Apple Announces Turn By Turn Navigation Capabilities For iPhones. Game Over For Garmin Et Al?

lol when I read "The Spies have a history of making some pretty long term predictions and being right" I knew it had to be 001, also, with the majority of computers being windows based, and with fords strong tech push with microsoft, Apple still has a lot of crumbs to chew before they dominate. My guess is that within the next few years you will see all of the major automotive manufacturers branch off for supporting either company. Which in itself is kinda strange, society is fast turning into mac people and win people.

Over game for $2000 onboard nav system.

Wow 001, thats about as stupid of a posting as I have ever seen.

While neat...there are far more people out there without iPhones, than with. Besides Garmin owns the GPS market lock stock and barrel.

Last time I checked you can't certify your Cessna or Boeing 747 to fly via iPhone or hand held TomTom...but you can fly it with your installed and certified Garmin unit.

Spectator is correct. I can't see the iphone tearing down the walls of Garmin quite yet. The iphone has sold a small fraction to what the garmin has. I could see this being a "state of emergency" for Garmin 5 years down the road, but I am sure that they will have counter measures with manufacturers or another combo device (a Microsoft product) to counter act this.
I am glad to see the Factory Navvy sytems being phased out. They are gaudy and complicated. I would rather sit on my couch with my Garmin and plan my trip and update it at the same time compared to sitting in my garage and entering all that information into my factory navvy system.
No question that this is a way of the past. No sweat for Garmin, and koodos for Iphone. Sweet app.

Spectator, you don't need a pilot's license to drive a car. You need a drivers license.

I don't think its game over for the other gps makers either. Although its a pretty cool app for the phone, it more than likely means most iphone owners (and them only) won't have to shop for an additional portable gps system. The rest of the world and portable gps buyers will move on with their lives.

Garmin has a position that is strong. Sure you can add the application to your iPhone if you have one. But this is cool for the time. Many other companies will have like options so no. Garmins can be had for $100 now without a fee.

Sure you get GPS on your iphone, but too bad your iphone does not get service everywhere. AT&T is one of the worst service providers around where I live in CT, NY, NJ, New England in general. 90% of the people have Verizon which is 1000x more reliable.

Now that the iphone has been defeated in terms of service (comparing my friends new 3G iphone to my BB Storm). Let's talk battery life. I can guarantee a Garmin on full battery as a portable will get much longer life than the iphone during a road trip. The batteries on cell phones when using a streaming/broadcasting radio or the GPS locator ON option destroys battery life. You can kill the device in probably 2-3 hours easily.

Remember that when your taking that long trip without the charger.

Sorry I fail to see devices replacing an internal computer. Your iphone won't be able to change the climate controls, accept voice commands for navi or any other options they offer (think Sync from Microsoft). Instead these devices will sync up and work with the system instead of controlling it.

Wrong again 001.

I agree that smartphones won't replace anything in a car, definitely enhance, but not replace. However you lose me here:

"Remember that when your taking that long trip without the charger."
Who takes a long trip without a charger!?!

Cellphone 101!

Garmin is not going anywhere. Just bought the new 535i xDrive, but didn't want to pay $2000+ for the navigation when I already have the old, but tried and tested Garmin 350. Still works like a charm, and can be had for less than $150 now everywhere.

I meant to say Garmin 360, not 350.

Sorry but Apple is late on this one. The smart phone that I purchased back in November has the turn by turn Nav application. On top of that the smart phone can run google maps. which gives you real satelite pictures of the maps showing your loctation and it also has street view. Apple still has a way to go in that regard.

ya, I think that was a big mistake on Apple's part not including a GPS chip in the Touch.

It does not have GPS. It uses cell triangulation.

Ahh, my children.

You are only looking at today but 001 sees the future.

5 years from today, they will be a fond memory or like quartz watches being sold for $29.99.

Your iPhone will be your mobile life in many more ways than you can all imagine.

And things will move so fast, the only way for the car guys to keep up is to put a screen (dumb terminal) and a plug that will allow whatever device you have to give you the features you want.

Take my words 2 the bank.

001

I can't wait for the day that a phone that costs a few grand after all the monthly contracts have expired costs $30, oh wait it won't this isn't Korea and their $3 yearly contracts.

GPS was in nokia years ago ! why it's a big deal only when it comes in iPhone ?

ipod touch does not have GPS.

From your link:

"I didn’t think it would work, and it did take a minute to click through each part of the trip to let it load, but it was well worth the wait with a sort of GPS like feature without being connected to GPS or the internets."

iPhone GPS suffers from guidance interruptions such as
- phone call comes in during guidance
- signal drop during guidance (poor reception)
When either happens, it takes a while for iPhone to come back and relocate where you are. It is no fun and no comparison to portable GPS. Use it for a long trip, and you will see the usage flaws.

Sure, it will get better. Reading out street name is not a major issue from what I see.

I think iPhone buyers are a pretty strong cross section of the income spectrum, if not weighted towards the wealthy. After all, Apple hardware is definitely priced at a premium (cheapest laptop is $1200 :|).

I'm a big iPhone fan, and this is great. But to be perfectly honest I wish I could get of my Garmin and NOT replace it the iPhone, but with an AFFORDABLE factory navigation system on my next car. I detest having to hook up devices to the cigarette lighter, windshield, etc., having to wait for the system to find satelites, and needing to stash it away to prevent your car from being broken into.

C'mon manufacturers. Give us GPS as a $400 option, or even better just make it stock on everything.