Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Is GPS really necessary?

L

LadyHoneyBabe

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 22, 2010
465
0
Is GPS really necessary for accuracy in some apps? I know some apps ask for current location, but isn't the WiFi triangulation accurate enough to see places in the surrounding area? Is there a time where this won't work and GPS is needed?

I'm just trying to decide if GPS would give me the same results WiFi gives me when I use apps with current location option...or, would the results on WiFi be miles off.
 
I personally don't see a point to having gps on the iPad. I means there's the iphone that has gps for maps. I find that the iPad doesn't need them.
 
i agree with the post above, i dont see a need for a solid gps on maps on the iPad when I know ill always have it everywhere on my iPhone 3GS. I know this is not the case for everyone, but just my opinion. I also dont see myself choosing to pull the iPad out of my backpack to look up directions to location x when I can pull my iPhone 3GS out of my pocket and be done by the time i get my iPad out.

i know its not the case for everyone just throwing my opinion into the mix
 
I beg to differ from the 2 post above.:rolleyes:

I don't have an iPhone or any cellphone w/ GPS

Hect....i don't even have a tom, tom car GPS

and this is one of the reasons why i'm getting the iPad + 3G

The GPS would come in handy. ;)
 
They should have gps in ll ipads. Its not that its necessary just that it is cheap and easy to provide. Thy eliminated t because they needed a way to differentiate between the 3g and the wifi. Having 3g was not enough to justify a $100+ price difference so they through in gps. Ultimately, i think they will get rid of it as an option and make it standard. Especially if apps really start to take advantage o fit. Having two different devices fragments the system like android. Some people have this others have that so an app that needs gps only gets access to half (or a portion of) of the market.
 
freddy425 said:
i agree with the post above, i dont see a need for a solid gps on maps on the iPad when I know ill always have it everywhere on my iPhone 3GS. I know this is not the case for everyone, but just my opinion. I also dont see myself choosing to pull the iPad out of my backpack to look up directions to location x when I can pull my iPhone 3GS out of my pocket and be done by the time i get my iPad out.

i know its not the case for everyone just throwing my opinion into the mix
Click to expand...

Probably the best argument that the 3G iPad's best feature is the 3g.... which is the rub that many of us are facing in choosing between the two versions...
 
Still though can you imagine putting this on your car? This is gonna be a 10in projectile in your car!!!!! Also from my experience with the iphone 3gs gps, you need to mount it near the wind shield to get a clear shot of the satellite signal so you would need to mount thus near the windshield essentially blocking a pretty large area. I suppose you can use and ezternal gps antenna but i dont think there one for the ipad out yet. They may have one that connects via wifi signal i think... Plus if you gotta pull this out in th street, yonk, someone is gonna grad it lol.

Well This is of course my opinion so.... Take it for what it is.
 
How do you see movie listings nearby if the device doesn't know what's nearby? Same with restaurants etc. It just depends how you'll use it. If you plan to use it while outside of your home and in places where wifi isn't a sure thing, you are better off with 3g.
 
To some people maps and navigation are a big thing. I will be buying the 3G version purely for the GPS. I wont even have an active SIM chip installed. I will be using it with flying apps a lot. I think quite a few people are looking forward to GPS more than the ability to play games on a bigger screen.
I wish it had been included in the WIFI model.
 
I think I've only ever have location services pick up my location once inky Touch. My home router isn't registered with skyhook and apparently nothing around here is.

It's no biggie to me, but I could end up living it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back