Brussels, Robin Bollen // Oct 27

Navigon AG just released the eagerly awaiting 1.3.0 version of their popular GPS app, MobileNavigator. Why are we so excited? Because they have included traffic info via an “In App” purchase.

Start your download, and once installed go to Menu > More > Extras, to buy the feature. It is a pity that I cannot show it to you, because I have the Europe Edition, and this is still in version 1.2.0. Bummer. Anyway it is on the way because it has been submitted already to Apple on the 15th this month.

We have covered this new Traffic Live service already here

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Brussels, Robin Bollen // Oct 27

The iPhone is popping up in the music scene more and more. Since the apps become of better quality and originality, the iPhone is becoming a real (live) tool for DJs and music creators.

I am going to create a series of reviews of Music creation apps and because they are a bit more expensive, it is better to read about it before spending your money.

I have some musical background, my family always created music, and I played guitar for 6 years. Unfortunately I do not have the time anymore but for the iPhone reviews I have, just a matter of preference nowadays.

Let us start with the “amazing” music tool called Star6.

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NY, Tony Karakashian // Oct 20, 2009.

One of the first things I installed when I got my phone was the e-book reader, Stanza. As an avid reader, I was glad to be able to have books with me at all times when I could just pop in to read a couple of pages here and there. Recently, Amazon released a Kindle app that allows iPhoners to read e-books that are published in that format. They’ve also recently purchased Stanza, so it’ll be interesting to see where that leads.

I had installed Kindle when it came out, but didn’t have any books for it as I’m cheap and like ‘em free. Recently, however, there was a promotion where you could get “The Templar Legacy” for free for either a standalone Kindle or the app. Having a book I could read gave me the ability to compare and contrast the two readers.

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NY, Tony Karakashian // Oct 19, 2009.

In a move sure to make sure you’ll never have an iPhone on their network, Verizon has a new commercial for their Google Android-based phone that attacks Apple’s technology offering.

Apparently, Verizon just completed reading “How To Win Friends And Influence People”. I’m most interested to how Apple responds to this ad. I’m sure it’s going to raise some hackles, but Apple really has no one to blame but themselves. These ARE valid, persistent limitations of the platform. People have been pointing them out and complaining about them since the first release.

For the most part, Apple’s response has been “meh”. The only time, for example, they put any effort into addressing complaints of developers in regard to the AppStore was when the FTC investigated their rejection of the Google Voice app. Complaints from customers and developers got no results.

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Brussels, Robin Bollen // Oct 17

I have reviewed the new iPhone GPS application Ndrive, and on request compared it with Navigon Mobile Navigator. Portuguese based company NDrive Navigation System is conquering the world (it is historically in their blood I guess), there is not one GPS app that is present in so many countries. They released already 31 Editions and will release an edition for every country where the iPhone is sold.

They have a clear strategy, conquer the app store by entering at a low price and [update 1] lifetime free map updates, Ndrive provided this info about the map updates of their product: Users receive a lifetime license to the latest maps. It means that the license applies to the latest version of the maps (IE, Tele Atlas Summer 2009, for life - as opposed to older maps or limited license life), but not to updates.

I have used the app all the time since it has been released and have contact with the company which provided with me extra information and good support. Navigon is one of the most popular apps at the moment and let’s see if this more expensive price tag can justify itself against newcomer Ndrive.

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Brussels, Robin Bollen // Oct 13, 2009.

ALK Technologies Ltd, has updated 7 of their editions in the Apple App Store. The Europe edition has already been face lifted to version 8.0.0.417 last month.

The editions that were updated yesterday are Benelux, D-A-Ch, France, Iberia, Italia, Nordics and UK & Ireland. Only the lastest North America edition has a different version number (8.0.0.421) but it is a different product due to the map technology used.

One thing that slipped our attention is that an edition for Australia and New Zealand has been released the 9th this month called Australasia.

Hereunder is a list of all the new features and improvements;

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NY, Tony Karakashian // Oct 12, 2009.

Before getting an iPhone, I used my corporate-provided cell phone for the majority of communications. When I was in the back room waiting for servers to build, I’d pull out my crappy little phone and play the only game that came installed; a block moving game in which you had to clear a path for yourself to the exit. It was terribly boring, but only slightly less so than watching servers build.

Crystal Cave is a similar game from Rake In Grass games, the company that brought us Archibald’s Adventures, which was reviewed last year. All in all, I was a little disappointed by this game.

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Release date has come, TomTom Car Kit for iPhone is available. The Car Kit is here at a price of 99.99€. When opening the box we will find the dock (car kit), a USB car charger, two adhesive discs for the dashboard and documentation. The set includes a GPS receiver, so surely when used with an iPhone 2G or EDGE, get it to function as GPS navigator.

The main features are:

  *  Secure Docking
  * Enhanced GPS performance
  * Clear voice instructions
  * Hands-free calling
  * Charges iPhone while driving
  * Rotates for optimal positioning
  * Line out for music playback

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NY, Charlie Mallow // Oct 11, 2009.

You would have to live under a rock to own a game console and not know what Electronic Arts (EA) means to the console gaming industry. The Madden franchise is the bread and butter of EA and the company is the mother of some of the best sports software ever.

EA has tackled the iPhone format big time with numerous releases including Spore, FIFA 10, Tiger Woods, TeeShotLive, Anytime Pool and now the game that started it all Madden NFL 10 is being sold in the App Store.

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NY, Charlie Mallow // Oct 07, 2009.

Yet another GPS solution for the iPhone has hit the App Store. So far most GPS apps have taken the path of least resistance. Upon install they all load huge amounts of map data to avoid poor network response times when you use them.

GPS Drive was designed to go against this trend and depend on your network connectivity. This was done to provide the user with more current information and cut down on disk bloat. Pricing of this product also cuts down on bloat and the model is not typical.

The extremely low initial $2.99 price does not include live voice guidance and uses a subscription service. You do receive the first 30 days free but, extending that will cost an extra $2.99 a month or $24.99 a year. This pricing does make GPS Drive the least expensive for the first year of any iPhone GPS application I am aware of. This review will focus on some real world usage. I will save a point by point comparison for another time.

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