Picture by courtesy of Peter Betty

As we are not able to get a iPhone here in Europe (and if we could, it wouldn’t work!) we have to do the job with reviews of others.

There is only one question interesting enough to ask, don’t you agree: Does the iPhone work with an external (bluetooth) gps?
Okay, and a relation question: if so, what does it do?

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Peter Betty at GeoThought did a nice and thorough job. He did review the Google Maps application on the Apple iPhone already. His verdict is that the iPhone Google Maps does the job well, but it could have done the job even better.
Of course he made some pictures and put the on Flickr. Well Done, Peter!

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Terry White thinks Google Maps is cool, especially the Google Traffic part, but doesn’t mention the lack of any possiblity to connect a gps.

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Patri at patrissimo says that Google Maps: “looks huge and gorgeous on the iPhone screen“
I can imagine that, but I read before that almost every screen is automatically while turning the iPhone from portrait to landscape, except for the Google Maps application!

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Henees at Central of tutorial desire says it all: “It can provide driving directions, too. It’s not real G.P.S. — the iPhone doesn’t actually know where you are — so you tap the screen when you’re ready for the next driving instruction.“

Paul Thurrott is not impressed by iPhone Google Maps version: “The only native Google software on the device is Google Maps, which isn’t as revolutionary as advertised“

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Scotts opinion is that this missing bits can be fixed by software upgrades: “have been some complaints about not being able to send pictures, or use GPS , but I’m sure they are all things that can be fixed through software updates, one of the great advantages of the iPhone.“

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Of what I read I think the biggest failure is the fact that Google Maps does not support an external gps, like the well worked and also free java coded Google maps clone MGMaps (RESPECT!) I am using a few weeks now on my new Nokia E61i, attached to the QStarz BT Q-810 bluetooth gps mouse (as we call it in Europe).

I can not do any tricks without 3G, so if the iPhone v2 will not support GPS in any way and will have no GSM AND 3G (and I mean FAST 3G!), they can keep it….

gps