I’m not entirely sure how I missed this the other week – maybe I was sleeping – but TomTom have launched their MapShare function in their Australian satnav products.

For those not aware, MapShare lets you update your maps on the fly - incredibly useful if there’s a road closure or a roundabout has been replaced with a set of lights – and then share your updated maps with other MapShare users through the TomTom Home software.

TomTom actively checks and validates MapShare updates before they’re pushed down to other users, and the information is shared with Sensis for the next iteration of their mapping software.

Since it was launched in July 2007 in Europe and July, over 1.5 million changes have been verified by TomTom. Sort of makes you think that mapping software companies are falling behind the 8-ball.

But the best part of this is that you can change any aspect of your map for your own pleasure – for example, changing “George Street Sydney” to “Gizmodo Road Sydney” or the “Pacific Highway” to “Nick Owns This Highway”. It will never be approved for other users, but hey, who cares? I’d buy a TomTom just to be told that I own the road – wouldn’t you?

But what really sets TomTom apart from the other satnav manufacturers is TomTom Home, their PC suite of software that lets you plan your trips in advance, manage your points of interest and upload not just John Cleese to your GPS device, but a whole raft of other funny voices as well.

Well, TomTom Home just got a major upgrade, turning it into a user-generated content utopia. It now works on both Mac and PC, and offers the freedom to change your welcome image, upload your own points of interests as well as download other users POIs and rate other people’s content.

But what makes this really exciting is that you can create your own map and overlay it onto the map in your satnav. This could be anything from a walking route to a scenic drive you enjoy. It could also possibly be used to rectify any mistakes in the WhereIs mapping, a feature that is already available in the European version of the Home software.

And if you’re thinking that your wallet is about to be in for a pounding, you can rest easy – the service won’t actually cost you a cent. Well, user-generated content won’t cost you. I’m sure they won’t stop charging for Mr Cleese’s witty commentary on your driving abilities.