MobileCrunch has penned a piece on “10 Things That Simply Need To Be In iOS 5” ahead of Apple’s presumed Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) June iOS 5 reveal. While we’ll never see enhanced, integrated Gmail support (#4) or the ability to sideload third party apps (#5) under Steve Jobs, I have wondered if free turn-by-turn navigation (#2) might eventually come to the iPhone.
On one hand, we’ve seen job openings that seem to suggest a revised non-Google Maps app. And integrating turn-by-turn voice nav would allow Apple to check a box currently covered by the competing Android platform. On the other, building an app like this requires a decent sized team whereas Apple takes a 30% cut of all App Store sales. Given the current crop of premium GPS apps, like the TomTom and Navigon software I own, I suspect the status quo has been fairly lucrative for Apple.
There is an error in the screenshot on the right.
To get to a restaurant in Manhattan, you drive to a train station, hop onto the Acela, and then use the subway or walk once on the island.
True, and that’s normally how I do it. ;) Actually, I stopped riding the Acela at some point. Mostly because my laptops sit better on the regular train tray tables (and the quiet car is just as quiet). I guess it’s maybe 20 minutes quicker, but with power and an aircard, the time difference is inconsequential.
A decent FREE Navigation program for iOS is WAZE.
Scott, I’ve blogged Waze before. It’s fun and cute, but resulted in some pretty harrowing driving situations for me due to its poor navigation/calculations. So for free, I currently recommend MapQuest.
There are so many good even free options on iOS already, like copilot USA for one. I think that apple WILL put together a navigation solutions as they realize the opportunity to join navigation, mapping, routing for driving OR WALKING with location based ads as a revenue stream.
Dave, you should know that better than most – didn’t you read my Peanut Butter manifesto to DASH. :-)
Does apple lose a single sale due to lack of built-in NAV?
Glad to see you got Navigon. Its my top choice. I’d be curious to see a comparison review between the top couple of choices though.
All the free ones I’ve tried suck compared to Navigon, so I’d be more interested in comparisons of the pay apps like tom tom.
Thanks,
-mike
Yeah, I finally got in on one of those sales and couldn’t wait around for Telenav’s non-AT&T solution.
I find Navigon superior to TomTom in a number of small ways and even my wife has grown to dislike TomTom. Having said that, they both could use some interface improvements. Navigon’s killer feature is probably tapping into Google’s results when searching for businesses – their data is vastly superior to both Navigon’s and TomTom’s.
Telenav is finally out ($22/yr), but Navigon is good enough that I don’t feel the need to make another purchase. At least not yet.
tivoboy, yes I read it. There’s so many things I could say about Dash Navigation (and Sequoia, Kleiner). Although some would probably violate my former employment agreement and severance package terms. ;) At least it lives on in some form as Blackberry Traffic.
Mapquest iPhone app is turn by turn voice navigation that works really well.
Always assumed Google would take advantage of their nav apps on connected devices and create really really good traffic ala Dash but for free and yet it hasn’t come to pass.
Apple apparently wrote the “Google Maps” app on iOS but clearly hasn’t been keeping it up to date with the Android version. Apple’s fault or Googles? No idea.
There’s clearly room for innovation here. But hard to predict if thus is going to be one of the areas Apple flexes it’s muscles.
I think in Europe we have a different situation. I use TomTom with live services and I can’t go without. In Europe tomtom users are connected drivers, giving traffic jam updates every three minutes and re-routes me automatically.
Most other systems, like my in-dash systems only know traffic jams on highways, but not in the city. As I am a consultant, who doesn’t ever want to be too late at a clients office, there’s nothing else for me.
In Europe TomTom has made a deal with Vodafone for providing the data. There’s no such deal in the US (or not yet) So in the U.S. live services aren’t as live as they are over here. I hope they will come to you eventually.
@Joseph,
Yeah, that was always my experience in Taxis in the UK anyway, they seemed much more plugged in than anything over here in the US.
I’ll keep hoping Google does something about this…
Free, voice-activated, turn by turn navigation is essential. Does ApPle lose sales without it? Yes! My friend and his wife both got Androids because of this alone. Very nearly convinced me, too. They hop in the car, speak where they would like to go, and they’re on their way. Navigation directly from search results. Easy – as it should be in car. This is huge for the average Joe and untapped non-techies.