Location logging coming to iPhone 3G?

The iPhone 3G may soon be updated to allow it to use its GPS receiver and cell-tower triangulation algorithms to log the location of the handset throughout the day. If true, the iPhone 3G would be able to store location data (geo-tags) throughout the day and transfer those geo-tags to pictures in iPhoto.

The apparent discovery of an unused iPhone ‘09 menu has sparked speculation that Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) is working to allow iPhone 3G users to tag their otherwise meta-naked photos in iPhoto with location data from the iPhone. TidBITS is reporting that the vestigial code within iPhoto would give the user the option to select an iPhone or iPod Touch as the camera source, then prompting the user to transfer location data (from something referred to as the “location application”) to a particular iPhoto event. Most intriguing is the possibility that the GPS hardware in the iPhone 3G is poised to become more open and usable – perhaps allowing for at least some sort of background functionality.

The rumor follows on rampant speculation that Apple is readying the iPhone 3G for duty on Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless’s CDMA network in the US. Combined with a market analyst report that blames Apple for sucking the world’s NAND flash memory stocks dry in a likely production ramp-up for some mysterious new iPhone, all eyes are on Apple to deliver a counter-punch to the increasingly popular and charis Palm Pre.

We’ll have to wait and see if Apple does indeed decide to give iPhone 3G users free reign (or, at least a smidge more control) over their GPS hardware. In the meantime, you can distract yourself by writing to Apple and begging them for turn-by-turn GPS navigation functionality on the iPhone 3G. Yeah, that should help pass the time.

[Via: TidBITS]