Turn by Turn GPS and Voice Navigation on the iPhone 3G
By Aaron Besson at 15 August, 2008, 12:11 pm
Some have argued that the iPhone’s GPS antenna is too small or weak, but GPS manufacturers like TomTom and TeleNav both assured the public that they have working GPS turn by turn navigation solutions working on the iPhone.
If they have submitted them for review or not is unknown. Apple has stated that they will allow turn by turn navigation via third party apps, but even though we have been assured that they work, none are available in the AppStore yet.
Most turn by turn Nav systems these days use voice commands and give audio instructions. The iPhone has got an improved - but still weak - speaker phone, and lacks A2DP bluetooth, which may cripple the effectiveness of these voice guided GPS apps on the iPhone. The main problem is likely the restrictive SDK and Apple’s tight grip on which apps make it to the AppStore. Apple may have their own GPS turn by turn nav app coming out or may be waiting for the right software to be submitted and they’ll choose to partner with that developer.
There have been some developers that have created small GPS dongles for the iPhone that can offer turn by turn GPS tracking using xGPS, but they also don’t offer turn by turn navigation.
But since the introduction of the iPhone 3G and built in GPS, these dongles will only be useful to the millions of iPhone and iPod touch owners not to the millions of iPhone 3G owners. There are a few GPS enabled apps available from the AppStore that offer various levels of functionality. Here are a few:
- Garafa’s GPSKit [$9.99, App Store] for iPhone provides you with more advanced GPS functionality and tracking for your iPhone (video)
- GPS Tracker [Free] - real-time tracking service
- Speed [Free] - real time speedometer
- PathTracker [$0.99] - real time stats, save your path, also for runners/bikers
- Speedster GPS [$0.99] - speed and altitude in real time
- gpsCompass [$1.99] - real time stats
- Distance Meter [$2.99] - distance tracker
- iTrail [$2.99] - distance and path tracker for runners/bikers
- RunKeeper [$9.99] - track running/biking paths and stats
But none of these can provide the same level of service or finctionality as for example the new Samsung Instinct. While the Instinct is no iPhone Killer, it certainly has the advantage when it comes to looking for pizza.
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