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The iphone is not a GPS device and never will be. The iphone is not a digital camera and never will be. It is a PHONE and an IPOD. Anything else Apple throws in is a bonus, so any disappointment over the iphone not having a 10 megapixel camera or full featured GPS is crazy. If you need a good camera or GPS, you can actually purchase both for less than the cost of an iphone!

Wrong.

It's a phone, an ipod, and a breakthrough internet device.
Didn't you watch the last keynote?
iphonelaunch.jpg

:D
 
Those of you who are moaning about lack of a +2mp camera obviously no nothing about photography, or have ever seen the quality of the iphone camera. More megapixels != better quality.

Right back at you, since to achieve native resolution 300dpi photo prints on 6x4 you require a 3.2 megapixel camera.

The iPhone's CMOS sensitivity isn't great by phone standards (the LG Viewty's is far superior), it's lens assembly is poor because it's too small and suffers from the consquential curvature distortions (compared to most phones on the markte), it has no lens cover and attracts fingerprints due to positioning, it's low light sensivity is terrible even compared to a four year old Sony K750i and it doesn't have an led or flash, even as an optional add on to help.

More megapixels does indeed not equal better quality once you get past 5 megapixels or so - without very high end CMOS censors the noise produced becomes counterproductive, and for average prints no higher resolution is needed. But on the iPhone's range more megapixels would indeed help. Not as much as a flash would, but it would help.

Phone cameras are typically used by people to take shots when they're out and about, particularily on nights out. The iPhone camera doesn't work when it's dark. That is an issue.

Phazer
 
The article contains a hell of a lot of back-tracking, get out clauses and yes but no but statements.

How can "Sources who can be trusted" also be merely "apparently well informed sources". he's copping out, and saying this might be true.

It boils down to: the sources seem to be trusted, but they themselves might not have the full picture. Which is kinda getting us back to the start. It's not telling us anything we don't know in short.

+Flash, +bumped Phone = better iPhone. If they're moving to video, You'd imagine they'd bump the cam - 3.2Mp parts have been around for years, literally.
 
I fully expect and demand that the next generation iPhone be equipped with a minimum 5 MP camera and HD-capable video camera with red-eye reduction flash and 2 in. Leica multi-element lens. It must also have a pair of stereo speakers, each 1 inch minimum diameter (preferably ported design). GPS is mandatory, as is an AM/FM/SW radio with both Sirius and XM capabilty. All this while making the unit 25% smaller, increasing the display size a minimum of 25%, and doubling battery life.

Any less than this announced next Monday and I will be very disappointed. :(
 
yes the iphone is a phone and ipod and an wonderful internet device...

with that said lets look at the bigger picture apple is all about innovation. Why wouldn't they make the iphone do more with better features on the second gen?

I don't think they'll but a 10mpx but definitely a better camera program with more features.

Adding GPS is just the natural progression of this device and is actually keeping it up to date with other smart phones that have had it for years.
 
Right back at you, since to achieve native resolution 300dpi photo prints on 6x4 you require a 3.2 megapixel camera.

The iPhone's CMOS sensitivity isn't great by phone standards (the LG Viewty's is far superior), it's lens assembly is poor because it's too small and suffers from the consquential curvature distortions (compared to most phones on the markte), it has no lens cover and attracts fingerprints due to positioning, it's low light sensivity is terrible even compared to a four year old Sony K750i and it doesn't have an led or flash, even as an optional add on to help.

More megapixels does indeed not equal better quality once you get past 5 megapixels or so - without very high end CMOS censors the noise produced becomes counterproductive, and for average prints no higher resolution is needed. But on the iPhone's range more megapixels would indeed help. Not as much as a flash would, but it would help.

Phone cameras are typically used by people to take shots when they're out and about, particularily on nights out. The iPhone camera doesn't work when it's dark. That is an issue.

Phazer

To sum it up, the iPhone's camera is absolute crap. To people who say, "But I have a digital camera," this is for when the camera isn't in your pocket, but the phone is. Happen a lot to you? It does to me. I'm not saying this thing should substitute for a rangefinder, but this guy is right, the iPhone's camera is well below subpar, and it shouldn't be.

With regards to GPS, if the new phone doesn't have it, there really won't be much to upgrade for. 3G is really not that great.
 
If no GPS, I probably will not get the iphone. It has to lead or at least match the feature set of the biggies in all areas..

My contract with Three has finished so I can go to whatever network I choose, hopefully one that offers iphone. There ill be millions like me.

Three are offering me a N95 practically for nothing. It may not be as nice as iphone but it has all the features I need and I would save 100's of dollars.

No GPS on at least one model and apple are in serious trouble, and the iphone will be remembered as a nice dream.

OK they could bring it out in the future but apple don't have that luxury. It is gaining momentum and challenging RIM etc. If they come out with a sub standard phone it will only gain a small % of the market and they will never recover as the others are gaining good (but not great) touch screens with alarming speed . Apple will always be on the fringe. A bit like the imac. Good but always in the shadows and not big enough to be really significant.

I think there will be more than one model and the two conflicting rumour sources have peaked at different models -HOPEFULLY.

If they are worried about battery life then hopefully they can turn it off like turning off 3G.

In Japan it especially must have the leading feature set. To them it will be like no 3G, it is that essential.

No GPS apple shares will tank big big time and the iphone will be seen as a lemon. The press will have afield day and there will be boxes of unsold iphones in apples warehouses.
 
Ok... So from what I gathered on this thread alone, various people want 3g, gps, and a better camera (mp, lens quality, etc.), some want 3g and gps, some want 3g and a better cam, and some couldn't care less about what happens (I believe that's the right way of putting it ;)). So this thread is comprised of mixed views and significantly different opinions on what will be happening.

Now for my opinion, which matches many others' here - 3g is a must and a given at this point. GPS would be a great addition to the iphone, and it would not be smart on Apple's part not to include it (GPS has been out for a looooong while on phones. Also, with geotagging and LBS coming, adding GPS would make the new iphone relatively future-proof). Now, the camera function is a completely different situation for me... I would greatly approve of Apple upgrading the camera to 5MP and improving the quality of the camera in general and adding flash and such, but as other people have stated, if you want a great camera, buy a dedicated one. Like GPS, not bumping the cam specs to at least 3.2MP would be a bad move with the addition of PHOTO geotagging soon.

So there you have it, the word of the Justinerator! :cool:
 
No GPS apple shares will tank big big time and the iphone will be seen as a lemon.

:confused:

GPS is not the end all to the iPhone

I don't know a single iPhone user that would refuse to buy the 3G if it didn't have GPS

Would they like it? Yes
Does it HAVE to be on the 3G? No

It would be a nice feature to have but to say without it shares tank, etc....is just over-exaggeration drama
 
No GPS on at least one model and apple are in serious trouble, and the iphone will be remembered as a nice dream.

I thank god I wore my corset, I laughed so hard I feared my sides would split. I think that if you survey real-world users (i.e. not the geeks on here) GPS isn't as important to them as you think it is. Most of them have TomToms, Nuvis etc. anyway.... Anyway, built-in GPS isn't the only way to go. Bluetooth GPS connectivity to an external module would be a good (and battery-sparing) compromise.

Apple will always be on the fringe. A bit like the imac. Good but always in the shadows and not big enough to be really significant.

Actually they have been making significant gains in desktop market share recently, esp. if you look at the higher end of the price bracket.

No GPS apple shares will tank big big time and the iphone will be seen as a lemon. The press will have afield day and there will be boxes of unsold iphones in apples warehouses.

In the (extremely) unlikely event that you're right, my advice would be to drop some cash on AAPL and rake in the profits as the price recovers when the whining dies down. ;)
 
It better have GPS :mad:

Of course Apple are interested in location-based technology. Why else would they go for the buggy software-only method of triangulation between phone towers? When a GPS chip is tiny, costs little and as other phones already do have the tech - then I fully expect to see GPS in the next iPhone.
 
It better have GPS :mad:

Of course Apple are interested in location-based technology. Why else would they go for the buggy software-only method of triangulation between phone towers? When a GPS chip is tiny, costs little and as other phones already do have the tech - then I fully expect to see GPS in the next iPhone.

Maybe battery life is a consideration? I've only used a Nokia with this feature but using the GPS killed the battery fast. If they were concerned about 3G killing the battery in the original iPhone, maybe GPS causes the same concern?

Personally, I'd love GPS in the iPhone. Google maps has already been invaluable a couple of times so GPS would be amazing to carry around in my pocket. :)
 
I don't think it's true ... I am Sure that Steve Wants this Phone to be a top of the line ...
Att&t wont charged it it's not Apple philosophy ... everything has to be simple ad work out of box
 
These GPS discussions are bound to be contentious as there is a gap between what most people consider GPS and an understanding of the various types of positioning systems that devices can use. When discussing incorporating GPS into a cell phone it is important to distinguish between the two types of GPS systems available.

The most commonly understood form but least likely to end up in a cell phone is satellite GPS. This uses a family of satellites with very precise timing signals in order to triangulate the position of the device. In order for this system to work it requires a direct line of sight with the satellites which is why devices such as the popular Garmin handhelds and the type of GPS found in cars have difficulty finding position indoors. They also require a bulkier antennae. Very few cellphones have this type of GPS built in as they add to the bulk of the device- The Nokia N95 is an example.

The type of "GPS" found commonly on cellphones is known as aGPS or assisted GPS. This system does not use satellites but instead triangulates the position of the device using the cell towers. It is similar to what is used by the Maps app on the iPhone but more accurate, although not as accurate as satellite GPS.

Will the iPhone have a GPS built in? It will probably have aGPS, which is not true GPS and doesn't use satellites. If you're out of range of a cell phone tower and hiking in the woods you will likely be out of luck in using your phone to track your way back to civilization and a Macrumors feed. But for most users aGPS will be more than sufficient, particularly for the applications Apple is likely to include.
 
I do

:confused:

GPS is not the end all to the iPhone

I don't know a single iPhone user that would refuse to buy the 3G if it didn't have GPS

Would they like it? Yes
Does it HAVE to be on the 3G? No

It would be a nice feature to have but to say without it shares tank, etc....is just over-exaggeration drama

I think you hit the nail on the head with that statement. You are right because most of the initial adopters obviously bought the first Iphone without GPS and didn't care. Obviously Apple made great strides with their first iteration but, they don't have anywhere near the market they would like to have.

There are a ton of people who didn't buy it the first time around and like myself wouldn't buy it again if it didn't have a full on GPS chip inside. My current phone has a full GPS chip in it and I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't want to purchase a separate device when my phone GPS works just as good. I've had a lot of different standalone GPSs and they all have quirks but, my phone works just as good as any of the others I've had.

Bottom line is if Apple wants to tap into different markets they are going to need to compete with other cell makers. Do I think Apple makes the best cell phone for Internet browsing, listening to songs and watching videos? I sure do but, I still won't buy one without GPS and a ton of others won't either.

I tend to think Apple is very smart in their business decisions but, not to include features that just about every other smart phone on the market has would be stupid. My bet is on Apple making an intelligent marketing decision so as to capture a larger audience.

They have made the statement that they will sell 10 million iphones this year. Come on, does anyone really think they would be so confident in such a statement if they didn't have something that would just knock it out of the park. The investors would be pissed because guess what, a 3G only upgrade isn't going to sell 10 million Iphones and then you would have to decrease the earnings forcast and stock prices would drop.

My guess is GPS will most definitely be announced as part of iphone on Monday but, if not I'll come back and take my lumps.
 
If there are no bars in the forest, is there still a signal?

With a proper GPS you will always know where you get no reception for your new 3g.
 
If there are no bars in the forest, is there still a signal?

With a proper GPS you will always know where you get no reception for your new 3g.


I doubt the iPhone will have true satellite GPS but will have instead aGPS. Most phones which advertise GPS, with the exception of phones like the Nokia N95, don't have satellite GPS. Instead they have aGPS or assisted GPS which doesn't use satellites triangulate position but instead uses cell phone towers.

If these phones are out of range of a tower for a cell phone signal they will also be out of range to triangulate location. So the answer is that if there are no bars in the forest and you're using an aGPS phone, as the 3G iPhone is likely to be, you won't be able to know where you're getting no reception.
 
I doubt the iPhone will have true satellite GPS but will have instead aGPS. Most phones which advertise GPS, with the exception of phones like the Nokia N95, don't have satellite GPS. Instead they have aGPS or assisted GPS which doesn't use satellites triangulate position but instead uses cell phone towers.

If these phones are out of range of a tower for a cell phone signal they will also be out of range to triangulate location. So the answer is that if there are no bars in the forest and you're using an aGPS phone, as the 3G iPhone is likely to be, you won't be able to know where you're getting no reception.

Sorry, but you are wrong on this. aGPS uses a combination of GPS Satellites and an "assistance server" to cope with the situation where there is a low signal reception from the satellite and delays in obtaining a GPS signal lock. Assisted GPS is effectively an enhancement of "standard" GPS, and most definitely does use GPS satellite connectivity. Of course, if you have no internet / phone connectivity the maps application won't be able to download any information about your current location, so it's a moot point about using it with no phone signal...
 
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