CoPilot GPS App Still On Sale, Adds New Features

6:38 pm, December 3rd, 2009, Eli Milchman

copilot_live

Two weeks ago, we mentioned that the ALK’s CoPilot Live app, an already inexpensive iPhone GPS option, went on sale for $20 (from $35) during Thanksgiving.

Today, ALK announced they’re introducing a similar deal — now $25 — through the end of December.

To make the deal even more enticing, they’re making available a “Premium Live” package that includes live traffic info and routing (from the same source as the $80 Navigon app), a live Internet local search feature and something I haven’t seen before on a GPS app: A live gas-price feature that can route you to the cheapest gas near your location.

The Premium Live option runs an extra $20/year, but the savings from hassle-free routing to cheap gas might just make the package valuable enough to pay for itself.

Posted by Eli Milchman in News, iPhone | Comment on this article

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When he was eight, Eli Milchman came home from frolicking in the Veld one day and was given an Atari 400. Since then, his fascination with technology has made him an intrepid early adopter of whatever charming new contraption crosses his path. He calls San Francisco home, where he works as a journalist and photographer. Eli has contributed to the pages of Wired.com and BIKE Magazine, among others.

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4 comments

True, but Navigon has just submitted their update to the App Store which includes Google Local Search at no additional cost. That in itself pays for the app because CoPilot charges $19.99 a year for just that service. Of course you also get live traffic and live gas prices but the POI database is much more important, hence why Navigon’s Google Local Search is a better ideal.

I bought CoPilot for $20, for two years of live services that is about the price I could have paid for Navigon with a local search.

Ryan, on December 4th, 2009 at 9:18 am

Ryan: The Navigon app is $90 in the States, which would buy you the Copilot app, plus two extra years (three total) of the Premium Live features at it’s current sale price, so I don’t quite buy your argument about it being a better deal — three years is a very long time in the mobile-computing world.

That said, while we haven’t had a chance to use CoPilot yet, I’m currently testing the Navigon app with its new live traffic feature (look for a review soon), and I’m fairly impressed so far.

All this might be moot though, should Google ever get its nav app onto the iPhone.

Eli Milchman, on December 4th, 2009 at 4:33 pm

I bought CoPilot for $20 over Thanksgiving. Navigon (along with other GPS providers) all had sales during that weekend. I believe Navigon was $60 during that time.

CoPilot at $20 plus two years of Live Services = $60
Navigon at $60 with free Google Local Search

Even if Navigon was at $90, I would still recommend it over CoPilot. CoPilot’s POI database is lacking and I live in a major city – San Diego,CA. If CoPilot could offer the same features as its European app, maybe I could change my mind (i.e. NAVTEQ over ALK maps, roadside assistance, live signs, safety cameras, lane indicator)

I could live without live traffic and live gas prices as long as my GPS app can get me where I want to go.

And yes, I hope Google’s navigation system comes out. The only reason you would want maps on your iphone is for those times you don’t have reception which has happened to me while trying to use Google Maps.

Ryan, on December 5th, 2009 at 12:29 pm

I would also point you to MacRumors.com, in their forum, users are claiming CoPilot’s local search is not Google’s but of CoPilot’s own search system.

I’ve tried TomTom, Navigon, and iGo. The only thing I like about CoPilot is the map interface. Everything else, go Navigon.

I originally had Garmin on a windows mobile phone and even that allowed for Google Local Search.

Ryan, on December 5th, 2009 at 12:38 pm