TomTom already has iPhone navigation software ready to roll
That sound you hear is the not-yet-released nüvifone trembling in fear, as TomTom has just announced that an iPhone-ready version of its famed navigation software is practically ready to rock 'n roll. More specifically, a TomTom spokesman was quoted as saying that its "navigation system runs on the iPhone already," and he made the statement hot on the heels of the iPhone 3G announcement. Sadly, he wouldn't disclose an estimated release date for the software, but it's safe to say that the TomTom touch could make Apple's darling a formidable nüvifone opponent.
[Via GPSReview]
[Via GPSReview]



















theres your turn by turn directions ;)
This thing better come with one helluva window mount.
This might end up being the best GPS Navigation/ cellular phone/bluetooth device ever.
Google Maps, turn by Turn directions...linked to your Contacts.
what more do you want?
Verizon and Nextel has had turn by turn navigation on their phones for years.
Apple releases a supposed revolutionary smartphone on a shitty network that can barely support it.
A Year later they add features that it shoulda had in the first place = 3G, Navigation, a headphone jack that WORKS and all the sudden idiots wet their pants.
Live Search on an ATT Tilt will do this already. And it's free.
You can even get a GPS antenna amplifier so you use it buildings.
=============================
Flashpoint @ Jun 9th 2008 5:38PM
This thing better come with one helluva window mount.
This might end up being the best GPS Navigation/ cellular phone/bluetooth device ever.
Google Maps, turn by Turn directions...linked to your Contacts.
what more do you want?
=============================
Flashpoint @ Jun 9th 2008 5:44PM
Verizon and Nextel has had turn by turn navigation on their phones for years.
Apple releases a supposed revolutionary smartphone on a shitty network that can barely support it.
A Year later they add features that it shoulda had in the first place = 3G, Navigation, a headphone jack that WORKS and all the sudden idiots wet their pants.
===========================
Conflicted, Flashpoint?
@flashpoint
a hardware keyboard
Fuck the Iphone!!!! Gawd!
Veryyy smart of you TomTom. I'm glad they realize that in 2 years they wont be selling hardware anymore just software.
Perhaps.
Tom Tom already sell their software to S60 phones though so this is just another catch up from Apple.
If the software looks like this crap, they won't be makint THAT, either. Seriously, the iPhone has amazing OpenGL 3D graphics capabilities. I really hope this is a cut-and-paste job here...
If the software looks like this crap, they won't be making THAT, either. Seriously, the iPhone has amazing OpenGL 3D graphics capabilities. I really hope this is a cut-and-paste job here...
Wow... I can start to see the validity of Jobs' statement than the iPhone will become the third major consumer (key word) platform: Windows, OS X, iPhone
HAHAHAHAHAHA, except, the iPhone has absolutely Abyssmal global marketshare...
It should Go Windows, OS X, Linux, Symbian.
It doesn't get any better than this. I am getting the new 3G iPhone on July 11th. I LOVE YOU STEVE JOBS! (no homo)
wow ... how did the kids get to school today Otto?
I'd trust a Garmin Nuviphone in navigation more so than a TomTom on an iPhone.
Why, exactly? And be specific, please.
It has to do mainly with the route system, as Garmin has always been stellar in terms of determining the best and most efficient route, where the TomTom seems to be the worst at it.
To add to that, Garmin has some of the best speech and voice recognition systems available on their device. Whether that translates to their phone is yet to be seen, but their Nuvi's are second to none. Reviews will tell you exactly the same info.
WOW APPLE!!!!
I wasn't a big of an apple fan but this conference changed it all! This new iPhone is going to murder the competition price wise and that's so unlike apple and I like it!
And now adding tomtom support too! Apple you might just have made a new fanboy.
Great, another brainwashing victim!
Those prices aren't as good as they seem. Look a little closer.
Let me tell you something buddy. Not all countries are aloud to sell locked phones and Belgium is one of them.It's against the law to partner with exclusive operators.
I happen to be from belgium and GUESS WHAT...BELGIUM IS ON THE LIST.
Steve noted that it's going to be sold for no more than 199$. So unless you can prove me that it's going to be sold here for 1000€ then I'll take back my statement.
Yes, because Apple had everything to do with the decrease in price.
While Apple gains marketshare (maybe?), AT&T gets to pay the difference of the real cost of the phone. Yep Apple is willing to do nothing in the financing department. Poor AT&T, hope they make money on the backside.
"AT&T Inc., the exclusive U.S. carrier for the phone, said its plans for the phone will start at $39.99 per month, plus $30 for unlimited data. That works out to be a $10 increase from the cheapest plan for the first-generation iPhone." - MSNBC
That's why the iPhone is $199 ... they'll get more money back through the service. F-THAT!!!
I have a AT&T Tilt and its 40 dollars a month for internet so I would stop complaining.
Tigers suck! ;)
AT&T also announced today that the revenue sharing model has stopped, so Apple aren't getting ANY cash from iPhone plans anymore.
Damn, if that's true ... then AT&T can just smell the money with this new phone. I can understand the higher price if it were broadband speeds of 6-7 Mbps, but $30 (or $40 for Mr. Tilt)... just isn't right.
I might think $30 is okay if they include unlimited texting (which shouldn't be separate anyway considering it's free on normal home internet, but that's another topic)...
I get the impression that this iPhone software thing is going to be quite a bit more successful that we all think. Hopefully later versions of the device will have some of the restrictions removed, though, I'd love it to be a little mac.
You look so awesome right now.
That sound you heard wasn't the nuvi ... that was my craptastic window mounted, clunky, ultra unportable, POS Roadmate getting crunched on I-10.
I wasn't going to get suckered into this whole iPhone craze ... bad enough my wife bought a macbook last year ... damn you Jobs ... damn you and your iCandy (eye candy).
iCandy? I don't get it, could someone please explain?
The only thing you have accomplished is an Epic Fail.
If only they had these available through Verizon.
... then you'd be saying ... "If only it was more than a phone ... "
... then you'd be saying ... "then you'd be saying if only they had these available through Verizon. "
I honestly would buy one if it was through verizon (technically Alltel, but they'll be the same soon enough).
My next phone is going to be either iPhone or HTC Touch.. and I'm not liking the size of the touch's screen.
However, I refuse to give up EVDO. It's waay faster than AT&T's crappy 3G (I get 900kbps tethered), and coverage is awesome. Plus I like Alltel's stance on not locking down phone features.
Yeah, if this was on verizon, you'd have access to VZaccess manager, VZNavigator and VZstanglehold... Verizon would have taken everything that makes the iphone unique and turned it into another borg drone of a phone...
I like their signal strength though :-D
If the iPhone were on Verizon, the 1st gen iPhone would just be hitting the streets, while other carriers are gearing up to release the sequel.
... which is why I switched to AT&T to begin with.
@ lockedandnotloaded
Normally i would agree with you, but verizon really doesn't touch their smart phones. The regular handsets are locked down with terrible garbage UIs, but anything that runs Winmo or is not java based, verizon tends to butt out and just throw some extra programs on there so you can still buy all of their overpriced garbage.
@sean,
dude, AT&T HSPA is a lot faster than EVDO... 3.6 MBit now, going up to 7.2 and then to 20 next year?
No word on the price? For comparison, TomTom for Windows Mobile phones is $150.
Why would Apple write the software for turn by turn navigation when it's already done by the proper parties? What these developers should take advantage of is the advanced OS on the device to provide unique features. Features that would differentiate them from the "me too" devices.
this is a far better solution that having apple build out a turn-by-turn app themselves. partnering/encouraging people like TomTom and possibly Sling, will make Apple a lot more money than spending the R&D and development costs in-house.
this will be a must-have app for me.
I'm still not impressed, not much has changed from the 1st iphone, basically the same OS, you still cant record video, no MMS, no picture/video mail, no true GPS (A-GPS), no voice commands and to top it off your data fees are going up.
"Lost in all of the excitement about the newer, cheaper iPhone 3G is this little nugget: AT&T is raising the cost of iPhone data plans from $20/month to $30/month for consumers (the plan price stays at $45/month for business users). Considering that you have to sign a two-year contract for voice and data to get iPhone 3G for $199 (8 GB) or $299 (16 GB), that new "lower" priced iPhone 3G will actually cost you more in the long run than the current "more expensive" iPhone (EDGE version)."
http://www.phonedog.com/cell-phone-research/blog/d-oh-cheaper-iphone-3g-is-actually-40-more-than-original-model.aspx
But A-GPS is real GPS, it just combines regular GPS and WiFi/cell location.
A-GPS uses cell tower triangulation, Sprint and Verizon have devices with A-GPS which do not have Wifi. True GPS is a built-in GPS chip which has a direct link to a satellite with no assistance. Stand alone GPS units from Telenav and Garmin for example have true GPS.
Oh god peerless, get a clue. A-GPS is REAL GPS that is SUPPLEMENTED by cell tower triangulation. The 3G iPhone HAS a GPS chip in it.
Not true... AGPS is regular GPS that also includes assistance from cell towers... AGPS tracks satellites. AGPS = a good thing.
Peerless: You know shit about A-GPS.
Here's a starter:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-GPS
no n00bs... A-GPS has a GPS chip and incorporates cell triangulation as well as wifi.
assisted GPS is what it stands for if i remember correctly
^ moose got to it before me ;)
A-GPS is real GPS, it's better in fact. http://wmexperts.com/articles/gps_vs_agps_a_quick_tutorial.html
A-GPS is a base receiver linked to a satellite, the base receiver sends signals to cell towers which in return sends a signal to the cell phone. The cell phone (without a chip) does not have a direct link to a satellite. That is why if you're out of cell phone range you cannot get a GPS signal, if you have an A-GPS device you will understand what I'm talking about.True GPS has a direct link to a satellite.
Iphone DOES NOT have a GPS chip.
Peerless, how about you try reading one of the many links posted before trying to correct everyone else?
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
>> basically the same OS
Yeah, cuz the OSX-based OS of the iPhone 1.0 was such a disaster, Apple clearly should've switched their OS to NT base ;p
And I suppose this will be a paid monthly service requiring 3G data, rather than holding 8 gig of map data on my 8 gig iphone.
The magnitude of your failure and arrogance is epic!
I want to show Steve jobs my new "suit"
"MAXIMUM STRENGTH"
*punches Steve Jobs in the face*
I hate how TomTom handles POIs (or HUGE lack thereof) so I hope there's some sort of integration with Google
OMG!
Personally, I'm not a fan of the iPhone, but I have to say, it makes a lot of sense that the price of data is going up. When you transition from a EDGE device to a 3G device, you need to pay more monthly for that privilege. Face it, AT&T has spent tens of millions of dollars upgrading their network for this device to be ready and they need to reap the rewards by upping the data plan.
Huh?... Sprint has had 3G going on 3 years nows, their rates have been cheaper will still be cheaper, not to mention Sprint has the largest mobile broadband network!
Glad to see this, but still think i'm going to have to hold out for them to release a 32Gb version.
I am an iphone owner rather than a machater, but I try to keep things in perspective.
The iphone was 4/5 stars - especially because of the headphone jack.
http://www.epinions.com/content_429900533380
If not for the fact that it gets Youtube and takes my free GSM sim card (after jailbreak) I wouldn't even have one.
Its like building a superfast computer (that can play Crysis) and then connecting to the internet on 56K.
but something no one's mentioned yet.... the best thing about my garmin 660 is the loud ass speaker!! if the 3g iphone's speaker is as pitiful as the current version, you'll have to constantly be looking at the screen rather than listening for voice prompts!
i've never used a tom-tom, but i guess you connect your iphone to your car's stereo and listen to music which would get interupted by a voice prompt when a turn is coming up? what about cars that still don't have simple aux connections?
i really like my nuvi, but carrying less devices when traveling through airports would be much nicer.
@Ron21
Yup. Nobody uses battery power in the car.
GTFO clone... Apple has shown how greedy they are... Probably Apple does not have the brains to solve the unlocking problem, so now they want the $$$ and contract before you walk out of the store....
Hey, I wonder what will happen if your iPhone gets stolen? I guess they will make you sign another 2 year contract.
you can record video on the iPhone, be it on the jailbroken side. it works great
So why is "A-GPS" vs. GPS a negative? A-GPS will improve reliability of position data GREATLY in urban locations and not make much if any difference otherwise. As for the increased data fees, sure, it would be nice to have everything for nothing, but paying $10 more per month for a huge improvement in speed is a fair trade off for me. It is STILL a good deal cheaper than my Verizon plan.
AGPS implementation is abiguous because it is not standard. Some AGPS phones lose location when they dont have a tower connection some work just like standard GPS.
Pointless....why? Battery life is what, 3 hours max when running this app? I have an iPhone and as long as i dont surf the web or play music i get decent battery life. This on the other hand is going to be like playing a movie while talking on the phone. Pointless...
Have you ever heard of an in-car cigarette light power adapter?
From Apple's site:
Talk time:
Up to 5 hours on 3G
Up to 10 hours on 2G
Standby time: Up to 300 hours
Internet use:
Up to 5 hours on 3G
Up to 6 hours on Wi-Fi
Video playback: Up to 7 hours
Audio playback: Up to 24 hours
That's actually better than the current iPhone.
Yay, i get to charge my phone will im driving to make it through the day with a phone. And I dont care waht Apple says, half everything they say on their battery life because even in their warranties, which I did buy for other reasons, say that they only gurantee half of the stated battery life. It said that on their iPod warranties too. I tired to with the one iPod i regretably bought and because it lasted half the stated time, there was nothing they could do. But maybe they changed it...
Why can't engadget readers with nothing good to say - say nothing ?
This is fricking awesome if it supports pinch zoom - regardless multi-touch Tom Tom is going to be sweet on that 163ppi screen...
Because the world is an unhappy place.
Or hearing everyone's opinion is useful. Something like that.
the iphone screen is rather grainy.. after my current phone's pixel density (figure out, 2 inches diagonal, 416x352 pixels) I can't go any lower that wvga on a 3-3,5 incher..
all in all, I expected more from this..
I don't know, I thought this one was kind of funny.
GTFO? Aye Aye Captain
Oh, and remember, remove the anal beads BEFORE you visit Engadget...
As an anti-apple guy (mostly because of their lock-down policy, oh and I really hate i-tunes) even I might buy this.
But I have two issues:
1 - Can I tether this thing to my notebook to use it as a modem (I do that sometimes with my TyTn II)
2 - Does it support A2DP profile for bluetooth? This one is important for slingbox.
What's up with the lack of anti-aliasing in TomTom software? And the wonderful layout of random crap below the map? There will have to be some significant UI look and feel improvements for this software to match the high end feel of other iPhone apps.
James, I belive that is a quick and dirty photoshop cut and paste the author threw together for visual aid. On TomTom units, the stuff below the map are pretty useful; current speed, distance to the next waypoint etc. The low-res graphics is typical of nav units to minize CPU load and redraw time. It doesn't have to look pretty, it just has to tell you where to go and how to get there.
There are many wrong comments regarding A-GPS. A-gps CAN be better
than plain GPS when there IS a GPS chip within. AND it can be WORSE
when there's NO gps chip within.
According to this apple page:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/gps.html
Apple DOES have a GPS chip within. Here's the critical passage:
"In addition to A-GPS, iPhone 3G uses signals from GPS satellites,
Wi-Fi hot spots, and cellular towers to get the most accurate
location fast. If GPS is available, iPhone displays a blue GPS
indicator. But if you’re inside — without a clear line of sight
to a GPS satellite — iPhone finds you via Wi-Fi. If you’re not in
range of a Wi-Fi hot spot, iPhone finds you using cellular towers. "
My take on this passage is that there IS a gps chip within and this really IS better than GPS only.
Pete
What more would I want? a 5 mp camera!
But that's apparently too much to ask... I guess I will have to accept carrying two devices intead of 3.
Now that I think about it, I'm not sure why I'm paying $20 for a data plan on the original iphone. Most of my real data usage is on wifi anyway.
I don't mind paying $30 for data on 3G, but we really should petition for unlimited texting to be included in the $30 plan.
awesome~
I like tomtom gogo~
AGPS isnt as accurate as standard GPS IIRC
i would guess what he meant was "trhe software works, but the prats at apple wont implement the necessary hardware to run it well enough to release"
again, its been on winMO for YEARS, but WITH propper full sirfstar GPS .... more engadget fanboyism
A-GPS is actually better than GPS. It can find the general area immediately because of cell towers and than use the GPS signals to find exact location. Have you ever taken your GPS indoors and try to use it? At least it could triangulate indoors.
So if you're listening to music via an aux input on your car audio system, will the iPhone soften the music and then speak the next navigation instruction? Then after speaking, will the music then resume to it's previous volume?
Of course it will. Too cool.
Regarding the data plan price increase: it sounds like existing iPhone users will be grandfathered in with the current (cheaper) plan when you upgrade to a 3G phone if you agree to another 2-year contract.
http://gear.ign.com/articles/880/880364p1.html
That's assuming IGN's sources are correct, of course.
I got a text today from O2, the UK carrier - they will be offering the iP3G as a free upgrade to all their higher tariff customers & new customers & it'll be £99 to everyone else.
Which sounds like a jolly wheeze to get people to upgrade their tariff to me, 18 months later you've paid for it nearly twice.
But still, cracking offer if you're already shelling out the £45 a month.
I may just get one once this app is out, depending on price of course. I was eventually going to buy a $500 Nuvi anyway.
Wow... you iPhone haters are ridiculous. As someone who has been working in the cellular industry for years, I am familiar with many different devices, and although some similiar functionality has existed in other phones before the iPhone, none of them have been well executed. The iPhone has been rapidly gaining marketshare and now that it will be available in many more countries, it is a matter of time before it is the worldwide market leader. You people who are biased against Apple for whatever reasons, maybe simply because you have a difficult time admitting that your predictions of failure were wrong, are only cheating yourselves, as the rest of us are open to haveing a truly all in one device with a good price point, you sour-pusses will be left behind...
Using the Tom-Tom app does anyone know if you need a wifi or cell connection to navigate. As in does it download maps to your phone or are they networked?
Does anyone know whether the iPhone's GPS will have voice prompts? Having to read the directions off the iPhone screen would negatively impact my driving.
awesome~
i love tomtom gogo~
Will the old iPhone owners have their ipHONe on 3G after the ACTUALIZATION???
What is that sound I hear? Nothing, just loads of BS. The IPhone + TOMTOM combination will never even come close to the Nuviphone. Why? I already have the new IPhone G3 with GPS. The GPS chip that it has reminds me of my First GPS 4 years ago: very basic, weak reception, does not work in a city with buildings. or on a highway with lots of trees (like most of the northeast). The nuviphone on the other will have Garmin's latest GPS chip which most likely makes it work on any street in the outdoor or in the city.