iPhone only: iPhone application iNap uses your location-aware iPhone to set off an alarm to alert you when you're nearing your destination. Say, for example, you're riding the train to work but want to catch some shuteye on the way. Just fire up iNap, set your stop as the destination, and let iNap worry about the rest. You can tweak the alert radius to make sure you're up in plenty of time, from 0.1 to 100 miles. iNap works with any iPhone, but the results will be most accurate with an iPhone 3G. Also, you'd definitely want to make sure you've got a signal near your destination; the app obviously won't work if it can't determine where you are. iNap costs $US1 from the iTunes App Store.

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Telstra's Whereis service has been pretty much trumped for desktop maps searches by Google Maps, but it remains the main provider of mapping information for GPS systems. So the addition of speed limit information for an additional 78,000 kilometres of roads in the just-released Whereis 15.1 is good news for drivers with lead feet traversing an unfamiliar city. The new release also boasts improved phonetic information for pronouncing place name information, though I suspect Gulargambone might still give it pause for thought.

Real-time traffic information service Suna, already operational in Melbourne, has extended its coverage to Brisbane and Sydney. Combining traffic-light information with radio and motorway authority reports, real-time traffic updates can help re-route you when there's an unexpected traffic jam (and make your GPS useful in your home town rather than something you curse for offering less-than-optimum directions). Suna requires a GPS which supports it (pricing varies depending on which model you buy). [Suna Traffic Channel]

iPhone/iPod touch only: Free application Here I Am uses your location-aware iPhone to pinpoint your position and share your whereabouts with a link to a Google Map. It's a very simple application, but the concept—that you can quickly email your location to any contact to help them find you—is very helpful. Just fire it up, let it locate you within a reasonable level of accuracy, and when you're happy with it, hit the email button. Straightforward but effective. Here I Am is freeware, requires an iPhone or iPod touch running the 2.0 software.

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Pioneer may be about to achieve Sat Nav nirvana with its new AVIC-F500BT, according to Nick over at Gizmodo AU. It's come up with an in-car Sat Nav that you can pop out and take with you.

"When it's in your car's dash, you can use it not only as a satnav, but as a control system for your iPod, MP3 player, Bluetooth handsfree kit and, with the right connections, even as a screen for an installed reverse camera."

All-things-Apple weblog TUAW details how to set up your iPhone to "phone home" with its faux-GPS location on a regular basis so you always know approximately where your phone is (particularly handy if it turns up stolen). The final setup works like this: the findme command line program (developed by former Lifehacker editor Erica Sadun) grabs your location, the results of which are sent to a private Twitter account you set up exclusively for this purpose. From start to finish this process takes some doing (it's not a simple install-and-use), but if you're willing to take the plunge, the results could be well worth the effort.

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Tom Tom's sat nav offering just got even better, according to Nick over at Gizmodo. Tom Tom Home is their software suite which lets you plan trips in advance, manage points of interest and upload silly voices (just in case you want John Cleese telling you where to go).

Tom Tom Home just got a major upgrade - it now works on both Mac and PC and Nick describes it as "a user-generated content utopia". You can upload your own points of interests as well as download other users POIs and rate other people's content. You can also create your own maps.

Tom Tom Home is a free download (although some of the services it offers are paid) and can be downloaded here.

Tom Tom goes Home 2.0 with New Software [Gizmodo AU]

According to a piece in the SMH today, Navman users who have been waiting for the 2007 map updates can get them from today. Looks like new models have already received the update, but the N40i model was lagging behind.

The form to fill out to register for 2007 map upgrade is here. The form says you'll be notified when the maps are available to purchase, but it's my understanding that customers who bought a new N40i which was supposed to include the 2007 maps will receive the maps as a free upgrade. (A promotion run in September last year offered the maps upgrades as part of the purchase of an N40i).

Note that the form is for the F20, F40, N40i, N60i or iCN 720. If you own any other Navman model, the form refers you to the phoneline 1300 NAVMAN.

If you recently upgraded to a jailbroken version of the 1.1.3 iPhone firmware, the first thing you probably noticed when testing out the new features was that the faux-GPS feature in Google Maps wasn't working. You tap the current location button, but all you get is a never-ending spinning throbber. Luckily, enabling this feature is a snap. Just open up Installer and either re-install or install for the first time the Navizon GPS application. Once it's installed, run it and find the switch labelled Invisible. If GMaps GPS hasn't been working for you, you'll notice that the switch is in the On position. Flip it to off, then let Navizon locate you once. After it does, try the current location button again. It should now be working perfectly (at least it does for me). Thanks Zan!

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