wow thanks. Lots of info a little overwhelming but I will save it and work through the info. I live in Canada. THanks. Lovette
On 2012-06-20, at 8:33 AM, Esther wrote: > Hi Lovette and Others, > > You can use GPS apps with an iPod Touch or WiFi-only iPad by purchasing a > compatible Bluetooth GPS receiver and pairing it through Bluetooth with your > iOS device. This will let you use GPS apps that you purchase and download > onto your iPod Touch. Apple approved GPS devices that work with the iPod > Touch or iPad are typically about $100 from Amazon in the US (equivalent to > about £64), but seem more expensive in the Amazon UK listings due to VAT and > other factors. They include: > • Dual Electronics XGPS150A Universal Bluetooth GPS Receiver for iPad 3, iPad > 2, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone and Other Smartphones, Tablets and Laptops Now > with 12-28V adapter for cars, boats and airplanes! > (This used to be the Dual Electronics XGPS150 model) > • Bad Elf GPS Receiver for iPod touch, iPhone, iPad (3rd generation), iPad 2, > and iPad (66-channel, SBAS/WAAS, 10 Hz) > • GNS 5870 MFi Bluetooth Receiver for iPhone/iPad/iPod > > These are small devices that require separate power, and are rated for about > 8 hours of use. The Dual Electronics XGPS150 or XGPS150A is about 2 inches > on a side and can be worn on an armband. The Bad Elf GPS Receiver is about > the size of a slightly long docking extender that plugs into the dock of the > iPod Touch. The GNS 5870 MFi Receiver is a credit card-sized separate > receiver. They can also all be used with an iPhone to boost the accuracy of > GPS reception. In the first two cases there is a free app that lets you > determine the efficiency and accuracy of the GPS reception by telling you how > many satellites are being used to pinpoint your position and the strength of > the lock. I think that only Dual Electronics made their free app accessible > in response to feedback from visually impaired users. > > There are a couple of extra considerations for using these devices with GPS > apps: > • A very few apps, including the Sendero GPS Lookaround app, are written so > that they will only work with the iPhone. The app developer can check your > iOS device and operating system version, and disable functionality. Even > though I can run every other GPS app such as Navigon, MotionX GPS Drive, > Mapquest 4 Mobile, Ariadne GPS, HopStop, etc. on an iPad with 3G+Wi-Fi (or > the later model 4G+Wi-Fi iPad), and those iPads have built-in GPS reception, > Sendero has always blocked the operation of its app with non-iPhone devices. > So you will not be able to use the Sendero app with your iPod Touch, even > with a GPS Bluetooth receiver. > • Some GPS apps require an active internet connection to work, because the > map database they use isn't stored on your device. These include helper apps > like AroundMe and Where To?, and any GPS apps like Ariadne GPS, the default > Maps app, and Mapquest 4 Mobile (a US only app) that requires an internet > connection for map data. > > Daniela was referring to this last point when she mentioned as a solution > getting a MiFi or other personal wireless hotspot to provide you with > wireless internet connectivity wherever you are. Arthur, the name "MiFi" is > the brand name for the portable wireless hotspot device that Verizon makes > and popularized. Many cell phone providers will sell or rent such devices > and provide services for a monthly fee. I use a ClearSpot for about > $30/month to provide 4G coverage for my laptop and other iOS devices. This > gives me faster connection speeds than a 3G connection, supports up to 8 > connected devices for 5 hours on a full charge, lets me use the minimum data > plan on my iPhone, and provides internet connections for my laptop if I > travel to other locations in the U.S. with Clear 4G coverage. (In the U.S. > "tethering" a laptop or other device to an iPhone requires an additional > monthly fee from my carrier, would be capped at 2GB/month, and would be > considerably slower.) > > Getting back to Lovette's original question, getting a Bluetooth GPS receiver > and using GPS apps that either come with a full downloaded set of maps, like > Navigon or TomTom, or which allow you to download the maps that you'll need > before you travel, while you're on a Wi-Fi connection, like MotionX GPS Drive > (U.S. only), does let you use your iPod Touch with GPS navigation apps. I > can imagine someone in the U.S. buying a Dual Electronics XGPS150A for $100, > then getting MotionX GPS Drive for $0.99 plus paying for 1 year of > voice-assisted guidance for $9.99, and finding this a good solution for their > iPod Touch. Or alternatively, buying one of the Navigon regional apps for > the U.S. (currently $29.99, but has been on sale for half this price), and > getting a complete set of maps locally on their iPod Touch. > > I'm not familiar with the options in the U.K., so someone else will have to > chime in here. Dual Electronics is a U.S.-based firm that does sell > internationally. Bad Elf and the GNS 5870 MFi are European firms. Here's a > link to an iLounge review of the Dual Electronics XGPS150: > http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mobile/reviews/dual-electronics-xgps150-universal-gps-receiver/ > > Here's more information on the Dual Electronics products page, since you > might have more trouble finding this: > • Their UK/European retailer, Proviation (£100, which includes the 20% VAT > surcharge and free delivery): > http://proviationshop.co.uk/shop/article_XGPS150-E/Dual-XGPS150-E-Bluetooth-GPS-Receiver.html > • The description page at Dual Electronics: > http://www.xgps150.dualav.com/how-it-works.html > • The FAQ: > http://xgps150.dualav.com/faq.html > > All of the above GPS Bluetooth receivers have been used by visually impaired > iOS device users. You do not need the free apps that let you check the > detailed GPS performance to use these devices, but I'm only aware of Dual > Electronics adding accessibility to their app (last year). I don't use > these myself, so others may be able to provide more details. Ariadne GPS, > the app that started this discussion thread, uses the Open Street Map > database, so you need an active internet connection to use it. > > HTH. Cheers, > > Esther > > > <--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net ---> > > To reply to this post, please address your message to > [email protected] > > You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Mac-Access forum at > either the list's own dedicated web archive: > <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/mac-access/index.html> > or at the public Mail Archive: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/>. > Subscribe to the list's RSS feed from: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml> > > The Mac-Access mailing list is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus and > worm-free! > > Please remember to update your membership options periodically by visiting > the list website at: > <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/mac-access/options/> <--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net ---> To reply to this post, please address your message to [email protected] You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Mac-Access forum at either the list's own dedicated web archive: <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/mac-access/index.html> or at the public Mail Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/>. 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