Will you need 3GS for TRUE turn by turn?

[FerraraZ]

I have a 3G and honestly I would sell my jailbroken 3G and upgrade to a 3GS if it meant GPS.

You know what I mean by true turn by turn gps. The kind that replaces an actual gps. I was thinking because of the digital compass it is possible but can the 3G do this as well or is the only difference now that the 3G can tell you when to turn but not exactly follow you and direct you.

I know I'm being kind of vague.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Yes, the compass function actually allows for true turn by turn. It's a secondary reason for why I'm ponying up the big money for the upgrade. My primary reason is that the 3 megapixel cam with AF and video recording make it damn worth it.

 

[FerraraZ]

Yeap, well my good sir you just clarified why I'm buying the 3GS

 

[Kaido]

Nah, I think it's too small to be easily usable as an in-car GPS (by me, at least). Plus, I'm a Garmin guy and they're obviously pushing Tom Tom as the premier iPhone GPS solution.

I really want to get my hands on one of those new 5" widescreen Garmins...ooOOoooO!

 

[Muadib]

The 3G does turn by turn just fine. Since you are jailbroken, download xGPS, and see for yourself. I used it when I was on vacation in April, and it was pretty good. The directions were perfect, but the map would flip upside down after making a turn sometimes. It had other issues, like it gave me measurements in metric instead of miles & feet, but it's free. It's had an update since, but I haven't tried it.

Now, the 3GS may do GPS better because of the compass, & faster cpu, but the 3G can do it.

 

[Kmax82]

Originally posted by: Muadib
The 3G does turn by turn just fine. Since you are jailbroken, download xGPS, and see for yourself. I used it when I was on vacation in April, and it was pretty good. The directions were perfect, but the map would flip upside down after making a turn sometimes. It had other issues, like it gave me measurements in metric instead of miles & feet, but it's free. It's had an update since, but I haven't tried it.

Now, the 3GS may do GPS better because of the compass, & faster cpu, but the 3G can do it.

True. The compass mainly makes it easier because it knows which way you are actually going. I find that to be the best part about a TomTom/Garmin/etc... GPS. Phones are now getting compasses though, and that will make it super! I will more than likely be upgrading when I'm eligible, depending on when I can upgrade.

 

[mugs]

Considering that the iPhone does a fine job of following where you're going without a compass, I don't see why a compass would be required for turn by turn directions. I'm not sure that car GPSes even have a hardware compass. My handheld Garmin definitely doesn't have a hardware compass - it determines your direction based on your movement. That's easy to do in a car.

 

[Kmax82]

Originally posted by: mugs
Considering that the iPhone does a fine job of following where you're going without a compass, I don't see why a compass would be required for turn by turn directions. I'm not sure that car GPSes even have a hardware compass. My handheld Garmin definitely doesn't have a hardware compass - it determines your direction based on your movement. That's easy to do in a car.

Well the hardware compass is more for determining what direction you are in when you start. So for instance, when I'm sitting in my car at a red light and I punch directions into my iPhone, it would know that I'm waiting facing the street that I need to turn on, so it's more accurate. The iPhone is fine now, but the compass just makes it better.