All things GPS

[blackhemi]

I have the same thing on mine.

Check this out - [Q]How to disable geotagging in 2.2? - Page 2 - xda-developers

I agree that is is a huge security risk. Is it just on 2.2 captivates, or is this a 2.2 issue all together?

The weird thing is though that it doesn't do it on my Cappy...just the wife. I upgraded to 2.2 on both phones on the same day...weird...and GPS is turned off...

I just turned my GPS off in my security settings, took a picture(the gps symbol present) and looked at the picture details. It showed my location.

For those who dont know, exif data (background info stored within a picture) can stay within a picture for some time unless you know how to get rid of it.

I have no idea why yours is off.
Id be careful sending pics via email and mms with your wifes phone. Maybe give ATT a call just to voice your complaint.

 

[Girevik]

I am using Cognition 4.11 and have not made any changes in LbsTestMode other than using the supl.google.com server on port 7276 with Secure Socket off. A short drive yesterday demonstrated pretty good GPS performance in Google Maps.

This change seemed to help for me, at least for my drive home. We'll see if it stays that way.

 

[bolts2]

I know most of you here do not want to see this but there is word of another mapping application called telenav which is free for at least basic navigation. Meaning find a point of interest, navigate to it then navigate back "home".

[APP] Telenav 6.2 (basic navigation is now FREE) - xda-developers

You'd have to use adb to push the apk file to /system/apps because the apk does not have an installer. Does not require root, at least as far as I know.

OK, sorry for the dumb noob question, but when I try to install this after downloading, I get the following error: "For security, your phone is set to block installation of applications not obtained from Android Market."

What do I have to do to make this install? Thanks.

 

[mmoffitt9241]

BLUF (bottom line up front): So it appears that (at least on my phone) if you never have GPS on while using the camera, geotagging never gets "turned on" but once you enable it by having GPS enabled AND activating the camera app, it continues to geotag even after you turn off the GPS...until you reboot the phone...

humm, I just looked at my pictures on my phone and the location stuff all says unknown. I'll have to look at my wife's when she gets home, but I'm betting it will have the location since it has the gps symbol on the camera app.

I don't know if maybe during initial setup I did something different on my phone than on hers...but even if I WANTED geotagging, I don't see an option to turn it on....

I just a few quick tests...here's my results:

1. Took picture with GPS off...no change from previous post setting... (GPS symbol NOT present on camera app)
Results: details all say unknown.
2. Turned on GPS. Took picture. (GPS symbol present on camera app)
Results: details show current location.
3. Turned GPS back off. Took Picture.GPS symbol NOT present on camera app)
Results: details are still populated with current location.

No idea what any of this mean...but I might have just inadvertently enabled geotagging by having the gps on while engaging the camera app.

Tried one last test. Took the battery out and put it back in. Then took another picture without enabling the GPS...Results: No GPS symbol in camera app and NO location data saved...

So it appears that (at least on my phone) if you never have GPS on while using the camera, geotagging never gets "turned on" but once you enable it by having GPS enabled AND activating the camera app, it continues to geotag even after you turn off the GPS...until you reboot the phone.

 

[fldude99]

OK, sorry for the dumb noob question, but when I try to install this after downloading, I get the following error: "For security, your phone is set to block installation of applications not obtained from Android Market."

What do I have to do to make this install? Thanks.

Among other ways, you probably could use the "sideload wonder machine" on androidcentral.com. Or root with super one click and enable non market apps

 

[fldude99]

This whole issue should be HUGE. Hard to believe its not an option. I think I'm gonna replace the camera.apk with the one on XDA

 

[blackhemi]

This whole issue should be HUGE. Hard to believe its not an option. I think I'm gonna replace the camera.apk with the one on XDA

yes it should be. I use my phone for business. Sending pictures via email is part. For the most part, it does not matter if they know my location, but there are a few cases that pictures are taken at home, and I cant be having that sent out.

Then there is the what if. What if your child sent a picture to a friend. That picture gets out. That picture can very well tell where you live, work, school, or hang out. Very bad security issue.

So, is it a 2.2 thing or ATT thing.

 

[blackhemi]

OK, i found how to stop it. In the main settings, under location and security, both gps and wi-fi need to be off. This is still unacceptable. Why did they remove the option from the camera app? I need my gps for driving. I dont want to toggle to settings 10 times a day.

Edit: Even with both off, the gps icon is not there, but i sent myself a picture, and sure enough, the data shows my exact house on the maps.

 

[SuFuCru]

GPS test from my bedroom after GPS Aids fix.

My Tracks and GMaps.

 

[mmoffitt9241]

Should we put in a ticket for Samsung or ATT? Anyone know the best place and have a link? I'll take the time to put in a ticket or complaint or whatever if everyone else will too...

 

[steelhead]

my C. is a refurb purchased in Dec.
GPS worked well out of the box even inside one story wooden buildings, buses and my vehicles. consistently get 32ft accuracy and less than 15 second fixes from powerup.
have noticed the GPS does function more accurately if I keep the phone charge plugged in while in the vehicle

the GPS receiver locks on more sats. when I set the phone down on a non metal surface instead of hand held. human hand affects internal GPS antenna negatively. phone angle position does not seem to affect # of sats locked.

no hiccup power offs.

love it with EarthNC Marine app. as a backup to my $2000 Garmin on my boat. usually within 30ft of the Garmin and it doesn't have WAAS.

 

[steelhead]

Garmin | What is GPS?

Garmin | What is WAAS?

 

[blackhemi]

Im going to be calling Samsung about the issue. Its samsungs software. Ill also be calling ATT just so they can document it.

 

[Buddha64]

So, I've been having this email 'back and forth' with AT&T Customer "Care." I love this last response from them...

I appreciate your concern with regards to this issue and we are committed to resolving it as quickly as possible. I am happy to hear that you are able to perform research regarding your wireless device before you contacted customer care. Of course, in me attempting to assist you, you feel I have insulted you, my apologizes as you had not listed this in your e-mail the steps you had already attempted and we were not aware. Additionally we did offer a Samsung firmware version I897UCJH7 which was over the air and sent to all AT&T Samsung Captivate devices on 09/22/2010 which was 4 days after you purchased your phone and was merely clarifying for you that the 2.2 update would improve device performance and did not state that it would help in GPS, as you can see in my previous e-mail.

The Samsung Captivate launched on 07/18/2010 with AT&T and on 07/29/2010 the GPS was a known issue. I apologize you feel that you were mislead about the GPS function on the device however as the first e-mail stated, you have 30 days to test the phone and see if it suits your wireless needs. You always have the option to purchase a phone at full retail value or completing a cross upgrade and upgrading the line 256-xxx-xxx and than moving the equipment to your line. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. Thank you for your business and have an amazing week!

I'd love to post the whole exchange. It's actually pretty funny the way AT&T is dancing around the issue. In her previous email, "Tanya Q" suggests that all I need to do is click the "Use wireless networks" setting and all will be well with the GPS.

Edit: So then Tonya Q sends me a voice mail suggesting that it is my "expectations" which are to blame. The phone is not operating as I "expect," but HER phone works fine. To which I email back suggesting that AT&T not insult my intelligence - again. I don't care about how her phone operates, and I know what a GPS is designed to do. My daughter's Blackberry does, my father's HTC does, but my phone does not. Oh, and please refrain from leaving voice mails as I will only communicate with you via email so I have continual documentation in case of class action law suit against AT&T for selling know faulty devices.

I'm having fun at least.

 

[fldude99]

OK, i found how to stop it. In the main settings, under location and security, both gps and wi-fi need to be off. This is still unacceptable. Why did they remove the option from the camera app? I need my gps for driving. I dont want to toggle to settings 10 times a day.

Edit: Even with both off, the gps icon is not there, but i sent myself a picture, and sure enough, the data shows my exact house on the maps.

It must use tower location as a backup. Maybe if turned to airplane mode it will stop it..that's unacceptable as a workaround of course

 

[bolts2]

I have never been able to get GPS Test to show any satellites in view or in use, even though GPS is working on my Captivate. I've tried uninstalling and re-installing the app, to no avail. Is there some setting I might have wrong? Thanks in advance......

Never mind......figured it out. Stupid Captivate issue.

 

[DaNaRkI]

Will BLSTestMode continue to run when the phone sleeps, or will JuiceDefender shut off GPS? The best test I could probably do is start the test on my drive home form work and let it run for the 20-30 minutes and see what happens, but I'm not really sure what to look for in BLSTestMode.

It runs just as well be phone awake or sleeping.
In the pay version of JuiceDefender there is an option for it to only turn on WiFi when it "knows" it's near a connection, via GPS. So JD does not touch GPS settings.

For trying to teach the phone where it is and what is above it, your actually better off just leaving it near a window then in a moving object. If you've got the time and patients, the jist of LBSTestMode is talked about in much earlier parts of this very topic. If not PM me and I'll walk ya thru it step by step w/ pics.

As for speed, after letting it learn itself my phone gets a lock anywhere from under a second to a lil over 2 min, depending on whats around me or above me, and the app it trying to use the GPS.

If if consistently takes 15 or 20 minutes, though, it's pretty pointless. It used to connect pretty quickly.

Well for some ppl it really does typically take that long, and thus they say "IT'S BROKEN "

 

[cincyrob]

Hows this for a nice GPS TEST?

 

[Rred]

So perhaps the builds after 12/2010 or build 1012 ? are functional now?

 

[4N6science]

The Geo Eraser application from the link above works quite well.

 

[Girevik]

Does using "use wireless networks" really have a negative affect on GPS? I like leaving it on for I'm inside an need a "close enough" location for weather updates and Facebook places.

 

[lordfly911]

There is a fix in xda-developers forums. You will have to search for it, but in a nut shell it restores the ability to turn off geo-tagging and allows the use of the power button to be used as the shutter button.

 

[askpcguy]

Normally you want to use both, GPS Satellites and Wireless Networks. This combo will help with the first position lock and over a minute or two become more precise in terms of location.

Everyone's problem with the GPS in the Captivate is the amount of time it'll take for an initial position lock and/or how Google Maps gps position tracking is some what off. Meaning as you drive, the app will think you are on another road causing the driving directions to reroute you. Then as you continue to move, it'll update and recalculate the original route.

I personally never enable the "Use wireless networks" because I firmly believe this smartphone should have a decent enough GPS solution to operate without the use of Wireless networks.

Does using "use wireless networks" really have a negative affect on GPS? I like leaving it on for I'm inside an need a "close enough" location for weather updates and Facebook places.

 

[EarlyMon]

Using wireless networks is also preferred when moving through urban areas where the skyview opens and closes depending upon surrounding building height. Every little bit does help per reports forum-wide on this.

 

[gcobb]

I use the Wireless Networks option for the occasion where I either don't need precise info for my location or just don't feel like turning on my GPS. If I don't need it to show my route I'm fine with the other.