Database Develop

GPS Fix for Google Maps?

I know ppl use GPS test to get the GPS to be activated then launch google maps afterwards, is there not a reg key or another way other than having to launch 2 apps to get one to work?

Frontline said:
I know ppl use GPS test to get the GPS to be activated then launch google maps afterwards, is there not a reg key or another way other than having to launch 2 apps to get one to work?
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Click to collapse
The reason people are using another app to initialize the GPS is because Google Maps default timeout is riduclously low. As someone who has read 99% of the GPS-related posts in the Kaiser forum, I do not believe there is any other way to do it.
That being said, I am far from a master of Windows Mobile, so if someone knows different, please correct me.

Treo is right. the google time out is pretty shallow, and and about 25-30 seconds. Just use Live Search, its a lot better in terms of the amount of crap it allows you to search for.
Plus, the time out isn't as shallow's as google. As long as you have COM4 selected you'll get a signal within 50-60 seconds from a soft reset. Otherwise once the port is already open its a matter of seconds.

Hmm... strange...
With Google maps installed, I have a GPS signal within about 10 seconds (7 or so), but with Windows Live I don't connect for almost 1 minute. I personally was thinking the new "my location" feature was helping the GPS in some way to narrow the search area.
I have also noticed that I can get a signal within my house without much trouble using google, but again Live Search rarely hooks up.
Am I alone in this finding?

pyro9219 said:
Hmm... strange...
With Google maps installed, I have a GPS signal within about 10 seconds (7 or so), but with Windows Live I don't connect for almost 1 minute. I personally was thinking the new "my location" feature was helping the GPS in some way to narrow the search area.
I have also noticed that I can get a signal within my house without much trouble using google, but again Live Search rarely hooks up.
Am I alone in this finding?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what rom and radio are you using?

1.62.502.0 ROM
1.27.14.09 RADIO
Don't get me wrong, I'm not unhappy with it! I could care less if the GPS works in my house, I think I've mastered the bathroom and kitchen locations
Just noting an opposing observation I've had with my phone in the Portland Oregon Area.
Another observation I've had (it's been a few months since I have used Live Search) is that I can't find a person's house using the Live Search, while I can using the Google.
Finally, I find neither program really what I'd like - Google's only real downfall in my eyes is the lack of auto-updates when not on course (Live Search does this with a prompt). Live search fails because I know products can be faster to get the satellites, as well as lack of residential directions. Google also loads faster, and is the only one that could find the Intel location I work at (one of the largest and well known, would figure it's in both services!) Google also has the aerial view which is nice when trying to figure out massive parking lots (such as at an Intel Campus). Live Search won a few points back because I liked the movies listings, buggy voice searching and auto-updates, but not enough to make me use the product. I will probably be loading it up again sometime before the summer though just to see what sort of progress they have.

And that stoopid connection error poop
I have just gotten used to opening QuickGPS weekly, and gps tool each time. It takes just a few seconds to open GPSTool and start the thing, then close it, and most apps will work after that.
I find GoogleMaps to be poorly designed, albeit free. My biggest issue by far is the connection error. There's a place on the way to work where Google maps just stops, throws a "you have to have a connection" error, and the only option is quit. I quit, immediately restart, and it works from there. I've had that error in some very densely populated areas (River Oaks is the highest price homes, you can bet they have cell antennas in abundance around there, yet it happened around there yesterday.) If it needs to download maps, it can just keep tracking, and get the map when it can, or mention "waiting for map". Idealy you'd be able to cache, best would be able to define certain areas, and it wouldnt even have to download the maps if they havent updated.
Dont get me wrong, as usual Google has done some neat work here, but there are disctint design flaws that make it nearly unusable. So much so that if I dont need the traffic, and just want to see streets, I use tomtom.

sunglint said:
There's a place on the way to work where Google maps just stops, throws a "you have to have a connection" error, and the only option is quit. I quit, immediately restart, and it works from there. I've had that error in some very densely populated areas (River Oaks is the highest price homes, you can bet they have cell antennas in abundance around there, yet it happened around there yesterday.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version of Google Maps are you running?

Frontline said:
I know ppl use GPS test to get the GPS to be activated then launch google maps afterwards, is there not a reg key or another way other than having to launch 2 apps to get one to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The question is not WHY people open GPSTest before opening Google Maps.
The question is how to open both apps via a script, batch file, etc...
I would also like to know if it is possible....

[Q] CoPilot Live 8 ?

Anyone else use this navigation software ?
I used it on my Hero without any major problems. It took them an age to get a Froyo version sorted out. Put it on my Nexus One. Its now an excellent example of how to write totally non functional code! I am unable to download maps via the built in map downloader. A definite step backwards by ALK Technologies.
As for any kind of support, that's as useless as their software!
So, unless someone here call prove to me otherwise, stay well clear of this software. Take heed of the comments on the Market about it too.

Hmm works fine for me. You just need to turn on wifi before downloading maps through the app.
What exactly is the problem when you try?

My wifi is on permanently if i am at home or at the office. The maps never download. There is no indication they are downloading either, no progress bar at all. What phone are you running it on ? A Nexus One ?

Yeah a nexus one...
Once you pass all the setup screens and get into co-pilot (with no map), go menu get maps, or updates. Its one of those options. Then you'll see the progress bar.
For some reason or another the download is probably being interupted. Maybe you let your phone sleep and wifi turns off?

Ok will try it yet again. Thanks for the help.

CoPilot 8 .. utterly useless!!
Ok so today I tried to reinstall CoPilot 8 on my Nexus One.
This software is awful! Firstly I was unable to install the voice I wanted, just said File Error. Sorted that out by choosing a different voice. Then tried to download UK maps. Failed every time. Made sure Wifi did not go to sleep just to make sure.
Figured it was time to send emails of complaint to Head Office in the USA. Interestingly enough every single published contact email address for that company bounces... odd eh ? Have given up on CoPilot and doubt I will ever get my money back.
To every one else, think long and hard before you waste your money.

When you bought it through market you should have got a license/activation email from '[email protected]'
Send them an email and it'll automatically create a trouble ticket which they'll respond to.

I have lost count of the number of times I have "raised a ticket" with ALK. Interestingly the moment they reply (in any way, useful or not) they close the ticket. Pointless if the problem has not been resolved. They are very difficult to get in touch with (in a sensible way), perhaps this is deliberate? Given the very poor comments on the Market about this application I can understand their desire not to communicate with the many angry people who purchased this application and are unable to use it. I guess the next step is to send them a letter and if they still choose to do nothing I will pursue my refund through the UK small claims court system. Perhaps that will make them respond ? Its a shame because on my Hero the software worked reasonably well :-(

I've given up on that cr*p software

Works fine for me. My installation and setup process went very smooth.

Its great when it works properly. I had an issue with license keys after I had a N1 replaced and they sorted it out pretty quickly. If you reply to the email the ticket is re-opened.
Having said that i've seen many complaints on the net about them. If you bought it on a credit card just threaten to charge it back. That'll kick them into gear.
The pattern i've found is that anything 'easy' to fix they handle well, anything obscure or that might take some diagnosis or thought and they keep fobbing you off hoping you'll give up.
Luckily google market has a 24 hour refund period.. if you have problems in setup just hit the refund button. A bit late for you now tho i guess.

christiankk said:
I've given up on that cr*p software
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sorry you are having problems but it is not bad software. I was one of the REALLY early users and had to jump through substantial hoops to get maps installed. Once everything was running correctly though it has proven reliable and I have not had a problem since not related to me upgrading to an unsupported ROM.
Navigation is nice if you are in a well covered area for data but copilot has advantages in spottier areas. I use both depending on my mood and neither is crap.

Are there 2010 maps out for Copilot yet? I've run the latest auto update but I'm still getting 2009 ones .
It told me to turn into a wall yesterday

Could not disagree with you more, I have had a few problems with downloads and activations (I am a frequent rom swapper), and each time theyre customer support was prompt and courteous. Performing account resets or offering advice about side loading maps downloaded using the copilot desktop software (which downloads MUCH faster FYI).
But the real kicker is go off cell grid some time (like camping which i do alot). Google maps will fail on you as it requires constant connection to reload a map if you leave the map screen at any time, Copilot stores maps on the SD card allowing me to find that odd rural route to the highway and re-enable Google maps with all my layers. Its a real life saver off the grid.

I never had any issues with moving to Co-Pilot on the Nexus One (had it installed previously on my Hero). The only gripe I have with the software is that it doesn't disable the onboard speaker when routing audio to bluetooth end up with a echo, raised a ticket.. who knows if it will be fixed.

I've been using a modified 800x600 version of MotoNav that actually works very very well. I think it was yanked out of *gasp* a motorola.
The reg uses one of those 876x600 or something resolutions which will run but will cut off the bottom.

[Q] Navigon Working on Captivate?

Has anyone tried Navigon on their Captivate? I remember seeing some speculation that apps that rely on Google Maps may have bad tracking due to software. Just curious how well Navigon performs before I plunk down the cash.

the new version of Navigon that came out yesterday, actually runs on a map pack you download. It even says to make sure your on wifi in the app description on the market.

My GPS on my Captivate hasn't been as bad as some. While using Google Nav, I'll occasionally get the dreaded blue circle, but for the most part, it keeps me on the road.
I bought this yesterday and had it download the maps. I used it for a 30 minute drive to work and it worked good for me. It kept me on the road, didn't lag and had accurate maps (since they're NAVTEQ like Garmin uses). Halfway here, the app did close and restart itself and I had to re-select my destination. Not sure what happened there, but I'll try it on my way home again too.
Its got some nice features. It announces street names like Google Nav (CoPilot doesn't do this I don't think). It has Google Live Search for POIs, which is a HUGE plus for me instead of relying on a static database. Has red light camera alerts and quite a few other features.

i use navigon on daily basis and i love it. better than any other navigation software for android.

Just got the Navigon app. Love it!!!
Here's my take: all features aside, it seems to be better at dealing with Samsungs funky GPS than Google Navigation.
With Google navigation, I'd be driving and all of a sudden it'd think I was a block laterally and it'd wreak *havok* on my turn by turn directions. This is called losing a lock.
With Navigon, didn't happen in my 30min test in downtown Chicago. my phone acted just like the iPhone I had before it.
I don't think this app fixed GPS. I think it just knows how to deal with crummy hardware / drivers
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Also guys its on sale on for 2 weeks
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Installed tonight...45 min drive...quick/basic eval...
There are features I like about this, and in my basic test tonigh, I have not been able to test some of the 'fancy' features mentioned above. Here are some initial thoughts:
The Good
Much more pleasant voice
I loved the fact that it put up a speed limit sign in upper right, showing the speed limit of the street I am on. Updated immediately when SL changed
As others above said, it seems to definitely handle the funky Captivate GPS better
Seemed to get directions faster, and update faster when not following directions, than Google Nav
It does have a Google Search for POIs, although I found it did not bring up a complete list. For example I searched for Walmart. There are 2 in my town, and it brought up only the one closed to me, which is a much smaller one than the other
The Ugly
It did not consistently say street names. In fact most of the time it didn't
If you moved to another app, or if my music player came in front, the NAV stopped working. When I switched back to it, it had to re-load or something (had a wait type message) and then had to reroute
When playing through my Motorola 505 through to radio, the voice played on both the phone and BT, and this phone (maybe all Android phones, I don't know) has a delay at teh bluetooth, so it sounded like an echo
The map had almost none of the streets named as you drove. It just listed the next turn street listed. It didn't even indicate what street you are driving on.
My comparison software would be Google Nav, of course, and also TomTom on Winmo, which I used over the past 3 years. There are features in Navigon that are not in either of those, but for the basics, it doesn't, IMO, come close to Google, nor my OLD TomTom.
My need for this would really be only to have a backup solution should I go somewhere that I cannot receive data for Google. I am undecided whether to keep it or return and hope TomTom is better, whenever it comes out.
I must admit though, one thing that this product, I belive like the others above, may not put me on wrong streets like happesn with the Google Nav. But then, I haven't tested it that much yet.

google has 24 hours refund. is it really easy for refund? i wanna give navigon a try

I just returned mine a couple hours ago.
Typically, you get a notice right when you uninstall "Your account will be credited", or something like that, but I didn't. So it had me worried.
but in about 5 min I received an email from Google Checkout that my account would not be charged.
Its as easy as uninstalling the app.

I decided to give it a shot. It never found me on my entire drive home. I'm running a fresh install (as of this morning) of Cognition 2.2 beta 9.1.3.
I told it to display map, and it just had some random map scene and a red bar across the top that had GPS in all caps. After a while, I hit the menu key, GPS-Info, and it has my Lat and Long at all zeros.
Not sure what to do other than take solace in knowing I'll have a working Navigon in my future Android handsets. I was too trusting of it and didn't test it within the initial 24 hours, so there's no refund button.

When I tested with it, it was a bit slow to get a hook, but I kicked off GPS Status, and it got a hook pretty quick, then Navigon did too. After that, the few times i used it, it hooked up OK.

my complain is that it has no ROUTE listing! i probably going to uninstall it and get refund. let say i dont want to use freeway 101 and use freeway 80 instead. but you cant! cus there is no route listing!

netnerd said:
my complain is that it has no ROUTE listing! i probably going to uninstall it and get refund. let say i dont want to use freeway 101 and use freeway 80 instead. but you cant! cus there is no route listing!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I first put in my destination it gives me a list of 3-4 routes and I can select the one I want, otherwise after about 10 seconds, it defaults to the My Route (orange) one.

jdsemler said:
I decided to give it a shot. It never found me on my entire drive home. I'm running a fresh install (as of this morning) of Cognition 2.2 beta 9.1.3.
I told it to display map, and it just had some random map scene and a red bar across the top that had GPS in all caps. After a while, I hit the menu key, GPS-Info, and it has my Lat and Long at all zeros.
Not sure what to do other than take solace in knowing I'll have a working Navigon in my future Android handsets. I was too trusting of it and didn't test it within the initial 24 hours, so there's no refund button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried other GPS apps to get a lock? That is more like a phone/ROM issue than an app issue. Try Google Maps, or download GPS Status from the Market and try that one.
I'm on Cog 2.2 Beta 9 and it works here. If you turn on all the location assists in the settings, it should help you get a faster lock. You could also check out the Jupiter files in the Dev forum. Get v006 and copy the 3 files and reboot...it might help.
Some people have no luck getting a lock without messing with settings or files, and using a different app usually doesn't change that.

Nook (1.0.1 + auto-nooter) has my location in Google Maps!

Last night I did the 8-finger salute reset and /data wipe, installed the Sideload-update and then the latest Auto-Nooter.
I had previously grabbed the com.google.android.apps.maps.apk, version 4.7.0 (#4707) from my Droid-1 and it worked on 1.0.0 so, I decided to install it on the 1.0.1 as well.
Imagine my surprise when I pulled up "Maps" and it has my location nailed down to within 70m. I'm not sure how it is getting location information from only wifi but, it is showing me at the neighbors house right this second which is about 20m error.
Has anyone else experienced this?
I have wiped data for Maps using Titanium just to make sure that there wasn't something left over and it still is picking up location somehow.
Attached is a screenshot that I just took.

Google Maps uses Wifi networks to help determine your location. The streetview cars mapped access points as they drove in order to build this database. This is not an error, and should work anywhere streetview data has been collected.

Ya... Been looking at articles about it in Google since I posted the message. That is very handy in an urban environment with dense wifi coverage.

Mine works with 1.0.0. It is pretty nice,but a little freaky, especially since there is no streetview coverage in my neighborhood.

I have seen this before too.
I just wish it would use wifi location data from a tethering cell phone.
Yes, I tried and it wouldn't, sadly.
Getting the NC to do nav is my greatest hope for it.

rogerdugans said:
I have seen this before too.
I just wish it would use wifi location data from a tethering cell phone.
Yes, I tried and it wouldn't, sadly.
Getting the NC to do nav is my greatest hope for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not possible since it's using wifi triangulation to determine where you are. I.e. it takes visible AP's and coordinates it with google's database to pinpoint where you are. Using the wifi tethering off your cel. Google doesn't know where your phone is since it's always moving and not hardmapped to a spot in their database.

rogerdugans said:
I have seen this before too.
I just wish it would use wifi location data from a tethering cell phone.
Yes, I tried and it wouldn't, sadly.
Getting the NC to do nav is my greatest hope for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you're confused about how these "wifi-only" fixes are achieved. When Google (and others) have done street surveys, they were also mapping the RF footprint of wifi access points. You're getting a fix based on the name and relative signal strength of the APs that your NC can see.

Wick location is working great. It only claims 600m but it has me within about 10ft on the map.
Sent from my LogicPD Zoom2 using Tapatalk

Mikroft and johnopsec:
Not confusion and yes, I have learned the error of my ways.
It had been a wild guess and a hope that was futile, obviously.
One of the things I hope to eventually be able to do with my NC is use it for nav instead of my phone: bigger screen is better, etc.
Until bluetooth gets fixed or found to be impossible I keep trying to figure out something and I probably won't stop trying.
And I will probably keep failing, of course, but such is life.
One odd note from a short while ago:
Prior to the B&N update, maps always had me pinned down to nearly exctly where my house is- now it has me about 1/2 a mile away more often than not.

It's pretty creepy, but yeah it shows me DEAD AT my house.... The radius of uncertainty literally covers my house.
BTW, maybe coincidence, but after I exited Google Maps I sat the NC down for a minute then noticed it was rebooting. Full reboot, but happily not a data clear or something, came back up like normal. Anyone else? Google Maps was the last thing I had installed and ran.
Can't wait for bluetooth to work on this thing.... Hopefully it does sometime in the near future anyway...

So any guesses why wifi location is working on Jon's nook and not others? Is this a product of the maps.apk off his droid, the 1.0.1 update, or auto nooter?

gojeda said:
So any guesses why wifi location is working on Jon's nook and not others? Is this a product of the maps.apk off his droid, the 1.0.1 update, or auto nooter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Network Location has to be enabled, one way or another.
I was promtped to enable it when I used auto-nooter, and I had found a hack somewhere to enable it before, when I rooted manually as I recall- perhaps it was a modified maps.apk?
Side note on accuracy:
Again, before the 1.01 update the accuracy on my nook was mostly right on.
Yesterday I was shown about 1/2 mile away.
This morning- about 1/4 mile away.
I have no idea why. No other changes with my network.

gojeda said:
So any guesses why wifi location is working on Jon's nook and not others? Is this a product of the maps.apk off his droid, the 1.0.1 update, or auto nooter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As said, it depends on if Google Street View cars visited your street while similar/same wifi access points are available at the location. That's how it knows. It sends up "I see access point X, Y, and Z" and Google says "You must be here". I suspect it particularly is more likely to work if one if them is unique, I suspect three "linksys" isn't going to get any results.
My AP name is unique and hasn't changed in 3 years, so I suspect that's why I'm shown at my exact location.

I just changed my SSID recently. Maybe it does it by MAC address though.

It is by MAC address. If it were purely by SSID, you would be in a million places if you were on one called linksys, wouldn't you?

KitF said:
It is by MAC address. If it were purely by SSID, you would be in a million places if you were on one called linksys, wouldn't you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the only reason I even mentioned anything is because the post above me suggested that his location might be accurate due to the fact that he had a unique AP name that hasn't changed in ages.
Google currently uses 2 pieces of the data collected during the driving operation to build its database and provide location based services - the MAC address of the access point and the GPS co-ordinates of the vehicle at the point at which the access point was visible. This data is stored in aggregate form, and is used to provide the location based service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
However they have also captured SSIDs. They must have gone by me pretty recently. I've changed routers within the last few months and even more recently cloned the MAC address.

chrisngrod said:
Well the only reason I even mentioned anything is because the post above me suggested that his location might be accurate due to the fact that he had a unique AP name that hasn't changed in ages.
However they have also captured SSIDs. They must have gone by me pretty recently. I've changed routers within the last few months and even more recently cloned the MAC address.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahem, yeah, I was wrong. It goes by MAC/ESSID. So every AP is unique

Google Maps Timeline failure

My Google Maps timeline is not recorded correctly. If I visit six places
during a day, maybe only three places are recorded on my timeline.
Also, the time I spent in each place is not correct either. I've tried all
settings, to no avail. It's perhaps not the end of the world, but I use
the data from the timeline in my travel bills, so it's very annoying.
Anyone experiencing the same, or similar abominations? What
could be wrong? Any settings I've missed? Is it a regional thing?
Is there a way to force the GPS to be used more frequently?
Any input would be much appreciated....

Looking at my Timeline, it seems to be about the same as my old phone. (ie - a bit weird and spotty)
But - you could try locking Maps in memory from the multitasking screen and see if that helps?

Thanks.
I'll try it out, although it shouldn't really be necessary....?
My previous phone (Nexus 6) wasn't spotless either
but this starts to look like some kind of bad joke.
Today I visited 4 places, but none of them was
recorded. Only the travel (car) was recorded.
Any more suggestions....anyone...?

blackalice said:
You could try locking Maps in memory from the multitasking screen and see if that helps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Update; unfortunately, it didn't help.
It seems that the GPS is very little used, when
looking at the battery use history. I use the "high
precision" setting, so I don't know what to try next.
Anyone have any more suggestions...?

I have the same problem on my Redmi 9 Pro. Didn't find any solution yet.

My workaround is using http://gpslogger.app and letting it locate once per minute and upload the data to my Google drive. Thus location timeline becomes reasonable accurate.