GPS on Mobiles - HTC / IPhone

Atomic · 21 Aug 2010 at 22:27

I have an old phone and looking to switch to contract and either a HTC or Iphone. More so HTC.

I would like to know though does either those offer GPS? If so is it free or does it use the internet and thus uses the monthly data useage. I'm talking about going hill walking and using a GOS map to pin point my location.

If I use Google Maps service on either phone does that bite into the monthly bandwidth useage or is that free?

ste_bla · 21 Aug 2010 at 22:32

GPS - Doesnt use net, drains battery quite fast

Googlemaps - Downloads maps over net, taken out of allowance/charged

Look at http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18176660

lokkers · 22 Aug 2010 at 12:14

I would go for a HTC phone (like a Desire) - GPS does drain the battery, but at least you can carry a spare (or two) with the Desire, you can't with an iPhone.

ste_bla said:
Googlemaps - Downloads maps over net, taken out of allowance/charged

I'm sure I remember reading that map tiles are cached, so you could conceivably view your route at home over WiFi prior to setting out if that's the case.

However, I'm not sure I'd like to rely on any phone for serious navigation away from civilisation - what if you don't have a mobile signal for example?

Sin_Chase · 22 Aug 2010 at 12:30

There are plenty of other mapping products aside from Googlemaps that use locally stored map data.

You are not forced into using data with mobile based GPS.

Richie · 22 Aug 2010 at 12:54

lokkers said:
However, I'm not sure I'd like to rely on any phone for serious navigation away from civilisation - what if you don't have a mobile signal for example?

Take a map and compass. Lets face it, the GPS on the phone will be much quicker and accurate than map/compass but take them anyways as a backup.

lokkers · 22 Aug 2010 at 13:04

Richie said:
Take a map and compass. Lets face it, the GPS on the phone will be much quicker and accurate than map/compass but take them anyways as a backup.

That was my point

Bloomfield · 24 Sep 2011 at 13:02

Does this look like a site to advertise your business?

Edit: Lol, he even bumped a 1 year old and 2 year old thread to advertise

.

englishpremier · 24 Sep 2011 at 13:36

ste_bla said:
GPS - Doesnt use net, drains battery quite fast

Googlemaps - Downloads maps over net, taken out of allowance/charged

Look at http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18176660

Why is it that GPS drains the battery so fast? I had a separate GPS module previously and that lasted over 30 hours constant use on a single charge. What is it about mobile phones that makes GPS kill a battery within 2 hours?

I reckon most of the time it's more the screen being on that kills the battery over actually GPS function.