Technology Madness

MapQuest is game changing player in mobile GPS Navigation (turn-by-turn direction)

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MapQuest is playing with free navigation through its iPhone application-MapQuest for Mobile. Yep, you heard it correct… free navigation (turn by turn direction) functionality for apple iPhone. Its still in “basic status” and do not have lots of bells and whistles in it yet. Few manual operation instead of automatic; like –you have to press “re-route button” when you miss the turn; No street names etc. But hey free navigation on iPhone app is probably game changing event in mapping category. No need to update your GPS software as Route from MapQuest is backed by state-of-the-art routing mechanism and always up-to-data information about new roads, businesses etc.

And for MapQuest, I am sure its a big step towards a fight against all ‘cool’ competitors. Congratulations to MapQuest mobile team and very well done MapQuest-a brad which is synonyms to travel/driving direction.

According to the updated features listed on the iTunes site:

• Voice-Guidance speaks to you and informs you of upcoming turns. Change the settings if you prefer a sound prompt.
• Off-Route Assistance tells you when you’ve taken a wrong turn, and gives options to help you get back on track.

The app is available for free in Apple’s App Store. Give it a try today and post your comment. Currently ‘basic navigation’ available for US and Canada only.

FYI–
Note that the MapQuest 4 Mobile iPhone app is different than MapQuest Navigator, a similar mobile app that tracks your progress on screen and offers Turn-by-Turn navigation. However, that app costs between 99 cents and $3.99 per month.

Related article:
MapQuest 4 Mobile - an iPhone application

via [MapQuest blog] and [mashable.com]

Tags: MapQuest, mapquest 4 mobile, mapquest 4 mobile 4 iphone, mapquest iphone application

MapQuest 4 mobile 4 iPhone: Rich Mapping application for iPhone users

Today, Mapquest introduced Map application, for iPhone users, called MapQuest 4 mobile. Application is super user friendly and able to find just about anything with only one tap (one click.) Place Carousel allows finding hotels, gas stations, Grocery store, Bar etc with one tap. A traffic icon in carousel is ready for latest live traffic information for any location. MapQuest 4 mobile can search anything that you can search on mapquest.com website.

MapQuest 4 mobile for iPhone is able to provide directions between any location ‘A’ and ‘B’ from North America. User can ask to avoid Toll free road, High ways in directions. Also, provides an option for shortest time or shortest distance while calculating route. Its very handy feature when you want to run fast or save some gas. Sometime it’s difficult to read while you are driving but this application can allow you to see each maneuver step in landscape mode. During route you can add other destination and make it multi-point destination route and adjust the order of destination the way you want to visit.

The coolest part of this application is – it allows to retrieve your Saved maps and route which you saved on mapquest.com using you’re “My Places” account. Here’s how the My Places feature within MapQuest4Mobile works. If you haven’t already, create a free My Places account on MapQuest.com. Using the “Map” or “Directions” form, create a destination or route as you normally would, click the “Save” button instead of clicking “Print. Go to MapQuest 4 mobile for iPhone application and retrieve your Saved maps and route there. (Hey you already contributed something to save this world from Global warming by not printing maps and directions and saved tiny bit of tree)

Hitting “Find me” button finds your current location and avatar icon follows you on map as you travel. “Find Me” function utilizes iPhone GPS to plot your location on a map as well as display your position in relation to a route.

Fun aspects:
You can choose avatar icon from preloaded icons- cat, car, hand dog, battleship, ufo etc. User can also choose any photo taken via iPhone camera.

Requirement:
Compatible with iPhone and iPod touch + iPhone 2.1 Software Update

Availability and Price:
Wow, it’s FREE on Apple iTune store.

Video of Mapquest 4 mobile for iPhone:

To see the feature-by-feature YouTube video, click

Via MapQuestBlog and @MapQuest Twitter message and Readwriteweb.com and blumenthals.com

Tags: Apple, itune, map quest mobile, mapping application, MapQuest, mapquest 4 iphone, mapquest 4 mobile, mapquest 4 mobile 4 iphone, mapquest iphone app, mapquest iphone application, mapquest mobile phone, mapquest windows mobile, maps