The Navigon app has been one of the best ways to get turn-by-turn navigation on the Apple iPhone and the app has just received an update to include some augmented reality features.
The Navigon iPhone app now lets you use the Apple iPhone’s camera to get some points of interest on your screen. For example, you’ll be able to use this augmented reality to search for a gas station or a concert venue around you. You’ll still have the map view to search but the augmented reality service may be more eye-catching for some users.
Obviously, you don’t want to use the augmented reality features on the Navigon iPhone app while you’re driving but this is a neat little feature that (kind of) helps to justify the $44.99 price tag. I use an Android phone most of the time, so I’ve been spoiled with the Google Navigation feature that’s baked in.
Still, this is another sign that augmented reality is creeping slowly into the mainstream. We’re seeing other apps like Layar and Yelp bring this to your handsets but we’re still not seeing this being a mainstream force yet.
The Navigon iPhone app with augmented reality might help boost the mainstream take notice because it’s actually a useful way to search for things in a visual way. For those of you who swear by this navigation program, let us know in the comments why this is a great app.