Apple's Joswiak on iPhone Copy and Paste, GPS Driving Directions

[AaronHeth]

Maybe, but the problem is Apple restricts running applications (those that aren't from Apple) as background processes, making it difficult if not impossible to implement something like copy/paste which must be a global service. The file browser is more likely, although Apple hasn't officially implemented a sandboxed general storage area yes AFAIK (but signs are they probably will at some point).

Oh yes, what I meant was, with the 2.0 Software, they had one giant feature, and subsequent smaller one's. With the next big update, "Copy and Paste" will be the "App Store," giant feature of the update, not that Copy and Paste would be in the app store itself.

Think about it, OS X updates have a few major features, and many minor one's. The same would be the case with iPhone major point updates. While the App Store took a lot of technical time to build, Copy and Paste will take a lot of theoretical time to implement to make sure it's as user friendly as they'd like.

 

[MacGohil]

Actually, in Mac OS X, Cut & Paste does exist... just not for files.

The reason, in my opinion, that Apple does not want to implement copy-and-paste quite yet is that they don't want developers relying on it; they want to push developers to create new paradigms.

Even when there is "copy-and-paste" on iPhone, it may not be "copy-and-paste." It may instead be an ability to select text, and then perform an action regarding that text (a window, for instance, could pop up and give a list of actions, such as emailing the text, adding it to notes, sending the contents to some application, etc.)

Actually, this would be more logical than cut & paste even for moving files on Mac; imagine if you could click a file and have a menu of actions pop up; then, you would select "move," and navigate to the location you wish to move the file to.

Why not? Even Command Line OS like DOS and Linux had it from the days unknown! Thats insanity on part of Apple. I m an long time apple fan but I expect nothing less than perfection.

 

[MacGohil]

No, four satellites are the bare minimum needed for a 3D fix. There are always (per your link) at least four visible. Using more signals allows the receiver to refine its calculations and discard signals from sats in unfavorable positions. Just a few minutes ago, my Garmin reported 10 sats above the horizon and was using 7 or 8 for its fix.

Yes, we are on the same page. Atleast 4 are required for identifying your location and more the merrier (accuracy) but we don't need to connect to 8 sats as some1 was saying earlier so was trying to correct him. This way the battery drain would not be that significant.

 

[aristotle]

Not at all..

What I'm saying is Samsung had enough foresight to include "VOICE NAVIGATION" with the Instinct because of the liability factor.

Apple is putting Millions of drivers on the road with a litttle Blue Dot to show them when to turn.

Apple is losing the GPS battle because it refuses to give a user what they need to keep them safe. Cheer's to Samsung for thinking of the end user and including it as "STOCK" and not a "UPCOMING" feature that we have to pay for.

Microsoft, Blackberry, Nokia, take note of how to introduce GPS becuase Steve failed, BIG TIME.

If you were using Voice Navigation while driving your car and you caused an accident, I would hope the other driver would sue your arse into the poor house for using your phone while driving. It has been proven that a person using a phone even hands free has their driving ability and reaction times impair to the same degree as if they were intoxicated.

Apple will not include turn by turn navigation for liability reasons.

Just because you can do something with technology, it does not mean that you have the right to endanger other motorists on the road.

 

[WindowsGuy]

If you were using Voice Navigation while driving your car and you caused an accident, I would hope the other driver would sue your arse into the poor house for using your phone while driving. It has been proven that a person using a phone even hands free has their driving ability and reaction times impair to the same degree as if they were intoxicated.

Apple will not include turn by turn navigation for liability reasons.

Just because you can do something with technology, it does not mean that you have the right to endanger other motorists on the road.

If I had voice navigation I could set my destiny and put the iphone down, and listen to the directions.

This is Apple being reckless with lives of Millions of people.
If Samsung did it (Free and out of the Box) they had a reason for it.

SAFETY.

Unique Idea for GPS. In my driveway, set my destination, set my iPhone down and follow Voice Instructions without ever having to take my hands off the Steering wheel.

CHEERS TO SAMSUNG FOR THINKING OF THEIR USERS AND THEIR SAFETY!!!!

Trust me I love my IPhone but the GPS is a joke at best.
To be safe I can walk down the sidewalk and watch the blue ball tell me where I am. The magical blue ball just said I passed a Starbucks. Gee. I am next to the store and didn't notice it. Now that was useful. I can buy coffed from a store I'm right in front of and didn't notice.

That's functionallity at it's worste. I need GPS to walk down the street.

Can McDonalds put the warning label on their coffee again to tell me it's dangerous to drink hot coffe while driving?

 

[WindowsGuy]

If you were using Voice Navigation while driving your car and you caused an accident, I would hope the other driver would sue your arse into the poor house for using your phone while driving. It has been proven that a person using a phone even hands free has their driving ability and reaction times impair to the same degree as if they were intoxicated.

Apple will not include turn by turn navigation for liability reasons.

Just because you can do something with technology, it does not mean that you have the right to endanger other motorists on the road.

I can't be sued because the iPhone doesn't have voice directions so I have to keep myself busy picking my next playlist which isn't voice activated either.

My V551 Motorola of 4 years ago had more voice activation than the original iPhone and my new 3G iphone. PATHETIC.

 

[djrobsd]

Copy and paste for what?? The friggin phone doesn't multitask!

I don't know what all the hoopla is about copy and paste. The phone does a pisspoor job at multi-tasking. For example, I was listening to AOL radio, I got a phone call, and when I got off the phone call, not only did I have to click on AOL radio again, but I had to navigate to the station I was listening to.

The same seems to be the case for everything else on this thing. So, where are you actually going to be able to use copy and paste?

Love my iPhone, but in terms of multitasking I'm very unimpressed. Even though my Windows Mobile Q phone lagged like a dog, at least it handled multitasking very well (although it also did not have a copy and paste lol).

In terms of the long lines, I think they are delibrately creating a buzz by keeping the lines long... If they really wanted to move them along at this point they could!

 

[aristotle]

I can't be sued because the iPhone doesn't have voice directions so I have to keep myself busy picking my next playlist which isn't voice activated either.

My V551 Motorola of 4 years ago had more voice activation than the original iPhone and my new 3G iphone. PATHETIC.

I think you are missing my point. You should not be using your phone period while behind the wheel in traffic.

 

[i.maverick]

here we go again..

how about sms forwarding...!! got an address, or some information in text form and need to share... can't forward and can't copy.. so retype the whole thing. p r i m i t i v e.
can't send contacts. no way. again type on your own. p r i m i t i v e.
and also, a file browser with bluetooth integration. shot more than a couple of pics and need to share, can only email. one at a time. so here comes your friend.. or your girl..
hey.. cool pics.. can you send them to me.. i'd like to keep them in my phone..
u.. sure buddy.. here... you'll see the in your inbox. each pic has it's own separate mail y'no. coz they're special
your friend... mwahhahahahahaha..!!

LOL

seriously, as great as it is, some of the very basic features are missing. I'm not even going to venture in the whole notes and to-do's (not) syncing.

would I change it? no. but sometimes it frustrates the hell out of me.

 

[i.maverick]

and.. anyone else miss the "add to cart" thing in the app store? coz once you forget an app, it could remain.. forgotten.
also, trials would be nice. even for a couple of hours.

 

[frosse]

The author also asked about David Pogue's suggestion that the iPhone's GPS antenna was too small to accommodate a turn-by-turn navigation application. According to Joswiak, this is untrue. Instead he points to "complicated issues" surrounding driving applications but promises "It will evolve. I think our developers will amaze us." Indeed, TeleNav has already claimed that they are working on this exact product for release in the App Store.

I especially like this part! It sheds light and hope on turn by turn for iPhone

 

[winterspan]

I don't know what all the hoopla is about copy and paste. The phone does a pisspoor job at multi-tasking. For example, I was listening to AOL radio, I got a phone call, and when I got off the phone call, not only did I have to click on AOL radio again, but I had to navigate to the station I was listening to.

The same seems to be the case for everything else on this thing. So, where are you actually going to be able to use copy and paste?

Love my iPhone, but in terms of multitasking I'm very unimpressed. Even though my Windows Mobile Q phone lagged like a dog, at least it handled multitasking very well (although it also did not have a copy and paste lol).

[ Hello everyone. I am back after a naughty-boy time-out ]

What does multi-tasking have to do with copy/paste? You need copy/paste for many things, not the least of which is copying/moving information to and from different applications/environments like:

web browser <->email
web browser <-> contacts/calendar
web browser <-> 3rd party application

Also, when you are typing anything more than a sentence or two, like an email, instant message, blog post, comment, forum post, etc , you need copy/paste to rearrange sentences and paragraphs. How in the world are you supposed to move blocks of text around an input field without copy/paste?

Secondly, the iPhone DOESN'T MULTI-TASK, and that's by design. This was known from the beginning. A good application, however, will save it's state which will then restore when you re-launch the application. Safari does this, but unfortunately doesn't maintain much of a cache, so you have to reload the tabs when you relaunch it after exiting. But most of the practical uses of multi-tasking will be solved with the addition of the notification API will be be done in a month or two, allowing apps like an instant messenger to receive notifications of new messages from the server without the actual application having to run in the background. And that whole thing about your old WinMo phone "lagging" probably has much to do with too many background processes me thinks...

 

[rstansby]

Email with info from party has interesting tidbit.
I want to send snippet to party B via iPhone. Can't do that now. I can only forward entire email which may not be best option or wait until I am at my Mac.

This isn't an elegant solution, but you can forward the message and then edit out the unwanted parts before sending.

 

[sjo]

Oh yes, what I meant was, with the 2.0 Software, they had one giant feature, and subsequent smaller one's. With the next big update, "Copy and Paste" will be the "App Store," giant feature of the update, not that Copy and Paste would be in the app store itself.

Think about it, OS X updates have a few major features, and many minor one's. The same would be the case with iPhone major point updates. While the App Store took a lot of technical time to build, Copy and Paste will take a lot of theoretical time to implement to make sure it's as user friendly as they'd like.

copy paste is not a major feature, lack of it is an embarrassment. the more they delay, the more difficult it is for apple to add the feature publicity wise, adding it will not call "major update" headlines, rather "how the heck it took you guys two freaking year to implement this" headlines.

worst case scenario is that iphone copy paste will be the "two button mouse" of iphone... they just can't give in because they haven't added it before.

 

[carlinhos]

It is a shame!

It is a shame for Apple that they are not able to integrate such a simple and fundamental feature as "copy & paste". Probably they plan to sell it as additional software called "iCopy" ;-)
I am using Macs for 15 years now, but I never will buy a device which lacks such a fundamental feature! It is the killer-argument against the iPhone.
And I am still wondering, when the will integrate cut&paste in osx.

 

[swfster]

For me the elephant in the room is disk mode - how does this get left out of any modern device let alone the iPhone? Convergence doesn't mean anything if I still have to carry around storage as well as the most advanced hand held known to man - or did I miss something? The sad part is that every other iPod (except for the iphone's poor relation, touch) has it. How is leaving out for two generations a step forward? And no I don't want a third party app - keep it native like the old iPod's. Should be top of that list.

 

[xerenthar]

where is text message forwarding. it's pretty cool being at a club with a text message special and having a girl in line say "hey can you forward me that" and replying "uh...no?"

 

[Roller]

What about voice dialing?

I'm surprised that they didn't ask Joswiak about voice dialing, another much-requested feature. A company called Makayama says that they're about to release a voice-dialing app through iTunes. But you'll still have to launch the app to call someone, so it won't be true hands-free dialing. Apple needs to add this in addition to copy-and-paste.

 

[gnasher729]

There are 27 GPS Sats in total and your GPS receiver doesn't needs to connect to 8 satellites simultaneously, infact only 4 are visible at any location at one time.

Well you learned something today
http://www.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm

The commercial GPS chips do all this tracking completely automatically, there is nothing the iPhone has to do itself. All it has to do is ask the GPS chip "where am I" and the GPS chip sends it a string of text with the exact coordinates (or a string saying "no idea where I am"). All the iPhone has to do is process a tiny string of 20 or 30 characters.

GPS needs to connect to four satellites to get your exact position. If your GPS system has maps then it can make a guess that you are somewhere on the earth surface and with that guess three satellites are enough (this can give wrong results; if you are on top of a church tower the GPS could think you are 500 meters away on the ground). Also, once a connection is made the GPS receiver knows one of its four coordinates (the time) very precisely and can keep track how it changes; that should make it possible to work with one satellite less for a limited time.

 

[Quartz Extreme]

Hey I'm still waiting for Cut & Paste in OS X.

Say what?

 

[Fotek2001]

And I am still wondering, when the will integrate cut&paste in osx.

Um, it's already there both for text/images etc. and files in the Finder...

 

[born4sky]

It is definetely a great news for all the mobile community and especialy for those who like small gadgets. More and more devices should make it to the market with the new Hammerhead II GPS chip built-in.

Infineon Technologies and Global Locate, Inc. today announced the successful development of the industry’s smallest Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver chip for mobile telephones, smart phones and personal navigation devices. Based on the successful Hammerhead chip, the new Hammerhead II chip is optimized for cellular handsets and mobile devices requiring high performance, low power and an extremely small footprint. The diminutive single-die chip measures only 3.74 mm x 3.59 mm x 0.6 mm, for a total footprint of less than 14 square mm, resulting in the world’s smallest GPS receiver.

The Hammerhead II GPS receiver includes LNA, RF down-converter and signal processing baseband technology on a single RFCMOS die. The device utilizes state-of-the-art chip scale packaging technology, resulting in the most compact dimensions. The package features a 49-contact Ball Grid Array, further simplifying layout and assembly.

“The GPS feature can now be added to any mobile device with a total electronics bill-of-materials footprint of less than 50 square mm. The Hammerhead II chip has set a new standard for compact design,” said Thomas Pollakowski, Vice President and General Manager of the Connectivity Business Unit at Infineon Technologies.

“The Hammerhead II chip is the logical extension of our technical cooperation and outstanding partnership,” added Donald Fuchs, Executive Vice President of Business Development for Global Locate.

Like its predecessor, the Hammerhead II chip embodies industry-leading performance, delivering sensitivity to -160 dBm and position fix times as fast as 1 second, exceeding 3GPP specifications. In addition, the software has been optimized for personal navigation performance, and includes sophisticated algorithms to mitigate multipath errors.

Hammerhead II retains the same core advantages as all previous Global Locate solutions by utilizing the commercially proven host-based architecture. The software is completely backward-compatible with Hammerhead, allowing an easy transition to the new, smaller part as changing form-factors require.

The Hammerhead II chip is sampling now, with production quantities available in February 2007. Infineon and Global Locate are jointly marketing the chip.

The Hammerhead chip is the world’s first single-die CMOS GPS receiver. A product of the continuing partnership between Global Locate and Infineon Technologies, it supports mobile station-assisted (MS-A), mobile station-based (MS-B), autonomous and enhanced tracking modes. The Hammerhead chip provides the industry’s highest sensitivity for deep indoor signal tracking, full support for assisted and autonomous modes, and highly accurate navigation in the toughest signal environments. Hammerhead’s unique host-based software architecture minimizes device size and cost, and allows protocol messaging to be incorporated directly into the GPS navigation software.

 

[Cousin Dirk]

I'd like to see MMS, mainly cos I get sent quite a few pictures from people and it is a pain to have to go to online to see it. I'd also like to see cut-and-paste, but it is by no means crucial to me.

What I would really like to see, however, is a decent GPS navigator, one that works well with the iPhone's core apps. I see myself with my iPhone on it's holder on my dashboard, plugged into my car stereo, playing my driving playlist using the iPod App in the background, with the GPS App in the foreground, automatically ducking the audio (like it does when you get a text) to speak out the directions through my car stereo. That's the way it should be.


Also, the iPhone does allow multitasking, however it only allows Apple's own apps to run in the background.

 

[marcj]

Just a guess on the GPS...the strength of portable GPS devices is that they have a huge map and POI database available directly to the software. I'm guessing it takes at least 1GB of data for this.

My TomTom maps software for the whole of the UK takes up 120MB on a 256MB SD card. I'd happily give up 200MB of my iPhone to have it replace my TomTom

 

[diamond.g]

Um, it's already there both for text/images etc. and files in the Finder...

Since when?