Facebook integration, an updated phone, camera, browser and mail experience, and the all-new Apple 3D Maps to boot — who wouldn’t want to update their iOS device to the latest iOS6 version? However, the euphoria of a new iOS update soon turned into frustration as users in India discovered the new Maps app is nothing like the imagery you see above, and a definite step down from the older Google-powered Maps app.

Instead, the app is rife with incorrect data, missing roads, misplaced rivers, even an intricate network of roads spread across a river! Now, the official Google Maps is months away (if not longer), and facing certain mapocalypse, what’s an iOS user to do if (s)he still wants to get from Point A to Point B? I look at the alternatives.

Sygic/ MapmyIndia: If you’re looking for a pro-quality navigation solution, the folks at MapmyIndia have made your choice easier by slashing the price of their excellent navigation app from $49.99 to $29.99. Granted, it’s not free, but you get 3D maps, voice navigation, city guides and up-to-date maps that work without the need of an Internet connection. Highly recommended.

Mapmyindia

NAVFREE GPS

Waze: While it started off as a social mapping app meant to share traffic updates between users, Waze has evolved to become a very capable navigation app as well, one that provides voice navigation and alternate routes to your destination. And with the crowd-sourced traffic data, you can figure out just how bad your commute is going to be! Pretty awesome for a free app!

Navfree GPS: Powered by OpenStreetMap data, Navfree is my pick for a free navigation app, at least if you’re living in a big city — the community curated map data has grown by leaps and bounds in the past year. Plus it has the benefit of working offline — just a one-time download of map data.

MotionX GPS ($0.99): While the maps in this app leave a lot to be desired, there are a lot of nifty GPS features such as speed calculation, compass, jogging trail mapping and more. Worth a dekko.

Google/ Nokia web apps: If you still only want the Google Maps/ navigation experience, point your browser to maps.google.com in Safari, and then

use the “Add to Home Screen” option to pin the web app to your home screen. Or use Nokia maps (maps.nokia.com), which add in offline maps and voice prompts.

Hell breaks loose

Heard of Sir Lancelot, haven’t you? He of the Round Table of Arthurian legend. In Wild Blood, Gameloft rewrites a bit of history pitting you, Sir Lancelot, against a crazed King Arthur who has, in a fit of rage, opened up the gates of Hell to wreak havoc across the lands. Once you look past this silly storyline, the game’s biggest feature is that this is Gameloft’s first game featuring the famed Unreal game engine, and while I’ve been impressed with Gameloft graphics in previous games, this one is a huge leap forward visually.

Now, as detailed and layered as the levels get, gameplay is pretty linear, taking you from place to place, hacking and slashing your way through enemies that get thrown at you, without really allowing you to explore the levels. Also, camera issues come up, and I often found myself on the losing side of an enemy attack that came in from off-screen while I frantically tried to swing the camera around to see who or what it was!

These quibbles notwithstanding, the game itself is fierce and a lot of fun, yet a tad formulaic. Gameloft gets to look and feel spot on, and if you haven’t played a lot of hack-and-slash titles previously, you will certainly enjoy this.

Rating: 7/10

Price: $6.99

URL: http://bit.ly/UGzyKE