TomTom iPhone app; iPhone magnetometer; Boot Camp in 10.6

[AppleInsider]

Turn-by-turn GPS device maker TomTom is reportedly recruiting developers to help churn out an iPhone app. Meanwhile, next-gen iPhone hardware should include a digital compass. And Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard will reportedly allow Windows partitions running under Boot Camp to read Mac partitions.

TomTom iPhone App

Electronista reports on rumors that TomTom may be stepping up its efforts to produce a turn-by-turn iPhone GPS application through a low-key recruitment effort.

A job listing for an iPhone app developer doesn't mention the company but asks for someone to develop navigation software in Amsterdam, the location of TomTom's headquarters, according to the report. The ideal candidate would start in May or June and work on developing the application for at least six months.

TomTom was one of the earliest GPS device makers to express an interest in iPhone applications, confirming its attempts a month ahead of the App Store's launch last July.

iPhone magnetometer

Following up on reports last month that identified references to a "magnetometer" -- the formal term for a digital compass -- in betas of iPhone Software 3.0, BGR this week published a couple of images taken from the operating system's debug menus which appear to fortify expectations that feature will show up in Apple's next-gen iPhone hardware.



A magnetometer is one of a few features available on T-Mobile's Android-based G1 handset that isn't yet available on the iPhone, as it requires special hardware support not available on existing iPhones. In addition to helping users determine their direction, a magnetometer will potentially deliver a number of other intriguing benefits. MacRumors previously published a pretty good description of what these benefits could include:

Examples of how this could be used include pointing your iPhone's camera at a building and the phone telling you what building it is by combining GPS, accelerometer and compass information. The iPhone could even overlay graphics and text on top of the image to provide additional information. Another application described is the ability to show information about stars and constellations simply by pointing your iPhone towards the sky.

Boot Camp in Snow Leopard

Meanwhile, the rumor site on Friday said its turned up evidence that a new version of Apple's Boot Camp utility being tested as part of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard includes Windows HFS+ drivers, which let Windows installations read Mac OS X HFS+ formatted partitions.

This added support will make it more convenient for Snow Leopard users to swap files between their Windows and Mac partitions, according to the report.

Users of Mac OS X 10.5 Snow Leopard are afforded this option, but only through third-party add-ons such as Mediafour's MacDrive

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[lilgto64]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Turn-by-turn GPS device maker TomTom is reportedly recruiting developers to help churn out an iPhone app. Meanwhile, next-gen iPhone hardware should include a digital compass. And Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard will reportedly allow Windows partitions running under Boot Camp to read Mac partitions.

TomTom iPhone App

That would be sweet - and with a jack that accepts a standard audio plug - I might just be able to use my phone as an iPod and a GPS as well as a phone.

[OwlBoy]

Originally Posted by lilgto64

That would be sweet - and with a jack that accepts a standard audio plug - I might just be able to use my phone as an iPod and a GPS as well as a phone.

I am pretty sure the current generation of iPhones don't have a recessed headphone jack.

[KingOfSomewhereHot]

Originally Posted by OwlBoy

I am pretty sure the current generation of iPhones don't have a recessed headphone jack.

True ... only the first year's iPhones had that silly limitation.

[macosxp]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Users of Mac OS X 10.5 Snow Leopard are afforded this option, but only through third-party add-ons such as Mediafour's MacDrive

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

I think you mean, "Users of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard are...".

Cool stuff, can't wait for the future.

[akf2000]

Kitchen sink?

[macFanDave]

TomTom's just getting around to that now? I thought as soon as the iPhone 3G with GPS came out, there would be an app for that.

I just hope the app project doesn't go under the code name Godot!

[lilgto64]

Originally Posted by OwlBoy

I am pretty sure the current generation of iPhones don't have a recessed headphone jack.

I do believe I had read that - as i have an original iPhone I have the recessed jack - so far the standard jack and the GPS chip and 3G have not been enough for me to make the jump - since I have an iPod, a TomTom, and a 3G notebook card - but I am hopeful that the next hardware bump of the phone will alone me to have one device - iPhone - instead of 3 - iPod, iPhone, TomTom - would simply things - especially when I have to fly somewhere - as it is kind of a pain to take all that stuff with me - especially if I want to use my BOSE noise canceling headphones on the plane.

Plus all the chargers for everything - I would only need to carry a USB iPhone connector plus maybe a USB to 12v car adapter (one with an airline option would be nice too).

[Roos24]

Well, here we go again. Two years in a row I stood front in line to get my iPhone so this year I had decided to skip it for a year. But now it appears that Apple is making it again very difficult for me to say "no". They are doing a good job to whet my appetite, and of many others I am sure. We'll see come June if I am strong enough to withstand it.

[Dazabrit]

Originally Posted by Roos24

Well, here we go again. Two years in a row I stood front in line to get my iPhone so this year I had decided to skip it for a year. But now it appears that Apple is making it again very difficult for me to say "no". They are doing a good job to whet my appetite, and of many others I am sure. We'll see come June if I am strong enough to withstand it.

You're not!! Admit it I'm exactly the same!!!

[solipsism]

Reading HFS+ is a nice touch, and I don't recall ever thinking about that as option for BootCamp before, but what about writing to it, too. Reading and Writing to ZFS will be native in Windows, right?

Originally Posted by akf2000

Kitchen sink?

That one is interesting. Why add the space if you don't intend to use it? I am guessing that Apple knows what will go there but it's extra super secret.

Originally Posted by macFanDave

TomTom's just getting around to that now? I thought as soon as the iPhone 3G with GPS came out, there would be an app for that.

They have had 9 months since the App Store launched and the SDK many months before that and yet they want to hire someone this summer with an assumed launch at the end of the year? What gives! There are already some impressive GPS apps available. Perhaps they are also creating HW that accompanies their App so it can be mounted, has a larger external speaker, a speaker out port,a nd perhaps some other things that TomToms have.

[ahmlco]

Isn't turn-by-turn nav one of those things best left to dedicated devices and automobile dashboards?

If you're on a trip long enough to require turn-by-turn directions, aren't you probably going to want to use your phone as, well, a phone? Check email or text messages at the stop light? Listen to music or audiobooks along the way?

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by ahmlco

Isn't turn-by-turn nav one of those things best left to dedicated devices and automobile dashboards?

If you're on a trip long enough to require turn-by-turn directions, aren't you probably going to want to use your phone as, well, a phone? Check email or text messages at the stop light? Listen to music or audiobooks along the way?

1) Depends on what you need it for. If it's for an occasional user having in your phone is probably best, especially if you are walking.

2) You shouldn't be checking email or texts while driving (sitting at a light is still driving, IMO). But if you have to it's hard to hit the Home button and then click email or Messages and then go abck to the GPS app.

3) The iPod app can play in the background. The 3rd-party app can turn it off or keep it running. I'd expect an y decent 3rd-party GPS app to turn down the audio and then announce the street.

[8CoreWhore]

I wonder if maybe TomTom wasn't interested in simply selling an App, so they passed. But now they see the potential of 3.0 and its hardware interface and they want to sell a mount/dock plus an App. This way, they can load their own maps via an SD card into the dock instead of licensing googlemaps.

[GMHut]

Originally Posted by solipsism

1) Depends on what you need it for. If it's for an occasional user having in your phone is probably best, especially if you are walking.

2) You shouldn't be checking email or texts while driving (sitting at a light is still driving, IMO). But if you have to it's hard to hit the Home button and then click email or Messages and then go abck to the GPS app.

3) The iPod app can play in the background. The 3rd-party app can turn it off or keep it running. I'd expect an y decent 3rd-party GPS app to turn down the audio and then announce the street.

I think I read somewhere that the next gen 'Touch' prodcuts will come with a built in glory hole, adding new meaning to "iTouch."

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by 8CoreWhore

I wonder if maybe TomTom wasn't interested in simply selling an App, so they passed. But now they see the potential of 3.0 and its hardware interface and they want to sell a mount/dock plus an App. This way, they can load their own maps via an SD card into the dock instead of licensing googlemaps.

The first part sounds reasonable, but the licensing of Google Maps is not possible for turn-by-turn. It's what Apple stated was the reason for not having it in Maps and that GPS apps will have to supply their own maps, which TomTom has. But you have a point, they may want to sell a HW kit for the device.

[BenRoethig]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Boot Camp in Snow Leopard

Meanwhile, the rumor site on Friday said its turned up evidence that a new version of Apple's Boot Camp utility being tested as part of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard includes Windows HFS+ drivers, which let Windows installations read Mac OS X HFS+ formatted partitions.

This added support will make it more convenient for Snow Leopard users to swap files between their Windows and Mac partitions, according to the report.

Users of Mac OS X 10.5 Snow Leopard are afforded this option, but only through third-party add-ons such as Mediafour's MacDrive

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

Being able to use your HFS drives with your windows partition is great, but If this could allow you if use your itunes media from your Mac account on Windows account it would be very helpful and save a lot of hard drive space.

[daabido]

What has been sorely lacking at an OS level, both from Microsoft and Apple, is the ability to read and write to the file system used by the other. In this day and age of mixed networks, this completely seems like a child throwing a tantrum.

Sure, we can use MacDrive on the Windows side, or NTFS 3g or Paragon on the Mac side, by why should we have to? Both OSs should include native read write capabilities for both HFS+ and NTFS.

[gwarf420]

Originally Posted by akf2000

Kitchen sink?

I think the programmers were playing around and put it in as a joke. There is a saying, "includes everything but the kitchen sink." Here, it is joking that the new iPhone hardware will include everything AND the kitchen sink.

[dreyfus2]

Originally Posted by gwarf420

I think the programmers were playing around and put it in as a joke. There is a saying, "includes everything but the kitchen sink." Here, it is joking that the new iPhone hardware will include everything AND the kitchen sink.

Not sure about that... As this is the debug menu, it could simply contain excess debug data that is not covered in any other category.

[GregoriusM]

TomTom were never able to write an app because Apple wouldn't let them. Now that OS 3.0 has been announced that lets the developer BYOM (Bring Your Own Maps) as was presented in the Keynote address, TomTom has obviously decided to step up their efforts.

Previously, the only maps on the iPhone were Google's and they weren't, and still won't be, able to be used by 3rd party apps for what TomTom wants to do with them. I'm sure other manufacturers are considering the iPhone for an app as well, although it will conflict to a certain extent with their own software/hardware combinations.

Again, TomTom was interested but Apple wouldn't/didn't provide them the means to do what they wanted to do. Now, with OS 3.0, TT can do what they wanted to.

Look for a TomTom app by the end of the year, IMHO.

Greg

[ouragan]

Meanwhile, the rumor site on Friday said its turned up evidence that a new version of Apple's Boot Camp utility being tested as part of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard includes Windows HFS+ drivers, which let Windows installations read Mac OS X HFS+ formatted partitions.

This added support will make it more convenient for Snow Leopard users to swap files between their Windows and Mac partitions, according to the report.

Users of Mac OS X 10.5 Snow Leopard are afforded this option, but only through third-party add-ons such as Mediafour's MacDrive

Mac OS 10.6 will include a copy of free, open source HFS Explorer 0.21 which allows Windows to read the HFS, HFS+ and HFSX formats used by Mac OS X. HFS Explorer can also read most .dmg disk images created on a Mac.

Get a free copy now at http://hem.bredband.net/catacombae/hfsx.html

[christopher126]

Next step "Sky Caddy" app for GPS on the Golf course!

You heard it here first!

Have a great weekend everyone!

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by lilgto64

I do believe I had read that - as i have an original iPhone I have the recessed jack - so far the standard jack and the GPS chip and 3G have not been enough for me to make the jump - since I have an iPod, a TomTom, and a 3G notebook card - but I am hopeful that the next hardware bump of the phone will alone me to have one device - iPhone - instead of 3 - iPod, iPhone, TomTom - would simply things - especially when I have to fly somewhere - as it is kind of a pain to take all that stuff with me - especially if I want to use my BOSE noise canceling headphones on the plane.

Plus all the chargers for everything - I would only need to carry a USB iPhone connector plus maybe a USB to 12v car adapter (one with an airline option would be nice too).

Don't they have adapters for the jack for like $5?

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by ahmlco

Isn't turn-by-turn nav one of those things best left to dedicated devices and automobile dashboards?

If you're on a trip long enough to require turn-by-turn directions, aren't you probably going to want to use your phone as, well, a phone? Check email or text messages at the stop light? Listen to music or audiobooks along the way?

Yeah, I guess they should make a device that isn't permanently affixed to the dash. Someone should tell Apple to change their plans

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by cameronj

Don't they have adapters for the jack for like $5?

I've seen the adpater for under a $1 online. If you used a headphone that didn't have such a thick plastic cap or you shaved the tip of the plastic cap you could get it there, which would save the expense.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by solipsism

I've seen the adpater for under a $1 online. If you used a headphone that didn't have such a thick plastic cap or you shaved the tip of the plastic cap you could get it there, which would save the expense.

Exactly. I can't see why someone with a first generation iPhone would still be complaining about the recessed jack limiting functionality. By now you should have the extender and be all set.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by cameronj

Exactly. I can't see why someone with a first generation iPhone would still be complaining about the recessed jack limiting functionality. By now you should have the extender and be all set.

It's funny, I heard more complaining about the iPhone audio jack, despite most people using Apple's supplied headphones, than I have ever heard about HTC's common use of a mini-USB compatible ExtUSB jack, like on the Android T-Mobile G1/HTC Dream. These forums were bombarded by complainers from Apple switching their entire line to the open and better DisplayPort standard, so I can't imagine what would happen if Apple used a wonky audio jack setup like that.

[PXT]

The more integration between Mac & Windows, the closer we get to the first Windows virus to screw Mac users.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by PXT

The more integration between Mac & Windows, the closer we get to the first Windows virus to screw Mac users.

That does seem like a valid reason why Apple wouldn't want to allow native write capabilities to HFS+ from Windows.

[dreyfus2]

Originally Posted by solipsism

These forums were bombarded by complainers from Apple switching their entire line to the open and better DisplayPort standard, so I can't imagine what would happen if Apple used a proprietary audio jack setup.

Apple does not use the "open and better DisplayPort standard", they use a proprietary and absolutely non-standard Mini DisplayPort abomination. This thing has only one benefit: size. Other than that it only has a few problems:
1. There is only one single display on the entire market that supports it without pricey adapters.
2. There are not even Mini-DP to DP adapters available.
3. You can no longer use third party 30" displays, as the Mini-DP to Dual-Link DVI adapter does only reliably support the 30" ACD.
4. Even if using Apple's 30" ACD, you get occasional noise (dancing red dots), reports point to cable length and connector fit issues (people could solve the problem by adding a costly dual-link DVI repeater to the chain)... so: adding a 100 USD adapter plus a 200 USD repeater will get you the same quality that used to be included for free.
5. They do not even have audio on the damn thing (and that is part of the standard). E.g. hooking up to a flat-screen TV requires as little as: a. Mini-DP to DVI adapter, b. DVI to HDMI cable, c. mini (3.5mm) stereo-jack to Toslink adapter, d. Toslink cable ... a single standard HDMI or DP output would have solved all of that. Most displays today have HDMI in and HDMI can easily support the same resolutions; the Mini-HDMI port is a standard and it does work, Mini-DP does not – it is not much bigger either. Apple keeps making devices thinner while adding more and more adapters and cables to our bags.
6. You can no longer extract a composite or S-Video signal (both are garbage, I know, but there are still cases in which you need them).

These people are not complainers, they have a very valid point. Apple screwed this up royally.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by dreyfus2

Apple does not use the "open and better DisplayPort standard", they use a proprietary and absolutely non-standard Mini DisplayPort abomination. This thing has only one benefit: size. Other than that it only has a few problems:
1. There is only one single display on the entire market that supports it without pricey adapters.
2. There are not even Mini-DP to DP adapters available.
3. You can no longer use third party 30" displays, as the Mini-DP to Dual-Link DVI adapter does only reliably support the 30" ACD.
4. Even if using Apple's 30" ACD, you get occasional noise (dancing red dots), reports point to cable length and connector fit issues (people could solve the problem by adding a costly dual-link DVI repeater to the chain)... so: adding a 100 USD adapter plus a 200 USD repeater will get you the same quality that used to be included for free.
5. They do not even have audio on the damn thing (and that is part of the standard). E.g. hooking up to a flat-screen TV requires as little as: a. Mini-DP to DVI adapter, b. DVI to HDMI cable, c. mini (3.5mm) stereo-jack to Toslink adapter, d. Toslink cable ... a single standard HDMI or DP output would have solved all of that. Most displays today have HDMI in and HDMI can easily support the same resolutions; the Mini-HDMI port is a standard and it does work, Mini-DP does not – it is not much bigger either. Apple keeps making devices thinner while adding more and more adapters and cables to our bags.
6. You can no longer extract a composite or S-Video signal (both are garbage, I know, but there are still cases in which you need them).

These people are not complainers, they have a very valid point. Apple screwed this up royally.

• mini-DisplayPort is not proprietary. It's open to all and part of the VESA standard.
• Besides the small size it has more bandwidth that HDMI or DVI, it's royalty free.
• I've seen adapters as low as $12, but there are no mDP-to-DP at this point, but to think they aren't coming this early in the game is unrealistic.
• Audio is an optional part of the standard. Macs, which are computers not home entertainment appliances, may never get that option, though I hope they do. Apple has never focused their machines to be hooked up to HDTVs, but instead to monitors even though it's still quite simple.
• You are purposely creating a foolish scenario of excessive adapters instead of using a more direct approach.
• They have made all their consumer devices use mDP, instead of micro-DVi, mini-DVI, and DL-DVI, yet you say they require more adapters. That is a bit hard to swallow.
• There are cases in which people will always need old, outdated standards, but Apple is not and will not support those very few people. If you need composite and S-Video then a Mac is not the machine for you. It's really that simple!

[sapporobabyrtrns]

Originally Posted by ahmlco

Isn't turn-by-turn nav one of those things best left to dedicated devices and automobile dashboards?

If you're on a trip long enough to require turn-by-turn directions, aren't you probably going to want to use your phone as, well, a phone? Check email or text messages at the stop light? Listen to music or audiobooks along the way?

I've been using turn-by-turn in my Nokia phones for about 3 years now. It works quite well.

[hill60]

Originally Posted by sapporobabyrtrns

I've been using turn-by-turn in my Nokia phones for about 3 years now. It works quite well.

I've been using street directories in my cars for about 30 years I managed quite well without voice guidance.

I want to throw my wife's Navman out the window sometimes, take the left exit onto the freeway...

...99% of my car trips start that way I KNOW that part already and the "proceed 15 miles" (There I Americanized it).

The rare occasions I use my iPhone for directions is after I've reached the general area I'm heading to when I can start looking for landmarks I found previously in streetview.

Besides I can always get the wife or kids to hold the iPhone and give voice directions with real time voice activated feedback.

[enzos]

Great answer, Solip!

Getting back to the magnetometer thing. Can anyone else see the prospect (a la Dark Knight or Matrix) of now being able to photo-map (and holographically reconstitute) interiors and exteriors of buildings, cities, countries, planets...? (OK that's enough overactive SF imagination)

We live in exciting times.

Enz

[brucep]

Originally Posted by lilgto64

I do believe I had read that - as i have an original iPhone I have the recessed jack - so far the standard jack and the GPS chip and 3G have not been enough for me to make the jump - since I have an iPod, a TomTom, and a 3G notebook card - but I am hopeful that the next hardware bump of the phone will alone me to have one device - iPhone - instead of 3 - iPod, iPhone, TomTom - would simply things - especially when I have to fly somewhere - as it is kind of a pain to take all that stuff with me - especially if I want to use my BOSE noise canceling headphones on the plane.

Plus all the chargers for everything - I would only need to carry a USB iPhone connector plus maybe a USB to 12v car adapter (one with an airline option would be nice too).

what kind of 3 g card do you have ??
and what exactly does it do ??
thank you

[brucep]

Originally Posted by dreyfus2

Apple does not use the "open and better DisplayPort standard", they use a proprietary and absolutely non-standard Mini DisplayPort abomination. This thing has only one benefit: size. Other than that it only has a few problems:
1. There is only one single display on the entire market that supports it without pricey adapters.
2. There are not even Mini-DP to DP adapters available.
3. You can no longer use third party 30" displays, as the Mini-DP to Dual-Link DVI adapter does only reliably support the 30" ACD.
4. Even if using Apple's 30" ACD, you get occasional noise (dancing red dots), reports point to cable length and connector fit issues (people could solve the problem by adding a costly dual-link DVI repeater to the chain)... so: adding a 100 USD adapter plus a 200 USD repeater will get you the same quality that used to be included for free.
5. They do not even have audio on the damn thing (and that is part of the standard). E.g. hooking up to a flat-screen TV requires as little as: a. Mini-DP to DVI adapter, b. DVI to HDMI cable, c. mini (3.5mm) stereo-jack to Toslink adapter, d. Toslink cable ... a single standard HDMI or DP output would have solved all of that. Most displays today have HDMI in and HDMI can easily support the same resolutions; the Mini-HDMI port is a standard and it does work, Mini-DP does not – it is not much bigger either. Apple keeps making devices thinner while adding more and more adapters and cables to our bags.
6. You can no longer extract a composite or S-Video signal (both are garbage, I know, but there are still cases in which you need them).

These people are not complainers, they have a very valid point. Apple screwed this up royally.

Did they ??? Or maybe they want to sell more of there ...

[city]

The current iPhone commercials show a compass app, but I couldn't find a working compass at the app store.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by city

The current iPhone commercials show a compass app, but I couldn't find a working compass at the app store.

I think they all work by having you figure out North first and then using the accelerometer to determine when you turn.

• http://ax.search.itunes.apple.com/We...s&term=compass

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by enzos

(OK that's enough overactive SF imagination)

Overacting San Francisco imagination or Sci-Fi imagination?