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iPad mini NO GLONASS in new Ipads, why ?

J

joe mann

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 15, 2013
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puerto vallarta
No GLONASS in new iPad Air and mini Retina, confirmed by Apple site and representative, any hunch?

iPads selling to Russia aren't new generation but last that certainly included GLONASS. Interesting. iPhone 5s, does include, why iPads doesn't?
 
joe mann said:
No GLONASS in new iPad Air and mini Retina, confirmed by Apple site and representative, any hunch?

iPads selling to Russia aren't new generation but last that certainly included GLONASS. Interesting. iPhone 5s, does include, why iPads doesn't?
Click to expand...

I don't think the site confirms it's "NOT" there, it just doesn't say that it is included.

If you look at the old iPad mini it only says "assisted GPS" it doesn't say it has GLONASS either.
 
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joe mann said:
No GLONASS in new iPad Air and mini Retina, confirmed by Apple site and representative, any hunch?
Click to expand...

https://discussions.apple.com/message/23751029#23751029

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS

Smartphones and Tablets also saw implementation of GLONASS support in 2011 with devices released that year from Xiaomi Tech Company (Xiaomi Phone 2), Sony Ericsson, Samsung (the Google Nexus 10 in late 2012), Asus, Apple (iPhone 4S and iPad Mini in late 2012) and HTC adding support for the system allowing increased accuracy and lock on speed in difficult conditions.[19][20][21]


http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/22/ipad-air-ipad-mini-with-retina-display-whats-new/
Location (3G / LTE) aGPS, GLONASS, Cellular, WiFi
 
TheAppleFairy said:
I don't think the site confirms it's "NOT" there, it just doesn't say that it is included.

If you look at the old iPad mini it only says "assisted GPS" it doesn't say it has GLONASS either.
Click to expand...

You are right, in USA Apple Store it doesn't mention Glonass. But in this other, as in Russian one, http://store.apple.com/mx/buy-ipad/ipad-mini, going to tech specs tab, at right, it says it has (or had). Talked to a representative and confirmed new ones doesn't.
 
joe mann said:
You are right, in USA Apple Store it doesn't mention Glonass. But in this other, as in Russian one, http://store.apple.com/mx/buy-ipad/ipad-mini, going to tech specs tab, at right, it says it has (or had). Talked to a representative and confirmed new ones doesn't.
Click to expand...


Not mentioning a spec doesn't mean it doesn't have it. Talking to an employee about specs like this is worthless. I'd be willing to bet it has it, I guess you'll have to wait and see.
 
TheAppleFairy said:
Not mentioning a spec doesn't mean it doesn't have it. Talking to an employee about specs like this is worthless. I'd be willing to bet it has it, I guess you'll have to wait and see.
Click to expand...

Be dumb for Apple to sell a GPS device in Russia that doesn't support Russia's GPS system. Kind of like it would be dumb to only sell CDMA devices in countries that only have LTE.
 
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darngooddesign said:
Be dumb for Apple to sell a GPS device in Russia that doesn't support Russia's GPS system. Kind of like it would be dumb to only sell CDMA devices in countries that only have LTE.
Click to expand...

GPS (like GLONASS) works everywhere on earth.


EDIT: The advantage to having GLONASS doesn't just benefit Russia. It benefits everyone equally because having both in a device can make it more accurate.
 
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Julien said:
GPS (like GLONASS) works everywhere on earth.


EDIT: The advantage to having GLONASS doesn't just benefit Russia. It benefits everyone equally because having both in a device can make it more accurate.
Click to expand...

Agreed, but I believe it most likely has GLONASS regardless of what the OP has been told. I am not 100% but I don't think it's something they would suddenly stop supporting, unless there is a good reason.
 
I remember reading that is was illegal in Russia after a certain date to sell gps only devices, it was a requirement to also support glonass. I can't back that up with specific documentation however.

Even of glonass support is missing, gps is a very robust system on it's own. Even better, if it supports Waas (and you have a waas satellite in view) it is extrmely accurate. The Faa publishes a real time and "report card" about the system performance.

http://www.nstb.tc.faa.gov/RT_WaasSatelliteStatus.htm

I don't remember if the ipad gps support waas, but all except the very, very first mfi bluetooth gps are waas capable.
 
Julien said:
GPS (like GLONASS) works everywhere on earth.


EDIT: The advantage to having GLONASS doesn't just benefit Russia. It benefits everyone equally because having both in a device can make it more accurate.
Click to expand...

That's it, Julien, so that's why i find it odd that Apple drops GLONASS. Not that GPS per se isn't good enough, but russian system is a very good complement. The more the better.
 
joe mann said:
That's it, Julien, so that's why i find it odd that Apple drops GLONASS. Not that GPS per se isn't good enough, but russian system is a very good complement. The more the better.
Click to expand...

We don't know for sure if it is missing. Apple doesn't specifically mention now, so if you person you asked just looked at the posted specs they would only see assisted GPS. We don't know how far he/she went for the info.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/22/ipad-air-ipad-mini-with-retina-display-whats-new/
The Engadget article lists it in the info Apple gave them. Might be worthwhile sending an email to anandtech who tends to have detailed hardware info.



http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=search&q=Assisted GPS
But then again, its specifically listed for the earlier iPads but not the new ones so who knows.
 
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