Comments on: Countdown to iPad – Living GuideBook (Use Case 24)

By: Basin Taps

Basin Taps — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:10:20 +0000

some satellite receivers are not very good in tracking and receiving satellite signals–,

By: admin

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:27:18 +0000

Though I understand your point, I think it is important to make a distinction regarding tech in nature. Certainly tech can distract but used carefully it can also augment the experience. In my example we show the use of a living guidebook and used in that way I don’t see it as a distraction. On the otherhand, if I spent my time at the lake answering email on my ipad I would see that as a distraction.

By: Christina Brown

Christina Brown — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:12:59 +0000

Russ, out of all your possible scenarios, I will never bring a Ipad to a nature hike or camping site. I am suppose to be one with nature, not with technology. hehe

By: admin

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:17:19 +0000

I was pretty sure this concept would work when I wrote the post, but after your comment, I decided to double check. I am in the Apple Store as I write this reply. The AGPS (Assisted GPS) in the iPad is the same as in the iPhone. Though it is assisted by other other data streams it is not reliant upon them. As long as the maps are pre loaded, as would be the case in my concept, everything should work fine. We just took the sim card out of an iPhone and turned off Wifi. The GPS works just fine and seems just as accurate as my handheld Sony GPS. You are correct that the Wifi only version of the iPad will not have GPS or AGPS.

By: relwal

relwal — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:23:15 +0000

iPad 3G features what Apple calls “assisted GPS”. The Wifi-only iPad doesn’t not include this feature. It is not clear if this uses an actual GPS satellite receiver or only uses cellular tower triangulation. Therefor is not yet clear what capabilities the iPad 3G will have. Without GPS satellite you may be out of luck at many trailheads which tend to be out of cell tower range.