Guest Howski Posted April 25, 2008 Report Posted April 25, 2008 Hi, I've got my eye on one of these to replace my MDA Vario. My contracts up but even with a new contract it'd be a hefty price to pay for a phone unless it does the things I want. Biggest question for me is how well does the GPS work? I'm a keen amature photographer and having a GPS system that means I can pop the location of every shot would be sweet. The only thing is some times I find myself in remote locations. How good is the signal strength in one of these babies? I know it'll never be as good as a full GPS system but how close does it come? One of the sites mentions an external GPS aerial port - is that just for car kits or can you get some you can take out "in the field". The other question is maps and SW. What are these like for the walker? I dont really care about the car sat nav I'd really just use it when taking photos etc so a close up map would be usefull. The T-mobile deal comes with CoPilot which I assume is based around car sat nav. Oh yea one last thing - memory cards. Whats the biggest this can take? Cheers -Howard.
Guest Confucious Posted April 25, 2008 Report Posted April 25, 2008 I know it'll never be as good as a full GPS system What on earth gives you that idea?
Guest shootydogthing Posted April 25, 2008 Report Posted April 25, 2008 GPS: In my experience fine. Aerial port: AFAIK you should be able to get aerials for any situation Maps: you can get an awful lot of software, some free, some full blown SatNav stuff. Memory card: The biggest made, whatever that currently is.
Guest Howski Posted April 25, 2008 Report Posted April 25, 2008 What on earth gives you that idea? Sorry but I really dont think that its a match for a dedicated unit. Some thing like this ( http://www.patrick-roeder.de/reviews/garmi...smap_60CSx.htm) I'd of thought would be leaps and bound ahead. Although thats not saying its bad its just how good is it? Maps: you can get an awful lot of software, some free, some full blown SatNav stuff. Is that OS level or road level? Cheers -Howard.
Guest Confucious Posted April 26, 2008 Report Posted April 26, 2008 I have an Athena rather than a kaiser but the GPS is as good as any dedicated unit - although the software may differ. There is plenty of road level mapping software for PPCs and some OS level - although I'm no expert on the OS software I do know somme is available, just not sure what or how good.
Guest hotphil Posted April 26, 2008 Report Posted April 26, 2008 Sorry but I really dont think that its a match for a dedicated unit. Some thing like this ( http://www.patrick-roeder.de/reviews/garmi...smap_60CSx.htm I'd of thought would be leaps and bound ahead. Although thats not saying its bad its just how good is it? Is that OS level or road level? Cheers -Howard. A GPS gives you co-ordinates. I don't understand how one can be significantly better than another. The differing chipsets in newer units may make a slight difference in seek time and power usage, but I've not had a problem with the one in the Kaiser. And as they rely on signals from satellites, remoteness of location has little to do with it :D Software that then converts your co-ordinates onto a map and/or provides navigation directions seems to be where the cost comes in (unless you use the perfectly adequate Google Maps). If you can explain exactly what you're wanting the device to do, someone might be able to suggest suitable software for the Kaiser or alternative dedicated devices.
Guest Paulplex Posted April 26, 2008 Report Posted April 26, 2008 Sorry but I really dont think that its a match for a dedicated unit. Some thing like this ( http://www.patrick-roeder.de/reviews/garmi...smap_60CSx.htm) I'd of thought would be leaps and bound ahead.Anybody here watch the Gadget Show on Channel 5 (it's a UK station and programme) - they had a review and roadtest of various handheld GPS systems recently and as I recall, the Garmin device came off worst! I use NoniGPSPlot with my TyTN II and use it when walking the dog around the New Forest: more to see how far I've been really. The GPS syncs quickly, is perfectly accurate against OziExplorer maps of the forest I make from Google Earth and even works when I'm under trees and heavy grey clouds. TomTom works a dream on my TyTN II as well, mounted on the dash of my car with a Brodit mount. ...My old Garmin (I forget the model now but as a dedicated GPS, you'd expect results) was slow to sync, was inaccurate if there was a leaf or wisp of cloud above you - the TyTN II is one of the best GPS's I've had the pleasure of using!
Guest Howski Posted April 26, 2008 Report Posted April 26, 2008 (edited) A GPS gives you co-ordinates. I don't understand how one can be significantly better than another. The differing chipsets in newer units may make a slight difference in seek time and power usage, but I've not had a problem with the one in the Kaiser. And as they rely on signals from satellites, remoteness of location has little to do with it smile Yea things like signal strength would be important. I assumed that a dedicated GPS would have an easier time of finding a signal if I'm in the depths of Brecon! Last time I was in Brecon I was down in a deep valley under a canopy. maybe "remote" was the wrong word. Software that then converts your co-ordinates onto a map and/or provides navigation directions seems to be where the cost comes in (unless you use the perfectly adequate Google Maps). If you can explain exactly what you're wanting the device to do, someone might be able to suggest suitable software for the Kaiser or alternative dedicated devices. Mostly I want basic things like distance traveled, possible average speed if I go out on my cycle. However that said, I'd like to be able to auto Geotag my photos and also have some maps with detail enough to be able to be used as an OS map. As far as the costs go - I guess the'd be exactly the same if I used a dedicated GPS anyway :D Anybody here watch the Gadget Show on Channel 5 (it's a UK station and programme) - they had a review and roadtest of various handheld GPS systems recently and as I recall, the Garmin device came off worst! ...My old Garmin (I forget the model now but as a dedicated GPS, you'd expect results) was slow to sync, was inaccurate if there was a leaf or wisp of cloud above you - the TyTN II is one of the best GPS's I've had the pleasure of using! Well that one was just an example I found quickly! Cheers -Howard. Edited April 26, 2008 by Howski
Guest shootydogthing Posted April 26, 2008 Report Posted April 26, 2008 the kaiser has a geotag mode for pics from it's own camera, otherwise you can use HTC GPS tool (from XDA Developers) to get the raw coordinates.
Guest Shuflie Posted April 27, 2008 Report Posted April 27, 2008 (edited) the kaiser has a geotag mode for pics from it's own camera, otherwise you can use HTC GPS tool (from XDA Developers) to get the raw coordinates. The best way to do it is snap a low quality geotagged pic on your kaiser of the same subject you are taking on you proper camera, then you can match up your locations to your "real" pictures back home. I'm sure you'll have realised this, but try to stick with something that gives you a 50mm equivalent on your camera, there's no point goetagging if you're using a 500mm telephoto lens to take pictures of subjects half a mile away. Edited April 27, 2008 by Shuflie
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now