Any Rumor if iPad wifi only will get a GPS?

[davidlw]

I was wondering if the iPad wifi only will get a GPS? It would sure be nice to use it with my mobile mifi that I have. I do have another tablet that has it in it and it worked great on a trip that I took today. Just wondering.

 

[Intell]

Very unlikely. The GPS is part of the cellular radio. I believe this is how it has been for every iDevice.

 

[docprego]

Very unlikely. The GPS is part of the cellular radio. I believe this is how it has been for every iDevice.

From a marketing standpoint it would greatly increase the appeal of the device. Many consumers would love to have an 8" GPS device.

 

[kokhean]

I think they can use the location of the Wi-Fi hotspot or router.

 

[takeshi74]

Very unlikely. The GPS is part of the cellular radio. I believe this is how it has been for every iDevice.

+1. Take a look at history.

From a marketing standpoint it would greatly increase the appeal of the device.

Has appeal been an issue with the iPad?

I think they can use the location of the Wi-Fi hotspot or router.

Of course you can. However, such methods of determining location aren't as accurate.

 

[Bob Coxner]

If GPS is important to you, the Nexus 7 has one, but no cellular.

 

[Fruit Cake]

I wifi only tablet can have a separate gps chip, but it won't be assisted gps like the I devices are, still it could in theory be done in software with skyhook database and a wifi connection, but it's not true assisted gps like apples. I've tried it on playbook and it can at times be slow to acquire a lock.

 

[DKatri]

From a marketing standpoint it would greatly increase the appeal of the device. Many consumers would love to have an 8" GPS device.

The problem is that for most things you'd use the GPS chip for (mainly mapping i guess, maybe a sat nab kinda thing) you are likely to be out and about and without 3G it can't load a map to render. You could get your coordinates but not be able to do much with them. If you want/need it on an iPad springing for the 3G model is the only real option and I can't see that changing.

 

[docprego]

The problem is that for most things you'd use the GPS chip for (mainly mapping i guess, maybe a sat nab kinda thing) you are likely to be out and about and without 3G it can't load a map to render. You could get your coordinates but not be able to do much with them. If you want/need it on an iPad springing for the 3G model is the only real option and I can't see that changing.

While I agree for the most part, it is still a possibility in that there are GPS options that host the maps locally on the device. However I admit that given the small flash capacities that the iPad Mini is likely to debut with, this is not an ideal solution.

 

[kdarling]

There are plenty of offline navigation apps available to use with a GPS equipped device. If started without a WiFi connection to get assistance, they'll simply have the same startup speed as a car GPS.

Also, not all WiFi hotspots have been mapped to a location, so it's handy that most Android tablets include GPS. (Except the super cheaper book reader versions, of course.)

However, Apple does not have a history of including GPS in its base devices, starting with the first iPhone, to the iPod touch, to the non-3G/4G iPads.

 

[kolax]

The problem is that for most things you'd use the GPS chip for (mainly mapping i guess, maybe a sat nab kinda thing) you are likely to be out and about and without 3G it can't load a map to render. You could get your coordinates but not be able to do much with them. If you want/need it on an iPad springing for the 3G model is the only real option and I can't see that changing.

Using OMaps, I can store whole of Edinburgh in 2GB's.

 

[Menel]

Using OMaps, I can store whole of Edinburgh in 2GB's.

You should be able to store MUCH more than that in 2GB.

 

[kolax]

You should be able to store MUCH more than that in 2GB.

You're probably right, I never just got Edinburgh, got pretty much central Scotland too.

 

[Richdmoore]

There is at least 4 or 5 bluetooth gps devices that work with the iPad. I would recommend the dual x150, or the new garmin glo.

 

[26139]

Come on...

If it's WiFi only, it's not GPS capable.

Sorry.

It can approximate location based on local maps, but it can't do what GPS does.

 

[kdarling]

If it's WiFi only, it's not GPS capable.

Plenty of Android tablets are WiFi only, but have a GPS chip.

For that matter, WiFi isn't necessary to have a GPS chip.

--

The only reason to want comms like WiFi or 3G is for:

1) Assisted GPS for quicker startup ... but it's not required.

2) Downloading maps... but not if the maps are stored locally.