iPhone GPS – part 2
Jan 19, 2007 apple, gps navigation, gps phones, gps software, iphone, ipod
Few days ago we talked about some possible scenarios on getting GPS navigation on the iPhone. We did list some Mac OS X GPS mapping applications and said how they wouldn’t function with iPhone. Well it doesn’t matter anymore because we now know that you can’t really install Mac applications on iPhone even though it runs OS X.
Here is what Andy Ihnatko of Sun Times has to say about iPhone:
…Apple will keep a very tight rein on software development.
I asked point-blank if third parties would be able to write and distribute iPhone apps and was told, point-blank, no.
However, it appears that there’ll be some third-party opportunities. I’m going to take a guess that iPhone software will be distributed the same way as iPod games: no “unsigned” apps will install, but apps will start appearing on the iTunes Store after successfully passing through a mysterious process of Apple certification…
The lockdown on software is an area of ongoing suspicious interest. I noticed that the iPhone’s pre-release browser was missing some plug-ins. I asked if Real and Macromedia et al. would be writing media plug-ins for the iPhone’s Web browser, and was told that no, the browser would ship with plug-ins, but Apple would be writing them all in-house…
So we were kind of right when we said “Let’s all hope Apple releases a bundle (bluetooth GPS receiver + software) for a good price that works with iPhone”. Because it doesn’t look like they’ll let 3rd parties do it.
The iPhone runs the same OS as the Macintosh…
…Nope, everything I’ve learned (both in official briefings and “you and I never spoke, all right?” sort of discussions) says that it truly does run Leopard, the upcoming 10.5 OS that will be released for the Macintosh late in the spring.
…
So will it run Mac software? Nope. The iPhone runs OS X, but it’s an iPhone, not a Macintosh. And it stands to reason that the OS on the iPhone doesn’t include any bits that it doesn’t need.And no, the iPhone’s Widgets aren’t the same as the Mac’s Dashboard widgets. But they do use DashCode and other desktop widget tech, so who knows? I’m really hoping that widgets will be more open to third-party developers than apps.
And yes, it is photoshopped.
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April 4th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Interesting article, nicely put forward, thanks.
I heard that apple could only utilize the iphone under 10.5, owing that a semi re-write of 10.4 would be required with newer technology it seems pointless and more sense to ship the iphone with newer software, in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t support anything other than 10.5 upwards.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
It would be nice to have GPS functionality on the iPhone, and I think it’s great that the platform is closed to developers, considering that Apple is working with Google for the maps functionality..this means the app will be watertight, and will simply work.
Here are some more extensive renderings of a potential GPS-driven interface on the iPhone:
http://techshouldwork.blogspot.com/2007/01/how-dodgeball-should-work.html
July 12th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Brad, how can you say that it’s great that the platform is closed to developers? There’s some applications I want to write for the iPhone that I can’t because it’s a closed platform. I’ll simply write the apps for other phone and Apple, and iPhone users, will lose.
I also think that the lack of GPS functionality is a weakness. One that other manufacturers will be sure to exploit.
Right now, I see the iPhone as an expensive, shiny, trendy gadget that lacks the features I need. I won’t be buying one anytime soon.
August 15th, 2007 at 11:01 am
The decision on whether to include GPS or not in the iPhone is likely not based on technology but rather a purely business decision.
There are 3 credible sources of Map databases. Navteq is the one that remains independent. If Apple were to include a GPS feature based on Navteq and Navteq was subsequently acquired by Microsoft this would leave Apple with an unpleasent exposure.
If Google or some other beneign partner acquires Navteq then the feature will probably be included.