Hands on: Navigating with Apple iPhone 3G

So how good is the Apple iPhone 3G as a navigator? Well, our test team just returned from an initial, real-world session. While we have only just begun our full, authoritative test, our initial impression is that the iPhone 3G does indeed improve over the previous iPhone in pinpointing your location, however the navigation ability does not approach that of previously tested competing GPS-enabled cell phones nor dedicated navigation devices.

How it navigates
The new iPhone 3G can use signals from Wi-Fi hot spots and cellular towers, as well as GPS satellites to identify a location. In our experience, starting from Consumer Reports’ Yonkers, New York, offices, the iPhone 3G placed a blue graphic beacon on our current location. As with Google Maps online, the maps are viewable with a choice of traditional two-dimensional map, satellite, and hybrid views. You can choose both start and finish points. However, for a mobile device, especially for driving, the default setup is more intuitive, routing from the current position.

Entering the address differs slightly from typical personal navigation devices (PNDs), allowing you to input the information all on a single line, rather than step through house number, street, and city menu screens. Pins are placed at each end of the highlighted route, showing the recommended path.

The iPhone indicates how many maneuvers are necessary to navigate the route atop the map display. You can scroll through to see a detailed, exploded view of each step. It can also be previewed as a simple, text direction list.

To get started, we centered the screen on our current location. As you follow the highlighted route, your blue position beacon progresses across the map. The iPhone can display instructions when selected, however it does not issue directions on screen or through audio cues.

Should you take a wrong turn, or intentionally deviate from the recommended route, your blue beacon simply leaves the highlighted route. Unlike a PND, the iPhone 3G will not automatically reroute. This is a significant limitation for driving, especially as it depends on your reading the screen for guidance, meaning your eyes must routinely leave the road to check progress—a safety concern. If you are off course, you can reroute from your current location by manually forcing the route to be plotted anew.

A benefit of being a connected device, it can advise to traffic conditions and has a robust points of interest (POI) feature set. From the map screen, you have quick access to searching POIs. However, rather than step the user through pre-sorted categories, it has an open query more akin to initiating a Google search.

Should you search for Italian restaurants, for example, it marks nearby locations with red pins. Touch a pin, and it will give the restaurant name. Touch again, and it provides basic address and contact information, and it enables you to then route to that location. We found this both helpful and easy to use.

CR’s take: Our initial impression is that Apple has engineered a mobile, connected device that provides basic navigational guidance, however even with the iPhone 3G’s improvements, it still does not rival key competitors nor dedicated navigation devices. The lack of simple audio and onscreen turn-by-turn directions limits the iPhone 3G’s appeal as a travel aid.

In the days ahead, we will continue to evaluate the iPhone 3G both in the lab and in the real-world to more fully assess its navigational abilities, as well as telephony functions.

—Jeff Bartlett and Frank Spinelli

For more iPhone 3G information, read:
Apple's iPhone 3G: How it's shaping up
The New iPhone: 5 reasons to wait
Apple puts new iPhone 3G on the GPS navigation map

And our iPhone special section.

For more information on portable GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums. 

Comments

[annie judis]

I am taking my new iphone 16gb back to the store today, I get to many drop calls. Not happy , I like my first Iphone it work much better.

[Mark Peskin]

This review seems to confuse hardware with software (granted, many readers may not understand the difference...). The Google Maps application which ships with the iPhone 3G was not intended as a "live" navigation tool, so of course it has limitations with respect to dedicated turn-by-turn navigators, but at least one vendor (TeleNav) and possibly others (TomTom?) are developing turn by turn navigation applications for the iPhone which will be available through the App Store. I think the jury is still out until these navigation apps are released.

[mark]

So disappointed with my new iphone also !

[bluetooth]

Swedish researchers uses pulses of heat on your skin to get the message across, and to direct you using GPS.