GPS Fix
Current Version: 1.0.0
Download: GPS Fix in the Palm App Catalog
Installing Patch:
Use Preware to install this patch. It's in the Navigation category of the Patches named "GPS Fix for VZ Navigator". It is attached below for those who want to apply it manually. The patch is 1.4.1 and 1.4.5 compatible.
INSTRUCTIONS ARE IN THE APP. It's also for
Verizon users only.
NOTE: This app does not solve GPS Accuracy Issues!
Seriously, I am tired of questions about this. Read the details below.
aGPS Patch by Ebag33
The Verizon aGPS patch by Ebag33should be removed as it is NOT AUPT compatible. Upgrading to webOS 1.4.5 can render the patch "broken" and unable to remove/update itself.
Questions & Help
There is a fairly extensive HELP in the GPS Fix App. Please read it first. If you need more indepth help, then please post to these forums.
Donate
This app is free. GPS is a feature that should not malfunction or require special apps in order to function, so I will not charge for it. However, a lot of real time, effort, and energy went into the development of this app. Please consider donating or purchasing one of my Paid Apps.
IMPORTANT: How this App & Patch Operate
Understand The Problem
All Apps (including this one) use an API provided by Palm to get your GPS based location. The problem we see, is that on some devices, is that the app does not get these coordinates. Things timeout. The innards that handle this seem to simply be asleep at the wheel.
The Observations
Through everyone's trial and error, we have noted some important observations that are important:
1.) Loading VZ Navigator wakes up the GPS for Verizon Users
2.) Once GPS is awake, it will remain awake for ~20 minutes before sleeping again
3.) Hitting the GPS within the 20 minute period will extend the awake period ~20 minutes
4.) Sometimes GPS can be woken with multiple calls to it
* there are other minor tricks that I will not detail
It has also been observed that at certain times, GPS just stops entirely. It goes on strike. A reboot of the device is required.
The Solution
GPS Fix combines all of the observations into app form.
Once GPS is woken up, it will keep it alive by continually pinging GPS in the background (#3). It's simple and elegant in it's function.
The background operation also sports the ability to attempt a wakeup should the device be asleep again (#1, #2, #4).
The VZ Navigator Patch
Sometimes, this 20 minute period will expire prematurely, or fail to get extended (#2). To awake GPS again, the same steps from the observations must be repeated. In the case of many Verizon customers, that involves loading VZ Navigator.
This is where the patch comes in. It simply allows VZ Navigator to be loaded, then close itself as soon as GPS functions are awoken.
It's a tool used to automate this process of waking GPS without asking
YOU to do anything.
The patch is also artistically simplistic in it's design and function.
** The patch is not required, but limits the capabilities of the app if you choose not to install/use it.
Wrap Up
That is what this app promises, and nothing more. It will attempt to keep GPS awake. If GPS falls asleep, the app will try itself to wake it up if
all the necessary tools are available.
It's like a road trip buddy that cranks up the music every time you start to doze off. Only this one has an off switch.
When using the manual mode (button in app), exercise
patience and let it do it's thing, on it's own time.
Accuracy Not Included
Accuracy of GPS is reliant on MANY factors, none of which this app can control. The app, nor the patch can do anything about this*.
--
Now that I said it does not improve accuracy, I will throw you for a loop and say that it does. Sometimes.
The improved accuracy is attained by the very nature of the app. To understand why/how, you need to understand how GPS works. I recommend this page:
HowStuffWorks "2-D Trilateration"
In simplistic form, GPS works by determining how far away you are from 3+ known "reference points" in space (not outer space, just any space). By knowing the distance from each of the 3 or more places, it can determine the exact point in space you are. More reference points with good signals, more accuracy.
The app is designed to attempt a GPS Fix at the interval you set, so it is constantly looking for these "reference points". By having a fresh set of these points, it can shorten the time to find them since it already knows. This translates to better accuracy, in SOME cases.
This helps the underpowered mobile devices that do so many things and cannot devote all t's power to GPS alone.
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* There is a solution from Ebag33 which can improve accuracy. If you want to try it, know that it can brick your device and should only be attempted if you know what you are doing. Should you break your phone, you have only yourself to blame.
Proceed with caution:
http://forums.precentral.net/palm-pr...ed-cached.html