If you are going to be tracked no matter what, you might as well have some fun while it’s being done. To that end, Verizon Wireless has introduced an upgrade to VZ Navigator, version 5.0, which does just that.

According to Verizon Wireless, VZ Navigator is a “GPS-enabled service that transforms a wireless smartphone or handset into an all-in-one powerful navigation and communication device, enabling customers to find useful information and discover new places and destinations.” This new version will be available right away for users of the BlackBerry Curve 8530, the LG enV TOUCH, the HTC Touch Pro2, and the Samsung Omnia.

New to version 5.0 are streamlined maps for faster navigation start-ups, enhanced points of interest, real-time traffic information and road alerts, and voice integration. Roadside assistance is available. And version 5.0 will also let you tap into social networks, such as Facebook, allowing you to share your location information with family and friends in real-time.

No surprise here--Verizon charges for the service: $9.99 per month for unlimited use, or $2.99 for one-day/24 hour use (on certain devices). Verizon says that download charges vary, and airtime or megabyte charges may apply when using.

It can’t come as a big surprise that the upgrade process to Windows 7 from Windows XP is going to be slow and potentially painful. Especially given that XP still makes up the bulk of Windows installations. (Estimates range from 58% to 69% of all Windows users are still in XP.) Given that it’s not surprising to learn that the top three problems with Windows 7 are upgrade related.

iYogi, a Windows technical support company, recently conducted a survey of 100,000 of its customers. It is reporting that the top three problems with Windows 7 are: (1) problems with installation (31%); (2) missing applets or components (26%); and (3) Aero not working properly (14%).

XP users moving up to Windows 7 in the same hardware (rather than buying something new), are bound to struggle with the transition. Windows 7 doesn’t mesh well with XP in the upgrade process, placing more demands on users to save then transfer their information (or lose it if they misstep). Given the peril inherent in the process, a 30% figure is probably better than expected.

As for missing programs: Windows Mail, Windows Photo Gallery, and Windows Movie Maker, they’ve been stripped from Windows 7 and integrated into Windows Live Essentials--which is where users upgrading are told to go look for them. (The download link: “Go online to get Windows Live Essentials”, however, is not as informative as it might be--coming across more like an effort to dump on a lot of unnecessary software rather than retrieve something essential.)

And Aero themes? Most likely inadequate video hardware or out-of-date drivers. Aero is not for the faint of heart. And certainly not for a hardware set-up from the 90s. It isn't, however, catastrophic.

Emil Protalinski of Ars Technica adds some useful caveats to these results: These are only iYogi customers; and only those who sought help with Windows 7. The percentages sound big, but in the entire scheme of things they could well represent a small proportion of the Windows 7 user base.