about developing GPS navigation apps for iPhone
Mar 17, 2009 gps navigation, software
The new iPhone 3.0 OS will let developers embed maps in applications with a public API to allow pan and zoom, custom annotations, current location, and geocoding.
They’re enabling developers to use core location as the basis ofturn-by-turn directions applications. Core location gives your location with either GPS, WiFi, or cell tower triangulation. Developers can now build a turn-by-turn direction using real time location from core location. However there’s one catch! B.Y.O.M. Bring your own maps. Due to licensing Apple can not pass on the rights to use built-in maps tiles.
So that’s it. Everybody’s free to develop GPS navigation applications for the iPhone now.
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March 19th, 2009 at 5:38 am
This may be a boon to NavTec and others who license maps. For those like Garmin who have to buy their maps and live off of hardware sales this could be scary. I now travel with both an iPhone and GPS. If I can make my iPhone as good a GPS as my nuvi I would be happy. One less cord and syncing hassle.
What hasn’t been talked about much in the iPhone world is the relative slowness of its processor. Compare the speed of the Safari browser on the slowest Mac with the iPhone and the Mac always wins. More processing usually means more battery drain. To work well as a GPS the iPhone will need a better processor and be plugged in during use of more than a short time (just like my nuvi).
Of course we are still only on iPhone 2.0 and have no idea what hardware improvements will come next. There may also be software improvements in the 3.0 OS that have yet to be revealed.