iPhone 3G's GPS enigma

One of the killer feature in the new upcoming iPhone 3G, aside from the obvious 3G network, is the GPS-assisted functionality. For average mobile users, the GPS may not seem like a big deal breaker for buying iPhone 3G; but for the GPS-addicts this is the real brain-teaser. Oh yeah, you know I’m talking about you. ;-p

The good thing about the GPS in iPhone 3G, is that it’s got more than what meets the eyes. Build upon the already existing GPS features that resides in most modern smartphones, Apple has managed to put it use with camera which translates into geo-tagged pictures. If you’re a tech nerdy like me, and yes you know you are, you’ll be interested to know how it works?

Jason Snell (Macworld) asked Bob Borchers, the Apple’s senior director of worldwide iPhone product marketing during the WWDC ’08 conference; and got the man to explained it: “… the iPhone’s Core Location function—which uses Wi-Fi and cellular tower locations to compute a location on current iPhone models—will simply add GPS to the mix. Since GPS only really works well with a clear view of the sky, the combination of the different location-finding approaches give the iPhone three different ways to figure out where you are.”

But here’s what I called as the sad part of the whole scenario, still according to Jason; Apple won’t be providing detailed map data for the iPhone. But instead, iPhone’s GPS will be relying on data streamed over digital networks from Google’s servers. Thus it will most likely third-party apps are going to take the empty slot left behind by Apple, the GPS-maker TomTom says it’s already got iPhone GPS software ready to go.

And as good and as promising it may sounds; driving with your new iPhone 3G placed on the dashboard of your exotic sport car working as a GPS unit, its better not to place your hope too high right now. Because TiPB has found out there’s a little nugget related to what developers can and cannot do with the Location services, as stated in the developer agreement for the iPhone SDK:
Applications may not be designed or marketed for real time route guidance; automatic or autonomous control of vehicles or aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life-saving purposes.

This would mean no real time GPS driving experience while you use iPhone 3G, a real shame for the multi-uses mobile phone. Apple has proudly declared its new iPhone as the whole package combination from iPod, mobile phone and entertainment unit. By limiting the GPS functionality in it, makes me dizzy on Apple true intention there.

Update: Engadget Mobile was reporting that French site Mac Generation was able to get ahold of TomTom spokesperson Yann Lafargue; though he did affirm that an iPhone version of the software was running in the labs and working "pretty well." Unfortunately, the question of "will you guys ship this for the iPhone?" was answered with a "We don't know" style response, but he did clarify that the questionable SDK verbiage we saw wasn't an obstacle at all.

Speaking about ‘multi’, I remember that iPhone SDK also stated that there’ll be no application allowed to run on the background; or known as multi-tasking in Windows Mobile. It is a real bummer, when you use the Google Maps or TomTom on your iPhone 3G and can’t take a call or even make a call while you’re at it.

Turning our minds up side down, and went chasing our own tails (read: opinions) are pretty much won’t help to determine on how the GPS in iPhone 3G will ends up. Look like we’ll have to wait how Apple put it all to an end, with the latest build of iPhone SDK which its days are already numbered.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]