iPhone Software/Hardware Hack: LocoGPS - GPS Add-on for the iPhone

One of the features missing from the iPhone's rich feature list is a Global Positioning System (GPS), we have already seen Navizon release its virtual GPS product "Navizon" as a native iPhone application as an alternative to the lack of the GPS feature in Apple's iPhone.

However, if you are not too convinced of its accuracy due to the methodology used like many readers here @ iPhone Hacks then you will find Part Foundry's hardware/software GPS add-on called "LocoGPS for the iPhone" an interesting solution to the lack of GPS feature.

Part Foundry is working on a GPS hardware/software solution called LocoGPS.

The hardware component which one needs to plug into the 30-pin connector consists of a custom micro-controller and a stand GPS component. The hardware component will be charged via the iPhone. The software application is a native app which presents the current physical latitude and longitude based on satellite data called from the hardware component.

The native iPhone application will have a "show Map" button that will launch the Google Map iPhone application to display the current location based on the data gathered from the hardware component. PartFoundry claims that by using the hardware/software solution the accuracy would be between 5 to 10 meters.

Part Foundry is also planning to add further enhancements by the time of the launch such as live-updating location capabilities etc.

They are expected to start shipping LocoGPS from Feb 08 and plan to sell the GPS add-on for $90. But do remember if you are looking to buy it; you will need to ensure you have a jailbroken iPhone to install the native iPhone application.

The video of the first prototype will give you some idea of what to expect:

Rendering of the production version of LocoGPS below:

Thanks dggraphics and chris for highlighting the spelling and grammatical mistakes. They have been corrected.

[via Part Foundry]

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