Today, Garmin announced new social features for its StreetPilot onDemand subscription-based navigation app at Macworld | iWorld 2012 in San Francisco. The iPhone application also gains new voices, icons, and revised 3D rendering.

The social features tie in with Facebook and Foursquare, enabling users to share their location once they arrive and coordinate meeting with friends. The update also integrates Wikipedia, thereby adding information to one’s adventure planning and to learn about locations while traveling. (An ideal use for this would be touring a city like Washington, D.C., on foot, where there are many famous buildings to learn about. The app provides pedestrian and public transit guidance, as well.) We're told that the social functions are implemented in a way intended to avoid distractions, so the app will not be reading messages as you drive.

To celebrate this update, Garmin is reducing the price of its North American turn-by-turn navigation apps by $10 during Macworld (January 26-28, 2012). StreetPilot onDemand remains 99 cents to try it for 30 days.

Likewise, sister-brand Navigon is also marking down its applications.

Revised special pricing:
Garmin StreetPilot Onboard USA: $39.99
Garmin StreetPilot Onboard North America: $49.
Garmin StreetPilot onDemand: $19.99 annual subscription
Navigon USA: $39.99
Navigon North America: $49.99
Navigon MyRegion: $19.99

Key lesson here is to hold out for discounts on navigation apps. The major-brand apps can be expensive, and history shows that they are often discounted for special events and holidays.

Related:
How to choose the best smart phone navigation app