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GPS always available?
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....unless you restart GPS from the same relative position you stopped the service.
...hence the 'might'.
I assume the OP means will the GPS still work on my iPad 3G model without 3G service, not will GPS work on my iPad WiFi-only model.
No you don't have to have 3G service for GPS. You just need 3G if you want Assisted GPS.
Assisted GPS = Step by step directions? So are you saying that without the 3G service, it will simply tell me where I am at, along with maybe a map of the area and points of interest, or will I have to have service to view the POI?
I was indeed inquiring about the to-be-released model... I don't understand why people think they can get GPS on a Wifi
I was indeed inquiring about the to-be-released model... I don't understand why people think they can get GPS on a Wifi
Because the wifi model has a method of determining your location without using gps. Its not gps, but it does the same thing more or less.
Less for certain. Without a GPS chipset the Wi-Fi iPad will be utterly lost outside of a major metropolitan area where it can't get any Wi-Fi assistance.
I am also wondering this. If it still gives you directions for only ~$100 more than wi-fi version, well worth it. But if it only tells you where you are without directions; not so useful.
I didn't mean that literally as more or less, I meant that, in simple terms and for all intents and purposes, it can find your location without a gps chip.
The wi-fi model does not have GPS, but uses Skyhook, which estimates your location based on nearby wi-fi signals that have a known location. In a city, it can be pretty accurate. In the country, it's useles.
The 3G model will have a GPS receiver in it. It will always be able to determine your location using the GPS satellite system, even if you do not have 3G service. But if you don't have 3G service and aren't in range of an open wi-fi connection, your iPad won't be able to download the maps from Google for the built-in Maps app. (If you are using a GPS app from someone else, the maps may be stored locally on your iPad, so the lack of an internet connection won't matter).
Finally, Assisted GPS is a system that uses triangulation on cell phone towers to enable the regular GPS chip to more quickly determine your location.
The 3G model will have a GPS receiver in it. It will always be able to determine your location using the GPS satellite system, even if you do not have 3G service. But if you don't have 3G service and aren't in range of an open wi-fi connection, your iPad won't be able to download the maps from Google for the built-in Maps app. (If you are using a GPS app from someone else, the maps may be stored locally on your iPad, so the lack of an internet connection won't matter).
Finally, Assisted GPS is a system that uses triangulation on cell phone towers to enable the regular GPS chip to more quickly determine your location.
The wifi model doesn't have the GPS functionality. Period. The GPS functionality is built-in to the 3G chip.
The 3G model does not need a 3G subscription or 3G services to function. If you do have 3G services, then start-up time for determining your location will be faster, because the base station will assist with obtaining the initial location. If you do not have a subscription, then you don't get the "assist" but you still get "real" GPS, just really, really slow initial fixes.
The 3G model does not need a 3G subscription or 3G services to function. If you do have 3G services, then start-up time for determining your location will be faster, because the base station will assist with obtaining the initial location. If you do not have a subscription, then you don't get the "assist" but you still get "real" GPS, just really, really slow initial fixes.
Applications such as Navigon and TomTom have the map set built into the software. For the 3G model the maps are always there regardless whether you have a 3G signal or not. If the application supports turn by turn directions you will get turn by turn directions. Obviously you won't have traffic service or the Navigon Google POI lookup without a way to get that data. Something like the Google Maps application will not give you turn by turn because if you have no wi-fi or 3G connection there isn't any way to download the map segments or instructions.
More and more websites have location-based info. Given that (on a WiFi iPad) you can't access (live) websites at all without a connection, there is value to WiFi Location Services; it is useful. It is useless for locating yourself "in the middle of nowhere". So it depends on what people are expecting to do with "GPS".
True, but a Wifi connection is unlikely "in the middle of no where". If you're in a city (where Wifi lives), you're likely to realize your location. I could see it useful for finding restaurants in unknown cities and things like that.
My apologies, I misunderstood.
Assisted GPS just utilizes local phone towers to help the GPS system locate you more quickly. I'm not sure if it will work without 3G enabled or not.
AGPS will not do turn by turn. As mentioned in the thread, you can always purchases a GPS app that holds the maps in memory instead of relying on Google Maps to download the, but YMMV on their price/usability.
Thats the big question at the moment. I have a feeling it will. Surely, the iPad Wi-fi + 3G model will let you know if you have AT&T 3G service before allowing you to purchase a pre-paid data plan.