iPhone GPS — GPS Obsessed

iPhone

Here we go with some 3G iPhone GPS problems already. Not exactly with the built-in GPS capability, but with the iPhone SDK from which mobile developers can built applications that use the phone’s native GPS. In Section 3.3.7 of the latest iPhone SDK version, Apple states that “applications may not be designed or marketed for real time route guidance; automatic or autonomous control of vehicles, aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life-saving purposes”.

This effectively eliminates many of the cool location-based applications we were expecting for the 3G iPhone in the coming months and also makes us wonder what TomTom is up to with their navigational app which they say is commercially ready. Because the app most likely features real-time route guidance beyond what the Google Maps interface on the iPhone can offer, the new rule would render their application useless.

Why would Apple do this? The company has been notorious for refusing to open up their software to 3rd party application developers in the past (hence the jailbroken iPhone), so we’re not entirely surprised to hear this news. But given how specific it is toward “real-time route guidance”, it’s quite possible we’ll see Apple roll out some of their own navigational software in the future and are just trying to keep out potential competitors until then.

via electronista

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Apple’s 3G iPhone with GPS is no longer just a rumor. This morning at the Worldwide Developer’s Conference in San Francisco, Steve Jobs announced the new iPhone. With a tagline, “Twice as fast, half the price”, the new iPhone features 3G technology enabling the iPhone fast access to the internet and email over cell networks worldwide, about 2.4 times as fast as EDGE.

3G iPhone With AGPS

Sure enought the 3G iPhone features assisted GPS (AGPS), utilizing both an internal GPS receiver, Wi-fi hotspots, and cellular towers to give you the most accurate location information possible. If you’re inside, the iPhone will find your position using Wi-fi or cellular towers, and a circle around your position on the map tells you exactly how accurate the information is (smaller circles equal more accurate info). You can view turn-by-turn directions when planning a route or watch your progress with real-time tracking. You can switch between map view, satellite view, and a hybrid view, like Google Maps on your computer and by tapping on the multi-touch screen you can pan or zoom around the map.

The new iPhone has some cool powersaving features as well. The phone detects when the GPS features is in use, but immediately shuts off when now to save power. The screen has an ambient light sensor that brightens the screen in the sunlight and dims it when in a darkened environment, plus a proximity sensor detects when the phone moves to your ear and shuts off the display.

Other details:

slimmer form factor
300 hour standby time
2G talk time 10 hours, 3G talk time 5 hours
video playback is 7 hours
audio playback is 24 hours
internet browsing-up to 6 hours
HSDPA for faster downloads
support for quad GSM bands, 2100MHz UMTS, 850MHz and 1900MHz variations (mainly American carriers)

The new 3G iPhone will be available in 22 countries July 11 in two models: the 8 GB version will cost $199 come in black, while the 16 GB version will cost $299 and come in both black and white. Later this summer the iPhone will hit an additional 24 countries, and a further 24 countries are on the list for a later date bringing the total number of countries getting the 3G iPhone to 70.

via apple, check out the full keynote here

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Apple iPhone

I had an opportunity to speak with Jonas Sellergren, VP of Innovations for Wayfinder, this morning and while I’ll feature a Wayfinder-specific article later today, I figured now was the time to highlight one of his predictions. As we all know by now, later this morning Steve Jobs is widely rumored to be announcing the 2nd generation 3G iPhone. Alot of us have been predicting it will have integrated GPS as well, and patents filed by Apple tend to support that prediction. But when I asked Jonas what he thought, he went against the flow and said that he didn’t think the new iPhone, if unveiled today, would include GPS. By and large, iPhone users are city dwellers and Wifi-based location technology is quite accurate in urban areas. Most likely that’s what well see in the 3G iPhone predicts Sellergren. Okay then, GPS in the 3rd generation iPhone?

Apple Cuts Real-Time Navigational Apps From Developers

3G iPhone Gets AGPS, Costs $199, Hits 22 Countries July 11

3G iPhone GPS? Not Everyone Thinks So