Forget for a moment that the MotionX GPS Drive app is one of the most highly rated of its kind (with an average rating of 4.5 stars on iTunes and approximately 2,000 out of 2,400 reviewers giving it 5 stars). Forget that you’re going to need something to replace Google maps now that Apple has revealed plans to take it off the iPhone in future models (which we can expect to hit the market in late September if industry buzz is to be believed). And forget that it offers a slew of useful features that go well beyond the functionality of most navigational apps (which are purely point-A-to-point-B in nature). If you’ve looked for a comprehensive application to help you find your way, but you’re not too keen on the idea of shelling out beaucoup bucks for some of the pricier (albeit beneficial) offerings, then a window of opportunity has just opened. During Labor Day weekend, users can purchase the 1-year live service package for MotionX GPS Drive for only $9.99, at a savings of 60% off the regular price.

Of course, you will have to pay 99 cents to download the app in the first place, and a number of other in-app purchases that you might take a shine to (most go for $0.99). But considering what you’ll get for your money, this could end up being one of your favorite and most-used apps for the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. So what do you get for the money? First off, you’ll enjoy HD quality voice navigation (as well as a map) that provides turn-by-turn directions for both driving and walking (whereas many apps are limited to driving directions only). You can also create routes with multiples stops, perform local searches (for restaurants, gas stations, nearby attractions, and so on), place calls from your search results, and even access Wikipedia through the app. But wait, there’s more!

As if these useful features weren’t enough, MotionX works with INRIX to offer you real-time traffic information so that you can choose the best route. And it also provides predictive routing (to help you steer clear of commuter gridlock that is likely to be present during peak hours, avoid scheduled closures for construction, or bypass event-related traffic, just for example), as well as lane guidance (avoid blocked lanes or figure out which lane you need to be in to switch freeways at an interchange). It can also relate speed limits and warnings for your location. How does it do all this? We don’t know and we don’t care (okay, it uses NAVTEQ, Bing, and INRIX). Whatever – it’s amazing. But wait, there’s more!

This fully integrated app allows users to listen to audio selections (music, audiobooks, etc.) without leaving the app, access contacts to make calls, and even share route information (current location, destination, etc.) with contacts via email or Twitter. Oh, and there’s a compass. Is this app ridiculous or what?! You might not be able to order a custom car or get quotes from autoinsurancenc.org, but this app will help you to steer a course and then some. And if you order MotionX GPS Drive before the end of Labor Day Weekend you’ll get the first year of service for less than half the normal price. So what are you waiting for?

Editor’s Note

Thanks to Evan Fischer for this guest post. He is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

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