Faux GPS for Your iPhone

Michael Johnston · September 19th, 2007, 05:16 PM

A neat little application called Navizon appeared on the iPhone Installer list this morning. It feels like GPS, but it's actually based off of peer-collected information. Navizon allows you to find your general location using a combo of Wi-Fi and Cellular tower location information. It's not as accurate as GPS, but it's arguably much better than nothing.

Supposedly the data is obtained by individuals who kindly link GPS data to cellular towers. So the cool thing is that it's pier driven which works great... usually. I say usually because it doesn't seem to work in neck of the woods. By woods, I mean a fairly urban city near Chicago. Brian Lam did get it going, so I trust that it actually works.

You can download a copy of Navizon via the Installer app under "Network" on your iPhone. The application requires a Navizon account, which you can sign up for (free) at Navizon.com.

[Image and story via Gizmodo]

toyguymarc · **Used it** - September 19th, 2007, 06:25 PM #2

I downloaded this app this morning just to check it out and it gets pretty close to my location. Once again this app is used just to locate your position, not for navigation purposes

bboyredcel · September 19th, 2007, 06:30 PM #3

doesnt work

Werto · September 19th, 2007, 06:33 PM #4

Quote:

Originally Posted by bboyredcel

doesnt work

Seems to work for me in Denver. Hit the "Directions" button on the lower left and the app will automatically put your current position in the starting position on Google maps.

Pepper · September 19th, 2007, 06:50 PM #5

i'm not to far outside St. Louis and its not working out to well for me. Too bad.

**Works GREAT!!** - September 19th, 2007, 09:36 PM #6

So far it has pinpointed my location within 100 yards....

Keep in mind kids this is not to be used to navigation but more,where am I. then you can find thing near you. Starbucks train stations. so on and so forth.

Also this is the FIRST GPS application. Wait until the get the BT GPS devices working...... w00t

September 20th, 2007, 12:02 AM #7

It doesn't seem to work in the Mobile, AL area.

**works** - September 20th, 2007, 04:33 AM #8

Works near phila. airport good, but in my house it says no known cell towers/wifi found..

I will try when I am outside of my house.

September 20th, 2007, 10:03 AM #9

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgavula

It doesn't seem to work in the Mobile, AL area.

Same here in Mobile,Al

September 20th, 2007, 11:23 AM #10

lol i am in manhattan, and it thought i was in scotsdale, az? im inside though, maybe ill try when i go out

Hans · September 20th, 2007, 12:34 PM #11

tried it yesterday morning at work and it was across the bay and a few miles down the shore. then again this morning when i came home, couldnt find me at all
its a no go in san diego

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Michael Johnston This is my fricken site, durrrr Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 2,692 Thanks: 11 Thanked 45 Times in 40 Posts	Faux GPS for Your iPhone - September 19th, 2007, 05:16 PM #1
	A neat little application called Navizon appeared on the iPhone Installer list this morning. It feels like GPS, but it's actually based off of peer-collected information. Navizon allows you to find your general location using a combo of Wi-Fi and Cellular tower location information. It's not as accurate as GPS, but it's arguably much better than nothing. Supposedly the data is obtained by individuals who kindly link GPS data to cellular towers. So the cool thing is that it's pier driven which works great... usually. I say usually because it doesn't seem to work in neck of the woods. By woods, I mean a fairly urban city near Chicago. Brian Lam did get it going, so I trust that it actually works. You can download a copy of Navizon via the Installer app under "Network" on your iPhone. The application requires a Navizon account, which you can sign up for (free) at Navizon.com. [Image and story via Gizmodo] __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: White 32GB iPhone 3GS iPhone Version: Whatever the latest is because I'm crazy like that. Computer & OS: 15" Unibody MacBook Pro + OS X Leopard 10.5 AIM: iPhoneAlley twitter: MichaelJohnston

toyguymarc Forum Lurker Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Used it - September 19th, 2007, 06:25 PM #2
	I downloaded this app this morning just to check it out and it gets pretty close to my location. Once again this app is used just to locate your position, not for navigation purposes

bboyredcel New Recruit Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Fairfield, CT Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	September 19th, 2007, 06:30 PM #3
	doesnt work

Pepper Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 467 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	September 19th, 2007, 06:50 PM #5
	i'm not to far outside St. Louis and its not working out to well for me. Too bad. __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: Black 8GB iPhone 3G iPhone Version: 2.1 Computer & OS: MacBook Pro, OS X Leopard 10.5.5 Need Design Work Done? http://www.ezgraphicstudio.com Free Quality Photoshop Tutorials? http://www.psdvibe.com

Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	Works GREAT!! - September 19th, 2007, 09:36 PM #6
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	So far it has pinpointed my location within 100 yards.... Keep in mind kids this is not to be used to navigation but more,where am I. then you can find thing near you. Starbucks train stations. so on and so forth. Also this is the FIRST GPS application. Wait until the get the BT GPS devices working...... w00t

cgavula Guest Posts: n/a	September 20th, 2007, 12:02 AM #7
cgavula Guest Posts: n/a	It doesn't seem to work in the Mobile, AL area.

Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	works - September 20th, 2007, 04:33 AM #8
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	Works near phila. airport good, but in my house it says no known cell towers/wifi found.. I will try when I am outside of my house.

Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	September 20th, 2007, 11:23 AM #10
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	lol i am in manhattan, and it thought i was in scotsdale, az? im inside though, maybe ill try when i go out

Hans Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 391 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	September 20th, 2007, 12:34 PM #11
	tried it yesterday morning at work and it was across the bay and a few miles down the shore. then again this morning when i came home, couldnt find me at all its a no go in san diego