Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an Phone navigation app (see article below), a Web application that facilitates corporate Twitter use, software for managing your firm's smartphones, a metadata removal utility, and an online discovery review application with concept searching. Don't miss the next issue.
All Roads Lead to Convergence
Naysayers will tell you that convergence results in compromised products. That's sometimes true and sometimes false, but it misses the point because naysayers fail to appreciate the convenience factor. Does your local supermarket offer better steaks than your local butcher? Trick question. Your town no longer has a local butcher. Never bet against convergence. Now, about that dedicated GPS navigator dangling from your car's windshield.
MobileNavigator North America … in One Sentence
Navigon's MobileNavigator North America is a GPS turn-by-turn navigation app for the iPhone.
The Killer Feature
Nowadays, software companies want to sell you subscriptions. While subscriptions may make sense for complex products that would otherwise require a significant capital investment and constant maintenance, do you really want to pay an annuity for a navigation app?
MobileNavigator is the first iPhone navigation app from one of the major players that doesn't require a subscription. Instead, you pay a flat fee of $69.99 (this price will rise to $99.99 after August 31st).
If you're married and/or have teenage kids, the price drops significantly. That's because you can legally sync up to five iPhones to the same iTunes account. Thus, if you and your spouse each have an iPhone, you'll effectively pay $35 each.
Presumably, Navigon will offer to sell you updated maps in the future, but you can always politely decline if you don't need them.
Other Notable Features
You can use MobileNavigator in portrait or landscape mode and choose from 2D or 3D maps. Voice prompts instruct you when to exit, turn, etc.
To select a destination you can use your iPhone's address book. You can also select from points of interest. MobileNavigator supports both day and night mode when displaying maps. It also displays the speed limit for most roads and can alert you when you speed.
The Reality View Pro feature provides a realistic display of roads and markers to make it easier for you to get your bearings. Similarly, Lane Assistant Pro tells you which lane to occupy for upcoming exits and junctions. Real signposts provide additional context.
The Take Me Home feature does what it says with one press. If you receive a phone call, navigation resumes when you hang up.
What Else Should You Know?
Navigon promises additional features at no charge such as lowering iPod volume during voice prompts, multiple-destination routing, and integration of points of interest with the iPhone's address book. Navigon also sells MobileNavigator Europe. Learn more about MobileNavigator North America.
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So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
