GPS iPhone Movie

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testing the gps on the iPhone from tonie on Vimeo.
Embedded above is a movie by tonie putting the iPhone GPS functionality thought its paces while driving. Of note is the slightly jumpy update and towards the end of the clip a slight loss of location. Although to be fair if the application was tied to the street network it would of probably performed better.

We find it slightly bizarre that Apple would release a phone with a dedicated GPS yet with no options to log your location, see the speed you are traveling or export paths to Google Maps. Ironically the movie was filmed with a Nokia N95 that has all this functionally built in...

Engadget has more on the iPhones current lack of dedicated tracking functions.

iPhone 2.0 Excellent Location Tracking without GPS (Old iPhone)

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One of the big draws of the new iPhone for us was its GPS capability and one that we are now questioning having put the new 2.0 update though its paces on an old non-GPS iPhone.

The good news is that all iPhones now do near real-time location tracking either with or without GPS. In our test our old iPhone, loaded with the 2.0 update software, updated our location approximately every 10 seconds on our trip back on the 168 to Camden Town, London, yesterday evening.

Locating via triangulation of the phone mast network and local wifi points the results were surprising accurate and certainly accurate enough for any of the new location aware apps in the iTunes store.

We were surprised to see our location updating as we moved on Google Maps to such an extent that without any actual navigation software available for the new GPS enabled iPhone we would question the need to upgrade based on a desire for locational awareness.

The accuracy of the location is determined by the density of the phone masts, so it works well in the city. We are now able to geotag our photographs, watch our location update and view services around us, all without the new iPhone.

The new 2.0 software upgrade is well worth it, for the location services alone.

iPhone GPS First Movie

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Engadget have posted a movie of the new iPhones GPS in use. Embedded below it perhaps confirms the conceans of the small antenna and reduced accuracy/update times:



There have been rumors abound of why various companies were restricted from producing a turn by turn GPS application for the iPhone, the reason could be that the unit simply cant keep up with realtime locations?

If the iPhone is only capable of simpler location based services that would be big disappointment, looking at the applications now available in the iTunes stores the signs do not look good.

We would test it out ourselves but O2 in the UK has made such a botch of upgrading that it could be few weeks before we are able to get hold of a handset.

See Engadget for full 'unboxing' and a first look.