As the iPhone gets more and more comfortable with itself as the “gotta-have” gadget of 2007, nay 2008, the Apple handset just keeps getting better with time. Firmware upon firmware, the iPhone keeps adding more usability and functionality at the click of a (“Sync”) button.
The next iPhone firmware release, previously rumored and now widely documented as the v1.1.3 firmware version, touts Google’s new location-based “My Location” mapping feature built into the Google Maps application. There are other cool features included in the v1.1.3 firmware, but we’re just going to talk about the location-mapping aspect of Google Maps.
Until now, the only way to get cell-tower triangulated positional data (we like to call it faux-GPS) on your iPhone was through a third party application called Navizon. The application is incredibly handy and was recently updated to give directions from your current (approximate) location and keep in touch with friends (the “Buddy” feature). And, in the face of Google’s recent “My Location” announcement, Navizon launched a “Lite” (read: free) version to keep up. Well, now that the new Google “My Location” feature is ready to prime-time with the next iPhone update, we have to wonder what Navizon is doing to keep up.
So, we went to our little birdie to get more info on what to expect from Navizon in the future and it looks promising.
Navizon already offers (for free) the same type of cell-tower triangulation technology upon which Google’s “My Location” features relies. But, if you need even more accuracy (close to that of GPS positioning) Navizon offers a premium upgrade that leverages WiFi hotspot-positioning to help you get an even more accurate location-information.
But, that’s not all. We can’t exactly tell you what (at least not yet), but Navizon will be offering even more unique and exciting features in the near future. Fear not, Navizon fans, Google’s “My Location” (likely) integration in the next iPhone firmware update will not be the end of your favorite little location-information application.
Keep an eye out for more Navizon updates soon!