You've seen it? Didn't think so.
It's the update of the SDK that says in Section 3.3.7, and specifies that "applications may not be designed or marketed for real time route guidance,"
As
ArsTechinca says -
there are multiple possibilities for this, e.g.
- Apple is planning on developing a full-blown navigation application, and added the clause to keep companies like TomTom out of the game.
- TomTom could have arranged some type of exclusivity agreement with Apple that will ensure that TomTom's navigation application is the only one allowed on the iPhone. TomTom's application is "just about ready," which suggests to me that the company has been working on it for quite a while, possibly even on pre-release hardware.
The problem being, that a v1 iPhone linked to a Blue tooth GPS could actually do better currently, than the v2 iPhone which has GPS in...
Most of the articles are around June 11th, when the new SDK agreement came out. Apple may well have another SDK release out come July 11th, a month later...
Otherwise - why the hell would companies like be basically designing for months, having to keep quiet due to NDAs, and then get told by Apple - "uh, no, we've changed our mind"...
PartFoundry - now linking to GoMite (the 2001 site was someone else
) - was wanting to offer a GPS dongle for the iPhone based on the SiRF Star III chipset - the LocoGPS.
From the
FAQ
LocoGPS WiFi Mobile Navigation Server - comes with a simple to use web-based interface that is capable of showing your location within a few feet.
A complete GPS mapping software solution with turn-by-turn directions for most places around the world is also being developerd by our software partner and will be announced soon.
[any idea who the software dev. is?]
Will it require an Internet connection or a data service splan from my wireless carrier?
Because all the necessary mapping data is stored locally an internet connection or a separate data service plan is not necessary.
Will it work in my car? Inside a building? How about a long tunnel? Or on top of a Mugumo tree?
Yes, it should work in your car - especially if is is a convertible. Otherwise you may need to mount/hold the unit by the windshield as GPS signals don't transmit well through metal. Functionality is limited inside building with lots of concrete and steel, unless you are by a window. Long tunnels can be a problem - but if you find yourself lost in a tunnel follow the light and you will be just fine. And yes, we have thoroughly tested locoGPS atop many Mugomo trees and it works great.
"Please check back again in the next few weeks and we will have all the answers you seek"
(On
this page they say it will work with iPhone and the iTouch).
As another point regarding TomTom - surely TomTom can see that if they could get an app out, and then include a way to correct mistakes in the map - they'd have an absolute gem on their hands - it would wipe the competition if the usage of the feature was high enough (something TomTom is already doing in Australia with its MapShare feature e.g.
here
As Gizmodo states
here
[/TomTom spokesperson Yann Lafargue, French site Mac Generation hit on a few interesting tidbits about 3rd party navigation software on the iPhone. During the interview, Lafargue confirmed that there was a version of TomTom software running on the iPhone but he does not know if they will ever actually ship the product. You would think that the major reason for not shipping would be the clause in the SDK agreement that states "applications may not be designed or marketed for real time route guidance," but Lafargue insisted that is not a problem.
He believes that Apple is only "trying to protect itself" (from litigation presumably) so the verbiage in the SDK would not be an obstacle. I'm no lawyer, but the clause in the SDK seems pretty air tight to me, so I would take what was said in this interview with a grain of salt. Still, you have to think that developing for the iPhone represents a golden opportunity—so if there is a way, I'm sure someone will find it
Link to translation
here
The bad Google translation quotes:
Is there at TomTom Navigator software compatible with the iPhone?
Yann Lafargue : Yes. Once the development kit was available, some of our engineers have tried to transpose the Navigator on the iPhone. And the first tests showed that it worked rather well.
What is the solution? Puisqu'à the time, except to use an external GPS module, it was not possible to rely on an integrated chip.
YL: For the moment we do not communicate on the technical details of the product.
Is a marketing is planned and when?
YL : On this point, it is still too early to come forward. What is certain is that we have a solution whose tests have proved inconclusive. We must now see to what extent it can be started. It should not be such that finalized a product to be ultimately prohibit access to App Store because Apple has decided to propose its own software or putting forward one by one of their partners.
In general, Apple has so far worked with more Americans than Europeans, prompting a caution. There is a whole set of things to confirm before talking about marketing.
Are the restrictions on the use of a GPS application that we saw in the license agreement of the iPhone SDK can be an obstacle?
YL : Non, Apple doit simplement essayer de se protéger, dans le cas où un client ayant rencontré un problème avec son iPhone et une application de navigation ait l'intention de l'attaquer.
YL: No, Apple is simply trying to protect themselves in case a customer having a problem with its iPhone and a navigation application's intention to attack
We won't have to wait long to see if there is just a lot of people on NDAs that have lapsed come July 11th... (or before, if their apps are on the App Store)...
We'll also know more when the teardowns show what GPS chip is inside (Hammerhead?)
As an aside - battery life - doesn't sound like anyone's done a decent comparison to the v1 iPhone yet... We all should know that constant 3G will suck a phone dry.
