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Provides: Live traffic data for Navigon’s Mobile Navigator
Format: In-app purchase
Developer: Navigon
Minimum Requirements: iPhone 3G(S) with Navigon’s Mobile Navigator App installed
Price: $14.99
Availability: Now
Version Reviewed: 1.3.0

GPS apps have been around long enough for the iPhone that they’ve become pretty commonplace. They’re no longer sold (or bought) simply because they are the only ones available, so new features are what keeps the sales coming. Navigon’s newest feature is another first for navigation apps on the App Store: live traffic data.

Recently, Apple allowed developers to offer in-app purchases. This allows for feature additions to apps instead of separate app versions.  For instance, you could download a demo app, and then pay the fee for the full game without going back to the App Store.  It’s pretty nifty.  Navigon’s first in-app purchase is Traffic Live, and it’s a very welcomed update to say the least.

GPS navigation is great.  But it won’t always get you from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time if traffic is blocking the shortest and fastest route.  Traffic Live grabs data from a whole bunch of sources such as speed cameras, taxis, and other Navigon GPS units.  This should give you an accurate picture of what’s going on pretty much anywhere there is significant traffic, and likely where there isn’t.

I’ve been testing out this feature since it was released almost two weeks ago, and I can say it really does work.  The map is overlaid with icons and colors indicating traffic conditions.  You can also tap an icon to get the latest traffic data in text format.  This will just show you where it’s the worst, starting with the closest to your location.  And my favorite visual feature is that it updates your estimated arrival time based on the traffic data as well.  This is extremely useful, but it’s still a bit optimistic.  These visual features are great, but you’re not supposed to be looking at the screen… 

Anyway, numerous times while driving back and forth from downtown Louisville, KY, towards J-town (sorry for the local-speak) on I-64 I was notified that Navigon was rerouting me due to traffic.  At first I thought, “Oh crap, it’s all backed up and I’m going to be late. At least I know I’m going to be late.”  But then it rerouted me, and it actually found a route that must have shaved at least a few minutes off of my total transit time.  And this happened more than once.  While I’ve been testing out this update, Navigon has rerouted me numerous times, and I’ve been thankful each time.

Now, I have to admit that it’s quite difficult to trust an app on your iPhone when it’s telling you to go a different route than you’re used to going.  With other GPS units, I’ve been routed incorrectly, and there’s something about that experience that makes me hesitant to trust anything from that point on.  Nevertheless, I let this app reroute me nearly every time I was about to essentially park on the highway for a half an hour.  Actually, once I didn’t, and then it kept trying to reroute me, so I listened the second time, and it still helped with the traffic situation.

The only complaint I have about Traffic Live is that after you purchase the update, you’ll need to actually turn it on in your guidance settings.  I think it’s a little silly to think that after spending money on an update that the App doesn’t just assume you want to use the new feature.  Oh well, now you know, so you’ll just turn the option on right away instead of driving around wondering why it isn’t doing anything different.

All in all, Navigon’s Traffic Live feature is a no-brainer purchase.  If you have Navigon’s Mobile Navigator, you need to drop an extra $14.99 on the add-in.  If you don’t have a GPS app yet, you should strongly consider Navigon.  It’s still hands down my favorite GPS navigation app on the App Store.  Seriously, do yourself a favor, and avoid some of the traffic you’re likely to experience this holiday season.  I’m confident I’ll be thanking Navigon this Thursday for time saved in Chicago.

[Note. If you’re quick, you can basically get the update for free, since Navigon lowered the price of Mobile Navigator to $69.99 until November 30, 2009.]