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Why doesnt Garmin and TomTom just release their GPS software
- Thread starter bbplayer5
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I grew tired of waiting for turn by turn GPS with voice so i bought a Garmin unit for my car. Wasn't all that pricey, and now i don't have to worry about why or when Apple will approve one as an app.
I dont think its the voice part that isnt allowed, its the turn by turn directions that are not allowed which would make a garmin or tomtom app useless.
Wrong, its spoken turn by turn thats not allowed. There is an app on the store that gives you GPS turn by turn just no voice.
G-Map US West or G-Map US East. $20 each in the app store. the best application i have along with pandora. this app has built in maps. if you have your phone jailbroken you can run this app and other apps at the same time and its great because it does not use data. the update was just put out last week. Believe me, reviews do not give this app justice.
Well, the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement states: "For Applications that use location-based APIs, such Applications may not be designed or marketed for real time route guidance". It says nothing about that being restricted to voice guidance.
Problem: Liability Issue
The problem with the fact that Apple is not allowing Turn by Turn GPS system is the liability issue.
Lets say a user is using a navigation app on their iPhone while driving, and one of the direction the navigation app tells the driver is actually leading the car right into a swamp.
Imagine what kind of lawsuit Apple and the App Developers would face for the damage to the car, and imagine the reputation for not just the app, but for the Apple as a whole.
This is why Apple has not allowed GPS turn by turn navigation, and never will be, since Steve Jobs is on medical leave, and anything could go wrong if something happens right now, without Steve Jobs.
The problem with the fact that Apple is not allowing Turn by Turn GPS system is the liability issue.
Lets say a user is using a navigation app on their iPhone while driving, and one of the direction the navigation app tells the driver is actually leading the car right into a swamp.
Imagine what kind of lawsuit Apple and the App Developers would face for the damage to the car, and imagine the reputation for not just the app, but for the Apple as a whole.
This is why Apple has not allowed GPS turn by turn navigation, and never will be, since Steve Jobs is on medical leave, and anything could go wrong if something happens right now, without Steve Jobs.
But isn't this the case for all GPS systems. To my knowledge, they all have a disclaimer when turning on the device. This would be the same case for an iPhone app. The new version on G-Map has a disclaimer, and the user has to agree to it before using the application. From my personal use, i don't think the iPhone has enough memory for this type of application to use it to it's extent.... but this is just my opinion.
Even if Apple required disclaimer on all turn by turn nav apps, imagine what kind of reputation Apple would get if the user was using an iPhone as the navigation device.
A simply amazing reputation because then the device could literally do anything but MMS
That's a really bad argument, IMO. By that same logic, I shouldn't be allowed to watch an exercise video on my TV because it could cause me to have a heart attack, and the TV maker has a legal obligation to look out for my health.
You're right about that.
But the iPhone will ignite the legality of having cell phone in the car even further.
The iPhone's hardware could definitely handle the turn by turn GPS, i have had several old verizon phones that had it (VZ Navigator) so i'm sure the iPhone can. Other AT&T phones also have it. I also heard that TomTom had already made an iPhone app but apple rejected it since it used turn by turn. I think it is probably AT&T that isnt allowing it because they will offer it on their own for an extra monthly charge just like they do on their other phones. I wouldnt be surprised if it were offered on a future version of the iPhone for a monthly subscription fee just like how they are planning to offer tethering for $30 a month so they arent allowing anymore tethering apps. Its definitely not a legal issue otherwise no other phones would have it and there would be no GPS in cars or anything.
Just where is it illegal to have a cell phone in your car? And as someone else had pointed out, there are PLENTY of other phones that have turn-by-turn on them and they aren't having issues. And as for running your car into a swamp, hasn't any other GPS company been sued for this? If so, I'm sure it would have been on the front page of the news; it would be classic Americana.
This is from Xroad's FAQ website page:
http://www.xroadgps.com/Maps/GMapforiPhone/FAQs/tabid/2497/Default.aspx
From this website, I'm sure Xroad would absolutely love to place this on their app, but they're pointing their finger at Apple.
The weird thing is that even though there is no voice prompt the app still has turn by turn with arrows and real time guidance. unless i am missing something?