salgud

I've been using the Reminders app for over a week now, and have found an
interesting problem. I set it to remind me to pick up my new iPhone (taking
my 4S 16G in and exchanging for 32G - running out of space already!) after
work today. But, as most of us know, the GPS isn't terribly accurate. On
both my old 3GS and my 4S, it often places me a block away from where I am,
especially when I'm in my office downtown. (Oddly, it's more accurate at my
home, and seldom puts me more than one house away.) Sometimes it shows me a
block W or S of where I am, lately, a block N. And sometimes, at the exact
location. So my iPhone has notified me several times this morning to go
pick up my new phone because I set the Notification to remind me when I
leave here after work, and since my GPS position is wandering, whenever it
thinks I've moved from this location to one a block north of here, I'm
getting that reminder.

And yes, I have done figure 8's with the phone trying to help it locate
itself better, but it hasn't made any difference thus far. Any ideas on a
fix?

nospam

In article <13xt0pot315kl.bmmdk9hqit6n$.dlg@40tude.net>, salgud
<spamboy6547@comcast.net> wrote:

> I've been using the Reminders app for over a week now, and have found an
> interesting problem. I set it to remind me to pick up my new iPhone (taking
> my 4S 16G in and exchanging for 32G - running out of space already!) after
> work today. But, as most of us know, the GPS isn't terribly accurate.

it's actually very accurate.

> On
> both my old 3GS and my 4S, it often places me a block away from where I am,
> especially when I'm in my office downtown. (Oddly, it's more accurate at my
> home, and seldom puts me more than one house away.) Sometimes it shows me a
> block W or S of where I am, lately, a block N. And sometimes, at the exact
> location.

not all apps require accuracy to the foot. a weather app, for example,
just needs the general area. a gps navigation app obviously needs
precise location, and it gets it. being a block away is close enough
for reminders.

> So my iPhone has notified me several times this morning to go
> pick up my new phone because I set the Notification to remind me when I
> leave here after work, and since my GPS position is wandering, whenever it
> thinks I've moved from this location to one a block north of here, I'm
> getting that reminder.

sounds like it's working.

> And yes, I have done figure 8's with the phone trying to help it locate
> itself better, but it hasn't made any difference thus far. Any ideas on a
> fix?

that's for the compass.

salgud

On Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:18:21 -0400, nospam wrote:

> In article <13xt0pot315kl.bmmdk9hqit6n$.dlg@40tude.net>, salgud
> <spamboy6547@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> I've been using the Reminders app for over a week now, and have found an
>> interesting problem. I set it to remind me to pick up my new iPhone (taking
>> my 4S 16G in and exchanging for 32G - running out of space already!) after
>> work today. But, as most of us know, the GPS isn't terribly accurate.
>
> it's actually very accurate.

So accurate that all morning it kept thinking I had left work and was
showing me a block north of where I am. Last week, it had me a block south
of where I am.

I guess it depends on your definition of "accurate". While knowing where I
am within a block works great if I'm trying to find my way out of the
mountains to the nearest town, it's not so great when I keep getting alarms
because it thinks I left work when I haven't left the building. I call that
"not terribly accurate". Of course, you can call it "very accurate".

>
>> On
>> both my old 3GS and my 4S, it often places me a block away from where I am,
>> especially when I'm in my office downtown. (Oddly, it's more accurate at my
>> home, and seldom puts me more than one house away.) Sometimes it shows me a
>> block W or S of where I am, lately, a block N. And sometimes, at the exact
>> location.
>
> not all apps require accuracy to the foot. a weather app, for example,

Do ya think?

> just needs the general area. a gps navigation app obviously needs
> precise location, and it gets it. being a block away is close enough
> for reminders.
>

Being a block away, in this case, is clearly NOT good enough for reminders.

When I arrive home at night, and have set reminders for that occasion, when
I'm driving, it alarms just as I pull up to the house. When I'm walking,
when I'm about one or two houses down. That's "close enough".

When it keeps pestering me during the day, it's definitely not "close
enough".

>> So my iPhone has notified me several times this morning to go
>> pick up my new phone because I set the Notification to remind me when I
>> leave here after work, and since my GPS position is wandering, whenever it
>> thinks I've moved from this location to one a block north of here, I'm
>> getting that reminder.
>
> sounds like it's working.

Then re-read my post, and try to pay attention this time.

Wes Groleau

On 11-10-2011 12:18, nospam wrote:
> <spamboy6547@comcast.net> wrote:
>> I've been using the Reminders app for over a week now, and have found an
>> interesting problem. I set it to remind me to pick up my new iPhone (taking
>> my 4S 16G in and exchanging for 32G - running out of space already!) after
>> work today. But, as most of us know, the GPS isn't terribly accurate.
>
> it's actually very accurate.

Usually. (If you consider 250 feet accurate).

But I have a photo taken with an iPhone 4 in a cemetery.
When I look at the coordinates stored in the exif of the JPG,
plot them on a map, they are in an empty field half a mile from the
cemetery.


--
Wes Groleau

Always listen to experts. They'll tell you
what can't be done and why. Then do it.
— Robert A. Heinlein

Wes Groleau

On 11-10-2011 14:04, salgud wrote:
>>> So my iPhone has notified me several times this morning to go
>>> pick up my new phone because I set the Notification to remind me when I
>>> leave here after work, and since my GPS position is wandering, whenever it
>>> thinks I've moved from this location to one a block north of here, I'm
>>> getting that reminder.

Yes, when you are in a building, it can lose enough signal to screw up
the position. Sucks for your usage, but there it is.

--
Wes Groleau

Hispanics Hold the Key to Texas’ Economic Future
http://Ideas.Lang-Learn.us/russell?itemid=1564

DevilsPGD

In message <j9iiak$hvr$1@dont-email.me> someone claiming to be Wes
Groleau <Groleau+news@FreeShell.org> typed:

>On 11-10-2011 12:18, nospam wrote:
>> <spamboy6547@comcast.net> wrote:
>>> I've been using the Reminders app for over a week now, and have found an
>>> interesting problem. I set it to remind me to pick up my new iPhone (taking
>>> my 4S 16G in and exchanging for 32G - running out of space already!) after
>>> work today. But, as most of us know, the GPS isn't terribly accurate.
>>
>> it's actually very accurate.
>
>Usually. (If you consider 250 feet accurate).
>
>But I have a photo taken with an iPhone 4 in a cemetery.
>When I look at the coordinates stored in the exif of the JPG,
>plot them on a map, they are in an empty field half a mile from the
>cemetery.

That's likely very close to a worst case scenario; there's no wifi to
assist with a location and you only have a few seconds to get a
location, so at best you're relying on cellular towers.

Going out of cellular coverage too would make it worse.

--
It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to
steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

Wes Groleau

On 11-11-2011 03:41, DevilsPGD wrote:
> Groleau<Groleau+news@FreeShell.org> typed:
>> Usually. (If you consider 250 feet accurate).
>>
>> But I have a photo taken with an iPhone 4 in a cemetery.
>> When I look at the coordinates stored in the exif of the JPG,
>> plot them on a map, they are in an empty field half a mile from the
>> cemetery.
>
> That's likely very close to a worst case scenario; there's no wifi to
> assist with a location and you only have a few seconds to get a
> location, so at best you're relying on cellular towers.
>
> Going out of cellular coverage too would make it worse.

I had been taking pics in the cemetery for some time.
So just for who knows why, the GPS decided it needed
to go out in the field to take a leak or something.

--
Wes Groleau

Be spontaneous … today
http://Ideas.Lang-Learn.us/BlindDog?itemid=3984

Chris

On 10/11/2011 17:48, salgud wrote:
> I've been using the Reminders app for over a week now, and have found an
> interesting problem. I set it to remind me to pick up my new iPhone (taking
> my 4S 16G in and exchanging for 32G - running out of space already!) after
> work today. But, as most of us know, the GPS isn't terribly accurate. On
> both my old 3GS and my 4S, it often places me a block away from where I am,
> especially when I'm in my office downtown. (Oddly, it's more accurate at my
> home, and seldom puts me more than one house away.) Sometimes it shows me a
> block W or S of where I am, lately, a block N. And sometimes, at the exact
> location. So my iPhone has notified me several times this morning to go
> pick up my new phone because I set the Notification to remind me when I
> leave here after work, and since my GPS position is wandering, whenever it
> thinks I've moved from this location to one a block north of here, I'm
> getting that reminder.
>
> And yes, I have done figure 8's with the phone trying to help it locate
> itself better, but it hasn't made any difference thus far. Any ideas on a
> fix?
That's probably because Skyhook or Google have driven down your street
and mapped all the WiFi access points, greater accuracy. Being not on a
public highway had to add mine manually to Skyhook for find my mac to
work as well for the phone to more accurately report its position.

--
Chris

greenpjs@neo.rr.com

On Sun, 20 Nov 2011 01:01:50 +0000, Chris <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:

>On 10/11/2011 17:48, salgud wrote:
>> I've been using the Reminders app for over a week now, and have found an
>> interesting problem. I set it to remind me to pick up my new iPhone (taking
>> my 4S 16G in and exchanging for 32G - running out of space already!) after
>> work today. But, as most of us know, the GPS isn't terribly accurate. On
>> both my old 3GS and my 4S, it often places me a block away from where I am,
>> especially when I'm in my office downtown. (Oddly, it's more accurate at my
>> home, and seldom puts me more than one house away.) Sometimes it shows me a
>> block W or S of where I am, lately, a block N. And sometimes, at the exact
>> location. So my iPhone has notified me several times this morning to go
>> pick up my new phone because I set the Notification to remind me when I
>> leave here after work, and since my GPS position is wandering, whenever it
>> thinks I've moved from this location to one a block north of here, I'm
>> getting that reminder.
>>
>> And yes, I have done figure 8's with the phone trying to help it locate
>> itself better, but it hasn't made any difference thus far. Any ideas on a
>> fix?
>That's probably because Skyhook or Google have driven down your street
>and mapped all the WiFi access points, greater accuracy. Being not on a
>public highway had to add mine manually to Skyhook for find my mac to
>work as well for the phone to more accurately report its position.
To further the point, GPS is not the problem. If your phone could
actually use GPS inside a building, it would know where you are with
very good accuracy. It can't do that, though. Instead, it uses cell
tower locations and mapped wi-fi locations to estimate your location.
If you go outside and let it find satellites and actually use GPS, I
think you would find it is quite accurate. It seems to me that Apple
did a great job of making your location information available to apps
even when there are no satellites within view, but instead of praise,
they constantly get dinged for having a lousy GPS. Oh well.

DevilsPGD

In message <JaKdnSA06J_izFXTnZ2dnUVZ8tKdnZ2d@bt.com> someone claiming to
be Chris <nospam@nospam.com> typed:

>That's probably because Skyhook or Google have driven down your street
>and mapped all the WiFi access points, greater accuracy. Being not on a
>public highway had to add mine manually to Skyhook for find my mac to
>work as well for the phone to more accurately report its position.

Note that you don't actually have to do anything manually, just using
location services on devices equipped with a real GPS around your wifi
access point will be enough for the various services to (eventually)
locate you more quickly based on that access point's location.

Basically what happens is that as wifi access points are discovered,
their location gets reported. Once the service (be it Google or Skyhook
or another) has enough confidence about an access point's location, it
will start to report that location back when queried.

--
It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to
steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.