[Macworld]

Post your comments for Most important WWDC announcement: GPS on iPhone here

[overeasy]

Can this GPS do turn-by-turn, voice directions or not? If not, all the rest is hyperbole. No one is going to go backwards. My Verizon phone's GPS, which I had two years ago, was great (though pricey) and my TomTom gets me there every time. If this phone can't talk me through it, GPS is pointless...
Ron

[cphoffman42]

Whether or not the functionality is built into the maps feature, it can presumably be added in through an app. So, I wouldn't necessarily judge this by what is available immediately - we might see some truly innovative applications in the not-too-distant future.

[Jason Snell]

overeasy said:

Can this GPS do turn-by-turn, voice directions or not?

GPS is the hardware that figures out where you are.

All the rest is software. Apple's Google Maps won't do voice directions (nor will it let you preload maps), but the reports are that TomTom is going to have a GPS app for the iPhone and I'd imagine that lots of other companies will follow. So you'll basically need to buy a turn-by-turn voice app if you want that functionality.

[adamb529]

Macworld said:

Or participating in some kind of massively multiplayer meatspace game that uses GPS, real-world locations, Internet clues, and other iPhone features to play.

Sounds a lot like Geocaching to me...and I'm sure it will make it to the iPhone.

[MiniMoe]

The first software developer to offer a chartplotting application that uses free NOAA ENC nautical charts on the iPhone G3 will create an equally large headache for marine GPS vendors.

[ekchew]

"GPS in the iPhone not only will put the fear of God into Garmin, TomTom, and other standalone GPS device manufacturers, but it will also open the doors to a host of new and imaginative services, when combined with the iPhone’s other features and online connectivity."
Fear of God? I don't know about the others, but from what I've read, TomTom seems to be treating the iPhone as an opportunity, rather than a threat.
http://www.engadget....-ready-to-roll/

[kennethfcooper]

Wow, yea, This opens the door for location specific pop-up advertising. "Next right turn for a meal you'll remember".

[People_Eater]

Yeah, well, The Industry Standard aren't the sharpest bunch of tools in the shed. Put the fear of god into Garmin and TomTom? Why? They make a lot of money selling maps and mapping software, not just hardware. In fact, they probably make more money from selling the maps than the GPS units.
Also, it's unlikely that a GPS added to a phone is going to have the same level of accuracy or as many features as a dedicated GPS unit. The iPhone also isn't waterproof, so not a good choice for hiking or camping.
I get the feeling that a lot of people babbling about the GPS being a killer feature on the iPhone either haven't had much experience with GPS units, or they don't really know what they would do with it, but it sounds cool.

[hayesk]

People_Eater said:

Yeah, well, The Industry Standard aren't the sharpest bunch of tools in the shed. Put the fear of god into Garmin and TomTom? Why? They make a lot of money selling maps and mapping software, not just hardware. In fact, they probably make more money from selling the maps than the GPS units.

The maps are free from google maps - all it takes is for them to provide voice navigation and there's no reason to buy a Garmin or TomTom - though TomTom is smart in readying their own iPhone software.

Quote

Also, it's unlikely that a GPS added to a phone is going to have the same level of accuracy or as many features as a dedicated GPS unit. The iPhone also isn't waterproof, so not a good choice for hiking or camping.

Maybe - but only the geeks use all of the features. Heck, I don't see why the average urban dweller needs a GPS at all. I just print out a google map and take it with me if I'm going somewhere and need directions. It works fine.

Also, the iPhone doesn't need to be waterproof. I know lots of people who go hiking and camping. They've never lost their cell phone from water damage. If it's pouring rain, people will just put away their phone.

Quote

I get the feeling that a lot of people babbling about the GPS being a killer feature on the iPhone either haven't had much experience with GPS units, or they don't really know what they would do with it, but it sounds cool.

You are correct, but you should also admit that applies to people who buy Garmin or TomTom units. We seemed to get along fine before - it's just another gadget that most people don't really need.

But you made the opposite point you intended. If enough people believe the iPhone's GPS is just as good as TomTom or Garmin, whether it is or not, then TomTom and Garmin should be concerned.

[ekchew]

hayesk said:

But you made the opposite point you intended. If enough people believe the iPhone's GPS is just as good as TomTom or Garmin, whether it is or not, then TomTom and Garmin should be concerned.

The built-in software doesn't look as good as TomTom's according to the specs I've read. For example, it only offers a top-down map view, and not a driving along view. Various other options are missing as well.

As I pointed out in my earlier link, however, TomTom is readying their own software for the iPhone. They sure didn't waste any time, either. It's already working on internal builds!

[iestynx]

All I want to know if they will allow the iPhone (v1) to connect via bluetooth to a third party GPS receiver to allow all of us sticking with our original iphones to get a piece of the action.

[bonesb]

TomTom's US maps generally stink. Their new maps cost a small fortune to upgrade - they have to pay for that Teleatlas acquisition somehow. I own a TomTom, own the most current maps, and want to ditch my unit for a nuvi or cell phone with XT software - being able to navigate to a contact in your address book/contacts is a valuable assist. If TomTom's the only option on the iPhone, or AT&T has their Navigator app as the only locked option - AT&T uses Teleatlas mapping, GPS on the iPhone becomes a crippled option. Before anyone flames me, I'm a construction manager - my TomTom still shows roadways I personally supervised the demolition of more than 5 years ago (and notified TomTom) as through roads; new roadways still don't show up on their current maps. I am so frustrated at being instructed to make turns on streets that don't exist and making turns that are not legal, I often leave the TomTom at home. Sadly, the COMAND nav in my Benz has the same data and offers up the same errors as my TomTom and AT&T's Navigator (which came with the Z9 I currently own).

My business partner's nuvi reflects all of the updates correctly. I bought a TomTom because they supported the Mac platform a few years ago, but I didn't know about the flawed data at the time. With Garmin's recent Mac support, they're getting my future business...

[DisabledTrucker]

The only thing I wanted to hear coming about for the iTouch/iPhone was that I could finally get Skype on them, until that happens, forget about it!