Macworld | iWorld 2012: Garmin goes social, offers sale

Garmin International, Inc. is well known for their satellite navigation products, but their social apps? Integration with Wikipedia, Facebook and foursquare? Indeed, as “mobile lifestyles” will be their focus at Macworld | iWorld 2012 in San Francisco this Thursday through Saturday. Garmin will be showcasing a wide range of location-based apps for iOS spanning aviation, fitness, tracking treasure hunting and, of course, turn-by-turn navigation.

Directly from their press release:

Check in with your navigation app: Among other new features, Garmin will demo social media capabilities for the StreetPilot onDemand app that integrate Wikipedia, Facebook and foursquare. Users can easily display locations from these networks on the map and check in upon arrival at their destination. Clicking on one of the Wikipedia icons on the map will reveal detailed information about a location, such as the identity of an interesting building or landmark. Also new for the StreetPilot onDemand app are some fun features that make driving more enjoyable, such as a variety of voices or vehicle icons to choose from as well as visually refined 3D renderings of buildings to provide a better overview. The latest versions of the StreetPilot Onboard and the NAVIGON turn-by-turn navigation apps will also be on display. Garmin acquired the German navigation provider NAVIGON in 2011.

Track what’s important: The Garmin Tracker app tracks what’s important. The app works in conjunction with the GTU 10 tracking device to display its location on a map, making it easy to virtually follow anything, from your loved-ones to valuables or the family dog. Users can set up a geo-fence to get alerts when the device crosses in or out of a defined area. The latest version of this app now also allows a continuous tracking mode, and enables users to send out map links to others, so they can follow the location of a device too1.

Get fit with your iPhone: The Garmin Fit™ app turns the iPhone into a powerful training tool. The app keeps track of current walking, running or cycling stats. Users can easily upload, review and share their activities on Garmin Connect™, a vibrant online community of fitness enthusiasts. With an optional ANT+™ iPhone adapter, users can also pair this app with Garmin fitness sensors like a heart rate monitor, foot pod or speed/cadence sensor.

Go on a digital treasure hunt: The free OpenCaching app provides a fun way for families, nature lovers, hikers, or scouts to go outside on a digital treasure hunt. Geocaching, a popular activity worldwide, takes digital technology away from the couch and out on the trail. Hidden treasure troves—known as caches—have been hidden around the world. Their coordinates have been uploaded to online communities, such as the free website Opencaching.com, along with details and clues. Garmin’s app allows users to participate in this treasure hunting game by hiding, finding, logging and sharing cache information right from the iPhone.

An iPad app for pilots: Garmin’s roots are in the aviation business and today the company is a leader in this space. Garmin Pilot My-Cast℠ is an aviation-centric weather and flight planning application designed specifically for general aviation, corporate and commercial pilots. The app provides pilots with a paperless cockpit, weather and flight planning along with navigation.

During Macworld | iWorld (Jan 26-28, 2012), Garmin will reduce the prices of its North American turn-by-turn navigation apps by $10. FreshMaps is 50% off (exact price depends on app version) as an in-app purchase within NAVIGON. Then:

• Garmin StreetPilot Onboard USA: $39.99 instead of $49.99
• Garmin StreetPilot Onboard North America: $49.99 instead of $59.99
• Garmin StreetPilot onDemand: the annual subscription is $19.99 instead of $29.99
• NAVIGON USA: $39.99 instead of $49.99
• NAVIGON North America: $49.99 instead of $59.99
• NAVIGON MyRegion: $19.99 instead of $29.99

To learn more about Garmin’s iOS lineup, visit the Garmin website or stop by booth #836 at Moscone West in San Francisco.