'Podmaps' to Provide Mobile Maps and Directions

[MacRumors]

A new Apple patent application revealed 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.

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[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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???

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??? 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.

Originally Posted by 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.

[davidjearly]

Originally Posted by MacFly123

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]

Originally Posted by Thanatoast

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]

Originally Posted by davidjearly

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

Exactly!

Originally Posted by davidjearly

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]

Originally Posted by spazzcat

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.