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SDK Agreement Prohibits Direction Apps, Auto-Pilots, Emergency Apps

Submitted by Edward Kirk on June 11, 2008 - 12:20pm.
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It looks like the guys over at TomTom are out of luck. A reader of BoingBoing recently found a section in the Apple iPhone SDK agreement that poses a limitation on what kinds of applications that can be written for the iPhone that pertain to applications that would be useful for the new GPS capabilities in iPhone 3G.

From the document:

Applications may not be designed or marketed for real time route guidance; automatic or autonomous control of vehicles, aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life-saving purposes.

That would include any sort of third-party developed turn-by-turn direction applications, like the TomTom software. As for the control of vehicles and software for life-saving purposes, both sound really cool, but Apple doesn't seem to agree. It could be possible that they don't want to be responsible if something goes wrong, which would be understandable.

[via BoingBoing Gadgets]

Looks like jailbreaking will live on!

Submitted by Gee Dee (not verified) on June 11, 2008 - 12:54pm.
Idiots. The 3G looks like it will fail--why have the GPS unless you can have a TomTom like program? It seems to me like 2G iPhone will get more valuable: they share the top speed with the 3G iphone (WiFi) and 3G is available in very limited areas in the US, the 2G has longer battery life, they have the same processing speed, and you're no better off getting directions with the 2G than the 3G's GPS if there's no TomTom aor Garmin application. Not to mention over the first year of use you will pay more for the 3G phone because of the rate hike than the 2G.

exclusive?

Submitted by Henno (not verified) on June 11, 2008 - 1:11pm.
Maybe TomTom got an exclusive deal beforehand?

Submitted by Chuckb223 (not verified) on June 11, 2008 - 1:41pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Henno View Post
Maybe TomTom got an exclusive deal beforehand?
I would have to agree here. Someone got an exclusive deal. Could be anyone though, Google, Tom Tom, etc...

other plans likely

Submitted by ga1lyons on June 11, 2008 - 3:39pm.
My guess is that, more likely google is going to fill the turnby turn roll. and with apple and goog being so close...

but unless they are doing turnby turn there is really not much of a reason to have a gps that will update at the rate which they demoed.

Guess i'll have to buy me a tomtom

it's just liability

Submitted by Thayne (not verified) on June 11, 2008 - 6:14pm.
Guys, guys, it's simple. It's simply a liability issue. Apple can't allow people to be distracted behind the wheels of their cars using iPhones for turn-by-turn directions. It's simply a liability issue. This is the same reason they never released a version of their "Nike+iPod" for bicycles. Think about it, if they promote biking while listening to music, the first person to get run over is going to sue and it's going to be a huge lawsuit.

Just remember that you have to think of the big picture with these things and usually the limiting factor is a legal issue.

It's simply liability.

Submitted by Manoi (not verified) on June 12, 2008 - 10:32am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thayne View Post
Guys, guys, it's simple. It's simply a liability issue. Apple can't allow people to be distracted behind the wheels of their cars using iPhones for turn-by-turn directions. It's simply a liability issue. This is the same reason they never released a version of their "Nike+iPod" for bicycles. Think about it, if they promote biking while listening to music, the first person to get run over is going to sue and it's going to be a huge lawsuit.

Just remember that you have to think of the big picture with these things and usually the limiting factor is a legal issue.

It's simply liability.
That doesn't make any sense. Millions of people use some form of navigation in their cars everyday. Besides, I think it's a lot less safe to talk on your phone while driving, then it is to have turn-by-turn directions coming from your phone.
Also, anyone who has a TomTom or Garmin navigation system knows that the second you turn it on, a disclaimer pops up, saying not to operate the system while driving your car. I'm sure the iPhone could have a similar disclaimer

Submitted by *flopethedope (not verified) on June 12, 2008 - 11:01am.
But the Maps app already has turn by turn.... How can they deny something that already exists on the iphone?