new iphone--tethering/gps/chasing potential?

[Jason Harris]

I'm wondering about today's news that the next incarnation of the iphone will allow tethering. Does this mean that the GPS that is available on the iphone will then be available to integrate into a radar program like GR3 on the laptop? Would then the cost of the iphone as connectivity +gps be a good deal (a two-in-one combo that precludes the need to buy a gps device)? So, in other words, could you just tether your iphone to your laptop and have your gps--including streetmaps--and your internet connection, and there you go? And how would the cost/value compare with other possibilities? Guess the exact figures won't be known quite yet, but what do people think?
http://www.macworld.com/article/139401/2009/03/appleevent.html

11:38 PT - DM: Tim Bajarin: What about tethering (sharing internet connection from phone to computer)? There's two pieces needed for that: client-side needs to support tethering; second is working with carriers. We are absolutely supporting tethering on client side on iPhone. Also working with carriers around the world, and it is coming.

Still trying to figure out what plans are best for a 3-month or so plan rather than all-year cellular. Why the heck isn't there month-to-month, pay-as-you-go without having to have cell service? Is there reason to expect there will be more of that? Why aren't there decent deals just for hooking up your laptop and there you go?

 

[Stephen Locke]

iPhone GPS

I have an iPhone (1st incarnation). My understanding is that iPhone GPS is not real satillite GPS. Rather, it is triangulation with cell towers. As such, it is subject to cell tower connectivity failure. And, even when it has a good connection it is not as precise. I use my iPhone "GPS" location with the radar app. RadarScope and map app. but it is not as reliable as a real satilight GPS. So, would not rely on an iPhone for primary source of data. My iphone is an intregal l part of my chase toolbox but is secondary to my Laptop/GrLvl3/Delorme/Sprint data set-up. I love the iphone WunderRadio app. for weather radio!!!

How the hell do you spell satillite anyhow?

 

[J Kinkaid]

I'm wondering about today's news that the next incarnation of the iphone will allow tethering. Does this mean that the GPS that is available on the iphone will then be available to integrate into a radar program like GR3 on the laptop? Would then the cost of the iphone as connectivity +gps be a good deal (a two-in-one combo that precludes the need to buy a gps device)? So, in other words, could you just tether your iphone to your laptop and have your gps--including streetmaps--and your internet connection, and there you go? And how would the cost/value compare with other possibilities? Guess the exact figures won't be known quite yet, but what do people think?
http://www.macworld.com/article/139401/2009/03/appleevent.html


Still trying to figure out what plans are best for a 3-month or so plan rather than all-year cellular. Why the heck isn't there month-to-month, pay-as-you-go without having to have cell service? Is there reason to expect there will be more of that? Why aren't there decent deals just for hooking up your laptop and there you go?

There is but I guess you haven't searched this forum yet to locate those threads. Both ATT & Alltel offer no contract unlimited data options . If you have any other questions feel free to ask

 

[Michael Bishop]

Like Jason, I too am looking for a month-2-month data plan. Jason is aware of what we chase here MI. It can be very slow for long durations of time. Dropping $70/month (for 2 years) on mobile i-net is not feasible for me at this time, since I only end up chasing ~10 times a year. I have looked into the ATT go phone and taking the simcard out and connecting to the PC. I just have too many questions to ask before I pull that trigger. I know that this has been beaten to death on this forum. If anyone has a detailed step-by-step on what to do, PM me. I would love to explore that option.

 

[Glenn Dixon]

I can't believe I missed this! I'm so stoked about the final roll-out of all these features!

 

[Tyler Allison]

I have an iPhone (1st incarnation). My understanding is that iPhone GPS is not real satillite GPS. Rather, it is triangulation with cell towers. As such, it is subject to cell tower connectivity failure. And, even when it has a good connection it is not as precise. I use my iPhone "GPS" location with the radar app. RadarScope and map app. but it is not as reliable as a real satilight GPS. So, would not rely on an iPhone for primary source of data. My iphone is an intregal l part of my chase toolbox but is secondary to my Laptop/GrLvl3/Delorme/Sprint data set-up. I love the iphone WunderRadio app. for weather radio!!!

How the hell do you spell satillite anyhow?

The new 3G iPhones have an actual GPS. The earlier models did triangulation. All iPhones still do triangulation if it can't get a lock though.

 

[Jason Harris]

any updates on compatibility of the new iphone gps is with GR3 and any other issues?
Anyone bought/tried the new one yet?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124544052249432203.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

http://www.gpsreview.net/tomtom-iphone-app/

 

[John Wetter]

The iPhone 3.0 software allows INTERNET tethering... But AT&T is not supporting it yet. Having been at the keynote, they were one of the few companies whose logo wasn't on the screen during the keynote (everyone disappointedly laughed). Tethering says nothing about moving the GPS data around. That said, the GPS data is within the phone via the CoreLocation API. My guess will be that if this data ever does become available, it'll be a mac only thing. The real answers to some of the development side of this is still under NDA, but I'd be surprised to see the GPS data available to external apps. The data isn't in NMEA format within the phone.

Same deal with MMS. AT&T won't be ready until the end of the summer but the phone supports it now with the 3.0 release.

 

[D. Hayes]

I never would expect a cell phone to do NEMA. As cheap as USB GPS pucks are why not get one?

I am interested in the GR3 for a full blown cell phone/cool gadget tool. I just have to see what plans there are and if they will even be remotely comparable to my Alltel smartchoice plan. On the other hand, if I want to save some cash, I can change my plan to the point that I can deactivate my blackberry and still use the wifes phone with no hassles. That's where Alltel really shines.

 

[Joe beier]

I have been tethering with my iphone all this season and some of last. Also my gps is always spot on ... I dunno if it's just my area or what but it always shows me EXACTLY where I am.

 

[BenWhite]

I recently got a Iphone, and would be really interested in learning how I could tether it to my laptop so I can get up to date info via GR3, usage of the GPS on SN, and live streaming. I updated to version 3.0 yesterday after the headache of setting up the itunes store deal.

If anyone has any free input it would be greatly appreciated.
I live here in North East Kansas. If that matters..

Ben White

 

[Connor Keef]

Ben... You said recently, but how recently. They just released the new iPhone last week. So if you got a 3G (which I'm guessing you did), you can "jailbreak" your phone and download PDA Net from Cydia. As for the GPS, I'm not really sure. The jailbreak will void your warranty IF AND ONLY IF you take it to an Apple Store/AT&T store with it still jailbroken. Make sure before you take it there to plug it in to iTunes and do a restore. Now if you got the 3G S, you are out of luck on the jailbreaking FOR NOW... Let me know what you do.

 

[Joe beier]

No need to jailbreak ... if you have 3.0 and want to know pm me because I'm not sure if it should be posted or not on the basis of it's kinda a hack but not really. It's kinda like a placefile in grlevel3 but for your iphone lol

 

[Joe beier]

Let me know if that worked out for you connor.

 

[BenWhite]

Okay, I got a iPhone 3G is what it says on the box. Also, Joe, send me a pm on how to do that.. Thx.