Will the iPhone kill the GPS market

I've never been a big fan of all in one devices, mostly because they are usually a grouping of crappy versions of the sub features they bundle. I've had phones that do music, gps, internet, and cameras for a long time, and to be honest they all have sucked - even the phone sometimes.

However, it seems that some of this is finally changing with the iPhone. It's powerful enough to do most things, has GPS built in, and MOST importantly seems to have the attention of the industry and consumers which means people can MAKE MONEY developing for it, and consumers can EASILY get inexpensive applications for the device which improve the experience.

So, while I still think there are some fairly serious issues with the iPhone (that can be addressed in software - and a few in hardware revisions), the groundwork is finally there - in a single device - for some really cool applications.

So what does this mean for the gps market? I've always said that all in one devices are rarely as good as dedicated devices, and I think this is still the case for the most part.

Before even starting with the software, I see some disadvantages to the iPhone (or any phone)

Disadvantages

1. Battery life
2. Performance (not of phone but of GPS and app)??
3. Potential interruption of service due to a phone call or other alert on phone
4. GPS is not primary function so does it connect as easily and as strongly?

However there are a couple MAJOR advantages

1. Customers Already own the hardware
2. Powerful hardware capable of full video and internet connectivity
3. huge user base

Right now there are several apps that claim to do gps for golf. I say claim because I don't have a clue as to how good they are. However, I did read a review of a free app recently that really grabbed my attention. Here are some of the highlights.

golfTraxx was a free app - allowed the guy to download his course or map one using google maps. was slow at times but always worked. used up about half the battery life in phone for a 5 hour round. gave distances to hazards .

After reading that I realized my skycaddie is all of those things except it was 200 bucks and a 30 dollar fee for the courses.

I also thought to myself that there are already way to many devices competing for the same market right now. I saw a review the other day that tested 5 devices and that wasn't even the software only options available for mobile phones. What happens if skycaddie or uPro (now Callaway) realizes that they can put out a cheap app on the iphone and just charge for mapped courses. or what if some guy in his basement develops a killer app that does this and uses free google maps. Talk about LITTLE to NO barrier to entry.

Now there will always be one fundamental reason to get a dedicated device and not use your phone and that is - that I HATE having my phone anywhere near me when I'm on the course. I don't want to be reached, and I feel like punching people who talk on the phone while on the course.

so what do you think? Would you go with a Smart Phone app if it were a lot cheaper and 90 percent as good (or let's be honest, possibly even better)? I, for one, would rather put my money into one device if having two doesn't buy me a much better experience.

To be clear, I don't even own an iPhone and have never tried any of the GPS software out there. But I may in the future...

I think the question is valid for both car and golf.

I didn't know that it was only accurate to 10 yards. Assuming that's true, then you are right, it won't have much of an effect until that is better. The other thing I just thought about is that I often forget that not everyone is as in to gadgets as I am. Most golfers probably don't have smartphones, and therefore don't even have the ability to replace their devices.

+1.

I've used a few of these apps and it just is not consistent. Also the general nature of the device doesn't lend itself to fitting in with the game really well: The screen was not really designed to run without the backlight so this hits the battery pretty bad, the touch screen can be finicky though a dirty glove, no insurance for the iPhone means if you fall in a hazard wearing your phone you're out like $400 to replace it. This plus the accuracy issues... Compare to a golf specific device (I like the iGolf Neo) where the screen was meant to run without a back light, better GPS chipset, dedicated hardware buttons for specific functions, and you're out like $115 if it gets damaged. If you drop the Neo from a moving cart I bet it takes the lick and keeps on ticking; don't know if I'd bet on the iPhone vs the cart path though...

Keep in mind that we're in the infancy stage of both technologies (The Iphone & the GPS)

Give it week .

I like a stand alone GPS in my car, because I hardwire it in, and hide all the wires, so its more or less permanent (It would only take 20 mins to take it all out, but you know)

As for golf GPS, I really don't know..Never used one, never really cared

well, the Blackberry didn't kill the GPS market, so Apple's version of the Blackberry won't kill the GPS market either.

The blackberry doesn't have the same

type of consumer penetration that the iphone does. to be clear, I'm not talking about devices sold, I mean devices sold to people that use them for personal reasons. Besides, the blackberry is a great business device, but as a consumer device many would argue that they leave a lot to be desired also, i'm not sure the blackberry hasn't killed the gps market... yet.

Here is a simple answer to your question...


I have Sprint... what's an I Phone?

I have an iPhone, and I love it to death, but I don't rely on it's GPS.

The iPhone will not replace a GPS device, Golf or Navigation because it's not a true GPS. It still requires a data connection, WiFi or 3G/EDGE to find a position. In places where there is no cellular service or WiFi, it's basically uselss.

huh? why would that be the case?

This is incorrect. The iPhone needs a data connection for the MAP image, but if the image is stored locally (or if there is not image such as in the case of a yardage measurement) the iPhone requires no cell connection to get a position (kinda the definition of GPS...).

So are you saying the GPS in the iPhone gets it's position from satellite?, and if I had an entire mapset loaded into the phone, it wouldn't need a data or cellular connection? I was under the impression that the GPS in the iPhone was not driven by Satellite, but via cellular and data.

Another person said it's only accurate to 10-15 meters, I think that depends on where you are, becuase I've had it be accurate enough to show what side of the street I'm on, a difference of only a couple of meters.

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. The 1st gen iPhone used cell/wifi triangulation to determine position, the second gen (or 3G) actually has an honest to goodness satellite position.

As iacas pointed out the current (3G) version still uses the triangulation method for a rough measure as it's acquiring sat position or when the satellite is unavailable (indoors) but the device is trying to get the satellite if it can...

I bought one of the more expensive iPhone apps for golf at the iTunes store, and it is really pretty useless for my own use. My SG4 is faster, more accurate, easier to use, and provides better information. So, unless there are huge bandwidth improvements (much faster baud rates) for mobile phones, and much better software and faster hardware, I really doubt I will use my iPhone for a golf gps. However, I never thought I would give up my range finder... but now I prefer the SG4 (or other golf GPS units I have seen) over laser range devices.