Nokia Maps 2.0 has now been formally released by Nokia and is available for download from here. Although this adds little since the last beta version, all the beta versions have added lots more functionality than Nokia Maps 1.0. The main new features since 1.0 are improved car navigation and pedestrian modes, support for satellite images, much more local content, multimedia city guides, and a new user interface. Other features we should coming (as mentioned before) are near real time traffic information, and links into “Share with Ovi” for sharing POIs and routes.

One of the fixes that’s occurred between the first beta and the release is that UK 7 digit postcodes now work properly.  They’ve also added Network based positioning (similar to that used in Google Maps) for a rough location until the GPS can precisely locate you.  This works on most phones today, although the E90 will need a “software update” will should be released soon.

This all bodes well for Nokia, although they are still a little behind TomTom and Garmin with their feature range, and some people are still questioning their pricing model. It will be interesting to see how many current phones get new firmwares with this version installed by default..

Here’s something we strongly approve of… It’s a SatNav unit designed for HGV drivers, but priced at a similar level to other SatNav units. As a driver, you enter the height, weight, length, and any other potential factors, and the SatNav will choose HGV-friendly routes which will avoid roads / bridges / corners / weight limits that the vehicle cannot navigate. It can even avoid roads with cross winds or steep hills. The device uses NAVTEQ Transport data which includes all this additional data to help the unit. It’s also got hazardous goods information, information on loading bays and HGV fuel stations.

With a few button presses, the unit can have the HGV restrictions removed, so can be used in normal vehicles too, but anything that helps to avoid HGV drivers blindly follow their SatNavs and ending up on the front page of the BBC website or a national newspaper has to be a good thing.

There’s no support for receiving traffic data, although the unit does support a safety camera subscription, which is free for the first 6 months.

Maplin seem to have picked up, and the ProNav should be available from their stores in the near future. We expect other Navteq SatNav manufacturers to look at this unit and work out whether there’s a market, so we may well find other units offering this amount of customisation in the next year or so.

More information at Pocket GPS World.

The new TomTom GO x30 devices we first mentioned here are now available for sale in the UK. The retail prices are as follows:

• 930 Traffic £399.99 inc VAT
• 730 Traffic £329.99 inc VAT
• 730 £299.99 inc VAT
• 530 Traffic £279.99 inc VAT
• 530 £249.99 inc VAT

The Traffic models include the current RDS-TMC receiver, which is much better than the early TMC receivers TomTom first tried, but it’s still reliant upon the radio signal being broadcast, which is weak, and does not cover the whole country. To improve on this, we’ll need to wait for the launch of the TomTom HD Traffic service later this year. These devices should be compatible with the HD Traffic service, but this hasn’t been confirmed by TomTom.

Pricing courtesy of Pocket GPS World, although we expect the street prices to drop quite quickly.

Nokia have announced an agreement with ARC Transistance, the European network of automobile clubs, to provide near real time traffic data across Europe for the new Nokia Maps 2.0 software. This will allow Nokia Maps to take this data and dynamically reroute based on the traffic. ARC can provide data for 20 countries, and uses iTIS Holdings in the UK as it’s data provider. It’s not clear when this data will be available. No word on pricing yet, although we suspect it will be a similar amount that everyone charges…

TomTom have updated their software for the 520, 720 and 920 models, with the new version being v7.480. Along with a few bug fixes, it adds support for the new HD Traffic receiver addon. There are reports of some problems with voice recognition no longer working, but these problems seem to stem from an accidental beta release in the US only, and should not affect users who download the update after yesterday. Some items (custom voice, custom cursor) will need resetting, and it’s best to take a backup of the unit before applying the update.

Story courtesy of Pocket GPS World.

In a surprise move, Garmin has signed an agreement with iTIS Holdings for the supply of the RDS-TMC traffic data for the Nuvi 2×5 range. What’s not currently clear is whether it’s just for these units or whether it’s the start of a move away from Trafficmaster as the traffic data provider to Garmin. If it is across all devices, it’s also not clear whether it will apply retrospectively to existing units. Trafficmaster recently stated it had not lost an RDS-TMC contract, and was continuing to win business from iTIS.

One influencing factor may well be the low signal transmission strength dictated to all UK radio transmitter masts which has made receiving the TMC signals, especially from portable devices, a real challenge. In the last few months, iTIS has addressed this issue by supplementing it’s original carrier, Classic FM, by broadcasting the data signal using a good number of local radio stations as well. This has improved the coverage of iTIS a great deal, although debates still rage on which provider has more accurate data (when you can receive it).

Original story courtesy of Pocket GPS World.

As well as the TomTom ONE HD, TomTom have produced a replacement power supply for the TomTom GO x20 and x30 ranges which includes a SIM and GPRS service to connect and download reliable and accurate traffic data, including data collected from Vodafone mobile phones up and down the country. This will cost €100 to buy and €60 for 6 months service, and TomTom plan to increase the range of devices supported later in the year. TomTom claim the HD traffic service provides 5 times as many traffic updates as their standard service and covers up to 10 times more roads. This should help when there is an accident, and traditionally you would have been simply diverted onto other equally busy roads.

Interestingly, the HD traffic receiver actually contains a Li-Ion battery, so does not appear to need an external power supply to function, although when connected, it will power both the traffic receiver and the main SatNav unit.

Although available separately, it will be provided as standard on the TomTom GO 730 HD Traffic and the TomTom GO 930 HD.

The only downside (in the short term) is that it appears it is not compatible with third party mounts, such as the CarComm mount we featured here, although we expect Brodit and CarComm to update their solutions fairly soon after the devices are widely available.

Hopefully this service will be available soon in the UK (it should be before the end of the year).

TomTom has used CeBIT (as usual) to announce it’s new units for the year. These are the 530, 730 and 930 units. In a similar way to last year’s x20 units, the 530 will have UK & Ireland mapping, the 730 has Western and Eastern European mapping, and the 930 will have US, Canada and Western and Eastern European mapping. The units are of a similar style to the existing x20 units, although these new units come in “very sophisticated soft touch black with “real metal” detailing”. Again, as usual, these units come with new software.

More information in the rest of the article.

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Nokia has announced a range of new phones, including the N96, whose details were leaked last week. The other phones to be released are the N78, a phone that’s being heralded as the replacement for the N73 with built in GPS and built in geotagging support (which we expect, via the various Nokia Beta Labs samples, to be included in future products and firmware updates for existing products); the 6210 Navigator (an update on last year’s 6110 Navigator); and the 6220 Classic (most of the features of the N82, but not in an N-Series phone). The other main announcements relate to Nokia’s Ovi strategy, and Nokia Maps v2 (now available as a public beta), both items we’ve covered before.

The N78 has some good specs:

• 3.2 megapixel camera (with video recording and a LED flash)
• AGPS support (including traditional GPS)
• No accelerometer
• QVGA 2.4″ screen
• HSDPA and Quad Band EDGE
• No large built in storage, but support for microSD cards
• Nokia Maps v2 with RTTI (Real Time Traffic Information)
• A move to microUSB port (from miniUSB)
• FM Transmitter

Some specs courtesy of Symbian World.

Whether you are a PC or Mac user, TomTom has been busy updating it’s desktop software. TomTom Home 2.2 is now released, and offers some new functionality, notably more user community sharing options, with the ability to upload and share POIs, Voices, Routes, Colour Schemes, Sounds (arrival sound, alert sounds, ringtones). In terms of Mac support, the new version offers new functions, and a much more stable interface.

In other news, TomTom has now signed up Vodafone to provide the data for their HD service in Germany. Although only live in The Netherlands, TomTom had already signed up Vodafone to provide the data there and in the UK. TomTom are hoping to have HD traffic for 50% of their European customers by the end of 2008.

A lot of people have been trying to connect their TomTom SatNav devices to their new 3 SkypePhones to get traffic updates, and having problems. Crundy, who developed the SkypeIN / SkypeOUT workaround, has released details instructions on how to achieve this, which you can access in the rest of the article.

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Garmin have released information on a whole range of new devices in advance of CES…

More details in the rest of the article

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Yesterday TomTom launched their new HD Traffic service in The Netherlands. This High Definition traffic service uses raw, anonymous GSM signalling data made available through the partnership between TomTom and Vodafone. This data is merged with existing traffic sources to deliver the world’s most advanced traffic data.

This unique new way of supplying customers with accurate and precise traffic information, using anonymous, aggregated mobile phone data, sets a new industry standard and revolutionises the way drivers plan their daily journeys. Users receive up to five times more traffic updates so they are better informed about the traffic situation on their route and receive more accurate travel and arrival times.

In addition, HD Traffic covers at least ten times more roads in the Netherlands, so drivers know in advance that the alternative route they take is actually a smarter option, thus avoiding any unnecessary delays. TomTom has entered into a partnership with mobile network operator Vodafone in The Netherlands and in the United Kingdom for the supply of the anonymous GSM signaling data. Vodafone’s international footprint, strong brand, innovative power and the best mobile network in the industry makes it a true and reliable partner for TomTom and its users.

The ONE XL HD Traffic comes with integrated HD Traffic, using a built-in SIM card to automatically set up a LIVE connection to the TomTom HD Traffic Centre. The TomTom ONE XL HD Traffic comes with a 12 month introductory subscription to HD Traffic included. After that, you decide if you want to subscribe at the fixed, low cost fee (€9.99 per month in NL, which includes the data connection as well as the traffic service). No hidden charges, no mobile tariffs and no nasty surprises.

TomTom expect to launch this HD Traffic service in the UK in 2008.

TomTom announced today that it is now supplying selected TomTom SatNav devices with their latest (read fixed) RDS-TMC traffic receiver in the same box. Similar to Garmin, TomTom has added a “T” into the new product titles to indicate that the product is a bundle including traffic support.

More details of the models and prices in the rest of the article.

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Although apparently not yet in the shops, TomTom are now shipping out replacement TMC traffic data receivers to people in the UK who have complained about performance problems (ie the previous ones didn’t work). These seem to being well received, and actually work in the UK.

So, with that sorted out, and with the new MapShare feature in their newer products, one has to wonder what Garmin will do next to try to ensure they hold their market share.

Picture courtesy of PocketGPSWorld