The TomTom App for iPhone and iPad will be the first to use social networks as a source for turn-by-turn navigation. It can automatically plan routes based on information from Facebook events, places and friends. Drivers can also use the App to share their destination and arrival time on Twitter, Facebook, by email and SMS text.

Source: TomTom PR

TomTom, the GPS enabled navigation app has just been updated and it now includes an optimized version for the iPad. The app is now a universal binary so there will be no need to pay for an additional navigation app for your iPad if you already have it on your iPhone.

The TomTom App. World-class TomTom navigation, on your iPhone or iPad New to v1.9: Now iPad-optimized for a sharper, full screen view.

• Make the most of your iPad, with a full-screen display that shows you driving view and Advanced Lane Guidance images at the same time. Purchase connected services in-App or easily transfer your existing subscriptions (cellular connection required). When you want to go bigger, move your TomTom App to iPad.

• Because roads are constantly changing, on average 15% of roads change every year, your TomTom App update comes with the latest and most up-to-date map.

• Your TomTom App is quicker and easier to use than ever. See driving view with one touch from anywhere, access guidance options in a tap, and switch between different route types more easily. It’s a simpler way to enjoy TomTom navigation on your iPhone or iPad.

TomTom is available for the iPhone and iPad for $49.99.

[App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Telsa Wars: A fun and unique tower defense game. Now with 3 new specials, user profiles, Game Center support, and Facebook & Twitter integration. [Free, iPhone - iTunes link] [Free, iPad - iTunes link]

• ClubWorld: Now you can design and operate your own nightclub in our all new real-time simulation game! Now with updated graphics and stability fixes. [Free - iTunes link]

• fone: Make free VoIP calls with your Facebook friends wherever they are - iPhone, iPod Touch or web. [Free - iTunes link]

• TomTom: Now with a Homer Simpson voice option via a $5.99 in-app purchase. [prices vary - iTunes link]

• FavFriends: Pick your favorite people from your Facebook Friends list. Whenever your favorite friend posts a new status or checks-in a Place, you get a push notification in real-time. [$0.99 - iTunes link]

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Tap-Translate: Get word translations while browsing with Apple's official browser. [$1.99 - iTunes link]

• AmpliTube: Connect your guitar to your iPhone and use this app as a mobile multi-effect processor and mobile recording studio. New update includes official Fender amp and stomp models via in-app purchase. Requires AmpliTube iRig. [$19.99, with in-app purchases - iTunes link]

• TomTom U.S.A.: Updated to support the Verizon iPhone. [$34.99 - iTunes link]

• Ms. PAC-MAN: The classic arcade game is now available on iPad! [$1.99 - iTunes link]

• TripAdvisor Hotels Flights Restaurants: iPad version now has Go Before You Go: see a street-level view of your destination, plus nearby hotels, restaurants, and more. [Free - iTunes link]

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

TomTom has released its latest version of the TomTom App for iPhone. Users can now use their photo gallery as an address book by enabling them to select and navigate to any geo-tagged photo. Also, iPhone 4 users will experience enhanced graphics with support for retina display and faster, more-responsive navigation.

• OPTIMIZED FOR IPHONE 4 (iPhone 4 only): Turn-by-turn navigation with TomTom just got even better, with high resolution graphics and sharper maps. Menus are more responsive and positioning is more accurate, even with limited GPS reception. The TomTom app takes full advantage of your iPhone 4.

• NAVIGATE-TO-PHOTO: Got a photo of the place you want to go? Simply tap on the image and TomTom will take you there. You no longer need to enter an address to get going. What you see is where you’ll go!

• NEW, UPDATED MAPS: Drive with the latest maps. TomTom maps include 1 million more miles of US roads than competitors.

Navigation to a geo-tagged photo is an interesting new feature but I'm having trouble imagining its usefulness. I think it'd be faster to type in the name of the place you want to go than to sift through your photo albums to find a picture of your wanted destination. It seems to be more of a novelty feature that you show off to your friends. Maybe it's just me, so I'm asking you. TomTom users, have you tried this new feature? What do you think of it? Do you picture yourself using it often?

[$49.99 (TomTom USA) - iTunes link]

Just get a new iPhone or iPod touch and curious which are the best, most must-have apps and games you need to install first? Want to really show off that Retina Display or take advantage of multitasking? Well read on for TiPb's top 10 most recommended, most must-have iPhone apps to get your started.

Note: This article has been updated for iPhone 4S -- check out the new top 10 apps for iPhone post to see the latest picks!

Just switch to iPhone or Verizon iPhone? Also check out:

• Top 5 iPhone apps for BlackBerry switchers
• Top 5 iPhone apps for Droid/Android switchers

Social apps: Facebook for iPhone

Facebook is one of the most popular sites on the web, so any wonder it's once of the most popular apps on iPhone? Sometimes we suspect people live almost entirely in the Facebook app -- at least until the phone rings! Sure, you can go to Facebook's mobile site in Safari but the app offers so much more functionality, from picture uploads to easy Facebook Places and Groups access, it's earned its place on our home screens. [Free - iTunes link]

Also check out:

• LinkedIn for iPhone, for business users. [Free - iTunes link]
• Twitter for iPhone, for frequent tweeters. [Free - iTunes link]

Casual games: Angry Birds

Angry Birds is the undisputed king of casual gaming and an addictive puzzler in the best tradition of the genre. Evil green pigs have stolen your eggs and your birds aim to get them back -- with slingshots, explosives, boomerangs, and other manner of weaponized avian fury. Kill all the pigs to clear a level, do it with style and earn the elusive 3-stars. It starts off easy but ramps up quickly as the minutes turn to hours. You've been warned! [$0.99 - iTunes link]

Also check out:

• Cut the Rope for some physics puzzle fun. [$0.99 - iTunes link]
• Plants vs. Zombies for relentless action. [$2.99 - iTunes link]

Communication/IM apps: Skype for iPhone

Skype for iPhone lets you make Skype-to-Skype calls for free, and if you have Skype credits, Skype-to-phone calls very cheaply. Thanks to the latest version of iOS, it can also run in the background so it can answer Skype calls just like a real phone (though it will decrease battery life). They're slow to update but they're the standard for VoIP (voice over iP) and a great way to cut down on phone bills. [Free/credits - iTunes link]

• BeeJiveIM, if you just want chat, supports AIM/MobileMe, MSN/Windows Live, Yahoo!, GoogleTalk, Facebook, MySpace and Jabber [$9.99 - iTunes link]
• Google Voice for iPhone lets you access your calls, texts, and voice mail. [Free - iTunes link]

Time management games: Smurf's Village

Sure, the ultimate goal of building the best village is just the same as other games, but Smurfs’ Village also has a story line. After each level increase, there's dialogue and a quest, and also mini games you can play to earn more experience. The graphics are great and the gameplay is smooth. Smurfs’ Village is free but some items require smurfberries which are available as an in-app purchase. Smurfberries can also be used to speed up the growth of plants and construction of buildings. Universal app - download once, use on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. [Free - iTunes link]

Also check out:

• Farmville to bring your Facebook farm to iPhone. [Free - iTunes link]
• We Rule to build the perfect palace. [Free - iTunes link]

Productivity apps: Documents to Go Premium

While the iPhone's screen is a bit small to handle all your business or school work, the ability to edit Office files on the go can be a lifesaver. Documents to Go Premium lets you create, read, and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files well enough to get the job done and will even open Mail attachments and sync files via iTunes or with Google Docs, Dropbox, Box.net, iDisk & SugarSync for the ultimate in mobile accomplishment. Universal app - buy once, use on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. [$16.99 - iTunes link]

• Good Reader is a powerhouse for PDF annotating and file management. [$2.99 - iTunes link]
• Evernote stores text, images, and audio for easy reference later. [Free - iTunes link]

Hardcore games: Infinity Blade

Epic's Unreal 3 engine explodes onto iPhone with Infinity Blade, an on-rails sword fighting extravaganza with some of the best visuals we've ever seen. The story and gameplay are simple if not simplistic, you battle a series of monsters and their God-King over generations, growing your power, magic, and skill until you're strong enough to win. It might sound repetitive but it quickly becomes as addictive as it is gorgeous. Universal app - buy once, use on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. [$5.99 - iTunes link]

Also check out:

• Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus for some CoD-style fun. [$6.99 - iTunes link]
• Real Racing 2 for amazing cars and online play. [$9.99 - iTunes link]

Music apps: Slacker Personal Radio

Thanks to the latest version of iOS, Slacker (and Pandora) can now run in the background which means you can stream all the music you like while surfing the web, using turn-by-turn navigation, answering email, or pretty much anything you want. Slacker requires a subscription and is currently only available in the US and Canada. [Free - iTunes link]

• Spotify for streaming music in Europe. [Free - iTunes link]
• Shazam to figure out what you're listening to. [Free - iTunes link]

Photography apps: Photo FX

The iPhone is the best camera because it's the one you most often have with you, but sometimes the photos you take with it will be rushed, a little dark, a little light, or otherwise a step or two away from perfect. Photo FX and their hundreds of filters and special effects can help fix that. It can't work miracles but it can make the difference between a shot you save and one you throw away. [$2.99 - iTunes link]

Also check out:

• Hipstamatic brings old-school feel to new world pictures. [$0.99 - iTunes link]
• Flickr for iPhone lets you store and share all the shots you take. [Free - iTunes link]

Utility apps: Find my iPhone

Previously you had to pay for MobileMe to get Find my iPhone but now it's free to everyone. Just download the app, set it up with your iTunes ID, and if you lose your iPhone (or it gets stolen) you can GPS locate it, make it beep or display a text message, remote lock it, and even remote wipe it so no one can get access to your personal data. Whether it's under some papers on your desk, back at the restaurant you just left, or in some bad guy's hands, Find my iPhone does just what the name says. Universal app - download once, use on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. [Free - iTunes link]

• Skyfire is a web browser that lets you watch some Flash videos on your iPhone. [$2.99 - iTunes link]
• RedLaser scans barcodes and finds you the best price online. [Free - iTunes link]

Location/GPS apps: NAVIGON MobileNavigator

Get full fledged turn-by-turn driving directions on your iPhone so you can keep your eyes where they belong -- on the road. NAVIGON provides on-board maps which means it's a huge download but it keeps working in areas where there's no data coverage. You can buy regional, country, or continents at a time, and there are also options for live traffic updates, parking directions, and enhanced panoramic views of the surroundings. [Various - iTunes link]

Also check out:

• Gowalla lets you "check in" to locations, keep track of your and your friends' locations, and earn badges for being there. [Free - iTunes link]
• Yelp provides restaurant, gas station, bar, and pretty much any type of business location and recommendations. [Free - iTunes link]
  

Your top apps?

So there you have them, our top 10 best iPhone 4 apps to get you started. Be sure to check out our Picks of the Week and iPhone App and Games Forum for more recommendations, and if we missed any of your favorites leave them in the comments below!

We’ve been keeping our eye out as more iOS4 app updates keep hitting the App Store filled with multitasking, state saving, Retina Display-ing goodness. So pull out your iPhone or get on iTunes and check for updates. Here are some more we’ve seen roll out since our last post.

Hit the jump to see what new ones we've found!

Twitter for iPhone

This is a big one for most people as it’s by far one of the most popular Twitter clients for iPhone.  Now that it’s become the official client and is available for free, it’s become that much more popular.  Twitter for iPhone hasn’t disappointed and rolled out an update that not only supports fast app switching, but resolution support for the new retina display, as well as some bug fixes.

Real Racing by Firemint

Games are what most users are really looking forward to with the new display.  Looks like some developers are really starting to take advantage of the new display. Real Racing seems to have redesigned their graphics to take advantage of the iPhone 4’s display.  If you’re in the market for a great racing game, this just may be for you.

Here’s what’s included in the update –

• New graphics for showing off the retina display with high resolution textures, more detailed car interiors, improved track graphics, beautifully updated menus and exceptionally smooth graphical performance on iPhone 4
• More responsive and accurate controls on iPhone 4, with three-axis gyro support in addition to the accelerometer
• Smoother graphics on iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 3 with iOS4 anti-aliasing
• Support for iOS4 multitasking on compatible devices
• Bux Fixes

Flight Control by Firemint

Looks like Firemint is really on a roll and updating most of their game selection for iOS4.  Most of the updates seem to be in line with those for Real Racing.  Enhanced graphics, fast app switching, anti-aliasing, and gyro support.  If you’ve never played Flight Control, it’s an incredibly addicting game.  If you already have it, go grab the update!

Plants vs Zombies

This is one of my favorite games of all time.  If you haven’t picked it up, I highly suggest it.  Those of you who currently have it, it’s been updated to support fast app switching in iOS4.  Apart from that, I don’t believe the update includes support for the retina display.  I’m hoping we’ll see that in a future update.

Trapster

There aren’t very many free navigation apps in the App Store.  If you aren’t in the market to spend a lot and want a decent one, Trapster may be for you. It also comes with speed trap alerts.  And it comes with support for background navigation.  What more could you ask for?

TomTom

I’ve read in several places that users were having issues with TomTom after upgrading to iOS4.  TomTom has issued an update to not only fix compatibility issues but adding some great features to support iOS4. So if you upgraded to iOS4, make sure you update so you can continue using TomTom.  GPS apps are probably going to improve ten-fold with the release of iOS4.  Here’s a list of new and improved TomTom features –

• Seamless navigation while calling (3GS and iPhone 4 only)
• Newly updated maps
• Background navigation instructions
• Route Sharing (share route details with contacts via e-mail)
• Departure Reminders (add them to your calendar)
• Eco Routes (more fuel efficient routes)
• Car Symbols (personalize car symbols on your driving screen)

Slacker Personal Radio

[iTunes link]

Slacker is right now releasing version 2.1 which supports multitasking for listening to Slacker Radio in the background and offers convenient controls for accessing the app while performing other device functions. Slacker Radio 2.1 for iOS 4 offers:

• Support for multitasking
• Convenient background play controls
• Music library featuring millions of songs
• No monthly listening limits
• Over 120 professionally programmed genre stations
• Create custom stations based on artists or songs
• Fine tune stations on-the-fly to play more of the music you like
• View artist biographies and photos
• View album art and reviews
• Pause and skip songs
• Rate songs as favorites
• Ban the songs and artists you don’t like

If you're a Slacker Radio Plus subscriber:

• Cache stations to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch**
• Enjoy Slacker radio stations even without a wireless network
• Unlimited song skipping
• Ad-free listening
• Complete song lyrics†
• Unlimited song requests for creating stations
• “Peek Ahead” artist and album preview

That's what we've found so far, but if you find any you think deserve a post-up let us know in the comments or send us a tip!

Tom Murray, SVP of Marketing, TomTom sat down with me to discuss their turn-by-turn navigation app for the iPhone. Announced at WWDC 2009, over the last year TomTom has managed to get the app to where all its core functionality is in place and they can give iPhone users a really first-class tool to get them from point A to point B. Now, with iOS 4 and its multitasking API for location, they can start getting them in style.

Since TomTom does everything from owning their own maps to selling their own devices, they're uniquely positioned do things like crowd-source changes in roads or analyze patterns in routes and get that fed back into their system so their 40 million users can share local wisdom whether they're improving their daily commute or driving in a new city for the first time.

With the iPhone, Apple is providing the device (and the GPS) but TomTom still offers a car kit to supplement and extend the built-in hardware. (I asked if the existing car kit would be compatible with the just-introduced iPhone 4, but they hadn't had a chance to get their hands on it yet so they're waiting to whether it fits, whether it requires an adapter, or whether some reengineering will be in order).

No word on an iPad version yet, unfortunately, but turn-by-turn navigation on smartphones is still growing. With free-as-in-Google and open source map apps now on the scene, TomTom is investing in the quality of their service and the trust in their data.

Check out our video interview, after the break!

[TomTom on iTunes]

YouTube link

The AT&T Navigator app and TomTom are my two favorite GPS solutions; TomTom just took the lead with this most recent update.

One of the benefits of the AT&T Navigator app was the ability to search real-time and navigate to a location via the web. Now, TomTom is bringing us that functionality via Google Local Search, and more! Here is a list of changes in the most rescent update, 1.3:

• Real-Time traffic- The best traffic information available today (an additional $19.99)
• Google Local Search- Access the latest listings from within TomTom
• The Latest Maps- The most accurate map
• Music Fading- Instead of music pausing, it fades when navigation is spoken
• Automatic Day/Night Mode- TomTom now calculates the sunrise and sunset and changes the map accordingly
• Add Locations- From other apps and websites

Today we have some pretty decent sales going on in the App Store in time for some last minute holiday shopping!

First up we have TomTom North America U.S.A. [iTunes Link], which if you don't mind dropping Canada from your drive can save you some cash -- $49.99. Not too shabby! Again, if you don't care about Canada, grab the US-only version quick as the reduced app is only available until December 31st.

This next one will be painful for some of you as the game was recently released for $10, a whopping $5 higher than it currently is being offered... Super Monkey Ball 2 [iTunes Link] is now on sale for only $4.99 - this weekend only!

Finally we have one for all of you math lovers out there, Wolfram Alpha [iTunes Link] is on sale for $19.99. So if you are in need of carrying around an all-in-one math tool in your pocket and don't want to spend 50 bucks for it's regular price, grab this before the sale ends on December 31st.

If you know of any good deals going on this holiday season be sure mention it in the comments or feel free contact us directly!

TomTom has released a rather significant update to their $99 iPhone Turn-by-Turn GPS application [iTunes Link]. It seems as if they had second thoughts about omitting first generation iPhone 2G (and iPod touches) support in the TomTom car kit. It was only last month that TomTom officially stated the kit would not enable GPS with the original iPhone or iPod touch. My how quickly things change, perhaps the release of the free Google Navigation application had something to do with it...

If anyone still rocking the first generation iPhone or a new iPod touch and try TomTom out, let us know how it goes!

[Via AppAdvice, thanks Tyler]

AppleInsider is reporting that the car kit will not be compatible with the iPod touch and first-generation iPhone 2G. This is a complete turn around from early reports from TomTom claiming since the car kit contained it's own GPS, you could indeed use the TomTom App Store software/car kit combo with an iPod Touch and first-generation iPhone.

TomTom's car kit for iPhone has been in the news countless times the past few months and here it is once again. This news should sadden many iPod touch/First-generation iPhone 2G owners who have been waiting for this often delayed accessory to be released. It was first slated to come out this past summer, which was then pushed back to October and now will not be shipped until November.

[Via AppleInsider]

Just bought that ~$100 TomTom iPhone app and have $120 ($119.95 to be exact) bucks more burning a whole in your wallet? What luck! The matching TomTom car kit has just become available via the Apple Online Store! (Shipping in 2-3 weeks!)

Yes, that's $220 total cost of ownership for TomTom lovers, but it's so hard to set a price on convergence, isn't it? (Especially when that convergence now comes in two parts!)

Anyone buying it? If so, tell us why. If not, tell us why as well!

[via AppAdvice]

• Our podcast feed
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Join Chad and Rene for 2 billion apps, Tweetie 2 and TomTom pricing, the latest on the iTablet and Light Peak, AT&T MMS redux, Orange and Vodafone UK, plus your questions! Listen in!

Credits

Thanks to the the iPhone Blog Store for sponsoring the podcast, and to everyone who showed up for the live chat!

Our music comes from the following sources:

• I Called You -- iPhone Remix by Pete Leidy
via Sneakmove iPhone Ringtone Challenge

TomTom has finally gotten around to revealing the price point for their much anticipated iPhone car kit, which provides its own GPS as well as iPhone charger, loud speaker, and hands-free dialing.

TomTom car kit for the iPhone will have a recommended retail price of EUR 99.99 or USD 119.95.

The TomTom car kit will be available this October and will be sold separately from the TomTom app. It will be compatible with the iPhone 2G, 3G and 3GS.

When you add in the price of the TomTom iPhone app, that more than $200 for the combo, not exactly a bargain compared to a stand-alone GPS device. Then again, this saves you having to carry around a second device just for GPS, so does convenience trump cost, or does TomTom need to rethink their business model here?

Could they offer a second version of the TomTom app -- one that only works with the car kit -- at a greatly discounted price for those who shell out for the car kit? More importantly, should they?

[Via GPSTracklog via TUAW]

Well it's official, TomTom's much anticipated iPhone car kit accessory will not make it out this summer like the company initially had planned. Rather, it has been delayed until October according to their website's FAQ page.

The TomTom car kit availability was originally planned for this summer. But we have decided to take some extra weeks in order to deliver the highest quality on this innovative product. So, the car kit will become available this October on www.tomtom.com.

We suppose it is best to delay the accessory for a few weeks in order to insure you, the consumer, can purchase the very best TomTom has to offer. It could have been worse and the kit could have been delayed until next year, right?

[Via TUAW]

While the wait for TomTom's iPhone software to hit the App Store has come and gone, most of you are still eagerly awaiting the arrival of TomTom's iPhone car kit, first shown off at WWDC back in June. Engadget Mobile is now reporting that your wait may be coming to an end as TomTom's car kit has received its FCC approval. Included in that link, for your viewing pleasure, is the kit's manual, some images, and a few test reports.

Since it's announcement TomTom has kept pretty quite about the kits full capabilities. Well, a quick look in the user manual gets us all of the official details.

Your TomTom car kit for iPhone is designed to provide you with the best possible navigation experience. A built-in GPS receiver enhances your iPhone's GPS signal, ensuring the most reliable navigation, wherever you are. Using the car kit, you get loud and clear voice instructions, can make hands- free calls, as well as charge your iPhone while you drive. The car kit is a safe and secure dock with the award-winning fold-and-go EasyPort� mount.

Are those the features you've been waiting for?

[Via Engadget Mobile]

TomTom insists on teasing us all with the above video yet there is still no mention of pricing or availability. As you can see, this car kit brings a lot more to the table than a simple window mount for your iPhone. With the following extras, you can count on this being a pricey addition to your accessory collection.

• Hands-free dialing
• Louder speaker
• Enhances GPS signal
• Charges iPhone

As impressive as the TomTom car kit looks, we are thinking you possibly may have to dish out up to at least $100 for this tricked out window mount. Are you still interested in making this purchase?

Sound off in the comments!

[Via Engadget Mobile]

As you might have heard, TomTom's GPS application hit the App Store late yesterday. The question still remained regarding the much anticipated TomTom car kit and if it would be compatible with the iPod Touch or other GPS applications. Macrumors is now reporting that TomTom public relations manager Yann Lafargue says yes, you will be able to use other GPS applications along with Apple's iPod Touch with the car kit.

"It will work with the iPod touch and will also work with third-party GPS applications."

There still is no word on pricing or availability except it will arrive "later this summer", but keep an eye on the official TomTom Twitter page for the latest "official" information.

How much would you be willing to spend on this accessory?

UPDATED: Here're the US deets: TomTom US & Canada [$99.99 - iTunes link], TomTom Australia [$79.99 - iTunes link], TomTom New Zealand [$94.99 - iTunes link], TomTom Western Europe [$139.99 - iTunes link]

ORIGINAL: TomTom [iTunes publisher link], the long-anticipated turn-by-turn navigation app for the iPhone is beginning to appear in international App Stores, starting with New Zealand and according to our tipsters, rolling across Australia and the UK.

Cost wise, the different versions (US & Canada, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand) range in price from NZ$105 (US$70) to NZ$179 (US$120).

Hopefully it will hit all the stores, including the US (and Canada!) sooner rather than later. If you find it in your local App Store, drop us a note in the comments. (Still no word, however, on the accompanying dock that was announced at WWDC 2009...)

[Thanks to Tyler from App Advice, David, Niall everyone who sent this in!]

Cali Lewis of Geekbrief.tv rounds up some of the news from last week that TiPb somehow didn't get to, including the iPhone mirroring a WiiMote, the new UStream 3GS Recorder app [Free - iTunes link] that lets you record and upload video to Ustream (no live streaming though...), and the first signs of life for the TomTom car kit for the iPhone... along with a big UK price tag that makes us think it may land at US$200.

While Cali recently broke her iPhone, and Apple's App Store shenanigans have encouraged her to look at alternate handsets to replace it with, here's hoping she stays iCali for a while still and helps all of us help Apple evolve their thinking...

It was a long time coming, but as part of yesterday's WWDC Keynote, TomTom co-founder Peter-Frans Pauwels demonstrated their company's solution to turn-by-turn GSP navigation for iPhone 3.0, and interestingly, it comes in two parts:

• The TomTom navigation application for iPhone; an Apple version of TomTom’s award-winning turn-by-turn navigation software, including IQ Routes and latest maps from Tele Atlas;

• The TomTom car kit for iPhone; a specially developed car kit for secure docking, enhanced GPS performance, clear voice instructions, hands-free calling and in-car charging.

No word on pricing or availability yet, though it will be at some point later this summer, after the iPhone 3.0 release on June 17.

Was it worth the wait, and what kind of pricing are you anticipating (or hoping for)?

Running out of things to say about the ongoing (and ongoing, and ongoing, and ongoing) TomTom and general turn-by-turn GPS on the iPhone saga?

Lucky for us, MSNBC's Suzanne Choney (via MacDailyNews) found out the big industry players certainly aren't.

Says TomTom:

"We have made our navigation system run on the iPhone; it looks good and works very well. We will have to look more closely to Apple’s strategy before we can say more about what kind of opportunities this will bring us."

Says Garmin:

"We’re always looking at new phone platforms to expand into for Garmin Mobile, but we don’t have any announcements regarding the iPhone at this time."

Says Magellan:

"[We do] not have immediate plans for this, but we are looking into it."

Wow, could Garmin and Magellan sound any less enthusiastic? Sure, they have to play their cards close to their vest (though TomTom is obviously faster and looser in that regard), but how about a little hype-jacking?

No matter. Smart money says we should see turn-by-turn soon-ish. However, given how 3G network connectivity, MobileMe, and some other functionality has rolled out (never mind cut and paste!), turn-by-turn is something that Apple (or TomTom, or whomever provides it), really can't afford to get wrong. 2.1 has already dropped push notification, so if turn-by-turn was even on the list, chances are it's been bumped down again. No matter how "complicated" it may be, they have to nail it from launch, or people will be more than just inconvenienced.

That is, depending on how badly we still want turn-by-turn GPS? Dieter is all over it, of course, but how high is it on your iPhone firmware fix wish list?

Are you tired of hearing about whether or not we'll get actual, real, turn-by-turn GPS on the iPhone yet? You shouldn't be, because it's a killer feature that a lot of other smartphone platforms are justifiably proud of and the iPhone needs to get it, Apple's crazy rules be damned. At least, that's what we tell ourselves when we cover all this TomTom news, from "It's coming to iPhone" to "It's not coming."

The latest? Despite what you may have heard (ahem), TomTom is working on a client and has one in-house that works "pretty well" according to MacGeneration (via AppleInsider). So says TomTom press chief Yann Lafargue, who adds that as for whether or not the darn thing will ever ship, TomTom can't really say.

We know that Apple's SDK agreement prohibits it (probably so Apple can't get sued when you follow your GPS directions into a lake), but we're willing to sign away our firstborn rights to sue for this, okay Apple? Can't you guys make nice?

Hoo doggy. First we thought that we were definitely getting TomTom for the iPhone, giving us 3D, realtime navigation. Then we heard that the iPhone SDK explicitly prohibits just that sort of application. We weren't worried, though, because TomTom told us we'd get it and we, you know, trusted them.

Whoops.

Turns out TomTom was, like many a GPS manufacturer, "Scared [expletive]-less" by the thought that the new iPhone would have 3G, so when a Reuters reporter asked them about it, they said "sure, we'll make some software for it. It'll be grand." So writes Joel Johnson of BoingBoing Gadgets, adding that an anonymous source within TomTom let them know that there's no internal development yet and no prototypes either.

Bummer? Bummer. Here's our worst fear: that line in the SDK agreement is there specifically so that only one company can create turn-by-turn 3D GPS navigation: TeleNav. TeleNav is nice and all, but it costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 a month and they have agreements with AT&T that lock down the GPS on many handsets (we're looking at you, Verizon BlackBerry!) so they can only access the GPS via TeleNav. We at least know that the GPS works in Google Maps, but will Apple really prohibit other companies from using it to make full GPS apps? Are they jonesing for some kickbacks revenue sharing now that they're not getting that from AT&T anymore?

Well now, we told you that TomTom is bringing full-on, real GPS driving to the iPhone, but apparently they're going to be the exception that makes the rule. Engadget has dug into the developer agreement for the iPhone SDK and came across this little nugget related to what developers can and cannot do with the Location services:

Applications may not be designed or marketed for real time route guidance; automatic or autonomous control of vehicles or aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life-saving purposes.

...While we're (reticently) on board with the requirement that you can't make an app that will drive your car for you, the rest seems pretty egregious. No control of 'mechanical devices?' Sounds like that sweet iPhone-driven Lego Robot is verboten. No 'fleet management?' Sorry UPS, no iPhone for you. The big one, of course, is no 'route guidance.' Pish posh, we say, TomTom said they're coming and we're guessing they weren't lying. We have previously said here we were slightly worried that Apple would be overly-stringent about what apps they would let into the App Store -- here's to hoping that rules like these don't get strictly enforced.

Ready for developers to take advantage of the new features in the iPhone 3G, namely GPS? Well don't worry, TomTom, makers of popular GPS units and GPS software, has already developed navigation software for the iPhone 3G. A TomTom spokesperson was quoted as saying,

"Navigation System runs on the iPhone already"

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