Apple's always been known for its amusingly-conservative disclaimers (you can't use iTunes to "design a nuclear weapon," for example) and it looks like the products-liability team at the Fruit has had their way with the iPhone SDK agreement as well, inserting a provision specifically prohibiting developers from creating apps "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." Yep, that's right -- no real-time route guidance (or, uh, fleet management) allowed. That'd be a huge bummer -- except, of course, that TomTom has already come out and said that its app is
ready to go on the iPhone. Assuming TomTom used the SDK and not the jailbreak toolchain, we'd bet that Apple is just covering its ass here and that it's worked out an agreement with TomTom to pass along any liability -- you can bet Steve doesn't want to get sued when iPhone users start careening into
sandpiles and into
oncoming trains. We'll see for sure when the
App Store finally launches, though -- until then, it's all just cheap speculation.
Update: Astute commenter Austin points out that these terms are copied almost word-for-word from the
Google Maps API terms -- which means that TomTom and others are probably free to use their own maps to do real-time guidance.
[Via
BoingBoing Gadgets]
posted Jun 11th 2008 11:03AM
Its things like this that make me hate Apple. I was willing to get the 3G iPhone, but after the "contract only" disclaimer and things lie this, I could live comfortably without giving Apple any of my money.
Lie=like
Come on people can we stop with the whole "contract" thing. Do you plan on skipping to different carriers every other month. I've used many carriers in my area, It's not much better, they all have the same spotty service. Unless you live in a city or close to it, no carrier has full coverage elsewhere.
@Scott Miller
Well everyone mentions the "contract" thing because these contracts are for TWO years. If they were one year contracts that can be a little understandable, but I don't want to be forced to stay with a carrier for two years.
And you don't have to switch every month, but what about if you want to switch in one year because you moved or if you have an argument with their customer service?
@Eric M
If your argue with CS.. your on your own and pretty much screwed, if you move to an area without coverage by ATT, you are let out of your contract with no ETF
interesting as to how this is spun as purely a "CYA" legal thing...
the first thing i thought of when i read it is that either
1) apple wants to be the only provider of gps routing software for the iphone (for $$ of course)
2) someone (tomtom?) got in bed with apple and wants to be the only provider of gps routing software and gave a kickback
3) some carrier like at&t wants to push their overpriced telenav crap
@Patrick
I am guessing option number 3 would be ATT's request.
Most likely its Apple lawyers covering their ass, although there are worse things then live guidance... say texting on a phone with no keyboard while driving....
@ Eric
Marriage is for LIFE. It's called commitment. How do you get out of that, without it costing you half of everything. What about leasing a car. It's no different, you agreed to what is provided to you. If you have an issue with something out of the terms of their service, THEY OWE YOU. You just need to be good enough to get it. If you have an argument with someone that gets paid crap working a multibillion dollar company and you don't get something in your favor. You need to get better people skills.
I don't know how you could possibly think they would sell this thing without requiring a 2 year contract! Were you born yesterday or were you not aware of how things work in the U.S.?? People want a cheaper iPhone, so they make a cheaper iPhone, stop bitching, yes it does require a 2 year contract but so does the LG Voyager or LG Vu or any other damn phone sold by a U.S. carrier. And i know you can also get some on a 1 year contract and pay more, but thats not how the first iPhone was, so why would this one be different.............boo hoo you won't be getting a 3G iPhone, i'm so sad
@ Ken
Well o2 in the UK are releasing pay and go sim cards to there iPhone users so maybe something similar will hop up in the states soon?
Coolone3000,
You forget the rule. It's only okay to whine about cell phone contracts if it's related to Apple. It's only okay to somehow multiple the rate plan by 24 months and add that to the cost of the device in order to say "ZOMG ITS TEH EXPENSIVE" if it's Apple.
Oh, and it's only okay to complain about absurd legalese if it's Apple.
I can think of *at least* two reason why Apple would want to restrict real time route guidance - first, is liability, the second is privacy.
On any GPS you buy, the first screen you hit on startup is the legal "it's not our problem if you're a moron", to which you have to agree to go further, followed by lockouts to menus and settings while the vehicle is moving. It doesn't take much to imagine someone jacking around with an iPhone and driving into a wall.
Second, real time time GPS also opens the door to stalking - if you can track you, it's not a big hop to track someone in your address book.
Reid,
Do you understand that they raised the cost of the mandatory plan that you must have with your iPhone? And that it comes out to 240 bucks over the life of the contract, which you can't get out of? Ergo, the cost of the 3g iPhone is the same as the old iPhone, except they're pretending to save u teh moniez?
If any other company said "hay, we are gonna give you 120 bucks off this, but we'll charge you 10 a month for a year, kkthx," people would still be up in arms.
Ken, you need to fully read other manufacturers EULA agreements then if you think what Apple has is a 'reason' not to use their products. The US is a litigation playground, you need to 'CYA' with everything.
That's the problem with posting first - you didn't see the update right?
Or do you also hate the Google Maps API? In any case, the terms were obviously dictated by the need to confirm to Google's Maps API terms.
It makes a lot of sense too as they don't want the military to go and build iPhones into a Tomahawk missile or Predator plane. If I released a maps/GPS product I wouldn't want it to be used to kill people either.
I don't like cell phone contracts either, but you already knew that the initial iPhone required a contract, so you certainly shouldn't have been surprised. And if you indeed really like the iPhone 3G, you are not going to be able to switch to any other carrier besides T-Mobile, and even with them you are NOT going to be able to use their 3G network, since the iPhone doesn't support 1700mhz UMTS.
On the other hand, if you wait a few months, I bet the iPhone ends up being available on pre-paid terms.
2 years isnt so bad when you look at the canadian market... We got screwed all the time with 3 years contracts! I don't know yet if it'll be the case with Rogers but i would be surprised!
i mean wouldn't be surprised!
WTF Does it matter anyways, I'm guessing there is no offline storage for maps. There are still some places that have no cell service, never-mind 3G. I'm still upgrading my iPhone, but that is a disappointment, if true.
Let the bashing begin!
"WTF Does it matter anyways"
It matters because this means no one can release legit navigation software unless Apple says they can. That's total crap, IMO.
an app can store info in its own packages contents.
You really have to be in the sticks of the sticks to receive zero coverage given all the options the new iPhone has. I'm still not going to buy one though, only because I am moving to Japan and DoCoMo has a much better selection (although with the iPhone now supporting 3G, it could launch in Japan; I don't see it making much of a dent there though as it will in the west).
I don't live in the sticks, and AT&T has no coverage in my home. All of the other carriers offer 5 bars of service, but the moment you walk into my home AT&T coverage goes to zero.
I live right outside NYC and no cell provider has coverage around my house. My town doesn't allow cell towers.
Just as well I design all my nuclear devices using MS Paint...
I wonder which poor sap has the job of reading through all this stuff.
You should really try powerpoint some...
Everybody know you use iPhoto to design nuclear weapons, seriously who would even try to use iTunes. I mean you would use iTunes to organize your nuclear stock pile after you got done designing them.
Yeah, that hit me to!
People don't design their own nuclear devices these days; everybody just buys them over iTMS, and then think iTunes is used to make them just because they get them from there.
That's why I moved back to OS 9, it's so much easier without all those fancy graphics and the tools are so much more stable.
That's crap. Apple's UI and OS on the iPhone is fun and very nice looking but is very limiting. Microsoft's UI and OS on smart phones (Windows Mobile) is mildly ugly but _anything_ can be developed and put onto it.
WHY CAN'T WE HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS? Bah
http://lifehacker.com/software/hack-attack/turn-your-windows-mobile-phone-into-an-iphone-269055.php
Wow l2 google....... Damn you are a n00b.
@stardash, you can't be serious. All of the implementations to make the iPhone GUI on WM so far have been horrible Flash interfaces.
They all suck and are not very responsive. Besides, I don't want an iPhone GUI on my real phone. That's like taking a powerful engine and putting it in a VW Van; you won't be able to take advantage of the powerful engine.
I take it you are NOT a developer? The iPhone OS is not limited at all - you can pretty much make ANYTHING on it. It's a complete OS with easy to use frameworks for graphics, sound, internet etc
You might be confused by the number of apps offered by default - but that is Apple's choice (and a smart one for consumers). If you unlock an iPhone you can download hundreds of apps today - and most of those were made before Apple released the SDK.
Wow, so the new iPhone has GPS, but can't be used for real time route guidance?
Are there restrictions on using the GSM and HSDPA radios for "real time voice calls" as well?
It can be used for it, but only the ATT supplied navigation service.
It won't be like WinMo devices where you can use whatever navigation software you want (i.e. Google, LiveSearch)
My guess is that TomTom or some other company has made some side deal with apple which excludes them from this particular clause of the agreement (essentially "exclusive rights" to make an iPhone navigation app) in return for some revenue sharing.
The GPS capability of this device is just too attractive of a revenue stream for apple to write it off completely.
and I'd just finished my iphone controlled autonomous life-saving aircraft fleet app
I'd believe it because you've got an Apple logo stuck in your eye.
Let me guess, AT&T is going to start charging for real time route guidance like some others do???
Start, they already try too. My AT&T Tilt has GPS in it, but that doesnt stop AT&T from trying to sell you a TeleNav service for turn by turn directions. I got Google Maps which using the GPS hardware and will probably pick up the Garmin WM GPS software for turn by turn.
I thought that's what cruise control is for. Guess I was wrong.
This was my guess as to why the first iPhone didn't have GPS. ATT doesnt want all that data streaming all the time.
There goes my plan to drive my car with an iPhone, James Bond style.
Mine too, first no MMS like Nokia's and now no remotely controlled Aston Martin's/Bond Cars like all Nokia's back in the 90's. Damn.
I'll still be giving o2 my £159 on July 11 though!
How awesome would it be if you could control a car using the accelerometer in the iPhone?
i read it as you cant make the phone drive a car :/ not you cant have it route you there :S
maybe im just silly
hhmmm, maybe its to stop someone from creating a bad guidence app that causes accidents and the likes of tom tom etc are allowed? odd either way
or maybe so AT&T can charge you $99 a year for TeleNav
Bad software shouldn't be an excuse for an incompetent driver.
If people would use their own judgements first and the navigation software's second, we wouldn't have as many issues.
A sign that says bridge out? But my navigation software says otherwise! It must be right!
Oh wait....
what the heck would you use GPS for on the iphone then...just use google maps then...things like these make people jailbreak their devices
and why would you need to buy tom tom's software for iphone then
What, I can't use this for "life saving purposes"?! I guess my plan to cure cancer with the iPhone will never come to life.
Jialbreak lives on!
free useable software for all!
app store my rear end...
My favorite portion:cant be used for "emergency or life-saving purposes"
I guess if I am dying I still wont use my phone because it would break the contract
Well technically this agreement only covers third party applications, so you can use the phone for emergency, but you can't use a third party application.
But hey, if you're ever put in jail under a "Good Samaritan" law you can try and say your phone doesn't allow you to be a good Samaritan.
So what about the TomTom application, that was just announced it near release? Does it mean it is not "real time rout guidance"?!!!!
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/09/tomtom-already-has-iphone-navigation-software-ready-to-roll/
RTFA
This is why closed systems are so dangerous. SHAME on apple! Go ANDROID!
Amen brother!
In order of importance:
1. For my servers - Linux
2. For my workstations (always laptops) - OS X
3. For my phone - Android (soon), Nokia till then.
4. For my TV - MythTV
5. For my movies - DVD (hardware upsampled to HD)
6. For my music/podcasts - What ever phone I'm carrying.
There's no room in my life for these ridiculous limitations.
Those terms looked familiar, and are in fact copied almost verbatim from the 'Appropriate Conduct and Prohibited Uses' section of the Google Maps API Terms of Service:
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/terms.html
And those, in turn, are based on the Google Maps disclaimer, "These directions are for planning purposes only". They're just avoiding liability for people that follow the directions instead of watching the road.
Well yeah it would be... I mean it IS Google maps that's on the iPhone, so maybe they mad some kind of deal together so Google maps was the only route guidance app for the iPhone. makes sense, doesn't it?
*pulls out his book on stretched notions*
A forced 3ms delay isn't real-time anymore ...
It most likely has to do with their licensing of the maps. Have a look the TOS for any online map service and you'll see the same restriction.
Congratulations Apple. You've created a powerful smartphone platform and then banned people from doing anything useful with it.
I'm still annoyed that MobileScrobbler won't be able to go legit thanks to the SDK restrictions. It's the killer app for me.
If the iPhone doesn't enable vendors like TomTom and Garmin to produce software that provides legit turn by turn GPS functionality I will rethink my initial decision to purchase the iPhone 3G when it arrives in July.
Full blown GPS navigation functionality is one of the pieces missing as far as features go in my book and if they have decided to cripple the functionality by limiting the SDK capabilities with the GPS... i'm not going to be a happy Apple Fan.
Ok... I just erased the iPhone cancer-curing app that I'd developed with the SDK. :-(
Could that be a holdover from before the 3G iPhone with GPS was officially announced?
I'm sure they didn't want some company releasing a awful turn by turn solution based on the several blocks general positioning of the first iPhone.
Do note, that already the old Amiga 500 had a disclaimer from using it or the hardware to construct an a-bomb.
These sort of disclaimers usually only provoke hackers, expect the first iBomb any day now :^).
Good news for Garmin :)
I don’t think real time route guidance means what you think it means. That could also just refer to some form of automated guidance – please don’t develop any programs that can work together with the auto pilot of a Boeing 747 or your killer robot or something like that. That would be more in tone with the rest of the sentence.
That strange sentence is at best ambiguous and I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions. If engadget would like to play it like the big boys they would do what normal journalists do in such situations: call or mail someone that knows instead of starting crazy speculations. You get some credit for putting that disclaimer at the end of the article.
It all depends on how to define "real-time", really :) After how much delay it becomes non-real-time ? 1 sec ? 1 msec ?
WOW, Talk about a Mood Killer. I wish People would read stuff like this before they dive in to get this Phone and end up with a Super disappointment. Why Are they Calling this Open, if truly it is not Opened AT ALL. Is there any reason why developers can't Create Navigation apps for the iPhone. It better be one GOOD EXCUSE. I am going farther and farther away from the thought of getting this phone. All this is because of the importance people dedicate to the phone. I think this is so going to backfire.
WHY PUT a Freaking GPS in the dammn thing if you can't use a GOOD NAV system with it. This is a First, at least Verizon ( That I HATE) lets you use what you want as a Nav System ( or do they?)
...
Did you read the article? At all? You seem to be a little confused, let me help you out.
"we'd bet that Apple is just covering its ass here and that it's worked out an agreement with TomTom to pass along any liability"
"...these terms are copied almost word-for-word from the Google Maps API terms -- which means that TomTom and others are probably free to use their own maps to do real-time guidance."
Does that clear things up for you?
Which still means you are stuck with whatever crappy software Apple made a deal with and have no choice on what you prefer to use...you know, like every other smartphone on the market.
Dang it another one of my plnas to design a nuke foiled!!!!!!!
Let's talk again about the "unprecedented" application ecosystem that will be built around the iPhone. First they strongly "suggest" app developers not to sell for free, and they submit a small fraction of the developers that apply into the development program, then they do this.
The iPhone is barely a smartphone, still (no MMS, no cut and paste, no video recording, all features found on free phones nowadays (maybe not cut and paste, but you only really need that on smartphones or PDA's)), and they want to talk about the ecosystem that will envelop it. It is such a joke.
The iPhone wouldn't make a very good life-saving device, anyway; it doesn't float.
Simple question. Would you want random developers developing GPS navigation apps that tell you where to go and end up making you lost? Who would you blame? The developer? Apple? By the time you realize you're lost you'll have probably wasted a shit-ton of gas and with $4 a gallon, someone would be uber-pissed.
Question: Isn't Apple screening the Apps before they are put up on the App Store?
If Apple's doing that, then the question 'Would you want random developers developing GPS navigation apps that tell you where to go and end up making you lost?' is void. Or it would say that Apple isn't fulfilling the advertised purpose of the App Store anyway (i.e. screening apps before putting them up, so you don't get crap).
The primary/true reason for the App Store is to make $$$$ for Apple... Man, and people crib about M$!!! geez...
This argument in favor of the restrictions is the most baffling one of all. It boils down to, "Users will be forced to download crap if it's open!"
Which is easily countered by pointing out that all major OSes have open development, which does indeed result in a lot of crap, but which most people counter by using common sense and not downloading the crap.
The answer to avoiding crap isn't closing development, it's just not using the crap apps to begin with. There's no need to hand over your judgment to Apple.
If they sold iPhones unlocked and without this new business about fining their own customers and limiting development to cover their asses, THEN i might be interested. bring on the era of mobile linux/gphone's imo
"Fleet management" probably refers to a fleet of taxis or bike messengers, not submarienes.
Or freight/delivery trucks, and the reason might be that apple seems to want to compete with blackberry and might want to release their own paid-for apps that manage your fleet of company vehicles.
That's where the money is, corporations
IF they mean that they don't want developers writing navigation software, my guess is that it's AT&T prohibiting it. It seems that AT&T really wants to limit the amount of network traffic generated by the iPhone (for example, no iTunes music store downloads, no App Store downloads over 10MB, and no 'phone as modem' functionality) and navigation could really start to fill the proverbial pipe with data in a hurry. Most likely most iPhone owners won't want to take up 1GB of their precious music and video storage space with map data, which means that map data would need to come over the wire, leading to high amounts of data being transferred every time anyone chooses to do navigation.
I know that the Google Maps program on the iPhone can do navigation, but they've done some tricky things to make it work using low bandwidth connections (like EDGE), so maybe they get a pass here. Or maybe the fact that it was included in the last version of the iPhone means it's grandfathered in. Who knows. But if they mean what it sounds like they mean, it's really a dumb limitation.
I think you are dead wrong, i personally (and people i know) would love to have a built in mapping app that doesn't rely on streaming data. If i could be in any vehicle, take out my phone and launch the TomTom software and be able to get turn by turn directions in even the most remote areas that would be awesome! Lets face it there are plenty of places that are still no service areas or not good service areas, this would also prevent you from reaching that untalked about soft limit on data that i'm sure is in place. There is also fine print in you service agreement that talkes about excessive off network data usage! I would gladly spare 1 out of my 16 gigs of storage space for an app like that. I also think people need to stop jumping to conclusions. In my opinion TomTom would not announce that they have mapping software unless it was going to be sold through the app store, what would be the point? Especially a big company like them, when most consumers will only go through the app store.
Does anyone know what happens to your contract if you are leaving the country for an extended period (12 to 18 months). I am still not sure if I will be going, but I may be leaving in a year and don't want to get completely SCREWED!
Apple/ATT are milking the iSuckers for all they are worth.
First with a ridiculously overpriced data plan which costs more than the previous gen one; especially in light of the fact that a Sprint SERO plan for example could cost the same as the entire iPhone data plan itself.
Secondly with imposing these types of ridiculous restrictions on an already limited, closed device, thus milking even more money out of those foolish enough to think that they are actually getting a bargain due to an initially lower entry fee (i.e. $199 purchase price).
Apple users once again paying more for less.
By comparison, I am paying a whopping total of $49/month for:
1250 anytime minutes
UNLIMITED DATA
Unlimited N/W starting at 7
Unlimited Roaming
Unlimited M2M
Unlimited Messaging
and
TOM TOM
(which i "acquired" by any one of at least a hundred different ways since we aren't forced into using some proprietary AppStore -- which is another ripoff in of itself -- apple wanting to impose their control over all facets of the device more or less).
Live Search
Google Maps
Garmin (once again, easily "acquirable")
Monthly fees - $49.99
Enjoy getting suckered Apple Fans, you'll be paying at least, at least, twice that for less features and options at that.
wut
Based on nothing more than the price, I have to wonder about the quality of the iPhone's GPS. Don't get me wrong, I am all for it having GPS. We know the iPhone can do many things, but can it really do all of them well. I don't if its the hardware or the software or combination of both that make a good GPS, so I am not really certain that the price is really such a good indicator of quality. However, dedicated GPS's sell for $200 and up, and I can't help making assumptions. If I would need another device for hardcore GPSing I wouldn't want to bother with sub-par GPS on the iPhone.
The phone does cost more, AT&T is subsidizing the price. There's absolutely no indication that the GPS is sub-par on the iPhone.
That's pretty standard verbiage for a beta license. Once the release version of the SDK come out, I wouldn't be surprised to see this removed.
All this hoopla about iphone is so limited this and iphone lacking this and blah blah blah.. its so bad from both sides. Granted there our A LOT of reasons why we should be upset with the iphone.
But I'll tell you, they have set the bar and trend for all the following smart/cell phones that have folllowed. I am VERY happy that there is competition and others that are making phones that are "iphone killers". But the simple fact that they are labeled that shows its impact.
Anyways, the point I wanted to make is that FINALLY the iphone is worth HACKING. yeah yeah, you shouldn't have to , and blah, blah. Face it! NOTHING is perfect, everyone has their OWN needs and wants and preferences. The first iphone was hackable, but for what? To play Mario Bros? And the few other mediocre apps that we available.
But now.. Well the potential of the apps and the control over the phone will just be amazing and well worth the trouble of this all.
Aside from the fact that this was lifted from the Google Maps terms of service, it's the standard liability limiting CYA statement. Look at all of the people in England (and elsewhere, but for some reason the folks in England get all the press) who follow the directions of their sat navs and end up driving into rivers or off bridges that are out. It's chalked up to stupidity there but in the US that's a multi-million dollar lawsuit waiting to happen. And all because someone didn't update their maps.
Could someone explain to me the good and bad of this clause as simple as possible?
Does this mean no real time GPS navigation such as directing one from Point A to Point B?
...a provision specifically prohibiting developers from creating apps "marketed for... ...emergency or life-saving purposes...
So, if I want to put out an app that shows people step-by step how to perform CPR, the Heimlich Maneuver, or other important First-Aid tasks, Apple will shut me down, huh?
That sucks.
Why are some of you blaming AT&T.
This is sooo US centric
Now, as much as I would love to see a TomTom GPS program on my iPhone, I would much rather see Apple work with TomTom to make a kick ass program together. Think about it, TomToms navigation skills with Apples ease of use UI skills. Work in some integration with Google maps to update POI's on the fly. Hell, it runs OS X, work in Apples new Speech software for realistic voices. Apart they can make great things, together they could make something amazing.
These restrictions will probably only matter to the Engadget nerds. I doubt if it will seriously impact iPhone 3G sales. There are always restrictions in life. Get used to it.
I'm sure people could argue about not being allowed to drive backwards on the highway or not being allowed to walk around naked in the city. However someone makes the rules and people are asked to follow them even if they don't always make much sense.
No realtime third-party GPS application and that's it. Move on to your WinMo handset and do it there. If Microsoft gets sued because someone tried to navigate an airplane using WinMo and crashes, good for them. Move on to the Palm OS and see if unrestricted apps turns Palm into a smartphone powerhouse.
i phones ....cool but i dont have att oh well i guess my $199 is going to my weed dealer instead...what a shame
So if have a human that is the proxy between my iPhone and my robot, is it then alright?
The answer to this is simple. It is because the iPhone uses AGPS not a real GPS chipset. Assisted GPS uses an assistance server located with your server provider. There are several levels of assistance to AGPS. The best is where the assistance server provides ephemeris data for the satellites to speed acquisition, and then the data is processed in the normal manner. This, of course assumes that the device is capable of operating as a standalone GPS unit if necessary.
The next level of assistance is the most commonly implemented form of AGPS. All the phones I have seen with AGPS have used this method. The phone acquires GPS data (with or without ephemeris data from the server), and then sends that data to the assistance server for processing. The assistance server then processes location using the GPS data, cellular ifromation, tables for correction of known atmospheric disturbances, and its own static GPS refernce data. This location is then sent back to the phone. It has the advantage of correcting signal bounce and atmospheric disturbances typically encountered in a city, and since the processing is done off the device it is cheaper for manufacturers to implement. However it requires that the device has a good data connection to the server, and the your service provider has an assistance server in the first place. If you are in a rural area with bad signal, or if your service provider doesn't have an assistance server, you will be SOL since devices with this AGPS implementation cannot do standalone GPS.
Apple are covering their legal butts here. Because the data has to be sent from the iPhone for processing, it simply cannot be realtime. This cannot be corrected in software, since it lacks the hardware to do the GPS processing. Apple know that this is a problem with their AGPS implementation, so they are flatly saying 'no realtime GPS'. I don't see how TomTom can suddenly claim to be able to do realtime GPS with the iPhone. Unless they come out with a hardware addon, look for this announcement to be quietly swept under the carpet when the iPhone comes out.
Apple could still be in legal trouble here. They are still promoting the iPhone as being a GPS device. It isn't a standalone GPS device, but rather a poor inbred brother-cousin of GPS, incapable of standing without assistance.