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Navizon Lite offers free GPS positioning to 1/2 mile

by Erica Sadun Dec 10th 2007 at 5:00PM

I have posted before about Navizon, the iPhone pseudo-GPS system. It uses cell phone towers to provide a rough estimate of your location without using actual satellite GPS positioning information. It costs $25 to buy and people have reported mixed results. Since all the cell phone tower information is provided by volunteers, some positioning is more accurate, especially in areas with a high population density where people have better filled in data.

If you don't mind being off by a half mile or more, Navizon has released a low-rent freebie version that they say is accurate to about 1000 meters. (Navizon claims 10-30m accuracy for the paid version.) This makes the tool pretty much worthless for anyone, say, on the Amazing Race (they took two clues, why weren't they penalized?) but not so bad if it works for people driving along highways.

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I have posted before about Navizon, the iPhone pseudo-GPS system. It uses cell phone towers to provide a rough estimate of your location...
 

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Jiraffe

When I tried Navizon, it usually couldn't place me anywhere. When it did place me, it often was a few states off. I just downloaded it again and gave it a fresh try. This time it was ONLY 3 miles off. I suppose it could be useful if I didn't even know what city I was in. Otherwise, not at all useful with this level of accuracy.

December 11 2007 at 10:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jon

The advantage of knowing where you are to 1/2 mile accuracy is useful if you don't need to know your exact location. For example, if you are in a strange place and you want to go to Starbucks, you don't need to work out the address and zip code. You can find your approximate location automatically and work from there.

December 11 2007 at 1:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jon's comment
Dave

With a 1/2 mile or more inaccuracy rate, if you aren't clever enough to figure out where you on Google Maps by looking at the street sign and number of your location, and don't know the name of the city you are in, I can assure you that the "you're somewhere in the vicinity of" type of positioning this service gives isn't going to get you to that Starbucks any quicker, and could likely send you on a wild goose chase.

This service is just ridiculous, as is the constant whining about lack of a GPS in the phone.

December 13 2007 at 9:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Alex in Amsterdam

Come on folks. GPS within 1/2 mile? Why do they even bother? What use is this to anyone? If you need GPS to tell you which freeway you are on, well, you shouldn't be driving. And anything more precise this thing can't do. I hope TUAW isn't actually recommending this "tool".

December 11 2007 at 1:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ben

If you ask me, this software is amazing. Yes, the iPhone should have GPS, but it doesnt. So given what Navizon has to work with, this program is pretty cool. If you are really upset about how accurate it is, then go to their blog (http://navizon.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/navizon-for-pc-.html) and learn about how you can make coverage better. I haven't checked recently, but in the past, if you are contributing to their database, you get a free version.

If you still aren't satisfied, go by yourself a garmin.

December 10 2007 at 7:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Ben's comment
rawhead

No, it's not impressive in light of the fact that if/when the Google Maps update comes, it will be

(1) Free, and
(2) Much, MUCH, more accurate than Navizon (see my post above about MyLocation).

December 10 2007 at 8:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Daniel Burns

Navizon works with cell towers too. But it is disingenuous for them to say that their paid service works within a 10-30m accuracy range. It is not that good in many places.

Until it is an approved app through Apple's (yet to be) SDK program, $0.00 is the most I am willing to pay.

Oh well. Their business I guess.

December 10 2007 at 7:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John Doe

this is ridiculous. there is NO REASON for the iPhone not to have GPS. I mean, even the FREE phones have GPS these days.

December 10 2007 at 6:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mr. O

West LA and Navizon has me more than 4 miles from my actual location.

Nice...I'm totally ready to pay you guys for an upgrade.

/sarcasm

December 10 2007 at 6:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ian

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe they haven't yet tapped into the iPhone's tower list yet. They are deriving location based completely off of wireless network SSIDs which have been mapped by drive-by.

December 10 2007 at 5:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Ian's comment
Pants

9.4 miles away... I am listed somewhere in the middle of Hudson River just north of the Tappan Zee Bridge. Not sure how helpful this is...

December 10 2007 at 5:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jon

Google offers this on their Maps service but as far as I'm aware it doesn't work on iPhones yet. But it will be free when it does.

December 10 2007 at 5:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jon's comment
rawhead

Actually, "MyLocation" beta allowed us to use the Google Maps / database to do the same pseudo-GPS on the iPhone. Unfortunately, Google apparently sent Sanoodi.com a cease and desist, so it's not functioning now. Double unfortunate because comparing MyLocation and Navizon (even with their "full" trial version), the results are outrageously in favor of MyLocation (i.e., Google Maps / database).

From my home, MyLocation gave me a spot within 200 m away. Navizon thinks I am 1.9 miles away. Useless.

December 10 2007 at 5:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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