No GPS in iPhone 3G (?)

[seenett]

GPS to me personally, completely useless, i will personally never need it, and even if i did have it, still wouldnt use it.

That seems very final. I remember thinking the same thing about this new "text messaging" a few years back. Why would I want to send a message when I could CALL someone faster? For that matter, why put a camera in a phone? I have absolutely no interest in that!

Look how things have changed.....

Most people think of GPS as a point to point navigation device. I have one in my car, so I don't plan on using the iPhone's smaller screen for navigation - especially if I will be using it as a phone while driving. The bigger picture is not navigation, but location services. Instead of Googling a Starbucks, you could Google for the closest Starbucks. Take a nice picture of Golden Gate bridge? Post it to Panoramio instantly the utilizing GPS meta data. The possibilities are endless, and who knows what kind of cool location based apps are coming.

In one year, will GPS be a "must have" like cameras or texting? My money says YES.

 

[kdarling]

Edited to add: I see Skyhook is now allowing individuals to add access point locations. (snip...) My own street address is incorrectly plotted in Navteq's database and is about 1000 feet from the actual location.

You've brought up an important point for people entering Skyhook info. Yes, Google is often at least a house or two away.

BUT... you can drag the marker in Google to your real location... up to a certain amount. Do this on regular web based Google, and you can hit a save button and the new location will be reflected on subsequent address searches. (I do this all the time for my and friends' homes.)

In any case, people entering info to Skyhook should map their address, then drag the marker to the correct spot before saying okay.

 

[J273]

Do you think this is actually true?...No GPS


It just seems strange ive not read it elsewhere.


Do you think where liklely to see GPS or not?

 

[jimleszczynski]

I currently own a 4GB iPhone, and I am ready to buy the new iPhone if it has a GPS receiver... I don't care about 3G... most of the people don't care about 3G. A GPS is more useful for most of the people

I beg to differ. I live in a wide ranged 3G area.... and I know, people will find it useful.

 

[rhett7660]

I kind of relate this to MMS. Some people want it, some people use it, some people can care less, and then some people will tell you how to do a work around to do get a sudo gps system on your iPhone.

I for one can care less about gps. I would rather have other items that would be more use full to me throughout the day.

 

[paj]

Do you think that the Blackberry Bold might not have true GPS? On the product website, the company uses the term "GPS," but perhaps they're using it colloquially? Also note that the Bold appears to be as thin as the current iPhone.

Given that their current models (8800 and 8310) have 'real' GPS, it's unlikely the new Bold won't.

 

[txr0ckabilly]

i so so so wish i knew if it had it or not because that is my single reason for waiting for the new iphone instead of replacing my lost 16g. if i knew for sure it didn't come with it, i'd just go ahead and buy a refurbished replacement now while they are cheaper.

 

[wizard]

An iPhone with the only improved feature being 3G would still sell like hot cakes either way.

Exactly +++++++

The other issue is that I fully expect many devices in the iPod/iPhone family. GPS missing in one doesn't mean anything as far as future devices in the family. Eventually it will be in one or more devices.

Dave

 

[wizard]

Yes, they've been required for quite a few years now for the sake of Police and Fire departments. You call 911, they know exactly where you are. And not by cell tower.

Why does everyone ignore this?

Because it is not true!

The last I heard is that the FCC was requiring cell phone providers to offer up the capability of triangulating the users position from information derived from the cell radios. This has nothing at all to do with GPS or GPS being built into cell phones.

Of course the excuse given is that it will make it easier for emergency crews to respond to distress calls. Maybe, maybe not. It is however a massive intrusion into your life where in effect all cell phone users are now tracked continuously by the government. Like it or not. Something to think about the next time you buy a cell phone,

Dave

 

[kdarling]

The last I heard is that the FCC was requiring cell phone providers to offer up the capability of triangulating the users position from information derived from the cell radios. This has nothing at all to do with GPS or GPS being built into cell phones.

Both of you are right (and wrong). E-911 requires that a large percentage of users within specified areas (used to be states) can be located during an emergency call. How it's done is totally up to the carrier.

Most/all of the GSM carriers use cell tower based location. The downside of course is that the phone itself doesn't know where it is. Most/all CDMA carriers use A-GPS, where the phone does know its location.

It is however a massive intrusion into your life where in effect all cell phone users are now tracked continuously by the government.

Edit: Apparently the government does ask for warrants to track cell tower sites in use by suspects (not triangulation) during phone calls.

However, it would be a burden on carriers to track everyone's location.

We do know that iPhone users can be tracked by Google (anonymously) during search requests... it's in the software license.

Of course, landlines don't need GPS <grin>. We already know where they are.

 

[woodekm]

It would be sweet if the phone's future GPS not only did current location, but calculated speed, ETA, and past trails, all interfacing with google maps.

A man can dream right?

 

[NT1440]

That seems very final. I remember thinking the same thing about this new "text messaging" a few years back. Why would I want to send a message when I could CALL someone faster? For that matter, why put a camera in a phone? I have absolutely no interest in that!

Look how things have changed.....

actually if your talking about me personally like i was before, i HATE texting (shocking coming from a 16 year old), and cameras i find completely unneccesary, nice little toy for a quick snapshot, but not in anyway a neccesity.

 

[senorFunkyPants]

"Shipments of GPS-enabled mobile phones will generate over $50 billion in revenues in 2008, rising to $100 billion in 2012. The market for these handsets is expected to grow from around 240 million units in 2008 to over 550 million handset shipments in 2012. At present, most current GPS-enabled handsets are CDMA devices, but increasing numbers of GPS-enabled handsets for 3G/WCDMA networks will start to appear in the market from 2008 onwards."
ABI Research.
Could Apple be so short-sighted that they won't include some sort of GPS capability?

 

[aswitcher]

Without GPS this phone will still be begging for another upgrade.

 

[t0mat0]

Without GPS this phone will still be begging for another upgrade.

3G had a reason to not be in the v1 iPhone, but what reason apart from "we haven't yet got round to doing it" is available?
The RF job ad from Apple is foreboding. Guess the iPhone still has a lot to catch up on vs Nokia handsets hardware wise.

 

[Sweetbike40]

fee for GPS?

If a phone has built in GPS, does AT&T charge a service fee for it?

 

[avaloncourt]

If a phone has built in GPS, does AT&T charge a service fee for it?

I would think we'd still have the very same Google maps function that we have now but using the GPS to locate the position and generate a route. If you want fully-functioning turn-by-turn moving map GPS functionality we'll probably see AT&T or other commercial applications for that. I don't think that any of the GPS-enabled phones using Google's mapping and locate functions presently have any features not available to iPhone users.

It would need to be associated with AT&T/Apple to be truly functional because the SDK has severely limited what processes can happen in the background. If a phone call came in and you answered it the GPS would be forced to the background and you'd suddenly lose your GPS. That wouldn't be very welcome if you were very close to making a turn. All your directions beyond taking the call would suddenly stop. I'm thinking there would be a whole lot of angry people. It would need to be a background-capable application. Google Maps isn't.

 

[j26]

I would think we'd still have the very same Google maps function that we have now but using the GPS to locate the position and generate a route. If you want fully-functioning turn-by-turn moving map GPS functionality we'll probably see AT&T or other commercial applications for that. I don't think that any of the GPS-enabled phones using Google's mapping and locate functions presently have any features not available to iPhone users.

It would need to be associated with AT&T/Apple to be truly functional because the SDK has severely limited what processes can happen in the background. If a phone call came in and you answered it the GPS would be forced to the background and you'd suddenly lose your GPS. That wouldn't be very welcome if you were very close to making a turn. All your directions beyond taking the call would suddenly stop. I'm thinking there would be a whole lot of angry people. It would need to be a background-capable application. Google Maps isn't.

The trouble with Google Maps is what happens when you're out of range, or have a slow connection. Unless the maps are loaded on the phone you have problems.

My guess is a partnership with Garmin or TomTom or someone to provide the software and maps, or something along the lines of Nokia Maps where you get basic location and routing services free, but have to pay for voice navigation.

 

[avaloncourt]

The trouble with Google Maps is what happens when you're out of range, or have a slow connection. Unless the maps are loaded on the phone you have problems.

My guess is a partnership with Garmin or TomTom or someone to provide the software and maps, or something along the lines of Nokia Maps where you get basic location and routing services free, but have to pay for voice navigation.

The iPhone Maps application precaches all of the turn point map data so even if you are out of range of the data transfer capability you still have your turns prepackaged. Taking your information that way is no different from Verizon's VZ Navigator. You only get prompts at turns. Verizon's VZ Navigator pricing is based on you doing it that way anyhow. If you go to live mapping it warns you that you'll be deducted minutes for the entire time you're using moving map.

Garmin is already pushing the smartphone map approach and the maps are transferred. Garmin is even doing a flat-rate $99 Blackberry lifetime subscription. They do make a product for smartphones with map files but they only distribute it on SD cards. Again, even if you went a preloaded map file route you run into the SDK background process issue. Receive a call and the mapping/GPS/directions function goes away. Not very good if you're in the middle of Chicago relying on directions and a call comes in.

 

[mark34]

I think the use is somewhat limited by the fact that so many cars already have GPS systems. I suspect that in the U.S. a huge percentage of the iPhone demographic already have GPS in their car. It is much safer and more convenient to use the car gps system then trying to manipulate a hand held device... I would think. It would be handy for travel in other cities, though many rental cars have GPS now too.

That having been said, it would be a nice little added bonus. I am still betting no "real" GPS.

 

[Anuba]

This is a case where Apple chooses thinness over features, which they've done many times before (MBA anyone?). There's just no way they could squeeze in 3G, the larger battery due to 3G power draw, speakers(!) and a SirfStar III chip without the iPhone becoming just as thick and heavy as every other phone from every other manufacturer. You know, the manufacturers Steve likes to mock by showing how inCREDibly THINNNNN Apple's offering is next to theirs? I've never met anyone who'd be willing to put up with the iPhone getting even bigger, but I've met plenty who consider it too big, adding 'let me know when they introduce the iPhone Nano'.

 

[zmit]

It would be sweet if the phone's future GPS not only did current location, but calculated speed, ETA, and past trails, all interfacing with google maps.

A man can dream right?

*sigh* basic physics
change in location/time = speed
ETA is a few calculations to do with speed and time.... simple stuff to work out....
i am assuming that it WILL interface with google maps... thats the whole bloody point...



as for all this 'GPS means nothing to me' business...

if it DOESNT have GPS... then im sticking with my 1G... if it does.... then im selling this one and getting 2G as soon as is even remotely possible!

 

[tersono]

Will a GPS phone even work in your car without hanging it out the window or having it sit up on the dash? The location system in the current iPhone works well and works inside buildings and in cars.

Yes, a GPS phone works just fine in the car - I have an O2 XDA Orbit, which gets a lot of use as a satnav running TomTom. Very convenient, as I don't like leaving high-value items in the car, but I really don't want to have to cart around yet another piece of hardware. I also find it useful to pre-program destinations before a trip - i.e. when I'm not in the car.

No GPS on the new iPhone would be a dealbreaker for me (as it was when I bought my current phone).

 

[oodanner]

Nokia E71

This is a case where Apple chooses thinness over features, which they've done many times before (MBA anyone?). There's just no way they could squeeze in 3G, the larger battery due to 3G power draw, speakers(!) and a SirfStar III chip without the iPhone becoming just as thick and heavy as every other phone from every other manufacturer. You know, the manufacturers Steve likes to mock by showing how inCREDibly THINNNNN Apple's offering is next to theirs? I've never met anyone who'd be willing to put up with the iPhone getting even bigger, but I've met plenty who consider it too big, adding 'let me know when they introduce the iPhone Nano'.

The Nokia E71 manages to do this and is still very very thin. I don't see why we couldn't have all of these features with a refined iphone that has a package similar to the current size.

 

[Anuba]

The Nokia E71 manages to do this and is still very very thin. I don't see why we couldn't have all of these features with a refined iphone that has a package similar to the current size.

The E71 is about one millimeter thinner than the iPhone, but then again it doesn't have an edge-to-edge touchscreen made of thick glass. The E71 display looks rather small actually, and ought to be completely worthless for car navigation unless you duct tape it to your face.

The only reason why I'd like to see a GPS in the iPhone (I wouldn't mind if there is none) is that it might be the first successful attempt at a GPS phone. Generally they suck ass, with displays that are cramped and not bright enough, shifty reception, quirky interface... and what about battery life? Dedicated GPS units (most of them at least 2 times larger and 3-4 times heavier than an iPhone) have a battery life of 4 hours tops. The iPhone can already do a little too much, and if you throw car navigation on top of video + music + phone + mail + web browser + general PDA functionality, and Apple still refuses to let us switch the battery without involving a surgeon, well...