At the start of the week, we launched our Christmas Gift Guide for 2009, with our favourite products from the 500 or so that we've tested over the course of the year.  We're expanding it today by including a new section on games.

We don't normally test video games, so we've no desire to tell hardcore gamers what they should be putting on their Christmas list.  If, though, you'd like to give somebody a game but don't even know where to start, then our advice will help you make the right choice.

Our lab team have their recommendations for the biggest hits of 2009, whether it's on a console like the PS3, Xbox 360 or Wii--or a handheld deivce like the DS, iPhone or PSP.  And of course, we haven't left PC games out either …

> Products of the Year: Christmas Gift Guide 2009

There's clearly a huge potential market for GPS navigation on smartphones.  It's something that TomTom is clearly aware of, but the threat of a free alternative, Google Maps Navigation, can't be all that reassuring ...  The current number one has therefore decided to cram plenty of new features into an update its iPhone GPS offering.

Here's the list of features the new version:

• Advanced lane guidance in both landscape and portrait modes
• Text-to-speech to read out the names of streets
• 'Help Me!' menu for emergencies with a list of nearest hospitals, police stations and son
• Free updates for speed camera locations
• Programmable audio alerts to warn you of speed camera locations or if you're going too fast
• Direct control of your iPod from the app itself

Free updates for maps and speed camera locations

These new features are welcome additions that were missing from the first version.  We're especially glad to see that maps and speed camera locations are automatically updated, which isn't always something you can take for granted on a satnav system.  But are these new updates down to the fact that the TomTom iPhone app is so new, or will the free updates continue?  It seems that TomTom is likely to extend its generosity to prepare for the battle with Google.  The latter constantly updates its maps based on data from Google MAPS.

TomTom has revealed that it plans to continue working on more new features for its iPhone app, which is the least we'd expect if it's hoping to maintain its status as one of the premium tools available on the iPhone.

> Product Survey: GPS