I knew the iPhone 3GS’s pictures had GPS coordinates in them. You can easily access this data via the ‘exif_read_data’ in PHP 4.2.0 and above. That’s cool stuff to me. I wrote something to get all of the coordinates and link them to a Google map. That was nifty.

//Thar be coordinates

I was wondering if coordinates were in the videos. So, I opened iPhoto and checked out the detailed data of a video. Sure enough! The coordinates are in it!  I tried to use the ‘exif_read_data’ but it spewed an error that they were not supported file types.  In actual reading of the manual, sure enough, it is only for .jpg and .tif images.  Crud.

//Getting deeper – just a matter of digging through the file

I put on my propeller hat and started hacking away and checking stuff out.  Yep, found the data in the file.  Easy squeazy.  I dug out the coordinates and I am now able to do what I want with it.  This is another reason that I host my own videos now.  I can display any data that I want and how I want it displayed.  It is really simple.  My data, my display, my backups and my everything!

//Now display all of this cool data you found

I am working on a page to just list all of the videos (from now on) and have basic information that is searchable (even from the iPhone since I can’t CTRL-F or Command-F and find stuff on a page).  Just a simple page with everything.  I may do something else in a few years as I have plans if I continue to send videos to the blog.  It is REALLY cool.

//I like to share

If you are geeky and wanna know how I did it, feel free to ask.  You can figure it out too.  The information is available.

I have traveled a good bit recently.  I have used a Garmin GPS in the RV, a Toyota GPS in the wife’s minivan and also an iPhone to supplement both at times.  The biggest thing is when you have no service (read – AT&T sucks!) you will not have map data.  If you are lost, do you want to look for cellular service so you can find your way out?  NO!  A real GPS has maps stored on the device and requires no outside information.  I use the iPhone at times to look things up but it will never be good enough to be any type of automobile navigation.  Save your pennies and get a real GPS.  I have also owned a TomTom but I would recommend any Garmin over the TomTom.  The Toyota GPS was more helpful in Canada in my experience (over Garmin).

TomTom released it’s navigation application for the iPhone and the link will take you to a review of the application if you want to see it.