Sat Nav is dead long live the IPhone
Discussion
The new location facility on the IPhone maps application is good. Uses Cellphone masts and WiFi to map position. If that all fails you can also ring someone up and ask directions. Stick that in your Tom Tom and smoke it!!!
Seriously though the days of tracking people by there phone must be here! Transmitting the data on the Iphone via GPRS or even in a text must be trivial to implement
Seriously though the days of tracking people by there phone must be here! Transmitting the data on the Iphone via GPRS or even in a text must be trivial to implement
costs about £5 per phone, aimed at worried parents and bosses worried that their workers were somewhere else
I get headaches when using mobiles, so only use hands free, which means work phone stays off until get to the car to check messages via the recharger / speaker unit, personal phone nokia 1112 ? has a loudspeaker option
I get headaches when using mobiles, so only use hands free, which means work phone stays off until get to the car to check messages via the recharger / speaker unit, personal phone nokia 1112 ? has a loudspeaker option
I upgraded by wife's iPhone last night to support the location part for Google Maps.
You do realise that the location support uses two services - one is via the mobile network provider and the other is via Skyhook wireless (which uses WiFi hot spots and their broadcast ranges). Problem is that Skyhook has not come to the UK yet so you are dependent on the provider only and this means your accuracy is not that high. A quick test yesterday showed an accuracy of around 200-300 metres. This isnt bad, but it isnt any where need good enough for location based navigation.
I think I will stick to my satnav for the foreseeable future if you dont mind.
You do realise that the location support uses two services - one is via the mobile network provider and the other is via Skyhook wireless (which uses WiFi hot spots and their broadcast ranges). Problem is that Skyhook has not come to the UK yet so you are dependent on the provider only and this means your accuracy is not that high. A quick test yesterday showed an accuracy of around 200-300 metres. This isnt bad, but it isnt any where need good enough for location based navigation.
I think I will stick to my satnav for the foreseeable future if you dont mind.
Currently in the states on business so I got got see Skyhook working and it is good.
When skyhook comes to the UK I can see the navigation features working real well in areas like london and other towns with lots of wifi. To be honest I only ever use sat nav in town anyway
The system is limited now but I can see huge potential as the system is able to access navigation data and the entire internet real time
When skyhook comes to the UK I can see the navigation features working real well in areas like london and other towns with lots of wifi. To be honest I only ever use sat nav in town anyway
The system is limited now but I can see huge potential as the system is able to access navigation data and the entire internet real time
I've just got a new HTC Touch Cruise phone. Without wishing to slate the iPhone too much, if you want navigation this is a great phone.
It has built in GPS so is as accurate as your standard sat nav, it comes with Tom Tom software or you can download Google Maps, and there is a great piece of free software called TrackMe with can plot your route for viewing later in Google Earth. It can also be used in real time if you want to track someone's real time movements. For example you could, if you wanted, tell the wife you're just leaving the office and she could track your movements on Google Earth to decide when to put the dinner on!
In your face iPhone!
It has built in GPS so is as accurate as your standard sat nav, it comes with Tom Tom software or you can download Google Maps, and there is a great piece of free software called TrackMe with can plot your route for viewing later in Google Earth. It can also be used in real time if you want to track someone's real time movements. For example you could, if you wanted, tell the wife you're just leaving the office and she could track your movements on Google Earth to decide when to put the dinner on!
In your face iPhone!
mouseymousey said:
I've just got a new HTC Touch Cruise phone. Without wishing to slate the iPhone too much, if you want navigation this is a great phone.
It has built in GPS so is as accurate as your standard sat nav, it comes with Tom Tom software or you can download Google Maps, and there is a great piece of free software called TrackMe with can plot your route for viewing later in Google Earth. It can also be used in real time if you want to track someone's real time movements. For example you could, if you wanted, tell the wife you're just leaving the office and she could track your movements on Google Earth to decide when to put the dinner on!
In your face iPhone!
It's just a shame that the Cruise has a clunky interface (Windows Mobile 6 Pro) and uses the less-than-fantastic TouchFLO system.It has built in GPS so is as accurate as your standard sat nav, it comes with Tom Tom software or you can download Google Maps, and there is a great piece of free software called TrackMe with can plot your route for viewing later in Google Earth. It can also be used in real time if you want to track someone's real time movements. For example you could, if you wanted, tell the wife you're just leaving the office and she could track your movements on Google Earth to decide when to put the dinner on!
In your face iPhone!
I like HTC products - I have a TyTN II myself - and I think the sat nav on the Touch Cruise works fine. But in practice it's not a rival for the iPhone, they will appeal to different people.
The iPhone has flaws (as does every handset) but in terms of use, there is nothing on current release that compares...
...watch out for some interesting releases from Motorola* and Nokia later this year though!
*it's about time
I have to say that I've actually been quite impressed with TouchFLO. Having had quite a few HTC devices TouchFLO along with the flat screen actually means I hardly use the stylus at all.
Agreed the interface is nowhere as near as nice as the iPhone but give the Touch Cruise over the iPhone any day of the week. But as you say, they will be bought by different people.
Agreed the interface is nowhere as near as nice as the iPhone but give the Touch Cruise over the iPhone any day of the week. But as you say, they will be bought by different people.
Have to say now I have installed Rotate me on my N95 it behaves like an iPhone (screen rotates when I turn the phone)
Google Maps on the N95 uses the inbuilt GPS, so has pinpoint accuracy and the Nokia maps is not bad for free satnav...
Personally I prefer the functionality of the N95 (I got it as a free upgrade) and am still contemplating whether to buy an iPhone, but can't think of anything it does better than the N95 apart from the eye candy (and my light sabre app won't run on the iphone 
)
Chris
Google Maps on the N95 uses the inbuilt GPS, so has pinpoint accuracy
and the Nokia maps is not bad for free satnav...Personally I prefer the functionality of the N95 (I got it as a free upgrade) and am still contemplating whether to buy an iPhone, but can't think of anything it does better than the N95 apart from the eye candy
(and my light sabre app won't run on the iphone )Chris
Ive only had my iPhone a couple of days. So ive only tried the maps thing at home so far. And so far its dreadfully inaccurate. Sometimes it shows the entire village. And the wrong village at that. Its one thats 3 or 4 miles away from here. Occasionally it shows some place ive never even heard of! I think its at least 10 miles away.
Mobile phone reception has never been great around here though, so I expect that has a lot to do with it.
I can see that it will be useful. But its not even nearly a replacement for a good satnav.
P,
Mobile phone reception has never been great around here though, so I expect that has a lot to do with it.
I can see that it will be useful. But its not even nearly a replacement for a good satnav.
P,
Gassing Station | In-Car Electronics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff