Super-Accurate GPS Chips Coming to Smartphones in 2018

Post by gruez » Fri, Sep 22, 2017, 4:03 AM UTC

sgk284 wrote: post #8

gruez wrote: post #4

>will give the next generation of smartphones 30-centimeter accuracy instead of today’s 5-meters Didn't the US scramble the civilian signals specifically so it wouldn't be too accurate? And they're just okay with civilians having access to ultra accurate GPS receivers?

There's usually restrictions that kick in at certain altitudes and/or hardware restrictions if you're going over a certain speed. Depending on the source of signals used, the military can also just change the precision for civilian bands. But in times of peace / low threat levels, there's not a particular need to do so.

Post by colinwilson » Fri, Sep 22, 2017, 4:09 AM UTC

foota wrote: post #6

colinwilson wrote: post #5

As an avid hiker and runner I'm more excited to see what this will do for things like Garmin smart watches. I run through downtown Boston a few times a week and the accuracy is very bad at times making you look like you run much farther than you do.

You could probably trade accuracy of route position for accuracy of distance by averaging samples.

Post by cozzyd » Fri, Sep 22, 2017, 4:11 AM UTC

sgk284 wrote: post #8

gruez wrote: post #4

>will give the next generation of smartphones 30-centimeter accuracy instead of today’s 5-meters Didn't the US scramble the civilian signals specifically so it wouldn't be too accurate? And they're just okay with civilians having access to ultra accurate GPS receivers?

There's usually restrictions that kick in at certain altitudes and/or hardware restrictions if you're going over a certain speed. Depending on the source of signals used, the military can also just change the precision for civilian bands. But in times of peace / low threat levels, there's not a particular need to do so.

Post by colinwilson » Fri, Sep 22, 2017, 4:12 AM UTC

eatbitseveryday wrote: post #12

colinwilson wrote: post #5

As an avid hiker and runner I'm more excited to see what this will do for things like Garmin smart watches. I run through downtown Boston a few times a week and the accuracy is very bad at times making you look like you run much farther than you do.

Do you run the same path frequently? When I do, I keep the path the same, as I pre-calculate the distance, and can keep a watch to track my time. Thus I have no need for path tracking. A GPS unit is useful for assisting dynamically changing routes (e.g. driving) or to track unknown paths (e.g. plotting your hike in snow/darkness). May I ask what you'd need a fine-accuracy GPS unit for during a run?

Post by visarga » Fri, Sep 22, 2017, 4:23 AM UTC

haikuginger wrote: post #18

tomlock wrote: post #14

I may just be a super-cynical ad-tech exile, but I see this as a path to getting shown more ridiculously well-targeted ads based on the places and stores I've been in. Beacons haven't taken off and I'm glad they haven't. I'd really prefer a GPS in my phone with a similar granularity to the one I have now. Google's notifications that I should review places I've been are creepy enough.

It's almost as though using a phone whose operating system is created and maintained by an advertising company isn't the best idea if you want to keep things like your location private.