A thread dedicated to those who have questions about the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) instrument in their mobile device. Programs that can be used with your S60 device, and their associated features will also be discussed.
Accronym Glossary
GPS (Global Positioning System): An internal or external device that is used to determine its location in relation to three or more satellites orbiting around the earth. This device does not incur data charges, since your cellular provider's wireless network is not used for positional information.
A-GPS (Assisted Global Position System): An external assistance server that provides a GPS device information from the wireless network to enhance positioning accuracy, and response time when GPS signals may be low due to, but not limited to tall buildings, or atmospheric conditions. The assistance server requires data and does incur data charges, since your cellular provider's wireless network is used for positional information. Can lower the time required to find your position from a few minutes, to a few seconds.
POI (Points of Interest): A location or point on the map that may be of interest to the user with applicable business information. Could be an address, gas station, the Toronto CN tower, or a Restaurant.
TTFF (Time to First Fix): The time required for a GPS device to acquire satellite information. To obtain a fix, a GPS device needs both Almanac (parameters for all satellites in the GPS constellation), and Ephemeris (precise orbital, and clock correction parameters) data to obtain your location. There are four start types:
Factory: GPS receiver has no Almanac information, and no Ephemeris information. Typically a 10 - 15 minute start up.
Cold: GPS receiver has some Almanac information, but no Ephemeris information. Typically a 60 - 90 second start up when the GPS receiver has been off for a period of 8 - 12 hours. Most observed scenario when GPS is not used often or when phone has just been turned on.
Warm: GPS receiver has Almanac information, and some Ephemeris information. Typically a 30 - 60 second start up when the GPS receiver has been off for a period of 30 minutes.
Hot: GPS receiver has Almanac information, and almost all Ephemeris information. Typically a 1 - 20 second start up when the GPS receiver has been off for a period of 15 minutes or less.
Note: Obtaining a quicker TTFF occurs when one is stationary. Driving or walking may increase TTFF times.
Final thoughts on data usage. Data is used in the following three ways:
A-GPS
Obtaining maps
Online searching of an address or POI
All three can be disabled, except for those that require data to gather mapping information. To obtain the richest experience possible, a data package is recommended. Check with you wireless provider for data plans either monthly, or pay per use.
Applications
The following two apps are, in my eyes, the most likely to be used for navigation with your Nokia device.
*Free Navigation for Nokia Smartphones began March 2010, with some older devices also receiving free navigation. Devices not listed will require a paid subscription
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I think you need to add some criteria though. For example:
Vector versus Rastor Maps. Vector (lines) are almost always has quicker zoom (on devices which can handle it...ie. S60 devices) and routable / navigatable features on the map (on the device). Rastor maps are pictures which are downloaded to the phone. Vector maps take up much less space because its just datapoints. Rastor maps are big, but show more visual detail.
There are some programs that let you create your own Rastor maps from scanned maps, and even from Google Earth. Teh only vector map programs which allow you to create your own maps I know are limited for WM devices and use a format called "Polish Format". Its actually really cool format for creating your own vector maps because you can convert your tracks into map elements... but I have not found a native S60 app for it. (there are WM programs for these though... also see: GPSmapedit, and uh...
There are actually a few cheap programs that can be used with custom made raster maps. I'm not going to provide links to all of them... you can find some of them at allaboutsymbian.com and some on the freeware symbian software sites. GpsMap ; PowerNavigation Pro ; SmartCom Navigator (http://www.wild-mobile.com/) . Although making your own maps is something few would want to do, you can get much better maps for outdoor activities and bicicle maps using these programs.
Also, there are a lot of very good Java programs for GPS, including one called MGMaps (google it if you want), which combines Google Map content with maps from other services and (I think) even has access to Chinese map providers. Trekbuddy is another one I have actually used... its more like a free-ware version of the Raster-map programs mentioned above.
BTW...
Program: Garmin XT
Cost: don't know sorry, but expensive (I'm too tired to look it up now)
Maps: Pre-loaded to memory card
Data Usage: no
Voice Navigation: Turn by turn detail by voice
Link: will update this later
Notes: The most popular, best quality GPS maker. But all their software only works with their own GPS devices. No maps of China BTW.
i agree, great thread, the costs should be cleared up though if you're aiming at beginners, for instance, data costs in the UK can be very high, so if users are downloading maps as they go, a 'free' app like aMaze can become very expensive, very quickly !
Thanks for the comments. I can't seem to edit my original post, so maybe I need a mod to help me on that, but I'll update the info as best as I can with all your suggestions.
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Originally Posted by macuis
Thanks for the comments. I can't seem to edit my original post, so maybe I need a mod to help me on that, but I'll update the info as best as I can with all your suggestions.
Yea, you will have to contact a Mod....after a set number of hours you can't re-edit your post
One more piece of information to add: is the app Java or native S60? At least in the case of Google Maps, the re-release as an S60 app made a HUGE difference in performance.
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Originally Posted by Dr Tran
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