7 ms·

(Opinions are my own) You can actually operate Google maps with no internet connection: https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291838?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%

(Opinions are my own) You can actually operate Google maps with no internet connection: https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291838?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291838?hl=en&co=GENI... This will not have the same feature set but the UI will let you know that this is operating with reduced data. Route planning is still very good offline. I had to use this feature because for some time part of my route home had no cell signal.

rch 5y ago
I use this hiking sometimes. Not as good as GPS obviously, but better than AllTrails.
- Eelongate 5y ago
  > Not as good as GPS obviously It is GPS.
  - gravypod 5y ago
    You might be misunderstanding. They parent may be saying that they download the maps and just search for a road and use it like a paper map. Also, "GPS" in the United States colloquially refers what people in the UK would call "sat-nav" not to the satellites + protocol (what it actually means on paper).
    - Eelongate 5y ago
      > You might be misunderstanding. They parent may be saying that they download the maps and just search for a road and use it like a paper map. Maybe? When hiking it makes some sense to forego GPS to save battery power. I didn't consider that possibility when I commented earlier, but in my defense the context of the comment is using maps without an internet connection. > Also, "GPS" in the United States colloquially refers what people in the UK would call "sat-nav" Sure, but sat-nav doesn't require internet service...
tekno45 5y ago
doesn't that still allow GPS communication?
- Eelongate 5y ago
  It certainly does. Pure inertial guidance with smartphone sensors is garbage. I must say I'm a bit startled by how many people evidently think that GPS is an internet service...
  - nradov 5y ago
    Cell phones use A-GPS which relies on cellular data service. It allows for faster position fixes using base station signals. Of course a cell phone with a view of the sky can still get a position fix entirely from satellites, it just takes a little longer.
    - Eelongate 5y ago
      I've used GPS navigation extensively on my phone with no internet service; I drove clear across Canada with my simcard pulled, it works fine. If I had to guess, these conflations of cell service with GPS are a product of misleading UX created by Google. OSMAnd makes the nature of GPS clear, displaying a count of satellites it's managed to hear. Enough satellites to get a location good enough for car navigation almost always takes less than a minute.
    - astrange 5y ago
      There are some other aspects of locations that use downloaded data, like building heights, wifi base station locations, etc.
- gravypod 5y ago
  Yes, it does but knowing where you are isn't the problem for these systems it seems. Also, you can get very far with inertial tracking: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inertial_navigation_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inertial_navigation_system Couple that with point clouds of the sea floor, manual input from humans, etc, you can do quite well.

rch 5y ago

I use this hiking sometimes. Not as good as GPS obviously, but better than AllTrails.

Eelongate 5y ago
> Not as good as GPS obviously It is GPS.
- gravypod 5y ago
  You might be misunderstanding. They parent may be saying that they download the maps and just search for a road and use it like a paper map. Also, "GPS" in the United States colloquially refers what people in the UK would call "sat-nav" not to the satellites + protocol (what it actually means on paper).
  - Eelongate 5y ago
    > You might be misunderstanding. They parent may be saying that they download the maps and just search for a road and use it like a paper map. Maybe? When hiking it makes some sense to forego GPS to save battery power. I didn't consider that possibility when I commented earlier, but in my defense the context of the comment is using maps without an internet connection. > Also, "GPS" in the United States colloquially refers what people in the UK would call "sat-nav" Sure, but sat-nav doesn't require internet service...

tekno45 5y ago

doesn't that still allow GPS communication?

Eelongate 5y ago
It certainly does. Pure inertial guidance with smartphone sensors is garbage. I must say I'm a bit startled by how many people evidently think that GPS is an internet service...
- nradov 5y ago
  Cell phones use A-GPS which relies on cellular data service. It allows for faster position fixes using base station signals. Of course a cell phone with a view of the sky can still get a position fix entirely from satellites, it just takes a little longer.
  - Eelongate 5y ago
    I've used GPS navigation extensively on my phone with no internet service; I drove clear across Canada with my simcard pulled, it works fine. If I had to guess, these conflations of cell service with GPS are a product of misleading UX created by Google. OSMAnd makes the nature of GPS clear, displaying a count of satellites it's managed to hear. Enough satellites to get a location good enough for car navigation almost always takes less than a minute.
  - astrange 5y ago
    There are some other aspects of locations that use downloaded data, like building heights, wifi base station locations, etc.
gravypod 5y ago
Yes, it does but knowing where you are isn't the problem for these systems it seems. Also, you can get very far with inertial tracking: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inertial_navigation_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inertial_navigation_system Couple that with point clouds of the sea floor, manual input from humans, etc, you can do quite well.