Are you still using a dedicated GPS device? Why not use your cellphone to navigate instead.

NAVIGON MobileNavigator iPhone version 2.3 transforms your iPhone into a mobile navigation device.

Active Lane Assistant displays which lane you should be traveling ahead. It even shows the bends on the roads. To make sure you know in advance what is coming up ahead after the next bend, you will be shown up to the next four turns along the route ahead.

NAVIGON’s Text-to-Speech provides you with precise announcements that tells you the names of streets and exits, as well as the direction and distance. With this audio aid, you can focus all your attention on driving.

To help you stay within speed limits, NAVIGON’s Speed Assistant provides audio-visual warnings as soon as you exceed the legal speed.

Traffic Live (an addon purchase) provides you with the latest traffic information regularly and in real time. Traffic Live also knows where other ‘Live’ users are currently driving without obstructions. This means that NAVIGON always recommends the best route for you on the basis of the current traffic situation.

With FreshMaps XL (another addon purchase), you will receive map updates every three months for at least two years. NAVIGON is then always up to date and contains not only changes or additions to the road network but also plenty of new Points Of Interest (POI).

For pedestrians, the enhanced pedestrian navigation offers you considerably more convenient directions than the traditional city map. The principle behind it is simple but effective. One arrow always points in the direction in which you are walking and another points in the direction of your destination, making your city stroll even more relaxed.

Urban Guidance (an addon purchase) allows you to integrate public transport in your pedestrian navigation. Whether by bus, train, ferry or water taxi – with Urban Guidance – you will always find the easiest and fastest way to your destination.

With SOS/Direct Help, NAVIGON shows your current location and coordinates. It will also show a list of Road Assistance, Police Stations, Hospitals and Pharmacies.

iCloud helps you keep your Favorites synchronized on all your IOS devices. Even After re-installing the app, you can easily restore your previous Favorites.

Glympse (Internet needed) is the fastest and simplest way to tell your friends in real-time where you are and the time you are likely to arrive. This cross-platform service works by email or text message and does not require a user account. To use it, simply tap on the ‘G’ icon on the map or select the appropriate menu item in the actions list.

With Foursquare (Internet needed), you have access to millions of fascinating points of interest worldwide. Of course, you can only use it if you have a Foursquare account. When you logon with your existing Foursquare account, you will also receive personalized recommendations with an option for automatic check-ins.

With Google Local Search (Internet needed), the world’s largest search engine provides you with support when searching for destinations in your immediate surroundings. Using keywords such as “cocktail bar Vancouver” or “flower shop Richmond”, you can find all the interesting attractions along your route. With further information like telephone numbers, addresses and customer reviews, you can decide if your destination is worth that extra mile.

With the capability of NAVIGON MobileNavigator iPhone version 2.3, my iPhone 4S is also now my GPS Navigator.

Dropbox is a file hosting service with file synchronization. It offers up to 2gb of storage for free. You can earn more free space by referring new sign-ups. Paid service of US$9.99 per month will get you 100gb storage space, US$19.99 per month will get you 200gb storage space, and US$49.99 per month will get you 500gb storage space. Dropbox client programs are available for Windows, OS X, Windows Phone, IOS, Android, Blackberry, Linux and web browser access too. Being available in all these platforms, you can access your files in any part of the world easily, as long as there is Internet connection. File sharing is accomplished by inviting other parties to share a folder(s) in your Dropbox account and the other parties accepting with their existing or new Dropbox account.

As the Internet has no geographic borders, I work with clients and web designers across oceans. Sharing large files that email services cannot handle was a huge problem. I had to install file hosting software on my web server for file hosting with password protected folders for each client and graphic designer I worked with. That was my file hosting/sharing solution up to 2010.

Sometime in 2009 I started using Dropbox and since then Dropbox has been my primary file hosting/sharing service. I place most of my documents in Dropbox. If there are any documents that have confidential information, I either place them in the local documents folder or as secure notes in 1Password.

Dropbox and 1Password (my only password manager) goes together like peanut butter and jelly to provide stellar synchronization of the 1Password data across all your devices that are connected to the Internet.

When choosing applications, I will give preference to those that have Dropbox integration for data synchronization and backup.

With Dropbox, I achieve the following:
– Survive hard disk failures and other computer crashes without losing my documents in Dropbox and 1Password.
– Access my documents or share my documents, miles away from the source location.
– Share tutorials with clients using shared folders.
– Share documents and design composites with clients and designers using shared folders.
– Sync files among computers and/or devices.
– Sync application data among devices.

1Password is a password manager that goes beyond simple password storage by integrating directly with your web browser to automatically log you into websites, enter credit card information, fill in registration forms, and easily generate strong passwords.

Your passwords, identities, and credit cards, are just some of the confidential information that 1Password stores in one secure place, protected by the only password you will need to remember.

All of your confidential information is encrypted using AES, the same state-of-the-art encryption algorithm used as the national standard in the United States. 1Password uses 128-bit keys for encryption, which means it would take millions of years for a criminal to decrypt your data using a “brute force” attack.

These days there are too many services that require you to set up an account with them. Remembering so many passwords is both annoying  and cumbersome.

I set up email accounts, gadgets and related services for colleagues and clients. When these colleagues or clients forget their passwords, 1Password enables me to provide them with their passwords quickly.

You are able to use 1Password to record the following information:

• Logins: These are your web logins with usernames, passwords and web addresses;
• Wallet: Credit card, bank account, membership record, passport, driver’s license, social insurance number and hunting license;
• Accounts: Online services account like messenger, ftp, router logins, etc;
• Software: Software license information;
• Secure Notes: Any notes that you would like to keep secure such as a list of the charities you support with amounts donated; and
• Identities: Your different identities – name, address and other information including credit card information that you frequently need to fill when signing up for online purchasing and other membership enrolments.

Utilizing Dropbox sync with 1Password, I am able to access my passwords and other secured information anywhere from any of my following devices:

• MacBook;
• Windows notebook;
• iPhone;
• iPad;
• Galaxy Android tablet

I have become completely dependent on 1Password for all my password and confidential information management.