(Help) Google Maps My Location and Vogue

[Jack Everyman]

So Google is currently offering a beta version of the GPS Emulation software (http://google.com/gmm/mylocation.html?hl=en) in the latest Google maps (http://google.com/gmm/index.html). My problem is that I can't get it to work with my Sprint Touch (Vogue), I keep getting a "Your location is currently unavailable" message. A co-worker of mine is able to get the My Location (http://google.com/gmm/mylocation.html?hl=en) feature to work on his Blackberry. I was wondering if sprint is blocking this part of the software. Any insight into this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Edit: Yeah sorry my location is Chicago, IL and my carrier is Sprint. Apparently it works on the regular touch so maybe a different ROM would fix it. According to Google the reason My location isn't working is because "The device is not reporting a cell". Now I haven't got a clue what that means, so if someone more knowledgeable has any idea any help would be greatly appreciated.

[EliteXen]

So Google is currently offering a beta version of the GPS Emulation software (http://google.com/gmm/mylocation.html?hl=en) in the latest Google maps (http://google.com/gmm/index.html). My problem is that I can't get it to work with my Sprint Touch (Vogue), I keep getting a "Your location is currently unavailable" message. A co-worker of mine is able to get the My Location (http://google.com/gmm/mylocation.html?hl=en) feature to work on his Blackberry. I was wondering if sprint is blocking this part of the software. Any insight into this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Hasn't worked for me either in the Baltimore <-> DC area. I'm assuming Sprint is blocking it.

If you do get it working report your general area and cell provider.

[Insoc]

The GPS feature of the Sprint Touch has not been activated yet, offcially.

Unless I am misunderstanding your questions... It won't work until GPS is turned on...

[EliteXen]

The GPS feature of the Sprint Touch has not been activated yet, offcially.

Unless I am misunderstanding your questions... It won't work until GPS is turned on...

This services uses Cell Tower Triangulation when GPS is not available...SO it should still work

[Jack Everyman]

As well sprint does list the Touch as one of the phones that works with their Family Locator software. So...

[Insoc]

http://informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/11/google_talks_up.html

Sorry, I was wrong about the GPS comment... :(

[sevsev]

I'm on Bell in Canada, the GPS locating didn't work for me but I did get an automated call from Bell the other day welcoming me to their service, the message also mentioned that my "phone has a global positioning chip that will help locate you in a case of emergency"

So we need to figure out how to unlock GPS. I heard Sprint will be providing an update that unlocks it sometime soon, but that doesn't help me

[zankye]

I have a Htc Touch with Telus, and because GPS is disable for now, I was able to configure a External gps receiver (http://www.holux.com/JCore/en/products/products_content.jsp?pno=340) with Google Maps mobile. Works very good.

[dixiespimp]

The locator in Google maps doesnt have anything to do with GPS. I have sprint with the touch in Utah and mine doesnt work either.

[bobaka]

The google maps locator is based on cellphone tower triangulation and it seems to be not compatible with sprint at this time. I 'think' microsoft is working on this with sprint for live search too ... someone in livesearch told me the other day "I can't tell you what we're working on but we've got more new things coming (for livesearch)" when I mentioned it.

[bobaka]

..cont

It's a nifty idea and free but it's not all that accurate... like a few blocks to a mile or more.

I don't know about you but when I'm in my car I can usually tell you where I am within a mile or so without the help of a satellite or other electronic devices.

[Jack Everyman]

If the live search rumor is true that is great, but my interest in this is not to know where I am, but to know what is around me.

[fowen]

I don't this this technology will work with Sprint or Verizon because of the way CDMA works. Maybe in the future but not now.

[bobaka]

Here's the article that said it was coming on Live Search/Sprint

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/18/sprint-microsoft-roll-out-location-based-live-search/

Sprint, Microsoft roll out location-based Live Search
Posted Sep 18th 2007 12:02PM by Donald Melanson
Filed under: Software, Sprint


It looks like Sprint users now have a few more search options at their disposal, with the carrier and Microsoft announcing today that Live Search will now automatically take the users' location into consideration. Apparently, the service makes use of cell-tower triangulation, and not GPS, to determine the users location, making it somewhat less accurate but far more widely available. What's more, the pair also announced a new voice search feature that'll work with five of Sprint's high end phones, including the Samsung a900 and a920, the Motorola Razr, the Sanyo 840 and the LG 550. As you can probably guess, it will let you speak search terms instead of typing them in, with it also giving you the option to press a button to call the business you're searching for. While Sprint is getting all Microsoft's attention at the moment, the company is quick to point out that the service is not exclusive, and "could become available via other operators in the future."

[bobaka]

...more

note reference to GPS and 2008 update
https://shopbiz.sprint.com/popup_product2.php?phone_id=MP6900SP&bundleID=2256

http://www.wmexperts.com/articles/rumors/sprint_to_finally_switch_on_gp.html

[touchbell]

I'm on Bell Mobility in Ottawa, Canada (Village of Carp) and "Your current location is temporarily unavailable" shows up for me too. I have the Vogue and blazing 1 Mbps speed. I'm opening up Google Maps every time I go out and hit 0 trying to get the towers more input. What is the word on Bell and Google Maps, am I doing this for nothing? Greater Ottawa has a population of 1 million, is Canada's capital and, therefore, should be a large dot! Mind you, best we stay hidden from nukes I guess.... :rolleyes: :p


http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii10/touchbell/sshot020.jpg

[thefish123]

I am in the GHBOA - Greater Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville Area (anyone who lives here will think that’s funny) and also on Bell Mobility and I am getting the same “Your current location is temporarily unavailable” message.

I double-checked to make sure that my location service was turned on. My understanding from what I have read (http://google.com/gmm/mylocation.html?hl=en) is that Google Maps will:

A) Use true GPS if present and show a blue dot to represent approximate location.
B) Fall back to tower triangulation if GPS is not available and show a blue dot with a light blue “halo” around it to represent approximate location.

On top of that I think we have also established in another tread on this board that the Vogue does indeed have a true GPS receiver inside but we are waiting in a firmware upgrade to enable it. In the meantime however the approximate location service using tower triangulation should work.

Perhaps GSM and CDMA networks report tower triangulation information differently and perhaps Google Maps only knows how to use the GSM info??? I have no idea if that makes sense but we CDMA folks do seem to get the short end of the stick a lot :-)

[thefish123]

I have a crazy idea that I want to “air” here and see what others think. Could it be that the Google Maps “My Location” feature doesn’t work on the Vogue because the Vogue has a real GPS receiver that is currently disabled?

I am thinking this because I did the following:

Start > Settings > System > External GPS > Access

There I disabled the “Manage GPS automatically”. This feature apparently gives Windows control of the GPS receiver and Windows marshals which programs can access it.

I then reset Google Maps and tried “Menu > Use GPS”. This resulted in “Initializing GPS” for a few minutes after which I got a message saying my GPS receiver wasn’t responding.

However I then went back into Start > Settings > System > External GPS > Access and re-enabled the “Manage GPS automatically” feature. I then went back into Google Maps (after resetting it again) and tried “Menu > Use GPS”. This time it resulted in a “Seeking GPS satellites (0)” message that never seemed to stop and never reported an error message.

So, my thinking is that perhaps Google Maps knows there is a physical GPS receiver in the Vogue and is trying to talk to it indefinitely and as a result is not falling back to tower-triangulation mode. Because the GPS is present but not enabled in the firmware Google Maps knows it is there but isn’t getting the appropriate response that would cause it to give up on GPS and switch to “tower” mode.

Just a thought... Does this sound reasonable to anyone?

[touchbell]

That's exactly what I observed and thought as well, but people tell me I need more cell users to use GMaps for tower input. I'm beginning to think that's not the case, too many other reports of "unavailable" in highly populated areas. The Vogue just CAN'T do it on Bell CDMA. :( Has there been ANY positive reports with this box and CDMA? Nope... :eek:

[thefish123]

That's exactly what I observed and thought as well, but people tell me I need more cell users to use GMaps for tower input. I'm beginning to think that's not the case, too many other reports of "unavailable" in highly populated areas. The Vogue just CAN'T do it on Bell CDMA. :( Has there been ANY positive reports with this box and CDMA? Nope... :eek:I think we may just have to wait for that firmware upgrade that’s supposed to enable EVDO Rev A as well as the GPS.

At least this confirms that Google Maps behavior is modified by the GPS settings in Windows. It apparently “thinks” it is talking to a GPS receiver when you enable it on the Windows side. Assuming my theory is right maybe Google will come up with an update that lets the user specify to use tower-triangulation all the time regardless of the presence of a GPS or not.

[tobeychris]

If you open up google maps, goto options > help > about, then scroll all the way to the bottom it will tell you if mylocations will work on your device. Apparently no one on a touch can get it to work and they should all say:
myl: N/A

why? I have no idea.

[PaNa-S]

I don't have a Vogue, but I do have a Samsung i760(cdma phone also), and I notice the same thing. I was told this is due to VZW blocking this feature because they want you to their navigation service. I am assume bell, sprint and Altell(if someone can chime in) also have this disabled so you can use their nav service.

[touchbell]

I don't have a Vogue, but I do have a Samsung i760(cdma phone also), and I notice the same thing. I was told this is due to VZW blocking this feature because they want you to their navigation service. I am assume bell, sprint and Altell(if someone can chime in) also have this disabled so you can use their nav service.

Thanks spring! I think we should protest our carriers and demand unblocking this free Google feature! Power to the pocket pc! :D

[touchbell]

If you open up google maps, goto options > help > about, then scroll all the way to the bottom it will tell you if mylocations will work on your device. Apparently no one on a touch can get it to work and they should all say:
myl: N/A

why? I have no idea.

Thanks tobeychris! You are correct, last line is proof in da puddin'!!!

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii10/touchbell/sshot022.jpghttp://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii10/touchbell/sshot023.jpg

That sucks! :(