for the holiday season. And indeed, many units from Garmin in particular delighted me plenty over the years.

But the reality today is that PND makers have found themselves redundant. A few have resorted to innovating on the software side and nailing down partnerships with automakers and fleet-management firms in order to keep revenue rolling in, while Magellan has opted to create a new piece of hardware. That hardware, of course, is the SmartGPS. Rather than being a standalone PND suitable for mounting on one's dash or window, the device works best when used in concert with an accompanying iPhone or Android app (sorry, Windows Phone and BlackBerry users). In essence, the company is hoping that by creating a product that extends the functionality of your smartphone, you'll be inclined to hand over $250. After a week of road tripping through the US southwest, however, I'm inclined to believe differently.

Gallery: Magellan SmartGPS review

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

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Source: Magellan SmartGPS product page

Panasonic Releases CN-SG520 And CN-MC02 PNDs In Japan

Posted on 29/09/2012 by Johan

Panasonic Releases CN-SG520 And CN-MC02 PNDs In Japan

Panasonic will release the CN-SG520 and CN-MC02 personal navigation devices (PNDs) in the Japanese market next month. Designed for travelers, the CN-SG520 (Navi Journey) features a 5-inch display with a 272×480 pixel resolution and an SD/ SDHC card slot. It is compatible with both MP3 and WMA files. The CN-MC02 (Gorilla Cycle) is designed for bicycle. This IPX5-certified PND comes equipped with a 4.3-inch display with a 272×480 pixel resolution and an SD/SDHC card slot. No word on pricing at this time. [Akihabara]

Nokia Drive offline navigation review: taking the Lumia 900 for an off-the-grid spin

Posted on 01/08/2012 by Darren Murph

I've sung praises about it for years, but it seems like only now the industry is getting on the same train of thought. It could be my unnatural adoration of travel, or just an entirely healthy fear of getting lost, but offline navigation has long since been a top priority for me when choosing a mobile device. Or, more importantly, a mobile operating system. For the longest while, iOS forced my hand to Android due to Google Maps Navigation being available only on the latter, and while even that wasn't offline, it still far surpassed any other routing app in terms of system integration, map updates and general silkiness.

Even dating back to our 2010 mobile GPS shootout, Nokia has been a player. At that time, it was the outfit's Ovi Maps leading the pack, offering the only legitimate offline solution amongst a legion of ho-hum alternatives that required bits of data to keep you on track. But frankly, there wasn't a Symbian device in Nokia's stable that could show up my Nexus One in terms of overall utility, so begrudgingly, I pushed it aside. Eventually, Google came around and added caching to routes, which effectively downloaded all routing guidance along your path as soon as you plugged in a destination. The killer, however, was that it wouldn't take too kindly to veering far from that path should you ever drop signal. Close, but no cigar.

Fast forward to today, and we've got Google Maps already working in offline mode for Android 2.2+ devices. Furthermore, the company's Brian McClendon confessed to us at its June 2012 'Maps' event that it's "committed" to bringing all of the app's features to iOS (and potentially other platforms). But in my haste to find something in the here and now, I recently turned to the Lumia 900 for guidance. Literally. Back in late March, the Lumia-exclusive Nokia Drive application gained full offline access, and I sought to use the handset exclusively to navigate a 1,900-mile trek through some of America's most remote locales. How'd it go? Join us after the break to find out.

Gallery: Nokia Drive navigation on Lumia 900