Wednesday, December 22, 2010

“TomTom's Map Share update brings crowdsourced navigation to iPhone GPS app - engadget” plus 1 more

“TomTom's Map Share update brings crowdsourced navigation to iPhone GPS app - engadget” plus 1 more


TomTom's Map Share update brings crowdsourced navigation to iPhone GPS app - engadget

Posted: 20 Dec 2010 11:52 PM PST

TomTom Map Share™ now available on the TomTom App for iPhone

With Map Share, users can make changes directly to the map and receive TomTom-verified updates free of charge


CONCORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TomTom, the world's leading provider of location and navigation solutions, announces that its newest update to the TomTom App for iPhone, version 1.6, includes TomTom Map Share™. With the addition of Map Share, TomTom continues to deliver the most up-to-date and accurate maps. The latest version of the TomTom App for iPhone is available on the App Store starting today.

"We are pleased to bring TomTom's exclusive Map Share technology already enjoyed by millions of TomTom GPS users everyday to our iPhone App"

TomTom Map Share enables iPhone users to make changes instantly to their own maps and to benefit from free, map updates made by the TomTom community and verified by TomTom. App users will now be able to edit street names, set driving directions and block and unblock streets directly on their maps, and to share their changes with the TomTom community. The TomTom App checks for new TomTom verified map updates including turn restrictions, speed limit changes and crossing changes, automatically every week or on-demand as often as the users choose. With Map Share, App users always have the most up-to-date map in between new map releases.

"We are pleased to bring TomTom's exclusive Map Share technology already enjoyed by millions of TomTom GPS users everyday to our iPhone App," said Tom Murray, senior vice president of market development for TomTom Inc. "With the addition of Map Share, TomTom App users will get free, verified updates via Map Share anytime on top of the most accurate map available on-board."

TomTom Traffic for the App

With TomTom Traffic, TomTom App users receive real-time traffic updates and incident reports on their routes. As soon as any delay is found, users are notified and can be automatically re-routed to an alternate, faster route. TomTom Traffic for iPhone users is available via in-App purchase for an additional $19.99 for 12 months of service.

Availability and Price

The TomTom App for iPhone is available for purchase via the App Store. Continental and regional versions of the TomTom App are available today for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and iPod touch users at http://www.tomtom.com/tomtom-app.

Pricing varies by market. TomTom U.S.A. and U.S. & Canada Apps are currently available at a special price of $39.99 and $49.99, respectively.

TomTom App for iPhone runs on iOS 3 and iOS 4, however users should upgrade to iOS 4 to be able to take full advantage of the application's features.

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A Gambler's Guide to the Holidays - Motley Fool

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 12:02 PM PST

Investing in gambling stocks can be great, if you do it right. I'm here to help you sort the sugar plums from the lumps of coal.

The big box under the tree
Any investor in gambling stocks needs to start with Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) (and some would argue end there). The company owns The Venetian and The Palazzo in Las Vegas, but the real reason to invest in Las Vegas Sands is in Asia. The new crown jewel of CEO Sheldon Adelson's empire is Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, a dazzling resort overlooking downtown. During its first full quarter of operations the resort had $241.6 million of adjusted property EBITDA and an incredible 49.7% EBITDA margin.

Macau has also been driving Las Vegas Sands since it opened Sands Macau in 2004. The company has since added The Venetian Macau and Four Seasons Macau and is building another resort across the Cotai Strip. Las Vegas Sands isn't the cheapest stock around, but sometimes spending on an extravagant gift is the right thing to do.

Stocking stuffers
If Las Vegas Sands is a little too expensive for your taste you may want to consider Wynn Resorts (Nasdaq: WYNN) or Melco Crown (Nasdaq: MPEL), which both have operations in Macau.

Wynn is known for its shimmering high-end resorts filled with high rollers and a CEO who has built some of the most iconic resorts in the world. Like Las Vegas Sands, its Vegas operations have struggled, but Macau is holding its own. Macau net revenues jumped 49.7% in the most recent quarter, and EBITDA was up 54.4% to $198 million. Wynn also has plans to join the fast-growing Cotai Strip with a casino expected to open in 2015.

Melco Crown is already on the Cotai Strip and has seen improving results there. It isn't the best operator in Macau, but EBITDA margins are improving and Melco is the closest thing we have to a sale rack in Macau.

If you're looking to keep your investment dollars closer to home, regional operator Penn National Gaming (Nasdaq: PENN) is making all the right moves in the U.S. It made an entrance into Las Vegas recently, buying the M Resort's debt (which will eventually be converted to equity) and its recent earnings trounced expectations. It won't ever be the highflier Las Vegas Sands is, but Penn is as solid as they come in gambling.

There's coal all over my stocks
Not all gaming stocks are welcome gifts this holiday season. Once upon a time, MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM) was on every investor's wish list. The company owned some of the best developments in Las Vegas and had a prime strip of undeveloped land smack in the middle of the Strip. Dubai World even invested more than $5 billion in the company by buying 50% of CityCenter and MGM stock. But the party in Las Vegas ended when the recession hit, and now MGM is struggling to survive with $12.6 billion of long-term debt.

This coal could turn to gold if an online poker bill passes, giving MGM the chance to leverage its great brand power, but that's looking less likely every day.

The black dust from Las Vegas is spreading to regional casino operator Ameristar Casinos (Nasdaq: ASCA), which took down its "for sale" sign last week, crushing the stock. The company is struggling with $1.4 billion in debt and the continued expansion of gambling throughout the country. As competition heats up, I'm afraid this lump of coal could soon start a fire.

Playing chips at every casino
Gamblers wanting to play more than one hand at a time may want to look past casino operators to the companies supplying equipment. In the case of Gaming Partners International (Nasdaq: GPIC), that includes the $1.5 million in chips that someone stole last week from the Bellagio. Gaming Partners is having one of its best years ever, and with a price-to-earnings ratio under 10 who can argue with its value? But prepare yourself for a bumpy earnings ride because casino chips sell in bunches.

Foolish bottom line
Placing your hard-earned chips on the right stock isn't as hard as it seems. Just sidestep the guys selling coal on the streets, stuff the stockings with a little diversification, and spend most of your money on the biggest gift under the tree.

Interested in reading more about gaming stocks? Add one (or all) of these stocks to My Watchlist, which will find all of our Foolish analysis on this stock.

I'm all-in:

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