Do you own an Apple iPhone 3GS? Are you considering purchasing one? Out of all the iPhone 3G's new features, the accessible GPS integrated with Google Maps may be the most useful app and may even change the way you live. Many people who own an iPhone 3G have yet to fully realize just how useful the phone can be. It's actually so much more than a phone.
Have you been running late for a meeting or other function and you're lost? Everyone occupied and you have no one to call? Has it ever happened to you before? Well, if you've got an iPhone 3GS, you'd not have to fret.
The best thing about using the GPS features of your iPhone 3G is that you don't have to shell out extra funds for a dedicated GPS device or an additional monthly subscription fee.
The only drawback? You don't get turn-by-turn voice directions or 3D navigation.
So basically, if you know how to read a map and know the difference between east and west, these features are superfluous anyway. There are some features that utilize Google Maps that might possibly make using the iPhone's GPS system superior to a dedicated GPS device or application.
An important thing to realize about the GPS feature on the iPhone is that the phone is a very dynamic device. After it focuses in on your location, it will update your position in real time if you keep Google Maps open. This allows you to use the iPhone 3G while driving to find where you're going.
The first step of using the GPS on the fly is to have the device determine your location. Tap Maps, and then tap the crosshair icon in the lower left hand corner of the screen. Sometimes you'll have to wait for a while as the iPhone determines your location. Once the crosshairs converge into a blue sphere, your location is accurate to about plus or minus 20 feet (more accurate on roads).
There are two methods in the next step of obtaining directions on the fly. The first one is if you know an address and the second if you don't know an address or even exactly where you're going.
For the first method of step two, tap "Directions" in the lower portion of the screen and type in the address in the "End" field. If you have the location bookmarked, tap the bookmark icon on the right hand portion of the field and tap the bookmarked location, then tap "Route."
For the second method of step two, tap "Search" at the bottom of the screen and perform a keyword search such as movies, restaurants, parks, or any other type of place that you might be interested in.
A number of pins that match your search field will drop onto the map around your location. Tap on one of them to bring up their name or, better yet tap on the sticky icon (application for putting Post-itTM note-like windows on the screen) on the lower right hand portion of the screen and then tap on "List" to see the names and addresses of all the places that match your search field. Whether you're in List or Map view, tap on the right pointing arrow icon (pin has to be selected already) for each place to bring up the details of that location and then tap "Directions to Here" at the bottom of the screen to move to the next screen and then tap "Route."
Next, follow the purple road. Simply zoom close enough to the map that you can read the street or route numbers and take the turns as the blue sphere approaches each intersection or exit. Tap the sticky icon on the lower right hand corner of the screen and tap "List" to bring up traditional Google Map turn by turn directions. Tap on any number to have Google Maps focus in on that step of the trip.
After the route has been displayed in Map view, there are car, public transit and pedestrian icons at the top of the screen. Tap one of these to have the specific routes displayed. Please note that the public transit option will only work in cities that support this feature.
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Best,
Tom
