Mapquest Making A Comeback

At one point, Mapquest was one of the most important tools we had when it came to travel. These days, Mapquest has almost become 100% irrelevant in the modern world. In most cases, it would make you mad if you actually had to use Mapquest instead of your phone.

The mappers at Mapquest know that their product has fallen off, but they have not stopped developing their business. They have continued working and building on their product to make a big return to relevance in the mobile technology world.

Mapquest was intended to help you navigate your travels, but these days most people only use it to get a general idea of how much gas money they are going to spend ahead of time and figure out how long their trips will take. Even if it isn't being used as it was intended, it has still maintained its ranking as one of the top 200 websites in the United States. Recently, they added local discovery and sharing along with a brand new mobile mapping product. They have also gained a lot of partners to enhance the quality of all the listings on its map product.

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They have teamed up with MLB and Hampton Inn. Now users can see all of the Hampton Inns near them on one tab and will also be able to book hotel rooms.

Partnering with MLB has helped them out in several ways. It's nice for users to be able to explore the stadiums on Mapquest and have the ability to download specific team kits. It also benefits Mapquest because now they are the sole mapping partner within the official MLB app.

Now Mapquest results also include all of the listings and information for GrubHub online ordering, SinglePlatform, Booker's schedule for spas, SeatGeek results for event tickets, FAA airport delays, and in the coming months will also include Foursquare's venue tips.

Mapquest is trying to fight to become what they once were. They used to be the go to tool for anyone's travel needs. Now, it's going to take a lot more for them to rise to the top, especially with Google and Apple having their own built in travel tools and fighting every day to overcome each other. The competition is insane, and Mapquest thinks they have what it takes to move beyond simple road mapping and transform into a full-service utility for every day use.

Buying a GPS System

If you’re looking into buying a GPS system, now is a great time. Finally, the product has matured to the point that it’s not outrageously expensive anymore. This is partially because of time and partially because of the fact that many smartphones are now equipped with navigation abilities. Before you go out and buy just any old GPS system though, there are definitely some factors that you should consider.

First, you should consider the basics of the device. Screen size is something that is very important. Right now the trend seems to be a 4.3 inch screen. Most of the newest models are featuring screens this size. If you’re willing to go for a smaller screen size than this, you will most likely save a decent amount of money. The issue with a smaller screen is that it can be difficult to read things on it. Another thing you have to consider though is that the larger the screen the more room it will take up on your dashboard or windshield. These are just some things to keep in mind.

When purchasing a GPS system, you may wonder about the maps that the device includes. Well, almost every system sold these days comes standard with preloaded maps of the United States, and some even come with Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico as well. If you need any additional maps, you can usually purchase them from the GPS manufacturer and download them via your PC or onto your SD card.

Another thing to consider when looking at GPS systems is voice control. A few systems allow you to speak commands instead of poking at the buttons on the device's screen. This is definitely safer because it allows you to control the system hands-free, but you will most likely be paying more if you want this feature. There are also some other great extras that you can find on some GPS systems like media players that can support audio, photo, or video playback from an SD card. Other more practical features would be Bluetooth capabilities. These are definitely some features that you should consider when looking at different systems.

You will also want to make sure that the system features live traffic updates. You need your GPS to have a traffic receiver so that you can find alternate routes during traffic jams. For some systems that don’t feature traffic receivers, you can purchase an add-on accessory that will give you traffic updates. Unfortunately, adding on a receiver will add to the bulk of your GPS and add yet another cord, and then you also will have to deal with paying for a subscription to live traffic updates. Basically, the point is that you want to try to find a GPS with a built-in traffic receiver.

So, after reading about all the things that you need to consider when purchasing a GPS, you might ask if it would simply be easier to purchase a smartphone with navigation capabilities. It really just depends on what you like best. If you decide to utilize your phone as your GPS system, you will have to buy something so that you can mount your phone to the windshield, and you will also have to consider the fact that using your phone as a GPS system will drain your phone's battery a lot. Some people just prefer to have a device that is dedicated only to navigation purposes. It’s really up to you to decide what you feel more comfortable with.

These are just a few things that you should consider if you’re looking into buying a GPS system. You should definitely do some research before making any kind of purchase. Make sure that your system has everything that you’re looking for. Like I said, this is a great time to be looking into a GPS system. You’re sure to find a great deal out there if you take the time to look for one.

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Technology Rules When it Comes to Family Travel

CarMax, the United States' largest retailers of used cars wants to know what parents find necessary when taking long family trips this summer. Modern technology definitely had its place within the responses.

The telephone survey was a part of the CarMax LUV2DRV campaign, which took place on Facebook until July 6, 2010. The aim was to help families make the most of their summer vacation journey. All Facebook users had the chance to enter the giveaway, which featured a grand prize of $2,500 and other items that would be great for your summer road trip!

So what were the results of the survey? Well, 42% of participants said they'd be rate their stress levels pretty high for their anticipated trips, with the average trip lasting about 8.5 hours one way. That's pretty understandable considering the group of participants was made up of 500 parents of kids ages three to fifteen. About half of the survey-takers said music was the one thing necessary to help ease their travel anxiety and the one thing they couldn't live without. 17% said movies are must-have technology, 16% said books, 11% said gaming devices and only 5% said they'd resort to games like "I Spy."

As far as what type of car travelers are using this summer, over half of the respondents said an SUV or Minivan (36% and 34% respectively). 16% were taking a normal sedan, 8% a truck, and 4% would travel in their station wagon.

Technology was definitely important when it came to the "must-have" accessory for the trip. 28% said a GPS or Navigation system is important. That was tied with a DVD System. 14% would take extra cup holders, 8% needed their car racks, as well as the 8% who needed folding or removable seats and 7% who would not leave without an extra power supply.

If you go to CarMax's Facebook page, you can currently download the LUV2DRV "Summer Road Kit Trip" and print it out for your summer vacation. The kit includes, ideas for games to play on the road, helpful app suggestions for your smartphone, quirky tourist spots, safety tips for your vehicle, and the LUV2DRV license plate, which they'd like you to hold in family photos and post on the CarMax Facebook page.

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T-Mobile's New Phone Doubles as a PND

T-Mobile's new Symbian OS-based Nokia 5230 Nuron isn't just a phone. It's also a portable navigation device (PND). The touchscreen 3G smartphone will cost you just $69 after a $50 rebate, but you will have to sign a two-year contract that includes a minimum $39.99 per month voice plan and minimum $9.99 per month data plan.

The phone is full-touchscreen and has a 3.2-inch display. Like any PND, the phone features on-board maps, points-of-interest data, and routing algorithm. And because the data is a part of the phone instead of a carrier's subscription-based service, it has tons of advantages. You won't have to wait for maps and other info to download over the network, you don't need a signal to access your info, and you don't have to pay to access your info.

This isn't Nokia's first PND phone. It launched an unlocked one in late 2009 in the United States and added to the selection earlier this year. However, this phone is the first one that features Nokia's preloaded Ovi Maps navigation app. It also comes preloaded with access to Nokia's Ovi Store, which makes it the first Nokia phone to do so. Other Nokia phones offered by AT&T require you to download the Ovi Store app.

Maps for the United States, Mexico, and Canada come preloaded and over 180 other countries are available for download at NokiaUSA.com/Maps. It also features pedestrian and driving route guidance, automatic rerouting, and lane assistance. The embedded database even includes real-time traffic updates, movie listings, and weather forecasts and you can use the full HTML browser for IM and email.

The Nuron will be available in the next few weeks in T-Mobile stores and select retailers. Its launch will more-than-likely lead the way for more affordable PND phones.

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Nokia to Offer Free Navigation Software

Nokia has announced that it will be offering free Navigation software on about ten of its smartphones. The no-strings-attached-offer will let users use the navigation in their handsets without having to connect to the internet. It will include turn-by-turn directions, voice prompts, travel guides, and other features.

Nokia hopes the move will help sell smartphones. "It will serve as a defense to our product prices," Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's head of marketing, said in a statement.

Recently, Nokia has seen its rivals Apple (with the iPhone) and Research in Motion (with its Blackberry devices) take a share of its sales. However, analysts say Nokia is also attempting to compete with Google, which is already giving away its own mapping software with the Motorola Droid and all smartphones using the Android operating system. Some say users of all smartphones will start to expect free navigation software to be a standard smartphone feature from other companies such as Microsoft, RIM, and Samsung, affecting the whole market.

Either way, the move is sure to put pressure on TomTom and Garmin, the two biggest mapping leaders. Tomtom already sells navigation software for iPhone for $70 and the move could negatively affect that type of software, as well.

Currently, Nokia users can download free Ovi Maps from its website.

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Google Maps App for Android 2.0

For years, millions of people have used Google Maps to get directions online. The difficulty with online maps is you still get distracted trying to read a map and look for street names. An accident ready to happen, some say. Google has apparently taken note of this and yesterday announced that it's releasing the Google Maps app for Android 2.0.

For starters, the app is free. While many people pay for GPS service from various companies, some running as high as $100 per year and upwards of $200 per stand-alone device, the free app available for phones that have OS Android 2.0. The app provides 3-D views, turn by turn voice guided directions, and automatic rerouting.

Some more features of the Google Maps App include:

*The most recent map and business data - your phone automatically gets the most up-to-date information on maps and business information. No need to upgrade.

*Search in plain English - Even if you don't know where you're going, you can type virtually anything (ie: business name, landmark, etc) into the search and you'll get a map.

*Search by voice - Typing on your phone while driving is dangerous, and in most states, even illegal, so the Google Maps App allows you to simply say where you want to go.

*Traffic view - colored indicator lights, red, yellow, green, let you know about current traffic conditions.

*Search along route - If you need to find a business, gas station, etc, you can enter that information and the App will search along your route so you won't be taken too far off your path.

*Satellite view - The navigation app uses the same satellite imagery that Google Maps uses on your computer, turn on the satellite layer for a high-resolution, 3D view of your route.

*Street View - When you turn on street view you can easily spot your next turn or see where you are in relation to your destination.


The Google Maps App is a great alternative to a bulky stand-alone GPS device. The first phone to have Android 2.0 will be the Droid, from Verizon. And as of right now, the app is only available in the U.S.

OpenStreetMap: The Wikipedia of Maps

When Steve Coast, the founder of OpenStreetMaps, was playing with a GPS unit in 2004, he decided he wanted to modify the map, but knew doing so would be a copyright infringement. That's when it occurred to him; who better to create maps of neighborhoods than the people who lived in them? He thought of Wikipedia, an open-source encyclopedia-like website that allows readers to make changes and additions to entries and decided to take this concept to the world of maps. He began presenting the idea at various tech conferences and just a couple of years after launching his website, OpenStreetMaps.org, he had over 10,000 users. By 2009, they had 160,000 unique users. Coast, who is British, said the concept initially picked up in Europe (Germany is almost 100% mapped) but he has only been pushing the idea in the United States over the last year and a half and has been searching for a city in which to hold his first American OpenStreetMaps mapathon.

What exactly is a mapathon? It's an event, that lasts a few days, in which several people work on mapping one particular area. This weekend (October 16-18), the first mapathon is being held in Atlanta. Several schools, colleges and local businesses will be participating. Coast said he chose Atlanta because of the interest from city government, local businesses and individuals. According to a press release, the Atlanta OpenStreetMap will be used for a wide range of applications that "include local businesses wishing to streamline location-based operations, students wishing to carry out geographical surveys/ projects, and civic groups participating in urban development projects." Attendees of the mapthon will travel the streets with GPS units marking streets, cycleways, footpaths, and points of interests such as landmarks, attractions, hotels, and restaurants. This weekend's event will focus on the area inside I-285 and future events will be held to focus on areas outside of Atlanta's interstate perimeter. The goal is to see to it that Atlanta is the most detailed and accurately represented city on the website. If the event is successful, with any luck, more cities will follow.

OpenStreetMaps is a nonprofit organization and is free to registered users. Any user can add to or edit the electronic maps, which can be downloaded to many GPS units.

TomTom Debuts TomTom Start in Europe

TomTom, the world's leading provider of navigation solutions, has announced the debut of TomTom Start today. TomTom Start is said to be an entry-level car navigation solution that is easy to use and is specifically designed for drivers who are new to car navigation or who don't often travel very far.

The light-weight device has a compact 3.5" screen and a semi-fixed EasyPort mount that allows it to fit into your pocket, a small bag or glove compartment. The menu is easy to understand and uses a two button interface - "plan route" and "browse map." It also gives users access to the safety camera database's several "points of interest." Users can also download the TomTom Home desktop software to gain access to even more content including start-up screens and a range of fun voices.

"With the introduction of TomTom Start, we have taken another step in democratising navigation by making it easy to use, accessible and affordable, but without compromising on providing drivers with the fastest route. Available in six stylish colours, the TomTom Start is equipped with the unique innovative solutions IQ Routes and Map Share technology,” Corrine Vigreux, Managing Director of TomTom said in a press release.

According to the press release, IQ Routes technology provides TomTom users with the fastest route, any time of day, with accurate travel times. It helps users plan their routes with a database of over 800 billion speed profiles worldwide. Map Share technology is unique to the TomTom brand and it allows users to make their own map changes so that other users may benefit from the corrections made each day.