As if the iPhone 3G launch could really have any more misinformation floating around, we've got yet another tidbit that
needs clarification. Shortly after Apple's second iPhone was announced, out flew a report from
Reuters suggesting that TomTom already had iPhone navigation software
ready to go. French site
Mac Generation was able to get ahold of TomTom spokesperson Yann Lafargue, and here's the gist of what he had to say. First off, the aforementioned
Reuters statement was said to be inaccurate, though he did affirm that an iPhone version of the software was running in the labs and working "pretty well." Unfortunately, the question of "will you guys ship this for the iPhone?" was answered with a "We don't know" style response, but he did clarify that the
questionable SDK verbiage we saw wasn't an obstacle at all. Check out the full interview in the read link below -- hope you're fluent in French and / or machine translation!
posted June 13th 2008 3:49PM
My money is on a Google powered turn by turn package for the iPhone within 2 months. And it'll be 100% free.
and it would have hit the market too if it weren't for you meddling kids.
But you'll have to pay to make it go full screen.
It's a great idea, but I hope that they change the UI to something that will fit the iPhone more. I hope that picture is a fake, cause the UI looks terrible.
Speaking of food, check this:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&q=food&btnG=Search
Luke seriously STOP!!
Can you say pull your head out of the sand? Allowing TomTom software on the iPhone is a HUGE opportunity for Apple to break into the low-mid range GPS market. I just dont get why they would block it.
It's already been reported that the SDK license now precludes use of the GPS for certain things including turn-by-turn navigation:
http://www.ogleearth.com/2008/06/iphone_sdk_rest.html
It's also been reported that AT&T was working with Apple on a navigation product, although I can't find a reference for that right now.
I suspect that you will see Apple protect the use of the GPS so that AT&T can offer a service for a monthly fee.
Yeah, I wish them good luck with that. I will never give a cell phone service provider one cent more than I have to. TomTom software on my iPhone? I'll take that for $99.99 Alex.
I have an old TomTom 700. I'm never going to replace it because I now have Nav in 2/3 of my cars, and only really need a portable system when I fly somewhere. Even now I've stopped taking it and am using the maps on the iPhone. But I'd buy TomTom (or even Garmin) software. It's their only chance to make any money off me - they're not going to cannibalize sales of GPS units, I don't think.
The article says the sdk verbiage is not a problem. I'm sure they will release this sometime. No one said Apple is trying to block them.
Because while TomTom is the largest GPS maker in the world, their maps of North America are TERRIBLE. Once they can fix that problem, THEN I'll get excited about any phone using TomTom software.
Once again why are you still commenting here, you don't want the iPhone so what does it matter whether they put TomTom software on it?
Tomtom maps aren't great I'll give them that ... but it sure as hell has gotten me from point A to point B for the past couple months .... Don't knock it before you try it ... and you gotta love the dutch!! (TomTom is based in Amsterdam) Peace bra' ... keep it easy ....
Hooray, Jason FTW!
Apple's SDK limitations strike again! Jailbreaking isn't going away anytime soon!
Good luck with those voided warranties, iPhoners!
Google Maps with GPS really should be good enough for my basic navigation needs but boy, TomTom would be awesome to have this. I'll pay up to $29.99.
We are in desperate need of a $99 touchscreen Android Phone....
Fortunately, I *am* fluent in French.
.. now I feel like a stuffwhitepeoplelike post.
I've found phone-based GPS to be way too slow though, that's what the Nuvi is for.
Does no one remember the "rumored" TomTom turn by turn software being developed for the iphone using a little dongle? Well ... it appears to this casual observer that the dongle was only to allow TomTom to get a head start on development .... It would be a great move for Apple to off turn by turn GPS on the iPhone/iPod touch ..... just add to the list of reasons for non-adopters to go ahead and adopt ..... just my $.02 ... but bring it- I'm selling my Tomtom 920T on ebay soon as I get an iphone 3G
quit posting shameless links to your crappy blog, moron..
There still isn't enough in the 3G iPhone to make me want it. Maybe they will come out with turn by turn, but you will also be able to get GPS for the first gen iPhone from gomite.com
I've been using TomTom US/Canada maps on my HTC Artemis (P3300) for last 2 years. The problem I see with IPhone 2 is that it is aGPS. Thus, the big question is if apple has allowed standard modeon the aGPS chip meaning that you can use it to connect directly to Satillites and not Cell phone towers (thus cheaper you pay nothing)..but most phones with aGPS do not allow standard mode...thus you are always using cell towers and satellite (thus paying for cell tower usage).
My HTC aretmis (unlocked) is great it is GPS (Sirf chip) not aGPS.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/gps.html
Isn't this clear enough?
Could this mean that TomTom has finally realised that the AGPS implementation on the 3G iPhone is actually the 'crippled' type of AGPS?
AGPS isn't a set standard, merely a set of guidelines for the asistance of GPS.
Implementations range from chips capable of standalone operation that receive ephemeris data from the assistance server, to chips that just send GPS signal data to the assistance server for processing. The multimode chips in the former category are considered to be superior, while the chips in the latter caregory are widely considered to be crippled as they are incapable of realtime operation, and cannot function in a standalone mode. As AGPS chips are mandated in all modern cellphones (due to e911 and E112 regulations), the most common implementation in cellphones is the crippled version (mainly dues to costs of implementation).
There is nothing in any of Apple's promotional information for the 3G iPhone that states it is capable of standalone GPS operation. It does mention standalone triangulation, but they are very careful to aviod using the term GPS there. The triangulation is more than likely Apple's location awareness technology that came out in the first iPhone. However there are sereveral things, most notably the specific restriction in the SDK, that point to non-realtime and non-standalone capability.
It's all about Skynet. Steve Jobs KNOWS the future. Here is a great line from the link translated from French. "Apple is simply trying to protect themselves in case a customer having a problem with its iPhone and a navigation application's intention to attack. "
So Apple make phones now? Ah right ... gotcha.
Thanks for the heads up!
To clarify the question of what type of GPS receiver the 3g iPhone has, someone could take a look at the APIs in the SDK. For realtime polling of GPS data, there should be appropriate calls, so developers can use the GPS data for whatever purpose they imagine. If the GPS is crippled in any way, this should be reflected in the APIs.
I'd look it up myself, but the SDK is > 1 GB and my harddisk is almost full...