iPhone tethering gives iPad 2 GPS! (vid included)

ovrlrd · Mar 16, 2011, 09:57 AM

Looks like it has finally been confirmed that the iPhone personal hotspot gives the iPad 2 it's GPS information when paired together. This is great news for people who went for the Wi-Fi model and gives yet another reason to save the money and not buy the 3G version of the iPad.

Still not sure if this works with the 1st gen, and I had my doubts about this when I first read about it, but the video shows quite clearly that it is true GPS (though at slower intervals) and not just Wi-Fi location mapping.

http://www.cultofmac.com/wifi-only-i...o-iphone/86642

aristobrat · Mar 16, 2011, 10:23 AM

That's pretty sweet!

ovrlrd · Mar 16, 2011, 10:32 AM

After I posted I did some personal testing and remain a little skeptical still. Direct side by side comparison in maps showed the pins were not exactly the same location, but once I walked down the block it did seem to follow pretty closely and was more accurate.

The only thing about the video that makes me question it is that they were in "navigation" mode or whatever in Google Maps, which draws a line over the route you are taking. What might happen then is it might just narrow your location down more to assume you are close to the road you are on and "snap" the pin to that road.

I will have to do some better testing when I am a passanger in a car sometime soon.

Either way the bigger question is if full blown navigation apps will work or not. That is really the real test.

imutter · Mar 16, 2011, 10:36 AM

good news indeed LOL

Dorkington · Mar 16, 2011, 10:36 AM

I wish MyWi would do this.

kvizzel · Mar 16, 2011, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorkington

I wish MyWi would do this.

Oh, damn. MyWi doesn't work?

You need an iPhone 4 that allows personal hotspots?

Lame

iggypod · Mar 16, 2011, 10:41 AM

Niiiice!

Mystikal · Mar 16, 2011, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvizzel

Oh, damn. MyWi doesn't work?

You need an iPhone 4 that allows personal hotspots?

Lame

Well has anyone confirmed that MyWi doesn't do it?

Angel841 · Mar 16, 2011, 10:47 AM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5)

I have a first gen ipad and with an iphone 3gs with mywi the gps works. Since day one.

Consultant · Mar 16, 2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel841

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5)

I have a first gen ipad and with an iphone 3gs with mywi the gps works. Since day one.

But slow.

I don't remember whether it works with tetherme or not.

Angel841 · Mar 16, 2011, 10:58 AM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5)

Yeah sometimes its slow or not gives the location. But most of the time it works. I have not tested while moving, like in a car.

Lloyd50 · Mar 16, 2011, 11:01 AM

Very nice. Looks like I'll be keeping my wifi only model.

jreuschl · Mar 16, 2011, 11:02 AM

There isn't any new info here. It is not updating real time, meaning, it is getting location via Wifi triangulation and not real GPS info.

If you have a 3G iPad then you'll get real GPS info.

What good is a "GPS" if it only gives you updated info every few blocks?

ovrlrd · Mar 16, 2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jreuschl

There isn't any new info here. It is not updating real time, meaning, it is getting location via Wifi triangulation and not real GPS info.

If you have a 3G iPad then you'll get real GPS info.

Yeah it doesn't seem like it will work with navigation apps that require GPS, but it still seems to act differently than the normal Wi-Fi triangulation, but again I haven't personally tested it extensively.

kvizzel · Mar 16, 2011, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel841

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5)

I have a first gen ipad and with an iphone 3gs with mywi the gps works. Since day one.

I just tested it out with my brothers iPad 2 and it does NOT work.

It keeps trying to find my location, but after a while it says "Unable to find location" or whatever.

FYI, T-Mobile iPhone 3G with EDGE, newest MyWi (Works perfectly browsing the web.) Testing it out on Google Maps, it loads up the maps, but will not find my location.

timlopez · Mar 16, 2011, 07:45 PM

Doesn't work for me.

iPhone 4 (4.3) and iPad 2 Wifi.

I have the ipad connected to the iphone through the personal hotspot wifi connection, and the maps still can't tell the location.

Sounds like a fake. :-/

Kadman · Mar 16, 2011, 10:03 PM

I have a j/b iPhone 4 with MyWi and this absolutely works. We carpooled with some friends to a soccer game on Saturday and I was essentially the "navigator" in the passenger seat. I have Navigon on my iPhone but the directions were simple enough that I thought I'd see how well Maps picked up our location. It had us pretty much dead on for a very high percentage of the time. There were moments here & there where it would "warp" our location off the road but it was rare.

papierbox · Mar 17, 2011, 02:59 AM

oh man, this isn't gps, only the old wifi-geolocation like on the iphone classic.

Warbrain · Mar 17, 2011, 05:56 AM

I must be the only person who thought about this the day they got the iPad and tried it but didn't feel the need to blog about it...

It worked for me but it was not an instant update of the location. I teleported from spot to spot on the iPad.

kbmb · Mar 18, 2011, 06:13 PM

Just tried this on my iPhone 4 with AT&T tethering plan and 16GB iPad 2. iPad tethered via WiFi.

Works perfectly in Google Maps. The blue dot is definitely getting GPS info from the phone. I'm in NH, and there aren't that many hotspots around where we just drove from/to.

In fact, I closed Google Maps about 1/2 way before our destination. When we parked I went back into Google Maps.....it got the location, but the dot was in the middle of the building (I was still in car)....and then after about 2 seconds, it updated as it fixed in on the exact position in the parking lot.

I'd say it's a great option for those with an iPhone 4.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ovrlrd

The only thing about the video that makes me question it is that they were in "navigation" mode or whatever in Google Maps, which draws a line over the route you are taking. What might happen then is it might just narrow your location down more to assume you are close to the road you are on and "snap" the pin to that road.

Even though they "mapped" there directions to get the blue line.....no way would the dot have followed like that with just WiFi positioning.

-Kevin

kbmb · Mar 18, 2011, 06:15 PM

Also want to update on my test with the iPad 2 connected via iPhone 4 WiFi tethering:

I streamed a MLB game from spring training....worked fine.

I did a Facetime call to my Mom from the iPad 2....worked great. Couple of pauses, but that's when I dropped to 1-2 bars.

-Kevin

DickvdW · Aug 23, 2011, 10:07 AM

Does not work for me. What did I do wrong? I have Personal Hotspot on my iPhone 4 on. I have my iPad 2 (wifi only) connected with my iPhone. Should be working like magic, if I may believe Tabletmonsters. My iPhone gives excellent gps position, yet my iPad only gives a very inaccurate one, about half a mile off and probably taken from a wifi hotspot.
Please advise
Dick

Richdmoore · Aug 23, 2011, 10:13 AM

It's expensive, but there is now 2 Bluetooth and one plug in iOS authorized gps devices. I own the bad elf gps, it works great.

Mar 16, 2011, 09:57 AM	#1
ovrlrd macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2009	iPhone tethering gives iPad 2 GPS! (vid included) Looks like it has finally been confirmed that the iPhone personal hotspot gives the iPad 2 it's GPS information when paired together. This is great news for people who went for the Wi-Fi model and gives yet another reason to save the money and not buy the 3G version of the iPad. Still not sure if this works with the 1st gen, and I had my doubts about this when I first read about it, but the video shows quite clearly that it is true GPS (though at slower intervals) and not just Wi-Fi location mapping. http://www.cultofmac.com/wifi-only-i...o-iphone/86642 __________________ 15" rMBP 2.7GHz+16GB+768GB :: iPhone 5 32GB :: iPad Mini 64GB Wi-Fi
	0

Mar 16, 2011, 10:32 AM	#3
ovrlrd Thread Starter macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2009	After I posted I did some personal testing and remain a little skeptical still. Direct side by side comparison in maps showed the pins were not exactly the same location, but once I walked down the block it did seem to follow pretty closely and was more accurate. The only thing about the video that makes me question it is that they were in "navigation" mode or whatever in Google Maps, which draws a line over the route you are taking. What might happen then is it might just narrow your location down more to assume you are close to the road you are on and "snap" the pin to that road. I will have to do some better testing when I am a passanger in a car sometime soon. Either way the bigger question is if full blown navigation apps will work or not. That is really the real test. __________________ 15" rMBP 2.7GHz+16GB+768GB :: iPhone 5 32GB :: iPad Mini 64GB Wi-Fi
	0

Mar 16, 2011, 10:36 AM	#5
Dorkington macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Washington, DC	I wish MyWi would do this. __________________ Asylum-Photo(nsfw) iMac 24", 2.8ghz, OSX 10.7.5 - iPhone 4S, 16gb, iOS 6.1 JB - iPad Mini, 32gb, iOS 6.1 JB - Nexus 7, 16gb, Android 4.2
	0

Mar 16, 2011, 10:41 AM	#7
iggypod macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2010	Niiiice! __________________  MacBook Pro \|  iPhone 4 \|  iPad 3 \|  iPod Touch \|  tv
	0

Mar 16, 2011, 10:47 AM	#9
Angel841 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2010	Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5) I have a first gen ipad and with an iphone 3gs with mywi the gps works. Since day one. __________________ iPhone 4 32GB, iPad 3 LTE AT&T 32GB, MacbookPro 13"
	0

Mar 16, 2011, 10:23 AM	#2
aristobrat macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Oct 2005	That's pretty sweet!
	0

Mar 16, 2011, 10:36 AM	#4
imutter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Somewhere between Baltimore and DC	good news indeed LOL
	0

Mar 16, 2011, 10:58 AM	#11
Angel841 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2010	Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5) Yeah sometimes its slow or not gives the location. But most of the time it works. I have not tested while moving, like in a car. __________________ iPhone 4 32GB, iPad 3 LTE AT&T 32GB, MacbookPro 13"
	0

Mar 16, 2011, 11:01 AM	#12
Lloyd50 macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2009	Very nice. Looks like I'll be keeping my wifi only model.
	0

Mar 16, 2011, 11:02 AM	#13
jreuschl macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2009	There isn't any new info here. It is not updating real time, meaning, it is getting location via Wifi triangulation and not real GPS info. If you have a 3G iPad then you'll get real GPS info. What good is a "GPS" if it only gives you updated info every few blocks?
	0

Mar 16, 2011, 07:45 PM	#16
timlopez macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2009	Doesn't work for me. iPhone 4 (4.3) and iPad 2 Wifi. I have the ipad connected to the iphone through the personal hotspot wifi connection, and the maps still can't tell the location. Sounds like a fake. :-/
	0

Mar 16, 2011, 10:03 PM	#17
Kadman macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2007	I have a j/b iPhone 4 with MyWi and this absolutely works. We carpooled with some friends to a soccer game on Saturday and I was essentially the "navigator" in the passenger seat. I have Navigon on my iPhone but the directions were simple enough that I thought I'd see how well Maps picked up our location. It had us pretty much dead on for a very high percentage of the time. There were moments here & there where it would "warp" our location off the road but it was rare.
	0

Mar 17, 2011, 02:59 AM	#18
papierbox macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2010	oh man, this isn't gps, only the old wifi-geolocation like on the iphone classic.
	0

Mar 17, 2011, 05:56 AM	#19
Warbrain macrumors 603 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chicago, IL	I must be the only person who thought about this the day they got the iPad and tried it but didn't feel the need to blog about it... It worked for me but it was not an instant update of the location. I teleported from spot to spot on the iPad. __________________ WARBRAIN Twitter \| Blog MacBook Pro 15" \| iPad 3 32 GB LTE \| iPad 2 16 GB \| iPhone 4S 16 GB White \| iPod touch 4G 64 GB \| iPhone 4 16 GB Black
	0

Mar 18, 2011, 06:15 PM	#21
kbmb macrumors 68030 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NH	Also want to update on my test with the iPad 2 connected via iPhone 4 WiFi tethering: I streamed a MLB game from spring training....worked fine. I did a Facetime call to my Mom from the iPad 2....worked great. Couple of pauses, but that's when I dropped to 1-2 bars. -Kevin __________________ 2010 Mac Pro 2.8 Quad, 27" ACD - MacBook 2.4 GHz
	0

Aug 23, 2011, 10:07 AM	#22
DickvdW macrumors newbie Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Amsterdam, NL	Does not work for me. What did I do wrong? I have Personal Hotspot on my iPhone 4 on. I have my iPad 2 (wifi only) connected with my iPhone. Should be working like magic, if I may believe Tabletmonsters. My iPhone gives excellent gps position, yet my iPad only gives a very inaccurate one, about half a mile off and probably taken from a wifi hotspot. Please advise Dick
	0

Aug 23, 2011, 10:13 AM	#23
Richdmoore macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2007	It's expensive, but there is now 2 Bluetooth and one plug in iOS authorized gps devices. I own the bad elf gps, it works great.
	0

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