GPS unlocked on AT&T Tilt
Oct 4, 2007 gps navigation, phones
Can you believe AT&T left the GPS on the new Tilt unlocked, letting you use it with any software that you like? That was unexpected. Here are the bit and pieces of mobilitysite’s review that relates to the GPS function on the new AT&T tilt – which referred to it back in the days as TyTN II or Kaiser.
So while driving I had it in the car mount putting the GPS through it’s paces when the phone rang, I answered it of course, but had to retrieve some information from an email to discuss and made all of these tasks without the slightest hiccup! Also, I was able to close all of the phone, and email applications and return to the GPS which was still rockin’ along, not missin’ a beat!
Now, did I happen to mention that the new AT&T 8925 Tilt happens to come with a built in GPS? WELL IT DOES! And boy does it work well! I have spent over 750 miles this week putting the 8925 through rigorous GPS Testing! I tested the GPS in three different software environments, those being the trial software included TeleNav, Google Maps, and Windows Live Search. As this was my first real experience with a converged device with built in GPS, I was not sure what to expect. there still is not a lot known about the GPS radio, and you learn even less when you buy the device! There is no controls to initiate or turn off the GPS. It simply activates when you open up any given software. I have used several Garmin Units (Hertz Rent-a-car), and fell in love with the 3D mapping, and all the extra POI info that they include. You wont get that much of that with the TeleNav software, and you will get even less with the Google and MS Live Search software. But with the TeleNav, you will get solid GPS mapping that performs very well. It is amazing that the 8925 actually acquires satellites faster than the stand alone GPS Units that I have rented! the only real down side is that as good as the speaker phone is on the 8925, it is still difficult to hear sometimes when there is a lot of road noise. Hopefully someone will release an integrated speaker, mobile car mount like is offered for the 8525. And that would be the only gripe I have with an integrated GPS into a mobile device is sound level. I have thoroughly enjoyed the GPS and can say it works REALLY well.
But CNet wasn’t that happy with GPS:
However, we ran into some problems with the built-in GPS radio. It took at least 10 tries for the Tilt to get a fix on our position, and it repeatedly told us that the GPS signal was too weak and needed a better view of the sky. We can understand that, but we were already in an open area, so it was frustrating to have to sit there and wait.
You can get it for $300 (after rebate) this Friday.
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October 12th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Would you happen to know…
Regarding GPS, is it using A-GPS or is it using a true built in gps such that you can get to the gps coords from the window mobile 6 – microsoft .net compact framework 2.0?
Any insight is greatly appreciated.
October 29th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Hate to ask a newbie question, but does the GPS as described above work only with a monthly fee? Also, (ok, 2 newbie questions), does GPS work in Europe? Thanks, I just don’t understand all these “other” GPS programs that are mentioned.
October 30th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
I bought the Tilt and am in the 30 trial period of Telenav only to find out I cannot click a contact to route myself to their address even though the pop up screen gives me the option to “drive to.” Teleanav support this option is only good on the Blackberry. This was my main purpose in making the purchase. Local store sales people were absolutly uniformed about the features and what would work even though i asked several associates prior to making purchase.
November 5th, 2007 at 10:37 am
How did you get the GPS to work with Google Maps?
January 31st, 2008 at 8:42 am
I have had 4 tilts as demos for our office for the last couple of weeks and I am very impressed. I have not had any issues like CNet describes. My question: Who the he11 makes this GPS Chip, and what is the model number? Anybody found that info anywhere?
Answers to above questions:
Wayne – I believe this is A-GPS because I am prompted periodically to download something called quick gps, which they say will speed up acquisition times. But, as I understand A-GPS, it is still a ‘true’ GPS, the ‘A’ (Assisted) just means it has softwware that helps it get a signal faster:
http://www.globallocate.com/A-GPS/A-GPS_Frameset.htm
Al – The GPS will work regardless, but you might need a data plan (which has a monthly fee) depending on the software you run. Google Maps, for example, is a free app, and the GPS is free, but it consumes alot of bandwidth, so you would need a monthly data plan. But, you don’t have to pay a fee if you have software that installs locally (we use ArcPad software in this capacity).
Ed – Can’t help ya, sorry. Don’t use Telenav, and really have no plans to. There is SO MUCH free data out there, I just don’t see the need to pay for a map service monthly.
Les – try clicking the ‘use gps’ button on the Google Map Menu. Make sure your WM Preferences are set to manage the GPS automatically.
March 27th, 2008 at 6:47 am
This is a full featured GPS. I have tried it with several different freeware and commercial GPS programs. Many times I can even get a position and even bearing while indoors! That suprised me.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
For a little overview, the time it takes for a GPS device to find a solution is known as the aquisition time. During this time the GPS does a number of things, including the aquisition of the almanacs. These almanacs contain the location of the GPS satalites. Usually a GPS will then use it’s previous position or a position provided by the user to determin which satalites are visible. If a location is not made available or, after using the location and alminiacs no satalites can be found, the GPS goes into ’search the sky’. In Search the Sky the GPS receiver searches for every satalite. Upon finding a satalite it then receives the almanacs which are sent periodically. and continues as mentioned above.
So, what is A-GPS? Well, A-GPS leverages a few different bits of extra information to help out the aquisition time.
1) The phone can get it’s list of almanacs over the mobile network.
2) Using triangaltion based on the cell sites that the phone is off, the approximate location can be determined, hand hence the possible visible satalites determined.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:44 am
I read your blog now and then and understand you have experience in using the At&t
tilt phone onboard GPS with ArcPad.
I was wondering if you know how to configure the onboard gps to work with the tilt.
ArcPad finds a gps on com 4 but when i set the gps active in arcpad with a projected
layer or any layer for that matter it states “no current position fix available”…endlessly
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Charles
July 16th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
j’ai lu votre blog et conprent, maintenent moi mon problême c’est m’aidé a debloquer merci
December 25th, 2008 at 8:01 am
The GPS will work with any other program.
I am using it with Microsoft Streets.
You need to load maps that come with the program.
I actually have 2 versions, one for US and another for Europe.
So, just load the maps that you need and configure your GPS for COM4.
No monthly fees.
February 17th, 2009 at 9:59 am
ah qhum i mir telefoni
March 28th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
telly+
April 30th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
telly