Newer images of iPhone spotted -- with new features?

by Brian White posted May 9th 2007 at 9:33PM

It looks as if the Google Maps app inside the upcoming Apple iPhone may have gotten a few more useful icons according to recent reports. The"up/down arrows" and "front-facing car" icons in the above image lead us to think that the Google Maps demo by Steve Jobs back during January's iPhone announcement wasn't totally showing the app's capabilities at that time (nor should it have been). Do the arrows signify "directions" and the car icon "traffic?" That sounds plausible to us. Google Maps may be the iPhone's built-in complete navigation solution if this is true. After all, looking at map and satellite images is nice and handy, but a complete navigation solution would be even better to those who plunk down serious cash for the iPhone.

Filed under: Handsets, Software, Apple

Tags: AAPL, Apple, Apple iPhone, AppleIphone, GOOG, Google Maps, Google navigation, GoogleMaps, GoogleNavigation, iPhone, iPhone Google Maps, IphoneGoogleMaps

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Pat @ May 9th 2007 10:05PM

no, the PR photos and the website always had the arrows and car

Neutral

Steve Wells @ May 9th 2007 10:41PM

Yeah, those exact pictures have been floating around the net for quite some time. Engadgets source verification is getting pretty flaky.

Neutral

stephen @ May 9th 2007 11:17PM

it's not really a complete navigation system if it doesn't have gps...which it doesn't. but i'm sure the directions and traffic work nicer then google maps on a treo.

Neutral

agupta @ May 10th 2007 12:14AM

i read somewhere that if u look up close the left button is a knife and fork, not two arrows, which means restaurants presumably and that the right button is to get directions... so don't get two excited. plus it doesn't have gps lol
who cares i'm still getting one

Neutral

Dylan @ May 10th 2007 12:51AM

So it doesn't have GPRS which means its not actually navi, its twice the size of the majority of the phones out there, its a Smartphone that doesn't allow you to run any other apps than those provided and its got a button that presumably indicates restaurant locations that most likely nobody will ever use....wow, sounds like an awesome product. Its sad but I'm sure you can count on the usual mindless Mac addicts to pick one up.

Neutral

Derek @ May 10th 2007 1:29AM

Sounds like poster number 5, is a dumb ass. Get your facts right pal, don't slam something you are in the dark of.

Neutral

mickey @ May 10th 2007 6:31AM

If anyone downloaded Google Maps for their phone, they would notice that it also has the Traffic and directions icons for months now. I know this because i installed it on my nokia n95 with its built-in GPS and google maps has no support for it, but if you have a data connection [i.e wifi, edge] then u can use those two features. wow....... iphone's isnt all that great people....

Neutral

InfinityFlex @ May 10th 2007 10:02AM

The Sprint BB 8830 I've been beta testing has GPS and Google Maps will show you your current location when it starts up, but that's it. It doesn't continue to track you after that. The built-in BB Maps program sucks but at least it actually does GPS navi and shows speed and direction while driving. It doesn't announce directions, though.

They could always throw GPS into the iPhone. I don't think it really would have been that hard for them. I agree with most other people, though, and think that this is the same old non-gps Google maps prog.

Neutral

ryan10ad @ May 10th 2007 12:11PM

I think the directions will tie in with the iPhone, but instead of having built in GPS, it would use Tower GPS where GPS is in the Cell phone tower.

Neutral

Matt @ May 10th 2007 2:03PM

Well, it's definitely a new(er) shot, since the carrier has changed from Cingular to AT&T, which happened on my Treo about a week ago.

Neutral

johdaxx @ May 10th 2007 3:09PM

'Traffic' and 'Directions' are what G Maps has available. On my Sony-Ericsson W810i I have to press the 3 key or the # key to access these features, or the Menu soft key to get a list. Been that way since last year, IIRC. I can even zoom in on the Eiffel Tower just like Steve.

You have to admit it's amusing that aside from the beautiful touchscreen and snazzy voicemail that the majority of iPhone features are available in a phone that's available from cingular for $69.99.

Neutral

Adrian @ May 11th 2007 7:45PM

While EDGE isn't horrible for data (I have it on my BB 8700) 3G data is just so damn fast that it's a shame this phone doesn't have it.

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