Sunday, March 18, 2012

iOS 6 brings turn-by-turn navigation; Apple licenses TomTom content

Apple has provided a sneak preview of iOS 6, letting us know that turn-by-turn navigation is coming to the next version of the iPhone and iPad operating system (click the image above for a larger view).

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TomTom wants to send you to map an uncharted island

Now this is what I call a contest. Not content to do the normal GPS giveaway, TomTom has ramped it up, with a contest to send five families or groups of friends to map a tropical island for two weeks. Their “Map Paradise Project” will create new navigable maps for Fiji, St. Lucia, Mauritius, Cape Verde, and the Seychelles. Not only will they cover the winners’ expenses, they’re going to pay each group $15,000 to boot.

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TomTom comes to Android; battles free navigation

HTC-Desire-HD TomTom is attempting to crack the free navigation roadblock thrown up by Google, sealing a deal to provide maps to HTC, one of the most popular manufacturers of Android phones. Initially available on the HTC Desire HD (shown at left) and Desire Z in Europe and Asia, HTC promises to extend the partnership to “a wide variety of future smartphones and geographies.”

The TomTom / Tele Atlas brand distinction has become more muddled lately, and it is unclear whether HTC owners will be getting just Tele Atlas maps or the option to add TomTom navigation. The maps will be included in HTC’s Locations interface, “while turn-by-turn navigation can be purchased and downloaded through HTC Locations or HTC Sync.” The image at left could be dated, and not indicative of what users will see, though it is currently on the official HTC Desire HD web page.

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