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< Esato Forum Index > Sony Ericsson / Sony > General > New SE phones embedding GPS!? Bookmark topic

Well GPS is still very much a novelty in mobiles. It's not yet good enough to replicate even a basic GPS navigator.

No touchscreen, tiny screen (in comparison), and limited features. Worst of all, the battery drain is huge.

If you've ever used the GPS function on a Nokia, you'll find that it kills the battery. The 6110 can only manage less than a day, let alone the N95.
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Posted: 2007-09-24 04:07:11
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let's just say if your phone got stolen, it's stolen and u never recover it whether u got gps or not.



I am sure bb has better connectivity in the enterprise segment than symbian. but its os core is still limited. it does not support server/daemon process (i.e true multi-tasking). I believe RIM is in the process of replacing the core OS of bb. At one time they were contemplating using a 3rd party os core like symbian/linux or develop thier own core platform.

most of the capability you mentioned are available on symbian. There is even a beta app on S60 which allows you to setup your phone to host a web server/services. I bet you cannot do this on the bb.



[ This Message was edited by: mib1800 on 2007-09-24 05:28 ]
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Posted: 2007-09-24 04:09:02
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Oh its definately a mutitasking OS. FULLY. Wanna prove it with a simple task that NO OTHER phone OS does including linux?

With you favorite OS of choice, Ask your wireless provider to turn off a simple network feature (call waiting, call forwarding, block outgoing calls, whatever). Of course you will be calling them on ANOTHER phone, but for the same line your phone of choice has. Now tell me how long it'll take for the related phone menu to show you the change. I'm waiting. Still waiting. Nothing yet. Of course not. No Server/Deamon TRUE functionality that gets updated with network changes. On the BB Java2ME based OS any network feature that is changed (either in your BILLING account "Tuxedo" - many providers call this common tunable/stackable app varying names but most use the same core within customer service or billing departments, or DIRECTLY on the network switch - Nortel, Ericsson, Nokia, or Motorola switches), withing SECONDS the BB device will notify you on the main screen OR within the menus if you go back to it. I've seen this on the 7290 all the way up to the current 8820/8320 WiFi devices.

They ALSO have a user accessible system log of ANY event or user activated event (from switching applications in real time or from network feedback or data load balancing - yes you'll STILL get realtime IM communicae while surfing internet on the same medium). FTP apps exist. Using the BB as a server - interesting challenge. But that would also compromise the security of the OS unless closely worked with RIM.

RIM has NEVER sought changing the OS to Symbian or Linux = all press rumors from analysts trying to make a gain from unsubstantiated feeder columnists. NO other OS provides the level of corporate security as Java in a mobile device. Linux MOBILE version from ALL company's still cannot compete .... currently! Linux servers are different.

Back on Topic (although this is interesting, hehe).

GPS in an SE phone may present true usability problems. Java apps might not function quick enough on a platform OS; although this remains to be seen.

Has anyone seen a video of an SE phone being used to work with the GPS headset adapter?
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Posted: 2007-09-24 04:35:41
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Exactly. It's still a gimmicky feature. SE don't generally implement the latest technology until it's reasonably mature. Especially for something like GPS, where generic Bluetooth gps receivers have been available for a while, so it's not as if there was no gps option for non-gps embedded phones. Likewise camera attachments came out before integration, as did mp3 players. And now the GPS fastport accesory, which incidently probably works quite nicely on a TOUCHSCREEN handset, such as P1 or W960.


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Posted: 2007-09-24 05:08:52
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You do not really need TS for GPS. Big screen - yes. 2.6in like in N95 is the minimum tolerable. All u need are good maps and a navigator prog. I am using MapKing on my N95 and it is as good as any standalone gps-nav. I use my N95 gps extensively so an in-car charger is a must. So it is not a novelty to me.

No handheld device on this planet can last 1 day actively using gps-nav. Either accept this fact or dont bother with one (i.e. use your paper map )


prom1

I am not talking about operator services. I am talking about in-phone capability supported via api. Anyway it is a mute point now as the hardware on the mobile is still not good enough (i.e. too slow or not enough ram) to support some of these advanced capabilities. Most of the "must have" apps are already there whether u r using bb, wm or symbian. In handango, software available for bb numbered about 1200 whereas for symbian it is close to 9000. So if you need some special capability u r more likely to find it in symbian/wm than in a bb.


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Posted: 2007-09-24 07:04:05
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I wouldn't say its a gimmicky feature, its past that point. However its still in 'novelty' stage. However as ppl begin to use it for route mapping & alternative route from Point A to B (especially with traffic rerouting and voice alerts of traffic jam and audible turn by turn directions); we'll begin to see advancements in power efficiency (GPS BT pucks already advanced in minute size, some becoming keychain dongles). Once power efficiency increases then its prime time for mass marketing. Currently its a loss situation for consumers as they'll pay more on a monthly add-on to normal price plans instead of fully downloading full city or provincial/state/regional maps with only using say 10MB/mth for turn by turn navigation.

On your other statements I full-heartedly agree! GPS Fastport is a smart way for SE to go and on the P1i or W960 this would do wonders! A P1i upgrade or true successor to the P990 (hmm say P3i rumored) should ONLY have this if SE plans a new battery and consumption technology for better efficiency and faster dual-core yet more advanced & efficient Arm9 or Arm6 cpu's and 1250mAh battery minimal.
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Posted: 2007-09-24 08:01:57
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Actually, my sense of "gimmicky" is as you describe "novelty", so we are in complete agreement in fact

I agree GPS in a phone is usable, but issues such as battery life are still a limitation. Mib is right when he says you will have problems with battery use even on stand alone devices. That doesn't say much for adding a mobile phone radio and multimedia to the mix.

The fact is most GPS units are either large chunky handheld devices with massive batteries for true navigation (aka in the wild where there are truly no roads and no ready power supplies) or they are designed to be small car mounted (and car powered) units. A phone as a handheld GPS device is really a misnomer with current battery technology.

Personally, GPS is of little use to me because I know Brisbane rather well (I've been traversing this fair city for recreation and work for over 30 years or more). Where it would be handy is when I have jobs in cities I don't know very well, but that is not that often. TBH a touchscreen is far more useful than a GPS, especially since you can get add on gps receivers but not add on touchscreens

I won't take it away from those who do use the GPS, but I hardly think it's the apex of technological requirement in a high end phone. To me GPS in a phone is a niche option not an option for a flagship multimedia phone. The Navigator fullfills this requirement perfectly and that (for now until batteries improve) is the best place for embedded gps - in a phone designed and badged around the GPS hardware.
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Posted: 2007-09-24 09:54:05
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And another senseless thing that they're doing here is cramming GPS in small screened phones, leaving their symbian phones with monster-sized screens out. WTF?
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Posted: 2007-09-24 14:29:07
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I guess at the end of the day, GPS on phones will never replace the real thing. Screen size is something that can only be compensated by increasing the size of phones, which isn't really going to happen.

Even the iPhone is pretty large (not including depth), and its screen compared to a real GPS is also not quite big enough. Also, remember that GPS is being embedded into cars as well, making phones obsolete in a way for car use.

But perhaps we could explore the idea that GPS in phones could be used for more simple things like locating a restaurant for people in the city; for handheld map use.
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Posted: 2007-09-24 15:39:02
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Well, it all depends... In the end phone cameras can not replace digital cameras, phone music players can not replace standalone players, etc...

For me TomTom on the P1i is good enough. Ofcourse a standalone set is better but this solution also works just fine for me. About inbuilt GPS, well... as long as it's optional to turn on and off I can't see any objections (apart from size increase of the phone).

I love to have an all-in-one device. Now I still have to think about taking my GPS device with me and inbuilt GPS WAS a reason to consider other models (although in the end the P1i offered most for me).

I rather have one device which does everything good enough then 5 different device which excel at what they do. As long as the functionality and use is sufficient...
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Posted: 2007-10-02 15:23:58
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