Comments on: iPhone GPS

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:26:24 +0000

We've updated our TomTom iPhone App page (not this page, follow the link) with new info about the TomTom application.

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:04:39 +0000

True, but the iPhone would be pretty pointless without a data plan.

By: Khyron

Khyron — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 08:11:45 +0000

What I meant is that you dont need a stupid data plan to get GPS ….

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:16:57 +0000

The operating system (Windows Mobile vs the iPhone GPS) doesn’t have anything to do with GPS quality. I’ve recorded tracklogs with an iPhone and they are just as good as those created with a Garmin handheld GPS.

By: Denis

Denis — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:17:25 +0000

Iphone sucks. Windows Mobile is the real answer for those who want REAL GPS on their phones.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:52:49 +0000

Eirik - You might have missed the news, but the new iPhone has GPS and is a little slimmer and lighter than the original. TomTom's PND devices run on Linux, which would make porting a bit easier, and in fact they might have done it already.

By: Eirik

Eirik — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:46:49 +0000

Actually the Kaiser is very different from the Iphone. It has a totally different OS, and is much thicker then the iphone. In order to fit a gps in the iphone it would be so thick that it won’t anylonger fit in your pocket.

They will also need to develop a brand new solution if they are going to make TomTom aviable to the phone, as TomTom only fits Windows Mobile. (which Iphone never will get)

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:15:08 +0000

HTC has a phone called Kaiser that has 3G and GPS and is about the same size as the iPhone (a little thicker, but not as long). It is possible to fit the components and appropriate battery in the iPhone with only a slight increase in size. AT&T sells this phone as the Tilt can it can be bought for $399 with a new 2 year contract.

So the technology is there, the price is there, the next thing is to get the iPhone 2.0 out with these features. Summer/Fall is most likely time we will see it. At this point there is no reason not too.

By: Nate

Nate — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:34:06 +0000

Thanks for the constructive and detailed analysis. It is a welcome example given all the irrational M$ vs iphone garbage being thrown around.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:43:02 +0000

In the example you provided where you open up Google Maps and it defaults to your current position, I think a cell site triangulation method would work fine… provided you are in an area where you can get a cell signal.

As to why Apple didn’t include GPS in the first place, I can agree with what they have said. I’m sure there were space considerations, a GPS chipset would also draw more battery power, and it would produce additional heat. After-all most GPS devices with the same size screen are much larger and have a shorter battery life than the iPhone. And of course it would have added additional component costs to build. I think it will come though as battery technology improves, GPS chipset designs become more efficient in power usage, etc. Hopefully sooner than later.

As for vehicle needs for accuracy, often roads are very, very close together which requires the GPS to be as accurate as possible to determine exactly which road you are on to provide accurate instructions. For example of you get off on the wrong exit the GPS needs to recognize ASAP that you took the wrong exit so that it can reroute you before you get to the end of the exit. An “A-GPS” solution is accurate enough for that if it can connect to a cell site. However I’m uncertain if a system based on cell site triangulation alone would be accurate enough.

But for what you are talking about (open up Google Maps and have it default to your position) a software based solution like you originally mentioned would probably work just fine.