locoGPS hacks into the iPhone barrio

O sweet jeebus, could it be? Why yes, that's the "stylish plastic enclosure" promised for the partfoundry GPS module iPhone hack. At least, it's the first rendered appearance. Initially peeped over at Engadget Mobile on Friday, the newly named locoGPS module requires a Jail Broken iPhone to work. A new video shows the SiRF Star III chip doing its positional thing in support of Google Maps. The $89 hack remains on track for a February 2008 release -- you know, around the time when the official SDK launches and presumably... hopefully, an official iPhone GPS module is announced. Video after the break.

[Singh @ Dec 17th 2007 6:01AM]

this is a nice add-on to the iphone, but just want to make sure that it works in every country right?

[Rasmus @ Dec 17th 2007 6:01AM]

It looks pretty cool, but wouldn't you need to be in a wifi-zone in order for google maps to show the directions to LA like they do on the video? Or does google map update via gps?

[Josh @ Dec 17th 2007 10:40AM]

No, the iPhone also has EDGE, remember? So it can get data (like Google Maps) even when the device is away from a Wi-Fi hotspot.

[Rasmus @ Dec 17th 2007 6:32AM]

Aahh I see.. but if this was to work on an ipod touch you would definately have to be in wifi.. :(

[Sneakz @ Dec 17th 2007 6:39AM]

Well, the iPod touch doesn't even have Google maps without jailbreaking and putting it on yourself.

[Joe @ Dec 17th 2007 7:28AM]

It's reasonable to expect and ask for GPS on a phone.

It's unreasonable to expect or ask for GPS on a media player.

[Ron @ Dec 18th 2007 1:59AM]

@Sneakz

well...the dude on the video had to jailbreak his iphone right now anyway..so if you want the GPS app on your ipod touch...it wouldnt be that much more trouble to get the Maps.App too...

[tamoghno @ Dec 17th 2007 6:55AM]

well , y'know...

5 years ahead of competition.

[2shae @ Dec 17th 2007 7:04AM]

Does the guy have really big hands or is the iPhone just not that big?
(Never seen it in real life before)

[Dan S. @ Dec 17th 2007 10:59AM]

A: The iPhone isn't that big. (4.5in x 2.4in x .46in) It's slightly larger than a 5th Gen (video) iPod.

[2shae @ Dec 18th 2007 11:17AM]

In Europe, that's big :P

[OlivierB @ Dec 17th 2007 7:07AM]

Does anybody else see the elephant in the room?
THe iPhone has bluetooth, so use a blutooth GPS. WHy re-invent the wheel with a proprietary connector GPS?
Just focus on the software

[Joe @ Dec 17th 2007 7:30AM]

I often wonder this but keep in mind that an external bluetooth GPS receiver would need its own power supply. Now, if this where in a car, where it can have 12 vdc readily, it's not a problem.

[Rich @ Dec 17th 2007 7:50AM]

"THe iPhone has bluetooth"

Correction: The iPhone has crippled Bluetooth.

[KarlW @ Dec 17th 2007 8:10AM]

The iPhone's BT stack does not support this profile. You'd need to write a new BT stack, which is a lot of work.

I don't know if one can be ported or not.

[Chip @ Dec 17th 2007 9:01AM]

You know they do have Bluetooth keyfob type GPS receivers. They last about a day on a charge which is plenty good enough for casual use. If you get to a car or mini-USB, just plug it in and then it lasts forever. Of course they have an on/off power switch to standby isn't an issue. They work great with Google Maps or MS Live.

So, I'd have to agree with OliverB, why put this ugly wart on your phone. Bluetooth keyfobs are much more elegant solution.

[GregA @ Dec 17th 2007 11:04AM]

wow I couldn't disagree more. The most elegant solution is to simply include the GPS inside of the phone...

[Josh G @ Dec 17th 2007 6:18PM]

You've obviously never heard of the Nokia N810 tablet then, have you?

[JAmerican @ Dec 17th 2007 7:30AM]

I'll stick with My Location provided by Google Maps on my T-Mobile Dash :)

[Jeff @ Dec 17th 2007 8:03AM]

I think it's cute how the iPhone requires a bunch of add-ons and jailbreaks to do things other phones have had built in for years now...

[Scott @ Dec 17th 2007 12:29PM]

You mean like Verizon's GPS that they make you pay a monthly fee for? The N95 GPS that is an outdated chip that takes a couple minutes to find a satellite and also makes you pay to use the navigation?

Where are these phones with GPS that don't charge monthly fees and lock on in 30 seconds? Please provide a link so I can buy one.

[Magallanes @ Dec 17th 2007 1:49PM]

n95 with the latest firmware and using a free third software for navigation such amazegps.

[Scott @ Dec 17th 2007 2:10PM]

You solved the "free" complaint but not the outdated chip complaint.

Is there a SIRF III based bluetooth module that works with the N95? That would be a decent free solution, although pretty much the same thing as adding this locoGPS to an iPhone, which is my original complaint with the old canard "all phones have free GPS now" when in reality hardly any, if any, do.

[KarlW @ Dec 17th 2007 8:04AM]

This is why I replaced by Portable Media Center with an iPod a few years back, and why I bought an iPhone last month. The accessory support is amazing. Even from 3rd parties with hacked up devices.

Funny - even though the iPhone has no official SDK, it's got an amazing library of apps. Better than any other phone I've ever owned.

[computer.dude.28 @ Dec 17th 2007 8:55AM]

Really? So, the iPhone has more apps on the latest firmware than Windows Mobile 5? Impressive.

[Joey Geraci @ Dec 17th 2007 9:31AM]

You have no fucking idea what you are talking about. I am getting a Touch, and it is a very cool device, but the current hack community for the iPhone/iPod Touch has no resemblence to a real development community.

[KarlW @ Dec 17th 2007 3:26PM]

I didn't say it had more than WM5. I said it had a "better" library than phones I've used in the past.

I've never had a WinMo phone, so obviously I can't comment on that. I used to have a K800i, and there were Java apps out there, but they were horrible IMO. The iPhone doesn't neccessarily have more applications, but the balance between quality and quantity is pretty good. And I like being able to download new apps on-the-go with Installer.app

Joey: no need to be rude. You didn't read what I said.

[eX @ Dec 17th 2007 10:16AM]

Hate to break it to all the people but yet another "addon" for iWhatever goes to say buy other brand that has everything built in. iPod and iPhone are terrible value and offer little features and owners have to buy overprices little addons for functionality that should have already been there for the price. I'd neglect to say this if iPhone was a sub $200 phone but for $400/500 it should have came with all that crap build in, and 3G there too. While this is great that this company came up with this, it'd still suck badly to have to carry the device along with you and it have it stick out like that (which will probably result in it being disconnected when not in use and likely lost). Just like Steve likes it, he's got control over the customers and milking them not so slowly. Yet Apple customers are still loyal for some reason and still go and spend heaps of money on Apple products with all the alternative around them. Smart shoppers for sure! HTC FTW!

[Magallanes @ Dec 17th 2007 1:39PM]

Apple users are divided on:
a) Style is everything.
b) I am a apple users since old mac and don't want to change.
c) Have not clue.

In this case, take notes on iphone vs n95. N95 by defaut came with gps, also can record video and sdk was present since 2006. But no, i'm not saying that n95 is best that iphone, if you want a touch-screen and a fancy phone then iphone is for you. Other case, if you want iphone cause want to play with a lot of features then "c) Have not clue." is for you.

[Scott @ Dec 17th 2007 2:15PM]

As I pointed out above, the N95 "out of the box" GPS makes you pay for navigation and is an older chipset that takes minutes to lock on to a satellite. While this is certainly better than no GPS at all, it's not better than this locoGPS/iPhone combo (as described anyway).

[james @ Dec 17th 2007 11:32AM]

As for "just activating bluetooth"... They won't, they can't. Hell will freeze over before At&T allows this. If there were some maps ON the phone, then sure, but "Unlimited internet" isn't made for downloading maps, it's about email and web access.

If the Map app on iphone could cache better, then I can imagine it, but until then don't count on them uncrippling bluetooth.

(Steve knows what's best for you, and don't you forget it!)

[nyleharris @ Dec 17th 2007 12:09PM]

i wonder if all these trollers said the same thing about the first generation iPod. Granted the iPhone doesn't have everything the t-mobile dash (which i own) has, but theres no denying that the iPhone holds the capability to be the absolute best phone on the market. Rather that waiting for the re-invented wheel to be smoothed, polished and put on display, at least recognize it in its rough early stages. If you dont like it, dont buy it, and don't waste your time talking about things you dont have. Go find a t-mobile dash site to post on.

[Al @ Dec 17th 2007 3:46PM]

Hey Scott!

What's the difference between buying an ugly $85 dongle vs paying for navigation on the N95?
Question 2, will this $85 dongle come with free software for navigation? I doubt it, they'll be smart and make you pay for it.

Google Maps is free for the N95. My Location combined with GPS gets your location near instantly. You can search for things nearby and get directions.

However, 3rd party applications like TomTom, Garmin, Route 66, or the pay upgrade for Nokia Maps are superior since they have voice directions.

[pheer6224 @ Dec 17th 2007 10:02PM]

whoop-de-wow. It's not like I can do that on garnet, or winmo, or uiq, or Nokia symbian, qtopia, or wince, is it now?