ALK releases CoPilot nav app in N. America for $35
updated 10:50 pm EDT, Mon August 17, 2009
CoPilot GPS on App Store
ALK Technologies has announced that its CoPilot Live GPS navigation iPhone app is now available for customers in North America. The app saves Canadian and US maps directly on the iPhone, enabling users to receive guidance when outside of cellular coverage and without accruing data fees.
CoPilot provides automatic route calculation and voice prompts, while the 3D maps can be displayed in landscape or portrait orientations. The turn-by-turn directions present the upcoming turn and the one after, with automatic zoom adjustments depending on driving speed. Users can navigate to a house number, street, intersection, or directly to an address book contact. Routes can include multiple waypoints, while the suggested plan is available as a preview.
The app interface automatically switches to a night mode for higher contrast and reduced brightness, an important feature for driving at night.
When a data connection is available, the app also links to additional content such as weather forecasts. Users can also share their location with friends through the LiveLink feature. The company expects to add real-time traffic info and gas prices as an option in the near future.
CoPilot for North America is now available from the App Store for $35. TomTom on Monday released its own navigation app for North America, although it fetches $99. TomTom offers an IQ Routes feature which optimizes the route depending on typical traffic conditions for the location and time of day, while CoPilot provides an RV mode that selects roads potentially easier to navigate with larger vehicles.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Ripped Off
A piece of bad design obviously written by microtards. They reject familiar UI and try for a design of their own. Usage immediately becomes cumbersome. Once the right keys are found trying out the device was disappointing. It could not get me out of my neighborhood. It also does not announce cross streets as they come and go. Instructions require a constant looking at the odometer for distance references. This thing is a sure auto crash instigator. Worthless.