I've had this question for a while, and it's really bugging me. It is not a specific Android question, but maybe there is an Android solution.
Is it common for Vogues to only poll/activate the GPS when a "non-service" app is requesting it? In other words, I want the GPS active in the background no matter what else I'm doing on my phone. With my wife's blackberry, the GPS is active all of the time and updating Latitude the entire time the phone is on. Can this be done with Vogue? Right now, my GPS is only active when I run an app that wants to use it explicitly, such as Maps or GPSTest. Is there not an Android service that would run in the background to do this?
There's nothing I'm aware of that does this (though I'm wrong.. lots.. lol) GPS is a huge battery hog, so that's why it only runs 'on demand'.
Thank you for the reply. I just wanted to make sure it was expected behavior.
I would be OK with the battery drain. I'm kinda surprised there are no android apps/services to do this.....
hmm...
I've always wondered this with regards to Google Search locally oriented searches - how would it determine what's local? It seems to quick for it to be able to get a fix
To be honest with you.....the GPS functionality on the Vogue doesn't make much sense, and it's pretty much useless unless you plan on running maps (or your favorite gps app) in the foreground. As soon as you get a call and app changes to background, you risk losing your GPS lock.
szman22 said:
To be honest with you.....the GPS functionality on the Vogue doesn't make much sense, and it's pretty much useless unless you plan on running maps (or your favorite gps app) in the foreground. As soon as you get a call and app changes to background, you risk losing your GPS lock.
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Click to collapse
The GPS lock comes back. I've turned off the screen, taken calls, changed apps, and GPS has always worked for me.
I hear all this stuff that GPS doesn't work, and I'd fix it, but I have no debug info! It works for me...
Related
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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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....
For people that like to keep track of data usage, which one do ya'll use?
I use to use one for XP when I first started tething. I found NetTraffic and it seemed buggy and then I found NetCounter which seemed to not keeping track of my usage correctly.
Now NetTraffic has another app out due to complications in Market... whatever, but I wanna know what other people use or if they dont care.
NetCounter is good but the UI is a bit corky. Roiding is good, but the on/off popup seems genuinely random, and the UI is confused.
Leaning towards NetCounter. Still have run a test to compare the usage to my actual billed usage though...
i would like someone to release an app that does what SPB wireless manager does for WM. It tells you how much data you have used and also tells you how much data each app used so you can see which are the data hogs etc....
I notice my Bing Maps doesn't show the right coordinates of my location. What could be wrong?
You could be standing indoors or somewhere where there's not a good enough GPS signal, or you may have location services switched off.
jtphl said:
I notice my Bing Maps doesn't show the right coordinates of my location. What could be wrong?
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You are not alone. I started a thread where I called it =garbage. I don't want to generalize just in case it's a hardware issue on my part but it always shows my location in a different city and when using the GPS on maps it seems to always be trying to catchup.
GPS settings
How can we tell if the GPS has locked on to any satellites...or for that matter, if it's even on??? There doesn't seem to be any direct mention of GPS in the settings menu...just a general option to turn location services on or off. Am I missing something here...or does ms not think that giving users direct control over GPS is important?
JoePR31 said:
How can we tell if the GPS has locked on to any satellites...or for that matter, if it's even on??? There doesn't seem to be any direct mention of GPS in the settings menu...just a general option to turn location services on or off. Am I missing something here...or does ms not think that giving users direct control over GPS is important?
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Totally agree with you. My guess though is that when the circles radius is just a couple pixels from the central point then its GPS; since GPS is accurate to a couple feet and A-GPS when the radius is about half the screen. Again just guessing but I really do wish there was an option.
alabij said:
Totally agree with you. My guess though is that when the circles radius is just a couple pixels from the central point then its GPS; since GPS is accurate to a couple feet and A-GPS when the radius is about half the screen. Again just guessing but I really do wish there was an option.
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I believe you're right about the meaning of the radius of the circle in the stock map app. But, it probably isn't as obvious in other kinds of apps that use GPS.
I'm gonna shoot ms an email regarding this...and I suggest that anyone else that agrees that this is less than ideal do the same. Its too late to have them do anything about it in the upcoming January update, but if they hear enough complaints about it, maybe they'll do something about it in the update after that one.
Personally I'd rather Ms did NOT add in any such options. I have the option to use or not use location services, that's enough. Apps that can utilize GPS will switch the circuit on and use it while they're the active app. As soon as you switch away, the app tombstones and GPS switches off, to save battery life. That's just the way I like it, nice and simple. No need for an option of any kind there. It just works.
Jim Coleman said:
Personally I'd rather Ms did NOT add in any such options. I have the option to use or not use location services, that's enough. Apps that can utilize GPS will switch the circuit on and use it while they're the active app. As soon as you switch away, the app tombstones and GPS switches off, to save battery life. That's just the way I like it, nice and simple. No need for an option of any kind there. It just works.
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Click to collapse
Jim, if the battery on my HD7 were more robust, I would agree with you. But it's not...so I don't. I would like the option to utilize only tower/WiFi triangulation...and to be able to enable my GPS only when I need my location to be precisely determined.
You are right...it does just work...which was more than I could say for my Vibrant's GPS for quite a while. But, access to any setting that could help me milk some more life out of my battery is access that I want.
GPS ?!?
I have both the HD2 and the HD7. The HD7 with services ON show my location over half a mile away from my office. This is consistent and constant. It shows me in the middle of a hwy norht east of my office. My HD2 not have this issue. It pinpoints my location, tells me in meters how accurate it is and tells me how many satellites it is in contact with. It will actually follow me accurately around the building inside and out. What's the problem with the HD7?? Seems like it is a step backward to me in this regard!
HD7Sol said:
I have both the HD2 and the HD7. The HD7 with services ON show my location over half a mile away from my office. This is consistent and constant. It shows me in the middle of a hwy norht east of my office. My HD2 not have this issue. It pinpoints my location, tells me in meters how accurate it is and tells me how many satellites it is in contact with. It will actually follow me accurately around the building inside and out. What's the problem with the HD7?? Seems like it is a step backward to me in this regard!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How wide is the circle around the dot? It may be using the Cell tower / WiFi to determine your position and therefore be very inaccurate.
What country are you in?
I guess it's possible that the actual maps are wrong and are showing the incorrect map overlay for your country?
after reading this thread i tested my HD7 with the bing map and its accurate, showed me where i am i changed to aerial map to confirm it...
i believe the data (3G) have to be connected, i am on unlimited data plan so its on all the time, wifi do not work as i tested with the wifi after that and it showed my location far away from my home...
this should fix everyones issue Go to setting and select find my phone check box both opitions and now try bing maps again. you will also notice well driving bing maps will keep a better track well your moving
did that and it now works perfectly, previously it was over a mile off my actual location
Me living in Thailand, whenever my HD7 connected to WIFI (no matter where), the current location always changes to San Jose. I have no idea why this happens ?
pongpatara said:
Me living in Thailand, whenever my HD7 connected to WIFI (no matter where), the current location always changes to San Jose. I have no idea why this happens ?
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Click to collapse
Mate, this issue was happen to me in Bangkok too,
I try many apps to fix this, but the result was same..
I see my location was stand in somewhere on the sea at Europe.
That's suck...
Make them REAL MS !!
hd7 no gps please help
gps dosent work on google maps when i flash back to old rom gps works
As far as I know location services do not use GPS exclusively. It uses GSM cell and tower info as well to speed up approximation and let enough time for GPS satellite locking. GSM cell data is stored in internet databases (do not know where and how) but if there is a mislocated tower (e.g.i Thailand) your location might be determined in a wrong way.
To keep it simple M$ hidden this mixed mode location service. I don't know what happens if you switch off location service in settings and use a GPS application for locating yourself. Is there a difference? Might be.
The ifixit teardown indicated the possibility of a GPS capable chip in the 7" model.
Anyone load a GPS app and see if you get any results?
Thanks!
Google Maps location doesn't work, and I have been unsuccessful sideloading any of the GPS apps I have available. All fail on install.
What about one of the free GPS apps on the Amazon app store, like:
http://www.amazon.com/EclipSim-GPS-...ps&ie=UTF8&qid=1348158531&sr=1-1&keywords=gps
bleclair said:
What about one of the free GPS apps on the Amazon app store, like:
http://www.amazon.com/EclipSim-GPS-...ps&ie=UTF8&qid=1348158531&sr=1-1&keywords=gps
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Click to collapse
Hmm well interestingly enough that one installed. It took a while, but it gave me a coordinate read out as well (see screenshot, I blanked out my location but you can see what I mean). I'm not familiar with that app, so I don't know if it uses Wifi at all for determining location. It does have an option for "do not launch if GPS is not enabled" though and that is set by default. Yet, it works. You have my wondering now, I'll keep playing with some of the other apps I'm a bit more familiar with and see if I can get them to install.
The OS build might not have adequate drivers to run the GPS. This might get fixed once we get a different ROM....someday.
I have google maps up and running, though I believe it is functioning off wifi location, the location is off a little. I installed GPS satellite app and it launches, gives me data but does not show that it is picking up any satellites.
alkemist80 said:
I have google maps up and running, though I believe it is functioning off wifi location, the location is off a little. I installed GPS satellite app and it launches, gives me data but does not show that it is picking up any satellites.
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I got GPS Test Plus installed and see the same. It doesn't find any satellites, but it is indeed finding my location based on Wifi. Acurracy of only about 200 feet. Think we are SOL for now.
UPDATE: I am playing with it more (it has a handy green light when it has GPS signal) that is yellow with WIFI off, and Green with it on. Seems to indicate it only uses Wifi for location.
even if gps is on the chip, maybe there's no antenna ?
So far no joy on getting any sort of GPS working. I bought a TomTom BlueTooth GPS module and it will not pair with the Fire HD. I get a message saying that the BlueTooth device is not compatible. None of the apps to make it work will even install.
Amazon apparently went all out in preventing people from using GPS. From what I understand the Nook will allow you to use a BlueTooth GPS.
FWIW, I tried using Google Maps on the way to and from work the last few days, and it is starting to get pretty good at finding my location via WiFi. Most of the time it was showing me within a block of my actual location, and sometimes it was actually tracking me accurately, even showing me driving up to an intersection and stopping right at the intersection. It seems to get better every time I take the same route.
I did discover that the Fire HD has a magnetic compass and accelerometer. But the compass is not very reliable.
I have a sneaky suspicion that there were some lawyers involved in these decisions...
Amazon took it really out of their way to lock down their tablets. They don't want people to use anything that doesn't rely on their services. Such as maps, either it be google, Bing, tomtom, anything not made by them. Amazon never activated voice search, the potential is there (apk in system files) but until they make it used through their ecosystem, KFHD will probably never see it. They even make it annoying to change the keyboard. Supposedly according too their website, BT only works with headphones. That is a complete limitation and annoyance.
As for GPS, I can see it somewhat irrelevant on a device that is wifi only and was omitted, though I do enjoy it on my N7. Something, I believe it was hootsuite would constantly annoy me about location services when I had it turned off, as they claimed it was turned off via twitter and had no options and I had it off in my twitter. Location services on the KFHD killed my battery for some unknown reason.
alkemist80 said:
As for GPS, I can see it somewhat irrelevant on a device that is wifi only and was omitted, though I do enjoy it on my N7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How so? With Maps you can download your entire city to use offline. If you start Navigation while online, and give it a couple of minutes to cache the info, it will take you all the way to your destination offline. I tested this on a 5 hour trip, and the audible turn-by-turn took me all the way to the destination, even though in some places the map itself was blank, and it didn't know the name of the street or exit. "Take the exit on the right" instead of "Take exit 6" It was even able to do some limited rerouting offline (which is something fairly new)
Besides, now I have a MiFi and a phone with a portable HotSpot. .On long trips, however, I turn off the MiFi while underway unless I need a major reroute, or need to find something. On a long trip a few weeks ago, my wife called from our tax accountant's office and needed some info from an old bank statement. I was out in the middle of nowhere in Alabama, and I though I was going to have to drive to Birmingham to find a Wells Fargo. So I fired up the MiFi, and asked my N7 "Google...where is the nearest Wells Fargo?" and it found one in a small town less than 10 minutes away and led me straight there.
Driving in Atlanta drives me insane. Now with the MiFi and Google Maps, I can see where the stop-and-go traffic jams are and get around them.
Irrelevant??? Not hardly!
I REALLY wanted the GPS to work on the Fire HD because the pitiful speakers on the N7 aren't loud enough to hear turn-by-turn directions in heavy traffic or heavy rain, or while the radio is playing. And the washed out screen on the N7 makes it hard to make out the streets (white and yellow on off-white) They stand out much better on the Fire HD's screen.
Not everyone tethers data through their phone or device. Most cell phone plans still require additional payment services. I refuse to pay another $35-$40 a month just to tether data. If I want to use GPS, then I use my phone or my Garmin Nuvi, though I prefer google maps since they are mostly up to date.
Caching maps, ok, but you need to know exactly where you want to go. Without data, the GPS is useless unless you are using a strict GPS app to determine location only. Amazon took it out to reduce costs. While it's nice to have, it's irrelevant to their entertainment device, they don't want you to use maps anyways.
question
Would it be possible to make a hack to enable spp bluetooth profile on KFHD. Because the tomtom bluetooth gps receiver uses that profile.
I have to completely agree with drhanley i wish i could have at least bluetooth gps on the kindle fire hd.
Drhanley have you seen in the android market bluetooth spp app make an app from the market could enable the spp profile needed for tomtom gps receiver ????????
So, I use my phone for things like running apps etc. GPS is therefore an important feature for me. Since moving to this phone, I have noticed that the running app I normally use (Runtastic) will often report GPS lost when I'm out.
Also, if I look at my Timeline on Google Maps, there are a lot of straight lines linking the locations I've been to, rather than accurately mapping my movements.
The attached screenshot shows that I've set GPS to be as accurate as I think is possible. Is there anything else I can do to improve this? The exact same settings were on my old phone (LG G4) and it tracked me just fine.