I am a big fan of GPS navigation devices. In fact, I depend on them. E 'therefore natural that my iPhone 3GS will be the last turn GPS navigation applications, the Navigon $ 70 and $ 80 at the iGo My Way. Both have recently been released App Store. (In my car I have the Tom Tom ONE XL).
After about a week of applications using the iPhone in San Francisco Bay Area, as well as in some other states, here are my impressions.

 

First of all, both the iGo and Navigon can turn your iPhone (3G or 3GS) in a decently reliable GPS navigator. They are both about 15 seconds to load on my iPhone 3GS and about the same time to lock a GPS signal when outdoors. This is much faster than the Tom Tom, which can take up to a minute or two. Overall, the iGo My Way seems to pick up the signal faster than the Navigon but lost the signal more easily, especially when in a big city with lots of high-rise buildings.

My biggest disappointment is that they both do not offer real-time traffic updates, which can be obtained in any part of the Google Maps.

 

iGO My Way 2009 - North America Edition

iGO My way 2009 - Europe Edition

iGO My way 2009 - Western Europe Edition

Both applications offer 3G beautifully rendered maps that can be displayed vertically or horizontally, and a very convenient way to insert a new address or to find a point of interest (POI). They have good data POIs, too. I've been in some rather remote areas and was able to find what I needed. However, the database is not updated - twice, I brought both applications of bars and restaurants in La Cross, Wis.., Who were no longer there. Unfortunately, you can not on the ballot listed to call the POI's phone number, which defeats the main objective of the iPhone, which is, after all, a mobile phone.

Maps of both applications could also stand to be updated, because I could not find the same address here in the Bay Area or on the Navigon and the iGo My Way and this address is always appeared in a number of auto GPS devices I've owned. I think both applications share the same a little 'outdated maps for North America.

Navigon and iGo My Way can load and work with the iPhone music in the background. This means that you can still hear the music (if your car has an auxiliary jack), although the applications' audio guide on. None of the applications, however, have built-in iPod controls, so you'll have to quit when you want to skip a track, the audio instruction etc.While work when describing the moment of turn, which lane to stay on, and so on, none of the applications provide text-to-speech. The Navigon, however, is able to read the name of highways, for example, "Take the next exit to 580 West", while the iGo can only say: "Take the next exit."

The Navigon beats the iGo My Way, with its ability to extract addresses from the phone. As someone with a pretty bad short term memory, I found the lack of this feature in an iGo switch. The address is already on the phone, but it makes no sense to have to type it again.

To offset this, the iGo does not come with a little 'more than the Navigon customization. Take the item, for example. While you're stuck with a woman with the U.S. English Navigon voice, you can choose from a dozen with the iGo My Way and between the three languages: English, French, Spanish and German. The iGo also lets you change the form of images on the screen by the arrow to a generic car, taxi, truck and more.

When an incoming call while you are using an application, you can answer the phone, as usual. When it stops, applications are automatically revive and continue with the current navigation. You can also quit at any time is app and expect to resume shipping with the launch of the new app.

Both the Navigon and the iGo My Way drain the battery of the phone rather quickly, in about every 4.5 hours when running on my iPhone NonStop 3GS. Moreover, the phone is a hot when the application is running. If you plan to use as the primary GPS device, you should absolutely have a box of juice or car charger.

Overall, the Navigon and the iGo My Way is a great addition to the iPhone, especially for those who travel a lot. Personally, I prefer Navigon because it works with the phone. But if you like customization, the iGo is a better choice.

Note that this is the initial release of both software, and I have no doubt features and enhancements will be added with future updates. Personally, I would like to see added both real-time traffic updates, and the ability to POI dial-up, control of the phone and playing music in iGo My Way case, integration with the phone.

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