Telenav offers a compelling free navigation app, called Scout, that is elegant in its simplicity. And it is about to get better. Starting later this year, Android and Apple iOS users will be able to see realistic renderings of buildings and landmarks in major cities along their route to help follow directions more easily.

Frankly, the past year in the portable GPS world has been a bit dull. A market once known for innovation has grown stale, thanks to attention focused on smart phone navigation, but that is about to change. The latest promising new advance comes from TomTom, with its upcoming Go line.

Spring signals the return of warmer weather, blooming flowers and trees, baseball, and more. And for many of you, it's also when your state or federal tax refund will arrive.

There was a lot of cool stuff on display at CES. In fact, there was a lot of stuff, period. Trying to find a single standout isn't easy, especially when it is near-impossible to even see everything at the massive event. But there were a number of products and technologies that did get us excited.

Just as next-generation televisions are gaining resolution, TomTom is adding detail to its traffic service for car navigation.

Inrix, the company behind the traffic information appearing on many built-in and portable automotive navigation systems, announced at CES that they're adding parking information to their services.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, companies tireless boast of their brilliant new products. Well, Magellan goes one better with a truly smart idea, integrating social and localized content into its upcoming SmartGPS navigator.

Joining key competitors, Chrysler will soon add integrated Internet radio capability to its Uconnect infotainment systems.

Navigation leader Garmin announced a completely new line of portable navigation devices today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) boasting numerous detail improvements. These freshened devices will replace the models currently on sale.

During the holiday gift exchange and paper shredding frenzy, you may have received an electronic traveling companion. Before tossing the packaging, consider if that portable GPS navigator the best one for your needs. Or should you trade it in on a better model?

Garmin just introduced an update to it's smart-phone navigation apps that allows users stay connected while on the road and keep in touch with friends while traveling.

If you're considering giving the gift of navigation this holiday season, we can point you in the right direction with our test-based advice.

To help you navigate Black Friday sales on portable GPS devices, we have scoured sales flyers from major retailers, identifying the best prices for the deal-crazed shopping weekend.

Portable dashtop navigation devices have evolved through the years to be richly featured, affordable travel aids. As competition has seen the market whittle down to essentially three dominant brands, it has become easier for consumers to choose a good device. But we were reminded recently that a good device can be compromised by a bad mount.

On the smart-phone battleground, much attention has been paid recently to the quality of the free navigation app--Apple Maps--that comes with the new iPhone 5 (also part of the iOS 6 upgrade available for some other Apple devices). But there has been little focus on how well the app actually helps you get from Point A to Point B. Sure, there are lots of images of melted bridges circulating online, but how well does the app navigate?