If you've got up early today and already sorted yourself out with a new Vodafone iPhone, you'll be happy to hear that you can grab yourself a free-to-try Sat Nav app too.

The Vodafone Navigation app provides turn-by-turn 3D navigation for your handset, with voice activated instructions and speed camera alerts nationwide.

The app is free until April. After that a £3 per month subscription kicks in, or you can choose to use to it only when you need it for £5 a pop. Additional Western Europe maps cost an extra fiver, too.

You can pick up a Vodafone iPhone from today. Check all the latest deal and offers on the handset here.

If you're feeling a bit "Ray Mears" and are planning on braving the great outdoors despite the chilly weather, you might want to consider taking the ViewRanger "off-raod" sat nav with you.

Running on any S60 Smartphone and now coming pre-installed on the Nokia 5800, the ViewRanger turns your handset into a fully-featured trail navigation system, complete with Ordnance Survey mapping of Great Britain. Routes can be planned and stored in advance of your adventures, or you can download annotated trails whilst on the go, giving you detailed information on your current whereabouts.

The ViewRanger also features a 3D panoramic view, letting you peek around any snow drifts that may have formed during your daring trips to the shops, and can also help you geo-tag your photos and keep track of your speed, altitude and distance travelled.

"Professionals such as Search and Rescue Teams have found ViewRanger robust in field operations and like the fact they only need to carry one versatile device - their mobile phone," explains Craig Wareham of Augmentra, the company behind ViewRanger.

"They also mentioned how using a phone with an easy-to-grip stylus makes it easy to use the ViewRanger functionality even when wearing gloves, so we decided to offer the software ready installed in the Nokia 5800 to our other customers. The large screen provides a clear, sharp display, and it has advanced microprocessors that guarantee fast map refresh and searching - reducing both the wait and weight!"

Don't even have to take your gloves off? I should hope not too what with all this snow!

For more info, visit www.viewranger.com

We all want to be a little friendlier to the environment, but electric cars still reek of "geek" rather than "chic". If you're trying to be a little greener whilst in your motor, why not have a look at Vexia's new Econav sat nav range?

The Econav 480 and 380 work by telling you the most fuel-efficient way to drive, matching your car model up to an entry in it's database which helps it to decide which gear you should be in. 8,000 different models are featured.

The Vexia systems also have graphical indicators that show when you are nearing the speed limit or accelerating or braking excessively.

"After our success in Spain, we're thrilled to be bringing the Econav range to the UK," says David Elder, UK Country Manager. "The 480 and 380 are our most advanced models yet, with a stunning design and fast, intuitive software. Yet they still feature the same innovative fuel-saving technology that Vexia is famous for. We're committed to making driving enjoyable, energy-efficient, and as environmentally friendly as possible."

The Econav 480 and 380 will be available later this month from www.amazon.co.uk, with prices ranging between £149.99 and £209.99, depending on model and the bundled map collection.

Waze, the user-generated road mapping service goes global today.

The Waze application runs on users' smartphones, automatically and anonymously sending back GPS points as they drive. This data is then used to build and continuously update the Waze system map, giving users up to date information on traffic, road closures and more.

The program has already proved popular elsewhere around the globe. Drivers have organically formed their own groups and have started using Waze to build local maps in over 20 countries around the world, including Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Thailand, Kazakhstan, and Trinidad and Tobago.

"Even without specific country support, we were amazed to see Wazers on our live map in clusters all over the world self organizing," said Noam Bardin, CEO of Waze. "We are committed to fostering this community of users and supporting them with the new infrastructure launched today. I would like to thank these motivated Wazers from all over the world for helping us bring better maps, free navigation and an improved daily commute to their regions."

As it is essentially a community driven service, the brand new global app still has some way to go before it is truly useful to UK road users, as so few have yet had a chance to try out the software and build the UK road grid. Still, it's a nice idea and watching the live map grow on the Waze website is quite a sight.

Definitely one to keep an eye on in the future.

For more information, visit www.waze.com.

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TomTom today released details of its brand new Go I-90 integrated navigation system.

The Go I-90 can be installed into any car model and provides full radio integration with the car speakers for high quality audio when using spoken instructions, or making hands-free phone calls.

The device will also feature a pre-installed map of Western Europe and TomTom Map Share, enabling drivers to share directions and traffic updates on the fly.

It is a premium bit of kit, so don't expect to see much change from £550. The Go I-90 will be available from December.

Here is a full list of the GO I-90 specifications:

• Pre-installed map of Western Europe.
• TomTom Map Share™ technology - so drivers get daily map changes from the TomTom community.
• TomTom Safety Alerts, including safety cameras.
• Enhanced Positioning Technology - for uninterrupted navigation, even in tunnels.
• Improved hands-free calling - so drivers can make and answer phone calls safely while driving.
• Help-Me! emergency menu - local information to get help quickly.
• Optional iPod support - optimal support for iPod playback and iPod charging.
• Extensive phone compatibility.
• Optimised TMC reception through the car's antenna.
• Latest map guarantee.
• TomTom HOME desktop software for everything a driver needs to keep the device up to date.
• Address speech recognition and text-to-speech.
• USB connection for MP3/I-pod.

Radio Features

• Amplifier (4 x 40 WATT).


• FM reception.


• RDS support for PS, AF, TA.


• AM reception (LW and MW).


• Built in TMC receiver.


• Ready for steering wheel control (3rd party accessory).


• Connectors to car and outside world (GPS, USB, iPod).


• 2 DIN box.


• No CD drive

TomTom has introduced a car kit for the iPhone. Compatible with the iPhone 3G and 3GS (running OS 3.0 or later), it features a secure mount to dock the iPhone to the desired position on the car windshield or dashboard.

An adjustable mount securely rotates iPhone to either portrait or landscape mode for optimal positioning and widescreen route display. Voice instructions are provided through the built-in speaker and the integrated microphone and speaker also allow hands-free calling while driving.

TomTom claims that the built-in GPS receiver reduces the chance of signal drop out in areas where GPS reception is limited like cities with tall buildings or forested areas. Additional features include an iPhone charging facility and a facility to play music via the audio output (providing your car stereo has an audio input of course).

The TomTom car kit for iPhone is now available in the TomTom web store (www.tomtom.com) and on Apple's online store with a recommended retail price of £99.99. The TomTom car kit for iPhone is available in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, the UK, Sweden and Switzerland.

It will be available in the US on the TomTom web store and in US Apple online and retail stores in the near future.

Big news for sat nav fans as market leader TomTom has just unveiled a trio of new high end systems in the guise of the TomTom GO 950 LIVE, TomTom GO 750 LIVE and TomTom GO 550 LIVE.

All three offer access to TomTom's Live Service offering which gives the driver traffic alerts and fuel prices before they start as well as real-time updates. There's also an Eco Routes option has also been introduced, so drivers can select the most fuel-efficient route.

Other facilities include TomTom's Map Share technology. This enables users to make changes to maps and share them with others through Tom Tom's desktop app.

The difference between the three sat nav systems is as follow

TomTom GO 950 LIVE comes with pre-installed maps for door-to-door navigation in US, Canada and 45 countries in Europe and offers Enhanced Positioning Technology (EPT) for uninterrupted navigation when driving through tunnels.

TomTom GO 750 LIVE offer seamless door-to-door navigation across 45 countries n Europe.

TomTom GO 550 LIVE features maps of the UK/Republic of Ireland

All three will go on sale in the UK in the autumn with prices determined nearer the launch. LIVE Services are available for a flat fee of £7.99 per month with no hidden costs.

More info here

Here's a sat nav with a difference. The Econav 435 from Vexia claims to be able to reduce your fuel consumption by up to a third.

Available in September for £169 it works by telling you, in real time, the most economical and ecological way to drive, saving you up to £400 a year on your fuel bill and also reducing the amount of amount of CO2 you produce when driving.

Just input the car and fuel type and number of passengers and the Econav 435 will direct drivers on the route that is kindest to their fuel consumption. The system will also advise on which gear to use, while the Accelerator Pedal Indicator will measure driving efficiency. With the average driver notching up 11,000 miles every year, Vexia claims the Econav system will pay for itself in just six months.

Vexia

Vexia Econav 435 product information:
4.3" colour touch-screen
Automatic day / night mode
Econav system
Eco tips
Tunnel mode
Two models available

Econav 435 Regional maps: £169.99
Econav 435 European maps: £219.99

Following the launch earlier this year of Mio's flagship Navman Spirit range, Mio today announces new mid-range and entry level sat navs with prices ranging from £69.99 to £119.99

Featuring NavPix photo navigation, lane guidance and spoken motorway exit instructions, the mid-range Navman M-Series comprises two models - the £89.99 3.5 inch M300 and the £119.99 widescreen, 4.3 inch M400.

The long rumoured and much discussed Tom Tom app for the Apple iPhone and iTouch finally arrives at the iTunes store today. It is on sale for £59.99 loaded with a map of the UK and Ireland and £79.99 if you want Western Europe as well.

The company claims that the app bears all the hallmarks of its popular GPS systems. It includes Tom Tom's IQ Routes technology which the maker claims is the fastest and most accurate route planning system available. Also on board are a speed camera database, the latest Tele Atlas maps and multiple display options including 3D, night or day and portrait or landscape views.

The app also syncs with the iPhone address book in offering instant access to addresses.

The Tom Tom app faces plenty of rivals though from the likes of Co-Pilot and Navigon.

We gave you a sneak preview last month but now it's official. The first satnav with a built-in TV is here. Actually the first two satnavs with built in TV are here as there are two different sized versions - the Mio Navman V735 which has a huge 7-inch screen and its little brother, the V505 which has a 4.7-inch screen.

Apart from the unique TV function, there are plenty of other features to justify the price of £299 for the V735 and £229 for the V505.

Navigation-wise it's got everything you'd expect from the Mio Navman brand including TruMaps, smart economical routing, traffic data and safety camera data. There's also a nice walking navigation side to the device with built-in 2D city maps specially designed for pedestrians.

Like other Mio Navman devices it also includes the NavPix geo-tagged photo navigation feature. This feature, combined with the walking navigation maps will come into its own on city breaks.

But you're not really interested in all that are you? You just want to know about the TV aspect to the device. Well, it's pretty straight forward - it has a built-in DVT tuner that will work right across Europe. In the UK that means you could pick up the complete Freeview spectrum, signal permitting. There's a built-in aerial and there is also a socket to plug in a stronger aerial if required.

Obviously it's not designed to be used whilst driving - that would be very naughty.

Check out our preview video:

For under £300, these models have come in a bit cheaper than we expected. Get yours direct from Mio Navman.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's....the Nav-Mat - the latest "crime-fighting device".

This is one of the strangest satnav accessories that I've come across. Its makers claim that "tell-tale sucker marks on windscreens" are one of the major reasons for satnav theft.

So they've come up with the Nav-Mat, which basically looks like a beanbag for your satnav. It sits on the dashboard, therefore preventing those "tell-tale sucker marks". Apparently "the contoured and weighted, anti-skid underside stops the device from sliding and, unlike traditional window mountings, leaves no suction marks on the windscreen".

It's available here for a bargain £19.99 (plus £5 p&p). Alternatively, buy some window wipes here for 99p.

Reports from Japan indicate that Sony is looking at more than just mobile phone handsets in terms of utilising Google's open source operating system, Android.

Rumours of an Android based Walkman and also a personal navigation device (PND) are true, according to an analyst speaking to Japan's Nikkan, and should hit the market next year.

The thought of two of the biggest tech institutions teaming up may seem terrifying for some but it could be great news for consumers. With Sony already attempting to connect the user experience between its existing products, the possibilities when you throw Android into that mix could be monumental.

(via Engadget)

The forces of Navman and Mio have united to form the imaginatively titled company known as Mio Navman. Well, it could have been Navman Mio, couldn't it? Whichever way around, this personal navigation device conglomerate has launched a range known as the Navman Spirit.

Are you one of those lunatics that spends more time watching the virtual reality of your sat nav's screen than actually looking at the road? You're in company. Robert Jones followed instructions from his Sat Nav until half his car was dangling off a cliff.

He only stopped because a wire fence preventing him from getting any further - completely ignoring the fact he was driving down a dirt track three metres wide. The police have charged him with driving without due care and attention, and he describes the incident as a 'nightmare'.

(via BBC)

This is the Nokia 6710 Navigator, newly announced at MWC 2009 in Barcelona. It's almost more of a satnav than a handset, because it's packed with all sorts of mapping technology.

It comes with 'drive and walk' navigation, as well as full regional maps, a dedicated navigator button on the front of the phone, a touch area for zooming in and out, and a large display tuned to daylight viewing conditions.

Maps with Ovi will allow users to plan a journey on their PC and then sync it with their device, and the inclusion of a compass will mean that you won't get lost when you fly south for the winter. In the box comes a car holder, and there's also a car-mounted speakerphone available.

As for the 6720 Classic, it's got noise cancellation and a curved design that Nokia claims will significantly improve call quality. Good battery life, "high-speed" internet, which I'm presuming means HSDPA, and TV-out capability.

No more specs than that yet, I'm afraid, but we do have prices and release dates.The 6720 Classic will show up in Q2 at an estimated price of €245 (£220) and the 6710 Navigator will appear shortly after in Q3 for not much more - just €300 (£270).

Driving green is totally different to driving fast, and the Econav, from Vexia, knows it. The Econav will deliver you exactly the same speed, traffic and gear change info as a regular sat nav, but instead of showing you the fastest way to go, it'll show you the most economical.

For example, if you've got a carful of people, then it's going to be much better for you to use a motorway than country roads. It'll take into account your car, fuel and occupancy level. The manufacturers claim that it'll pay for itself in reduced fuel usage within six months. The price? £200. If you're not often in a hurry, then it could be worth a look.

Vexia (via ShinyShiny)

Garmin-Asus, the tech company alliance that to me sounds more like an airborne disease, has announced two new additions to its nüvifone range of mobile phones.

If you remember, the company announced its first mobile phone about this time last year, and its newly announced G60 offers very much the same functionality as that handset -- namely 3.5G (HSDPA), 3.55-inch touchscreen display, location-based everything (email, SMS, photo sharing, social networking, going-to-the-toileting -- nah, not really), built-in accelerometer for exciting screen reorientation, lots of sat-nav stuff (as you'd expect from Garmin) and advanced web browser.

Garmin, maker of satnavs, and Asus, maker of the Eee PC, are teaming up for an assault on the smartphone arena. They've just announced an alliance to design, manufacture and distribute location-centric mobile phones. They'll be called the Garmin-Asus nüvifone series, and will be on the market before the end of the year.

The idea is pretty simple - when you're in the car, it goes into a dock and works as a satnav, but when you get out, you take it with you and it works like a phone. Garmin already has a product that does this - the nüvifone, which will be rebranded as the nüvifone G60 and delivered in the first half of this year. Beyond that? Well, we'll have to wait and see.

GarminAsus

More on the nüvifone: Garmin's first mobile phone with web browser and navigation | Garmin to launch Android mobile, too

Perhaps now isn't the best time to remind you that (if you have to do the dreaded Tax Return) you've a little over a day left to complete it.

However, if nitty-gritty stuff like car mileage tracking has been a real pain to calculate then the Mileage Tracker could be the answer.

Using GPS (naturally), it can track what distances you've travelled in your car and export it to a CSV file (boring) or Google Earth (cool).