Does the new Google maps with "my location" replace GPS?
Dec 1, 2007 | 11:07 am
#1
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Department of Homeland Sincerity
Programs: WN Platinum, UA 1k, AA EP, Marriott Plat
Posts: 12,319
Does the new Google maps with "my location" replace GPS?
I've been hearing about this new Google beta maps 2.0 for mobile devices, and how great it is.
I haven't tried it out yet, but for those who have tried it, is it a substitute for a GPS unit at all?
Pros? cons?
I haven't tried it out yet, but for those who have tried it, is it a substitute for a GPS unit at all?
Pros? cons?
Dec 1, 2007 | 11:44 am
#5
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Department of Homeland Sincerity
Programs: WN Platinum, UA 1k, AA EP, Marriott Plat
Posts: 12,319
I have unlimited data so that's not a concern.
Here's another question - I already have a handy dandy GPS with me most of the time, so is it worth the time and hassle (of some of the bugs I read) to download it and use it, if I already have my GPS?
Does it give me anything useful / productive besides the "cool" factor?
Here's another question - I already have a handy dandy GPS with me most of the time, so is it worth the time and hassle (of some of the bugs I read) to download it and use it, if I already have my GPS?
Does it give me anything useful / productive besides the "cool" factor?
Dec 1, 2007 | 12:08 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 7,174
well, it does give you all the 411 information about what is around you, and maps traffic right to the device, does routing, has lookup, autodial of listings, etc. I have used the current product over a year now with an external GPS. The CellId gps doesn't work too well for me here in the Bay Area. And, it certainly isn't accurate to any extent like a GPS signal is.
Dec 1, 2007 | 12:13 pm
#7
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Department of Homeland Sincerity
Programs: WN Platinum, UA 1k, AA EP, Marriott Plat
Posts: 12,319
well, it does give you all the 411 information about what is around you, and maps traffic right to the device, does routing, has lookup, autodial of listings, etc. I have used the current product over a year now with an external GPS. The CellId gps doesn't work too well for me here in the Bay Area. And, it certainly isn't accurate to any extent like a GPS signal is.
Dec 1, 2007 | 1:06 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: DL Silver Medallion
Posts: 2,671
One big drawback I see is that since it works using cell towers to "ping" your location, if you were in an area with weak or no cell coverage it ain't gonna work. A GPS device would'nt have that problem at all.
Craig
Craig
Dec 1, 2007 | 1:17 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,676
The prior poster wrote:
One big drawback I see is that since it works using cell towers to "ping" your location, if you were in an area with weak or no cell coverage it ain't gonna work. A GPS device would'nt have that problem at all.
My response is:
With both Microsoft and Google Maps, the map cache on your PDA is minimal meaning that if you don't have a cell tower to triangulate from, you probable don't have data on the phone either.
One big drawback I see is that since it works using cell towers to "ping" your location, if you were in an area with weak or no cell coverage it ain't gonna work. A GPS device would'nt have that problem at all.
My response is:
With both Microsoft and Google Maps, the map cache on your PDA is minimal meaning that if you don't have a cell tower to triangulate from, you probable don't have data on the phone either.
Dec 1, 2007 | 1:23 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: DL Silver Medallion
Posts: 2,671
The prior poster wrote:
One big drawback I see is that since it works using cell towers to "ping" your location, if you were in an area with weak or no cell coverage it ain't gonna work. A GPS device would'nt have that problem at all.
My response is:
With both Microsoft and Google Maps, the map cache on your PDA is minimal meaning that if you don't have a cell tower to triangulate from, you probable don't have data on the phone either.
One big drawback I see is that since it works using cell towers to "ping" your location, if you were in an area with weak or no cell coverage it ain't gonna work. A GPS device would'nt have that problem at all.
My response is:
With both Microsoft and Google Maps, the map cache on your PDA is minimal meaning that if you don't have a cell tower to triangulate from, you probable don't have data on the phone either.
Craig
Dec 1, 2007 | 3:09 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, SkyMiles, USAir, Singapore, BA
Posts: 602
With both Microsoft and Google Maps, the map cache on your PDA is minimal meaning that if you don't have a cell tower to triangulate from, you probable don't have data on the phone either.
But getting data to Google Maps only requires one tower. If the phone knows where it is via GPS, GMM is useful almost anywhere. I've used it across the Sonoran desert (I-10 PHX-LAX) without difficulty. (I know, I know. Like I'm going to get lost on I-10.)
Last edited by CessnaJock; Dec 1, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Dec 1, 2007 | 7:08 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Up in the air, or not
Programs: HHonors Diamond, UA 2P, Best Western Diamond
Posts: 66
The Google maps for mobile GPS web page (www.google.com/gps.html?hl=en&phone=3) says the Blackberry 8800 and Ocean from Helio both use internal GPS. I guess they use tower triangulation if GPS isn't available.
