We all know that distracted traveling is a major problem nowadays. Whether it’s talking on the phone, texting or eating a burrito we all could do with fewer distractions during our travels. Here at MapQuest we’re on a mission to make receiving and following mobile navigation simpler and easier.

The current release of the free navigation MapQuest App for Android™ boasts some significant upgrades to the gps navigation experience our users have come to love.

What, When and Where

Some inspiration for the new design came from the way car dashboards are designed. In a driving context, icons, buttons and dials need to be simple and intuitive with high contrast and legibility. A driver shouldn’t spend time trying to figure out what the various instruments mean and how to activate them. The controls mesh seamlessly into the natural movements and tasks a traveler executes during the trip.

In a mobile navigation context, we tried to follow these same principles. For example, rather than directions such as, “Turn right onto Broadway” the screen now displays a large right turn arrow and the word “Broadway” in large type. This method provides the user the same information but in a simpler, more graphical way. The visual clutter of a long sentence is replaced by an easily digestible direction that is understandable at a glance.

Less is More

In previous versions the navigation controls were always on display (even when not needed) which added to the distractions during the navigation experience. With the new release, theses controls such as List View, New Route, Edit Route and Stop Nav are nested within an “Actions” menu that reveals with a simple tap. This leaves more room for the things that really matter during a trip—directions and the map.

Are we there yet?

A commonly requested feature now in the latest version of the application is the ability to see the estimated time of arrival (ETA). This comes in handy when you need to give someone an estimate of when you’ll be arriving or when you just want to know how long the trip will take. As a bonus, tap on the ETA display and you’ll also get time remaining and distance remaining.

Testers of these new upgrades raved about the simplicity and intuitiveness of the navigation interface. All users were able to easily read and interact with the new design even in a driving or walking context. Similar to a GPS, the app still offers voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions, but now the matching visual directions are quicker and easier to comprehend.

Download the free app from the Android Market or the Amazon Appstore for Android today and check out the new navigation interface during your travels this summer. We think you’ll really like it.

If you are fortunate enough to be living in or visiting the great city of New York, you might have noticed your GPS-enabled Android™ devices don’t fare as well as you may hope in certain high-rise areas.  GPS devices need a clear view of the sky in order to determine the current location, so when you’re in an area canvassed with skyscrapers it’s difficult to get a consistently clear view.

Our goal is to change that with the latest release of the free navigation MapQuest App for Android™ with the addition of Skyhook! (Wait for applause)  Skyhook is an advanced service utilizing nearby wireless networks to determine your location at appropriate times.  You can find more details in Skyhook’s press release.

On a recent trip to the Big Apple, we tested out the new and improved Skyhook-enhanced application by renting a pimped-out SUV (Dodge® Journey), loaded up six burly developers, and hit to the chaotic streets of Manhattan.  Now, I don’t recommend driving in one of the craziest cities with nearly a dozen Android devices barking orders at you, but we had to make sure our data was valid.  Even with the constant stops for coffee and “potty” breaks, the app worked wonderfully and stayed the course keeping us on track through even some of what are considered the worst GPS areas in town.  After a full day driving up and down 5th Ave, with cabbies flying by us like maniacs and my sanity fading by the minute, the app still kept up with ease.

To see an example comparison of a navigation app with and without Skyhook’s technology, check out Skyhook’s two videos of Boston (Treemont St. video and Charles St. video) showcasing the app in a real-world situation.  We hope you’ll test it out as well and email us your feedback at android-support@mapquest.com.

Download the free app from the Android Market or the Amazon Appstore for Android and let us know what you think!

If I weren’t above bad puns, I might say that we have a veritable ‘storm’ of new BlackBerries supported by our popular MapQuest 4 Mobile Directions App! OK, couldn’t resist. ;)

However, in addition to the Storm and Storm II, MapQuest 4 Mobile is now on the 8500, 8530, 9630, and 9650 BlackBerry device models. These were among the most frequently requested devices among our user community.

Download MapQuest 4 Mobile from BlackBerry App World™ now. Once you’ve downloaded it, please rate it – we want to hear what you like and/or what we should improve!

In case you’re not familiar with MapQuest 4 Mobile, here’s a quick look at it’s features:

• Directions: Reliable directions you’ve come to expect from MapQuest.com.
• Maps: Enjoy aerial maps and street maps with quick pan and zoom features.
• Live Traffic: Live traffic with the latest road conditions.
• Find Me: See your location from your phone’s GPS chip. Track your progress as you move (select handsets only).
• Local Search: Search for a business, either by name, or maybe just a category. Pizza anyone?

As an engineer for the MapQuest mobile team, I helped create the MapQuest 4 Mobile iPhone app.  I think it’s safe to say I know it pretty well so I wanted share with you some of the cooler features that you might not know about.

1. Landscape View For Route Narrative. This is one of the least known features.  Next time you’re using the navigation part of the app – check out the flashcard view of your next maneuver!  Just click “List” and turn the phone longways/horizontal view.  Look, an easy glance look of the next maneuver – SWEET!
2. Editable Routes. When you have a bunch of errands to do, you probably add numerous locations to your route.  One feature that I love is that you can “Drag and Drop” the order that you want to run the errands.  Sometimes you can pick a circular pattern for a round trip – or pick the errand that’s farthest away first then make it back to your house.  The app has the power and the functionality to be able to support any multiple stop route you want! You can easily edit the order that you want to visit the locations by clicking “Edit” and Dragging the locations into the desired order – then Clicking “Get Driving Directions”.
3. Walking Directions. When you have a small distance to lunch – and your not sure if you want to walk or drive – MapQuest 4 Mobile can help you out.  We give you the ability to set your walking distance threshold in the Settings -> Directions Settings – Walking Directions Alert.  Just pick the distance that you are willing to walk – and then when your route falls within that – you will get an option to do a walking route.  Of course – you can always create a walking route on the fly if you click the “Edit” button in the Directions tab.
4. Customizable Map Toolbar. You know the toolbar right under the map?  Ever looked at it and said – “Jeez I wish they had a button for ice cream parlor”?  Well, we do!  Scroll the bar to the left and hit the “plus” sign to see the other categories that are available.  Just touch the icon you want for a second and drag it down into the Toolbar – then you can search for ice cream anytime! (great for the kids or after a date!)
5. Position Icons. Unless you saw our contest last week, you might not know that you can have a Tornado, Hand Dog, or a Tank represent you on a map! Just click on settings – My Position Icon -> and choose the icon that you want.  If you’re not a fan of what we offer, you can also upload your own picture.

These are just a couple of tips and tricks that I have found useful in MapQuest 4 Mobile iPhone.  If you haven’t checked out the app yet, we hope you do.  Enjoy!

Landscape View for Route Narrative

Editable Routes                     Walking Directions

Customizable Map Toolbar

[Insert Drum Roll Here]… And the winner is Robot!

After two full weeks of voting the new Position Icon for our MapQuest 4 Mobile app is the Robot icon. We have to say that at the end it was a very close race with the Fist Bump in the lead for most of the week. With all votes in, here is the final leader board.

We hope everyone had fun voting to customize the MapQuest 4 Mobile experience. For us, the customization of our app is one of our favorite features and so we thought why not let you help us make it better.

The Position Icon is one of the many customizable features in the MapQuest 4 Mobile app. The Position Icon is the image that represents you on the map and moves as you near your destination. If Robot wasn’t your first choice, don’t worry, you can import a photo or take a photo using your mobile phone camera and use that photo instead. Every journey can truly be your own.

So when will you be able to start using the Robot to represent you? Now that your votes are in, we are submitting the update to the Apple and Blackberry app stores, so keep checking back to our blog or Facebook page for the latest news on MapQuest 4 Mobile.

If you are wondering what other features make MapQuest 4 Mobile the best free turn-by-turn app for your mobile phone, stay tuned…

A T-Rex.  A Robot.  A Double Rainbow.  What do these all have in common?  They’re just 3 of the many options you can vote for to be the next Position Icon on our iPhone app!

Since the MapQuest 4 Mobile app debuted, you’ve been able to customize your icon.  After all, who wants to be a be a plain old pin or waving man when you can be Skull & Crossbones, a Hot Air Balloon, a Football or even upload your own photo?

So, go vote for what you think should be the next Position Icon.  Once you vote, you can come back to the voting page at anytime to see whether you’re icon is in the lead.  You can only vote once, but if you get your friends and family to vote, your favorite has a better chance of winning! Voting is open until next Thursday (9/23) and then we’ll announce the winner that Friday (9/24).

If you want to check out the feature now, download the app, click ‘Settings’ -> ‘My Position Icon’ -> and choose the icon that you want!

One of the top requests we’ve fielded since the advent of our spoken street names feature is to rotate the map so that it aligns with the direction you’re traveling.  In our continued quest to be your mapping service of choice on iPhone, your wish is our command.  In other words, with this update, when you start navigation the top of your map will no longer always be North.  So, if you’re headed SW, the top of the map will be SW (see image on left) allowing your position icon (waving man, dog cow, car, hand dog, etc) to now travel along the road in the same way you do.

Try out this convenient new feature, and let us know what you think.  To give us feedback right within the app, simply select the Settings Tab, ‘About’ Button, and click ‘E-mail Support/Feedback.’

Hope you enjoy the new feature!

Earlier this month, we released version 2.0 which added great new functionality and addressed users’ most common suggestions.  Last week the app began appearing in Apple’s ‘New and Noteworthy’ category and this morning we reached the #4 in Top Free iPhone Apps.

We aspire to help our users, and spend a great deal of time poring through Customer Service logs and App Store reviews to understand the nuances of our users’ experiences as well as their requests for enhancements.  As such, we want your feedback – make us better!

If you don’t have the app already, take a second to download it and see for yourself what the MapQuest 4 Mobile app is all about. We hope it helps you on your next journey, no matter where you’re headed!

While reading through the comments on our newest release of MapQuest 4 Mobile for iPhone, I noticed that some questions came up a few times, and I have answers!

Q. Why don’t you have more business categories in the carousel?
A. You can already customize the carousel to add more categories! We include the most popular in the original set, but encourage you to customize to fit your needs.

Simply touch and flick the carousel until you can see the circled plus icon (+). Tap (+). The Configure screen is then displayed. From here, Tap, Hold (1-2 seconds), and then Drag icons to or from the carousel. You can also Tap/Hold/Drag icons from left to right on the carousel to rearrange them.

For detailed help, refer to How to Customize the Places Carousel.

Q. Can I use addresses from my saved contacts?
A. Yes you can! After you tap Maps or Directions, tap a location box and the contacts icon appears at the end of the box. Tap it, select a contact from your list of contacts, and that contact’s address is used for the location. (Note: If you don’t see the contacts icon, make sure you selected the ADDRESS box, not the ‘Business or category’ box.)

For detailed help, refer to How to Map an Address from Your Contact List.

Q. Where is the volume control?
A. To set the alert volume for both sounds and voice, tap Settings at the bottom right of the screen. Tap Guidance Options. Drag the slider to the left or right to decrease or increase the volume.

For detailed help, refer to How to Set the Alert Volume.

Q. Where do I select the battery saving settings?
A. To modify your settings to conserve battery power, select Settings at the bottom of the screen. Select Energy Saving. Select Low, Medium or High.

For detailed help, refer to How to Change the Energy Settings.

If you have other questions about MapQuest 4 Mobile or any of our other products, visit our Help Site or our Forums.

We’re pleased to announce that basic Voice Guidance is now available on our MapQuest 4 Mobile iPhone app. This is an exciting feature that really differentiates us from most other free navigation apps available for iPhone.

This new feature is extremly useful for me and I know it will be the same for our users. For instance, last week I needed to get back to the airport from my hotel after an eventful CTIA conference in Las Vegas. After a busy 3 days, my mind was shot – thankfully, MapQuest 4 Mobile was sitting shotgun in the rental car, literally telling me how to get there.

After a quick search, I got my directions overview from the hotel to the airport. I pressed the green START button and was on my way. As I approached my first turn, the voice guidance informed me twice, and then confirmed the turn with a succinct ‘Turn right, now.’ That was easy.

Uh-oh, cut-off by a cab, and couldn’t hit my next turn! The voice informs me that I am off route, and provides a message that will help me. I pull into a gas station, and tap ‘Reroute Me.’ Back on track.

I drop off the rental car, and am pleased that I was able to use my device on a paucity of power (naturally, I forgot my charger) – the medium power setting allowed my screen to dim while the voice guidance continued, saving me precious power. Phew, I can still e-mail my boss before my flight.

Oh, and it wouldn’t be Vegas if my wallet weren’t lighter so thank goodness the app is FREE! Why not try it?

We’ve been reading customer suggestions, and heeded the call for greater coverage on the line-up of BlackBerry® mobile devices. As of just yesterday, you can now get MapQuest 4 Mobile, a free app, on six new BlackBerry devices, across numerous carriers in the US:

BlackBerry 8220 Pearl Flip
BlackBerry 8230 Pearl Flip
BlackBerry 8520 Curve
BlackBerry 8900 Curve
BlackBerry 9700 Bold
BlackBerry 9630 Tour

Download MapQuest 4 Mobile from BlackBerry App World™ now. Once you’ve downloaded it, please rate it – we want to hear what you like and/or what we should improve!

In case you’re not familiar with MapQuest 4 Mobile, here’s a quick look at it’s features:

• My Places: Registered My Places users on MapQuest.com can view their saved maps and routes.
• Directions: Reliable directions you’ve come to expect from MapQuest.com.
• Maps: Enjoy aerial maps and street maps with quick pan and zoom features.
• Live Traffic: Live traffic with the latest road conditions.
• Find Me: See your location from your phone’s GPS chip. Track your progress as you move (select handsets only).
• Local Search: Search for a business, either by name, or maybe just a category. Pizza anyone?

That was a rhetorical question. Yes, you do…especially when that application is MapQuest® 4 Mobile.

MapQuest 4 Mobile, a free app, brings over a decade of digital mapping experience to your iPhone^TM with distinguishing features to help you get where you’re going. Our legendary attention to driving directions warrants a place in your starting lineup. Get the latest version (1.4) – just released – here.

New – Hands Free Directions
Auto-Advance is our latest innovation to help you get there. It improves the standard “Find Me” by using your iPhone’s GPS to automatically locate you within your driving directions, recognize when you have taken a turn, and prepare you with the next maneuver – all without having to touch the screen.

Why is this good for you? Well, say you get directions from your house to where your kids are playing soccer. When you leave your street, your iPhone screen automatically changes to your next turn. Once you make that turn, you guessed it: the view changes to the next step in your directions. No hands! For a detailed explanation of how this works, visit our help site.

Also New – Energy Savings Mode
MapQuesters, headquartered in beautiful Colorado, tend to think ‘green.’ As such, we’ve introduced settings that help to reduce battery drain – a plus for a map app (these tend to use a lot of battery with the GPS).

For example, if you were driving from Denver, CO to Billings, MT, you would want the setting to be ‘High Savings.’ It’s a long, straight drive, where you will not need the app for long stretches of time, so why waste your precious battery? Conversely, perhaps you are navigating through New York City’s West Village on your way out to LaGuardia – in this case you may want to keep your screen from dimming during the journey, knowing that there are a multitude of maneuvers. In this case, you would set the app to ‘Low Savings’ (the default setting).

Try our new features, and find out why MapQuest 4 Mobile is different, and a must for your starting lineup.

We at MapQuest strive to get travelers to their destinations; it’s what we do. Adding MapQuest 4 Mobile to your list of must-have travel applications is a no-brainer. Obviously, we’re biased, so listen to what some others are saying. ;)

Los Angelinos represent our #1 market for search traffic, so perhaps it’s no coincidence that the Los Angeles Times ran a piece within the Daily Travel and Deal Blog featuring 21 travel apps worth using, and you guessed it, MapQuest 4 Mobile bats leadoff.

Add MapQuest 4 Mobile to your iPhone™ travel toolbox!