'Podmaps' to Provide Mobile Maps and Directions

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

A new Apple patent application revealed (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/02/14/apple_seeks_patent_on_podmaps_concept.html) by Appleinsider describes an interesting extension of the traditional Podcast into a more useful form.

Apple describes allowing users to request directions from a starting point and destination point. By incorporating visual maps and spoken driving directions, Apple would dynamically assembly a 'Podmap' for immediate download. The 'Podmap' would be then be transfered into your iPod or iPhone for playback:"When being played, the podmap presents to the user of the device the voice directions and the corresponding images so that the user is able to successfully navigate from the start location to the destination location. It is particularly useful to play on the portable media device because it can be easily carried or transferred by the user."
Chapter markers could also allow users to easy advance to the next and previous direction.

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/02/14/podmaps-to-provide-mobile-maps-and-directions/)

[ravenvii]

Wow, that is certainly an interesting idea.

[thedoctorlee]

that could be cool for walking tours.

[kskill]

woaaah.
peace out tomtom/mapquest

[amac4me]

This is cool!

[dvince2]

That would be amazing!

Knowing apples rep though, I doubt it would be backwards compatible some how...

[carlop]

Finally an apple patent that could have some use!

I Like It! (...until they release the bloated price tag)

[grizzlybrice]

Well, gee, that makes sense, why do you have to have GPS for navigation?

I use directions from google and the like just like that: go to point, check directions for next way-point, go to next point, check directions, etc. I'm pleased.

gB

[Slipperyskates]

It would be very cool if they could have it reference iPhone/iPod Touch location, too, so it would progress at the same pace that you did. Or maybe future GPS integration???

[AtariMac]

Other than a walking tour I cannot see how this is all that useful. GPS units are so accurate and inexpensive these days, podmap seems sort of late to the game.

[davidjearly]

Pure Innovation.

Superb.

[MarlboroLite]

Hmm I guess this is good for people who don't own a GPS....but if you own one this is pretty useless....nothing can beat a GPS....if you get lost it recalculates the route.

[Diode]

Other than a walking tour I cannot see how this is all that useful. GPS units are so accurate and inexpensive these days, podmap seems sort of late to the game.

Unless your iphone/touch gained some sort of gps functionality ;-)

[Thanatoast]

many more people own iPods than GPS units. good way to create added value...

[confirmed]

It would be very cool if they could have it reference iPhone/iPod Touch location, too, so it would progress at the same pace that you did. Or maybe future GPS integration???

i was just going to mention that. click on the Location button on your iPod Touch or iPhone and it skips directly to the chapter for your location. it would be especially helpful for the iPod Touch as you can usually get location information, but not always get online to download a map (due to closed/inactive networks).

[grappler]

I've been thinking for a while that they should do this.

Here's how it typically goes for me:

1. I use a computer to pull up google maps, and figure out the route I want (easier than pulling up the route on an iphone - and you can create routes with multiple stops)
2. I now want to send this route straight to my iphone, rather than printing it on a sheet of paper. I can email myself a link to the map, but this doesn't work if the route has multiple stops.


Spoken directions would work very well in this case - then I don't have to try and read the screen while I'm driving.

Some car integration would work wonders here - if I'm playing songs through the car stereo, hitting a button on the map can simply pause or mute the song while the spoken directions play.

[MacFly123]

So does this mean that Apple is going to crap out on iPhone 2.0 with GPS AGAIN??? :mad: This may be kind of cool, but it can't recalculate or track where you are, so it would be pretty worthless I think. EVERY freakin phone has GPS and iPhone 2.0 better. I do NOT want to see another scenario where there are SERIOUS missing features on the iPhone, especially in the second version!!! GET IT RIGHT WITH IPHONE 2.0 APPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kingtj]

This is a good idea for current iPhones and iPods that can't do GPS .. but ultimately, it's just a work-around for that lacking feature.

My current GPS system also downloads traffic information and applies it to the routes, so road closures and traffic jams are automatically bypassed, etc. It's not 100% perfect, but it's a big plus.

I will say, though, you can have a tough time keeping a good GPS signal if you're in an area surrounded by lots of tall buildings. I could see this being pretty functional if you're walking around in a city you're visiting and you're just trying to locate certain shops or intersections.


Hmm I guess this is good for people who don't own a GPS....but if you own one this is pretty useless....nothing can beat a GPS....if you get lost it recalculates the route.

[davidjearly]

EVERY freakin phone has GPS and iPhone 2.0 better.

Now thats just not true.

I don't think the next iPhone will have GPS, but more likely 3G. I doubt it will incorporate both.

David

[samh004]

Wirelessly posted (iPod touch: Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A93 Safari/419.3)

First thought is very cool, however what happens when you make a wrong turn or there are roadworks. Sounds like a cheap way around gps which is a bit more dependable.

[MacFly123]

many more people own iPods than GPS units. good way to create added value...

If they do this for the iPod Touch fine. But if they crap out again on real GPS for iPhone 2.0 I will be PISSED, not to mention millions of others. This is NOT acceptable for iPhone 2.0 Apple!

[spazzcat]

Now thats just not true.

I don't think the next iPhone will have GPS, but more likely 3G. I doubt it will incorporate both.

David

I don't get why people want GPS in their phone...seems like it would be pain to use while driving and a waste of battery.

[MacFly123]

This is a good idea for current iPhones and iPods that can't do GPS .. but ultimately, it's just a work-around for that lacking feature.

Exactly!

Now thats just not true.

I don't think the next iPhone will have GPS, but more likely 3G. I doubt it will incorporate both.

David

Ok, I am exaggerating, but you get my point with smart phones. And I really hope you are wrong or there will be revolution 2.0 of pissed off people and critics when iPhone 2.0 comes!

[fastbite]

I totally NEED that -- but about my life "directions from a starting point and destination point". Help!!!!

[MacFly123]

I don't get why people want GPS in their phone...seems like it would be pain to use while driving and a waste of battery.

If it was like any other GPS it wouldn't require me to control it and it would be docked in my car being charged at the same time. What's the problem? No problem at all, just amazing.

[ArmyKnight12]

Awesome. Apple rules! :apple:

[sterlingindigo]

Another added feature for my GPS-less iPhone, I'll take it! Google maps (now enhanced) is very nice though I must say. I use it quite a bit. I wish I could get a nice GPS-like stand for my car that'll play tunes/hands-free talk/give directions thorugh my car speakers.

[asdavis10]

Yet another great idea from Apple. The tech is already there for this. Just look at Google Maps and how they give you snapshots of streets. Seems like 'Podmaps' could just be a slideshow of these screenshots with some annoying audio to tell you when you've made a wrong turn. Rather use my assortment of iPods than those expensive GPS systems.

[swagi]

Such a useless waste of resources.

Honestly, I have to agree with the other people here. If Apple doesn't include GPS in their iPhone 2.0, they will suffer. They will suffer really bad.

Nuf said! (http://www8.garmin.com/nuvifone/)

And gee, I really think it's hot.

[lazyrighteye]

Huh.
Interesting idea.
GPS stopgap?

[thomasfxlt]

This will drive lots of commercial sales of ipods to Museums, City Tours, Arboretums, Botanical Gardens, etc.....Where you or I might go through an iPod every two years or so, these types of institutions will be lucky to get 3-6 months out of one. Lots of sales for Apple.

Useful for driving?....maybe.

[mygoldens]

Well, gee, that makes sense, why do you have to have GPS for navigation?

I use directions from google and the like just like that: go to point, check directions for next way-point, go to next point, check directions, etc. I'm pleased.

gB

Give me A BREAK!

You are telling me that google maps is better than a living, breathing full blooded sat navagation like in the ATT Tilt....................

I can punch in an address, I can use voice commands, I have three D maps, with constant updates from the web at 3G speeds, What, we are going to take slient google maps with their crazy road directions. Half the time google does not even make sense. If you are an Apple fan boy, just say so. I have a Macbook Pro and use it every day, I had two Iphones...............

I will take GPS over the worthless google map app any day of the week!

[Orng]

I'd love to see an iPod or podcast recipe card kinda thing. Configures it perfectly for your iPod screen with a minimum of scrolling, maybe with audio. Don't want to have to touch the iPod too much, because you know how a cookbook starts to look after a while.

Of course, this might be better suited to a Kindle. Or, i could just print it out.

[blackbelt]

Seems like a pain, if you already have the maps application! What if they just incorporated speech into the maps app. This way you could still tap your way through the trip, and have the verbal directions too.

EDIT: with an option to turn the audio off (obviously)

[jed204]

Yet another great idea from Apple. The tech is already there for this. Just look at Google Maps and how they give you snapshots of streets. Seems like 'Podmaps' could just be a slideshow of these screenshots with some annoying audio to tell you when you've made a wrong turn. Rather use my assortment of iPods than those expensive GPS systems.

I've got to say it! Your signature indicates the following:

Mac Pro 3.2GHz Quad/8GB/500HD x 4/2 23" Cinema Displays
MacBook Pro 15"/2.33 GHz/3GB/120HD
MacBook Air 1.8Ghz/2GB/64SSD
8GB iPhone

If you have an assortment of iPods, a Mac Pro, Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, and an iPhone - isn't it a bit of a stretch to classify a $200 GPS device as 'expensive'? :D

[granex]

While this does seem to be a poor GPS substitute, imagine the next step. Why bother with this audio stuff? Because it could have something much more to say than turn right at the gas station.

What if people could record tracks and images associated with specific locations? These could then be added to your path during the construction of the route. An obvious application would be a tourist board recording descriptions and providing interior pictures of, say, Frank Lloyd Wright houses as you cruise around Oak Park.

But why not also have an indicator/chapter that highlights the fact that you can "hear Larry's favorite song" as you drive past Larry's house (assuming that Larry has loaded this information to the appropriate Apple website and made it public).

On second thought, I could see people linking all kinds of stuff to this structure. Stalker's delight, exhibitionist's paradise.

[sterlingindigo]

Seems like 'Podmaps' could just be a slideshow of these screenshots with some annoying audio to tell you when you've made a wrong turn.

Maybe attractive sounding voice models will be used for the optional upgrade!

[bigjohn]

Does Apple actually consult with users outside the company before coming up with these "ideas"? I guess it's an ok feature and all, but I can't really see myself using it. Of course, Apple will have to charge iPod users $5 for this new app and you'll never get rid of the nag screen until you knuckle under and buy it.

[tuneman07]

This sounds like an O.K. thing but I hope it evolves into being able to download specific google maps areas for viewing off line. This would easily become the most important thing I use my Ipod touch for. I can't imagine it would take up that much space to have a 100 or so mile radius on google maps downloaded to the touch.

[Steflinsky]

Happy valentine day for all MacLover ... and for every's mac lover Users ;)

Joyeuse Saint VALENTIN a tou ceux qui aime leur mac ... et au mac qui aime leur utilisateurs....

Moi j'ai pas de mec mais j ai un mac !....

n'oubliez pas de prendre une serviette....on se fume un....

[cbrain]

This sounds quite interesting...

[dokein]

This would work especially well for subway and other mass transit maps, since they are not covered well by many mapping services, and often don't have GPS satellite reception. The DC Metro has been doing something similar for several months with segmented system maps formatted for viewing on photo-capable iPods. For driving, the only edge it might have over standard navigation systems would be if it incorporated google-esque "street view" photos (and covered more than just a few major cities). Also, lacking that ability to recalculate routes on-the-fly is a serious liability.

Considering the huge HD capacities on classic iPods these days, I think I'd rather see a browseable Google Maps "snapshot". Without the satellite photos, I can't imagine North America would take up more than a couple gigs.

[safXmal]

What if you can have an application on your Mac that calculates and creates the podmap for you.
Push locate me on your phone, type destination address, your mac at home will go on google, create the turn by turn voice and pictures and send it back to your phone.
No real need for GPS, you could push locate me from time to time and your mac would send you updated info.

These are the kind of applications I see happening more and more in the future. Offload the heavy lifting to your main computer and see, hear or feel the results on your handheld

[DaBrain]

If they do this for the iPod Touch fine. But if they crap out again on real GPS for iPhone 2.0 I will be PISSED, not to mention millions of others. This is NOT acceptable for iPhone 2.0 Apple!

Not to me. What are we supposed to do while driving? Get out your ipod touch, plug in our earphones while driving? Forget about listening to traffic etc? You know there is no external spkr on the touch?

Not for me.

I'll stick to my Tom Tom TYVM!--)) :)

[Virgil-TB2]

That would be amazing!

Knowing apples rep though, I doubt it would be backwards compatible some how...Um ... it's a podcast.

How could it not be backwards compatible? :confused:

[tuneman07]

Most people have an output of some kind for their Ipod otherwise why even have it in the car? As for this Google map downloading anyone know why this isn't available? Someone must have thought to be able to download an area of Google Maps to the touch or whatnot. Licensing problems maybe? Would it be possible to create a sort of cache/memory program to automatically cache viewed areas for the touch?

[Avatar74]

Such a useless waste of resources.

Honestly, I have to agree with the other people here. If Apple doesn't include GPS in their iPhone 2.0, they will suffer. They will suffer really bad.

Nuf said! (http://www8.garmin.com/nuvifone/)

And gee, I really think it's hot.

GPS is just one way to skin a cat. Granted, I like my GPS system in my car. I couldn't get around half of the DFW metroplex without it.

But it's also an inelegant piece of trash. The UI is incorigible and a potential death trap as you're trying to type directions in the slower-than-molasses damned near unresponsive touchscreen. And nine times out of ten if I type in "Starbucks" it'll pull up all the Starbucks for 1200 miles surrounding Dallas, but I'll have to go back through umpteen subcategories before I discover there's one a block away... by which time with enough driving I would have already passed five of them.

Lastly, how big do you want the iPhone to be? How short do you want the battery to last?

Ok so there are plenty of phones with GPS out there. How many of them also have a CPU with computer-grade firepower, a hi-res immediately-responsive multitouch screen, a full-blown operating system with an elegantly designed user interface (your features are only as usable as your user interface makes them), 16 gigabytes of memory AND all in a package 0.46 inches (11.68mm) thick?

Good luck finding a true comparable. If you start making compromises to squeeze in that GPS, then people will complain about the battery, or the bulk, or something else you had to rip out of the phone.

Honestly, GPS systems are vastly more useful in car consoles than they are in phones. You know why? Because I don't walk 25 miles across town. If the place is within walking distance, are you seriously telling me that there is a sizable demographic of people so inept they need GPS to look up a place they can find faster with their feet and eyes? Ok, some people are just that inept... but are they a large enough contingent that it'll make or break the iPhone?

iPhone market share growth thus far suggests the answer is "No."

As a sidenote that might be of interest to you, Apple is talking with BMW and Mercedes about developing their navigation/entertainment systems...

[AVR2]

If Apple doesn't include GPS in their iPhone 2.0, they will suffer. They will suffer really bad
No they won't. The small, hysterical minority for whom lack of GPS is a deal-breaker will throw a tantrum, and everyone else will just buy an iPhone, because GPS isn't a big deal for them and they'll be quite happy with everything else the phone does.

Wasn't the iPhone supposed to fail because it didn't have 3G on launch?

[nxent]

out of curiosity..
how much hard drive space would an interactive road map of the continental united states take up?

[craigciccone]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A93 Safari/419.3)

it would also be nice if apple integrated google's new (and still devolping) street view imaging. Imagine with everything listed in this patent along with corresponding street level images. Amazing.

[MacFly123]

Not to me. What are we supposed to do while driving? Get out your ipod touch, plug in our earphones while driving? Forget about listening to traffic etc? You know there is no external spkr on the touch?

Not for me.

I'll stick to my Tom Tom TYVM!--)) :)

I was thinking of it going through the car speakers while it is docked in my car and charging, but your point is true! Just a poor substitute all around.

[guzhogi]

Makes sense. The basic technologies were already there, someone just had to put it all together.

I think someone said something about walking tours. Something I've been thinking of for a while now would be like you know those maps they pass out at the museum, zoo, where ever? Maybe make a tablet computer that functions as an electronic map. It'll be a little like Google Earth where you can see the area from above or straight on. Add GPS location so it'll show you where you are on the map and an accelerometer so if you turn it around, it'll automatically adjust. Nothing quite like looking at a map not knowing it's upside down. Maybe add directions to a certain place. Like if you're at a zoo, find directions to the monkeys or if you're in a museum, how to get to the Van Gogh exhibit. Maybe add like a tour thing where if you're at a certain location, you can read/hear something about what you're seeing.

[Small White Car]

I guess everyone who says this is a dumb idea has never been to a museum.

Because if they had, they'd know that people already pay good money to rent dedicated devices that do EXACTLY this.

It sure would be nice to get a podcast right on my own iPod while I'm at home instead of paying to rent moist headphnoes that a hundred other people have already worn.

Acutally, to replace what the museums have, you could do that with a normal audio podcast. (I'm sure they're out there even now.) What this idea does is go past that and add a map of the museum to the audio instructions.

What's not to like?

[mainstreetmark]

So does this mean that Apple is going to crap out on iPhone 2.0 with GPS AGAIN??? :mad: This may be kind of cool, but it can't recalculate or track where you are, so it would be pretty worthless I think. EVERY freakin phone has GPS and iPhone 2.0 better. I do NOT want to see another scenario where there are SERIOUS missing features on the iPhone, especially in the second version!!! GET IT RIGHT WITH IPHONE 2.0 APPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So all that yelling and exclamation points is your way of telling Apple, via us instead of feedback, that you want the next iPhone to contain a GPS Antenna, as well as a cellphone radio and WIFI unit? Will you also spew exclamation points when the price rises, the thickness increases and the battery life decreases?

Statements like "EVERY freakin phone has GPS" make your entire post suspect, since I have yet to see one. They might exist, but it's hardly ubiquitous.

--
EDIT: some googling reveals that some smartphones have a piece of hardware that manages GPS. I don't know the technology behind them, but a) it appears to be extra cost and b) it doesn't appear to be true GPS. Will it work when you're out of cellphone range?

[tuneman07]

Anyone? please?? anyone know about this downloading maps for off line use? I can't find any info on this anywhere online. I don't see why its so tough to get a map area stored on an Ipod touch.

[MacFly123]

So all that yelling and exclamation points is your way of telling Apple, via us instead of feedback, that you want the next iPhone to contain a GPS Antenna, as well as a cellphone radio and WIFI unit? Will you also spew exclamation points when the price rises, the thickness increases and the battery life decreases?

Statements like "EVERY freakin phone has GPS" make your entire post suspect, since I have yet to see one. They might exist, but it's hardly ubiquitous.

--
EDIT: some googling reveals that some smartphones have a piece of hardware that manages GPS. I don't know the technology behind them, but a) it appears to be extra cost and b) it doesn't appear to be true GPS. Will it work when you're out of cellphone range?

Ok, first of all, I think the 5 billion feedbacks they have already gotten about GPS and countless press about it lacking is enough for them to figure it out. But yes I have sent it.

Second, the chip advances will let them probably include these highly wanted features and keep it the same size, same battery life, and same price since they are going to discount it again soon anyway, if not improve on all those.

Third, I don't know exactly all the smart phones that do currently have GPS, and I don't even really care. All I know is there sure seemed to be a lot of examples of ones that did when we found out the iPhone did not. And even if there aren't a lot, this is not the time or the market for Apple to play keep up, they must lead strong.

Fourth, I'm really not that pissed. You can interpret my text as you will. All I know is I am not alone, not even remotely close. I have been waiting since before iPhone 1.0 to buy iPhone 2.0 so I want these highly demanded features.

Thanks :D You like my smiley better?

[JDOG_]

Is there a link to this patent somewhere? :confused:

I see the pictures but no links. It's not turning up on the Govt. patent search or on the Googles.

----

EDIT: D'oh. Here it is. (http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=2&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=apple.AS.&OS=AN/apple&RS=AN/apple)

[JCastro]

It is what it is. It is another tool. It isn't going to please everyone and not everyone will use it. I would rather have the opportunity to use it if, when and how I choose than not have it available at all. I would much rather the iPhone have full GPS but it doesn't. Hopefully it will on v2 though!! Until then...thanks for possibly giving us another tool!

[Slipperyskates]

Another thought: Google Earth now has a lot of street level photos at places everywhere. It would be very cool to have this implemented as well.

[spazzcat]

If it was like any other GPS it wouldn't require me to control it and it would be docked in my car being charged at the same time. What's the problem? No problem at all, just amazing.

Still don't get the point and think there a lot more people that agree? There how many different stand alone GPS units out there....

[momoe]

This will drive lots of commercial sales of ipods to Museums, City Tours, Arboretums, Botanical Gardens, etc.....Where you or I might go through an iPod every two years or so, these types of institutions will be lucky to get 3-6 months out of one. Lots of sales for Apple.

Podmaps aren't necessary for this application... many museums (Metropolitan Museum of Art, etc) are already using video podcasts for self-guided tours that can be sync'd to iPods.

momoe :apple:

[bretm]

Ummm the iPhone already does this. Minus the audio. EXACTLY what they're describing.

Go into maps and choose directions and a start and end. Then from the resulting overview page simply press start. You'll get a page by page zoom in of the route, with chapters (back and forward) that works exactly as described, except you have to read the audio, not hear it.

If you haven't been using this, you might find it's actually a better route chosen than most GPS units. And yes, it does show real time traffic and estimate time based on traffic.

[trip1ex]

Another added feature for my GPS-less iPhone, I'll take it! Google maps (now enhanced) is very nice though I must say. I use it quite a bit. I wish I could get a nice GPS-like stand for my car that'll play tunes/hands-free talk/give directions thorugh my car speakers.

Yeah I like the weighted stand my wife got for xmas along with the gps. You just set it on your dash and it doesn't move. Works quite well actually. Best thing next to having one built into your dash.

They need something like that for the iPhone.

[nagromme]

Sounds like a neat addition to non-wireless iPods--the low-cost, non-OS X ones that will never get GPS or GPS accessories. Many cars have steering-wheel iPod controls anyway.

But more likely it sounds like "just another patent" that Apple doesn't really intend to go anywhere with. But they have an idea so they patent it.

The OS X devices (Touch/iPhone) will surely be heading in a REAL GPS direction--whether internal or external, and whether from Apple or third parties. So I don't see "podmaps" on those platforms really taking off even if Apple does do something with the concept. It sounds like something neat for a Nano (or even a Shuffle with audio only).

[i0Nic]

I don't like this. I'd much rather them put a GPS chip into the iPhone and have decent turn-by-turn software with voice prompts. Hopefully this patent is just for the ipods and current iphone and in the near future they plan to implement GPS into the iPhone.

[ydb1914]

Happy valentine day for all MacLover ... and for every's mac lover Users ;)

Joyeuse Saint VALENTIN a tou ceux qui aime leur mac ... et au mac qui aime leur utilisateurs....

Moi j'ai pas de mec mais j ai un mac !....

n'oubliez pas de prendre une serviette....on se fume un....

:DSAME TO YOU:D

[twoodcc]

seems like a neat idea. still not sure exactly how it would work though

[EagerDragon]

Not sure about this .... True GPS would be better.

If you take a wrong turn, or the roads are not clearly marked, or you are distracted by some event, it maybe hard to follow the directions and still reach the destination.

GPS allows for all of that and still gets you there walking or driving, make no difference, it still gets you there.
Put the GPS chip in, it wont use any battery if you turn it off when not needed.

I also don't want any ads when I am trying to get somewhere and have to pay attention to the road. Likely this would have ads.

3G, GPS and the all time killer app (Video iChat on the iPhone) that would sell the iPhone to Just about everyone.

[Stampyhead]

So does this mean that Apple is going to crap out on iPhone 2.0 with GPS AGAIN??? :mad: This may be kind of cool, but it can't recalculate or track where you are, so it would be pretty worthless I think. EVERY freakin phone has GPS and iPhone 2.0 better. I do NOT want to see another scenario where there are SERIOUS missing features on the iPhone, especially in the second version!!! GET IT RIGHT WITH IPHONE 2.0 APPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Psh, GPS is so completely pointless. Some of us don't want unnecessary stuff like that cluttering up our phones. If you are so hopelessly bad at finding your way around that you need a satellite to tell you where you are, then maybe you should stay home and not venture out into the dangerous world. In the meantime the rest of us will read maps and street signs and use our own intelligence to find our way around.

[gnasher729]

No they won't. The small, hysterical minority for whom lack of GPS is a deal-breaker will throw a tantrum, and everyone else will just buy an iPhone, because GPS isn't a big deal for them and they'll be quite happy with everything else the phone does.

Anyone who has ever been in sales knows that if the customer doesn't have the money to buy something (or no interest because they already own a similar product), they won't say so but come up with any kinds of reasons why they won't buy it. They say they don't buy because it has no GPS. If it had GPS, they would find some other reason.

[MacFly123]

Psh, GPS is so completely pointless. Some of us don't want unnecessary stuff like that cluttering up our phones. If you are so hopelessly bad at finding your way around that you need a satellite to tell you where you are, then maybe you should stay home and not venture out into the dangerous world. In the meantime the rest of us will read maps and street signs and use our own intelligence to find our way around.

You are right. It is pointless. I'm sure it will never catch on. I'm also sure it would totally clutter up your phone being that it would be inside in the same form factor if not smaller, seamless in the GUI, and automatically switched off if not in use. You remember long ago when people use to actually memorize phone numbers??? Well now they are nothing but clutter stored in your phone as pointless contacts. It's called convenience!

P.S. I am actually very good at directions, and quite intelligent just for your info. ;)

[bacaramac]

I would have to agree this would be great for a day at the zoo, mass transit, museum tour. Do not see the use as car GPS.

You could use the Wifi feature on iPhone/Touch to download the podcast when you arrive or download it ahead of time at home.

Your iPhone can already tell when your at starbucks, so why not other places.

Hopefully we will see the patent for ordering fastfood, starbucks, etc via iPhone/Touch.

[bigjohn]

In the meantime the rest of us will read maps and street signs and use our own intelligence to find our way around.

I'm sure that works great in KS, not so much in places with cities. My GPS gets me realtime

I agree, I don't need GPS in my phone, just on my dash.

[MattInOz]

Psh, GPS is so completely pointless. Some of us don't want unnecessary stuff like that cluttering up our phones. If you are so hopelessly bad at finding your way around that you need a satellite to tell you where you are, then maybe you should stay home and not venture out into the dangerous world. In the meantime the rest of us will read maps and street signs and use our own intelligence to find our way around.

I reckon your dead right!

Oh Dead reckoning they have accelerometers so as long as you know the starting point they could be really useful for knowing how far you've gone.
And each corner is a chance for it to reset.

Why build in a GPS that takes up space when you could have a GPS in your car that talks to a portable that can use dead reckoning from there.

What a bluetooth link is max 10feet so the start position is going to be within that range. No gps well get to find there house on google earth to set the start location.

This works for everyone
Have an iPod then it just plays on a time basis running fast or slow then you will have to manually push the play forward or back.
have an iPhone/Touch then it could use dead reckoning, to maintain timing and keep track of diversion.
Have a GPS with bluetooth then it can be more versatile.

Pick your level and your price.

[hugodrax]

Other than a walking tour I cannot see how this is all that useful. GPS units are so accurate and inexpensive these days, podmap seems sort of late to the game.

Because its going to be based on a new series of satellites that Apple will launch. It will stream the podcasts and pinpoint your location to an accuracy of 2 centimeters.

[winterspan]

woaaah.
peace out tomtom/mapquest

Are you kidding? You think this hack job of a navigation solution even compares in the least to having a tiny GPS chip in your phone? Why would anyone want this? Who actually carries a traditional ipod without also carrying a phone at the same time. GPS and even A-GPS using cell towers is so simple, cheap, and convenient to integrate into cell phones that this is really a solution looking for a problem. Maybe if this was released back in 2001 it would have made sense.

[notnek]

Sounds cool. I'd like to demo it.

[t0mat0]

Throw the SDK out, and let the market decide.
There will be a working GPS out for the iPhone by mid summer.

How?
Well, you make a iPhone GPS dock. For a car. Then add the GPS to the dock.
Boom! You get GPS navigation, the iPhone does the data crunching, Enlarged Google map to get you in. Celeb voices from Ratatouille do the voice overs (because Jobs hasn't plugged it enough yet)

2) Not driving? Then purchase the iPhone GPS dongle. Forerunner can do 10 hours before charging. i'd say that people usually recharge before that, or would be able to use their GPS or iPhone in an intermittent way to extend the battery until the next charge?

If Garmin can fit a GPS in the Forerunner 405 that's a nice watch size, I think a slightly enlarged iPhone could fit one in. There's nothing holding Apple back from making the iPhone in different shapes and sizes this year. They're scaling back production at the mo, Penryn chips awaiting, holdups with the Air, Tablet and other things. But, Apple will come strong on adding more things to the iPhone every month pretty much.

[candide]

guys, relax. whenever gps gets included in iphone 2 (or even 3) and ipods, it'll need an interface. and i'm guessing apple won't go with any 3rd party software for that, instead trying to re-invent the whole thing. so podmaps might just be one element of something they're developing.

also, it sounds like they're trying to enhance the podcast thing. think location based podcast offerings. you enter the hotel, and be offered to download guest infos and the restaurant menu.

[kcroy]

This would be great on vacation. Not only could you find where you need to go but you could learn the history and sites to see. Can't wait to see what it will finally look like.

[mtrctyjoe]

OK.... give me a break...... PodMap? That is just silly. The iPhone NEEDS GPS and 3G+ connection speeds. Let's stop with the silly stuff and GET'R DONE!

[MattInOz]

Are you kidding? You think this hack job of a navigation solution even compares in the least to having a tiny GPS chip in your phone? Why would anyone want this? Who actually carries a traditional ipod without also carrying a phone at the same time. GPS and even A-GPS using cell towers is so simple, cheap, and convenient to integrate into cell phones that this is really a solution looking for a problem. Maybe if this was released back in 2001 it would have made sense.


iPhone has cell towers positioning.
and Wifi -positioning now.

Yet people keep demanding GPS or they won't buy (or will buy and moan 3 ways till sunday about how they were hard done by).

This isn't a nav solution it's a way of preparing content (either your self or others) to use within a solution, or a range of solutions that can be offered at various price points to suit users need and inability to know where they are and where they are going.

[megfilmworks]

GPS will come to the iPhone, but this idea will work with any pointer, I would think.
And inside a museum the iPhone router ID positioning system would work better than GPS. They could put a signal at each position on the tour.
As you move outdoors, GPS could take over for the current cell tower triangulation. (Which works pretty well in a city).

[carlgo]

The iPhone/pod could be the exact perfect GPS device. It could have road and topographic maps for both driving and hiking. You take it with you everywhere, so you aren't likely going to leave it in the car to get stolen.

It would be easy to incorporate the very desirable text-to-speech feature and would automatically down the iPod sound when phoning and when the directions are spoken.

This all would really increase the value of the iPhone/pod for the user and for Apple. Maps and points of interest updates could be sold thru iTunes and the update experience would be far better than what is available now.

GPS would be great for us. And GPS could take Apple into some pretty dynamic places that may not be obvious to everyone right now.

[MattInOz]

Could be fun for treasure hunt games.
You get clues not directions to a landmark or location.
At that location is a wifi-point that will give you the next clue.

[Kar98]

http://i29.tinypic.com/fnr7nk.jpg


;)

[Kar98]

out of curiosity..
how much hard drive space would an interactive road map of the continental united states take up?

Between 900 and 1800 MB, depending on the amount of Points-of-Interest included. That would be for US, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii.

[chipotle]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A93 Safari/419.3)

Other than a walking tour I cannot see how this is all that useful. GPS units are so accurate and inexpensive these days, podmap seems sort of late to the game.

Unless your iphone/touch gained some sort of gps functionality ;-)

I agree. GPS works better and more accurate. I'll just wait for tom tom or any third party to make a GPS accessory for the iPhone.

[Kar98]

So all that yelling and exclamation points is your way of telling Apple, via us instead of feedback, that you want the next iPhone to contain a GPS Antenna, as well as a cellphone radio and WIFI unit? Will you also spew exclamation points when the price rises, the thickness increases and the battery life decreases?


You'll laugh, my /current/ phone has a GPS antenna, as well as four-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE radio, 802.11 AND Bluetooth. Also a touchscreen and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Real-time REAL GPS navigation? You betcha. Still camera? Well, a little fixed focus one. Battery lasts between 2 and 4 days, depending on usage. And I paid $275 for it.

Statements like "EVERY freakin phone has GPS" make your entire post suspect, since I have yet to see one.

Every freaking phone HAS GPS, because it has been made mandatory by the FCC, for e911 purposes.

They might exist,

Just not in Apple La-La land.

[Kar98]

Psh, GPS is so completely pointless. Some of us don't want unnecessary stuff like that cluttering up our phones.

Yeah, and some of us don't live in freaking Kansas, where you can watch your dog run away for 3 days :)

[soupersmart]

i know i cant speak for everybody but how many people actually use gps? i have never used it, seen it, or needed it. actually come to think of it, there is actually no one that i know who relies on it as much as these people seem to express. no i dont live in the middle of kansas, nor do i need to find 102.4852376865245 street so i dont really see why this is such a big fuss. are google maps too complicated? maybe this new podmap will set things straight because as i see it, more people have ipods and iphones, than those who have gps.

[jonhaxor]

it's a function of where you live .. as i live in a major city and sold my car 2 years ago, gps is pretty much useless to me - you can never really acquire a decent signal quickly enough when you bounce between tall buildings and a decent underground public transportation system - nor do i want to always carry around something the size of a small novel .. it would be much more useful to me to have a map of where i'm going and the spots i'm planning on hitting as i typically have to plan this anyhow before i'm out my apartment door - and having this on a portable device (i[phone|pod]) that i'm already carrying would be most welcome

car and gps integration is only really useful for an ipod if you spend most of your time in a car driving from building to building .. if you spend most of your time on your feet walking from place to place in a maze of tall buildings and twisty little passages (all alike) - then i think you can understand right away why a podmap would be most helpful - but i don't think this translates to most big sky americans quite yet ..

[Kar98]

it's a function of where you live .. as i live in a major city and sold my car 2 years ago, gps is pretty much useless to me -

Well, yeah. If you're taking the bus, then you don't need one. The bus driver oughta know where he's going.

- nor do i want to always carry around something the size of a small novel

That would be a very small novel indeed:

http://i30.tinypic.com/1t0txu.jpg

[Windowlicker]

Yes, please! This would allow the user to navigate even when not in a wlan area or when not having an iphone but an ipod (even if it's only for Touch).

Nice concept.

[LethalWolfe]

I'm sure that works great in KS, not so much in places with cities.

I use Stampyhead's "old fashioned" method too and I think Los Angeles qualifies as a city... :p


Lethal

[erasetheclouds]

There seem to be a lot of posts stating that GPS would be better. Of course it would be! But this is an awesome alternative for people who don't have an iPhone. Almost everyone on earth owns an iPod of some sort, so this is a very accessible option. Instead of printing out directions from Google or MapQuest (which is what I do now), I can just sync directions to my iPod, which I'm going to have in the car with me anyways.

[swagi]

No they won't. The small, hysterical minority for whom lack of GPS is a deal-breaker will throw a tantrum, and everyone else will just buy an iPhone, because GPS isn't a big deal for them and they'll be quite happy with everything else the phone does.

Wasn't the iPhone supposed to fail because it didn't have 3G on launch?

So you call less than 200k units sold in Germany and France a success??? :confused::confused::confused:

[MattInOz]

So you call less than 200k units sold in Germany and France a success??? :confused::confused::confused:

I think there is almost that many in Australia and it hasn't been released here yet.
They should have released here first. :D

[Bonte]

Other than a walking tour I cannot see how this is all that useful. GPS units are so accurate and inexpensive these days, podmap seems sort of late to the game.

Imagine a walk tour in a big museum, you get accurate turn by turn directions because the museum has several hotspots and with a multi-podcast from the museum you also get audio- and visual feedback on each turn.

This can be so much more than a not-so-accurate GPS function.

[jouster]

Well, gee, that makes sense, why do you have to have GPS for navigation?

Because it recalculates your route on the fly if you make a wrong turn or the road is blocked?

iPhone has cell towers positioning.
and Wifi -positioning now.


Which is a joke for any serious navigation needs.

[mainstreetmark]

Ok, first of all, I think the 5 billion feedbacks they have already gotten about GPS and countless press about it lacking is enough for them to figure it out. But yes I have sent it.

Second, the chip advances will let them probably include these highly wanted features and keep it the same size, same battery life, and same price since they are going to discount it again soon anyway, if not improve on all those.

That would be good if they can. I can only suspect their initial research budget has been recouped already, and they have plenty of budget for new stuff like this. We've already seen them double the capacity of the storage chips, so one might wonder if they'll simply keep the same capacity with less "chip" and use the extra space for new stuff.


Third, I don't know exactly all the smart phones that do currently have GPS, and I don't even really care. All I know is there sure seemed to be a lot of examples of ones that did when we found out the iPhone did not. And even if there aren't a lot, this is not the time or the market for Apple to play keep up, they must lead strong.

The current generation excels, far excels, in certain areas, well beyond any existing smart phone out there. Visual Voicemail, for example. Easy to Use for another. Multitouch. Apple appears to have spent time improving on some areas, rather than cloning competition.


Fourth, I'm really not that pissed. You can interpret my text as you will. All I know is I am not alone, not even remotely close. I have been waiting since before iPhone 1.0 to buy iPhone 2.0 so I want these highly demanded features.

Thanks :D You like my smiley better?

Yeah, I can't tell if "!!!!!" means "Apple, you guys are all idiots and the iPhone is crap" or "Man, Apple, I REALLY want this new thing".

It would be nice to have accurate GPS, of course, but I got a 1.0 version simply because all other cellphones/smartphones I've had were difficult to use. My last one was an "MP3 phone", but little did the salesman at ATT tell me that you needed an extra memory card, and it lacked a standard headphone port. My Treo.. don't even get me started on the treo. I used to have a whole webpage about how much I hated it.


You'll laugh, my /current/ phone has a GPS antenna, as well as four-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE radio, 802.11 AND Bluetooth. Also a touchscreen and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Real-time REAL GPS navigation? You betcha. Still camera? Well, a little fixed focus one. Battery lasts between 2 and 4 days, depending on usage. And I paid $275 for it.

I don't disagree that they exist. I'm just pointing out that I've never seen one in person, and every joe who feels the need to compare his phone to my iPhone would surely mention it.

Every freaking phone HAS GPS, because it has been made mandatory by the FCC, for e911 purposes.


No, that's most often radiotriangulation, which is not GPS. If the phone has GPS, then yes, your 911 calls are accurate. Every other non-Satellite-talking-to phone uses radiotriangulation, which is what iPhone currently does as well.

[sellitman]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A93 Safari/419.3)

Hmm I guess this is good for people who don't own a GPS....but if you own one this is pretty useless....nothing can beat a GPS....if you get lost it recalculates the route.

True. As much as I love my iPhone , my GPS is my one true love. As a traveling salesman nothing is more indespensible.

[farmboy]

So does this mean that Apple is going to crap out on iPhone 2.0 with GPS AGAIN??? :mad: This may be kind of cool, but it can't recalculate or track where you are, so it would be pretty worthless I think. EVERY freakin phone has GPS and iPhone 2.0 better. I do NOT want to see another scenario where there are SERIOUS missing features on the iPhone, especially in the second version!!! GET IT RIGHT WITH IPHONE 2.0 APPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...maybe you should stay home and order in. ;)

Millions have purchased the severely crippled non-GPS iphone /iPT so far, so apparently it's not much of an issue for most people. Many dozens of millions more with GPS units never use them. Despite the "gotta have its" it falls in the "interesting, maybe useful, but not essential" category.

AND YELLING!!!!!!!! won't make it so.

[tuneman07]

I can't imagine GPS is that important for folks. The only time I ever like to have GPS is when fishing- I can mark my fishing spots out- but it has to be very accurate (within 20 or so feet I would say) otherwise I can't see needing/using it. My old Garmin doesn't get within 20 feet so it doesn't do much for me- I think my Ipod touch actually gets closer than my GPS lol.

[skeep5]

woaaah.
peace out tomtom/mapquest

Does anyone who knows anything about the internet actually use anything besides Google maps? Seriously, every other map site is shoddy and clunky (web 1.0) compared to Google. I know mapquest was king of the hill in the beginning, but who uses them now? Anyone?

[morespce54]

that could be cool for walking tours.

indeed! That would be awsome.

[amacisbetter]

I may be understanding this incorrectly, but this doesn't seem like a new idea. it just seems like a slow way of doing something that can already be done. My Verizon Navigator has GPS functionality with maps and it dynamically says where and when to turn. I don't have to create anything, it just does it. I would just want my iPhone to do the same. i don't want to setup a route and then download some Pod-map thing onto it.

[MacFly123]

...maybe you should stay home and order in. ;)

Millions have purchased the severely crippled non-GPS iphone /iPT so far, so apparently it's not much of an issue for most people. Many dozens of millions more with GPS units never use them. Despite the "gotta have its" it falls in the "interesting, maybe useful, but not essential" category.

AND YELLING!!!!!!!! won't make it so.

Yes, they never use them because they are not implemented the way it would be Apple style on the iPhone (example: every phone that is an MP3 player yet people just buy an iPod anyway). And history could give you countless examples of things we never needed before and after we got them didn't know how we ever lived without them and shortly became needs and standards. Every iPhone owner I know loves their phone and at the same time REALLY wishes it had these features. It not that it isn't awesome, but how much better would it be and how many millions more would they sell!

[funkypepper]

GPS should be included with ipod touch. iPhone users can do it in anyway with their gsm/edge network, but iTouch users cannot. How do you think it is possible to find a wireless network in the countryside :confused:

[barijazz]

Other than a walking tour I cannot see how this is all that useful. GPS units are so accurate and inexpensive these days, podmap seems sort of late to the game.

This is more for when you are walking through an unfamiliar city, you can just whip out your iphone and get directions to you hotel. If you are driving a car this is probably a little impractical.

[blackbelt]

This is more for when you are walking through an unfamiliar city, you can just whip out your iphone and get directions to you hotel. If you are driving a car this is probably a little impractical.

street view would be amazing for this