02.09.09 -- 12:15 p.m.
We've all got high hopes for the next iPhone -- software and hardware. In this post, I'm thinking specifically hardware.
You might have seen from the title that I'm thinking GPS will have a strong place in the next iPhone handset.
Granted, we've heard rumblings before about the iPhone's GPS capabilities. And we've heard Apple say that they need to do more before putting the iPhone into the same space with say Garmin and other companies.
That said we've also heard GPS companies say that they want to be in the iPhone space.
Today, I received a press release from Broadcom - the people that manufacture mobile phone chips - and what they are talking about as their next generation chips have me very excited.
This is what stood out to me:
The BCM2075 brings GPS, Bluetooth and FM to a single chip. This means it delivers location based services (LBS) and advanced multimedia in a single-chip design, that will drive the widespread adoption of GPS on the cellphone.
Why is this important?
Everyone is talking about location based services, which to date are still smart phone functionality. This product means that feature phone cellular users will be able to benefit from the key applications enabled by GPS – such as navigation and turn-by-turn directions, as well as location-specific social networking.
And if that wasn't good enough - there's these two paragraphs:
-- What does news like this mean to consumers? It is a glimpse into the future, as the products Broadcom announces now tend to be the technology we will all be using in 12-18 months.
-- In addition by adding FM to GPS, users can benefit from functions such as listening to turn by turn directions over their radio while driving.
That, folks, is great news. To me, that's a clear indicator of at least one of the killer features that will be a part of iPhone 3.0. It could also mean HD radio directly on the iPhone with iTunes tagging. Again, another breakthrough.
So what do you think? Did reading this give you the same thoughts that I had about what this means for iPhone 3.0? Are you excited about potentially using GPS this way?
Let me know here in the comments or on Twitter.
Thanks for calling.
9 Comments
Nick said:
I already have my money and I am waiting to hear the release date. I want to wait in long lines again!
SCOTT's REPLY: I hear ya, Nick. But the days of long lines might just be behind us.
Christopher said:
With GPS, Bluetooth and FM all in one chip make it a lot smaller? Apple had to build their own GPS Chip to go along side the ARM chip inside. This could make room for a bigger antena, via Turn-by-turn GPS, and with the FM I know a lot of people, including myself, would be excited about listening to FM stations on the iPhone
SCOTT'S REPLY: Not sure about a lot smaller, but it certainly can't hurt
Carlos Pero said:
Are you sure that "FM" means broadcasting FM?
I would think it would be receiving FM signals...and not necessarily for listening to a radio station, but rather receiving traffic info:
http://www8.garmin.com/traffic/fm/index.html
CS
SCOTT'S REPLY: Hi, Carlos. I took a look at that and I think that's part of it, but I also believe it's for broadcast signals as well. Of course, I could be wrong, but I believe I read that it's for signals.
Liam said:
Hey Scott love the blog but i want to ask you a question about a potential bug in 2.2.1. If you would can i ask you to open safari on your iphone then rotate the phone to horizontal. Then scroll to the top of the page and tap the address entry bar. When i do this only half the keyboard appears, while the other half becomes grey. How bout you?
Liam
SCOTT'S REPLY: Liam, I just did exactly what you described and the keyboard was just fine for me.
Can anyone else confirm or deny what Liam is talking about here?
Liam said:
Just to add that, this problem is especially triggered when another dictionary is selected!
Liam
SCOTT'S REPLY: Hmmm. Just tried it again with the U.S., U.K. and the emoji and no problems. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything from anyone else with the problem.
MacSheikh said:
Apple? FM? Somehow I just don't see those two being in the same sentence.
Furthermore, if the new tech is only going to be in consumer devices in "12-18 months", it doesn't look like it has a chance of making into June's iPhone 3.0.
Of course, one can hope. :-)
SCOTT'S REPLY: I would agree with you about FM - but remember that Apple said that it was working with radio manufacturers to bring HD station tagging to iTunes. They have in a limited way but perhaps this could be the big push?
And yeah - maybe more like iPhone 4.0 in this case. Unless June is too soon for the next version.
Anonymous said:
Sorry, but not exciting to me. Why? Based on your speculation, here are my thoughts.
FM=bad quality. I'd much rather use a line level output from the 30pin dock connector for any audio output. I already do. I mounted a dock in my car and have direct iphone input in my dash.
SCOTT"S REPLY: FM yes, but the HD version of FM isn't bad at all.
The GPS in the iphone is very capable already for turn-by-turn directions. It's all in the software. The existing google maps app is not that "smart" and some good coding can use the existing GPS to determine which road you are on and use heading/velocity to extrapolate position even if the GPS gives some small errors in accuracy. There is no reason that we can't have turn by turn navigation right now. Well, except that Apple doesn't want it.
SCOTT'S REPLY: True. No reason we can't have it now, but it seems to me that this new chip would make it that much better on an iPhone. Maybe you're right. Maybe it's just the software and the technology is already there and ready, just not enabled.
MacmaD said:
Any news about landscape texting in the 3.0? My fingers are too big for the current setup.
SCOTT'S REPLY: No news, but that's one of those features that could be there now and is mysteriously absent. To me it's under the same umbrella as cut and paste and video - so here's hoping. However, landscape texting wouldn't really mess anything up at all. There's no reason we shouldn't have had that a long time ago.
Zink Different said:
---
In addition by adding FM to GPS, users can benefit from functions such as listening to turn by turn directions over their radio while driving.
---
No!
SCOTT'S REPLY: A single no response is really not much help.
---
It could also mean HD radio directly on the iPhone with iTunes tagging. Again, another breakthrough.
---
and, No!
SCOTT'S REPLY: All together now: A single no response is really not much help.
Lastly, landscape texting -- go ahead, enjoy a single line of text. Seriously, the current setup is just simply better and won't change anytime soon.
SCOTT'S REPLY: Won't change? Because you know or because you don't like it?
If you have trouble typing, learn the 'Zen' of the keyboard - it will do you more good than hoping for a different kbd.
SCOTT's REPLY: Finally - something useful.
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