Android phone GPS For walking.

brian ireland

A friend of mine asked me about an Android phone he was thinking of getting for day to day use and also for walking using GPS. He walks where he lives in the forest and hills. He asked me about this phone because he is new to android.

My experiance from android is if you use your device for any period of time the battery dies very quickly. I can't imagine this being any different.

Does anyone have experience of this phone or any other Android which is good for navigation while walking. He needs a new phone and was trying to combine the two into one. My main worry is battery life.

Squeeonline

GPS use on any phone I've ever used has decimated the battery life. You can watch the % click down like a countdown timer. My guess is that it's supposed to be used when plugged into a car charger for navigation.

dingdong1234567

I have read that switching your phone into Airplane mode will save some battery. Can't vouch for this personally but worth a shot.

Professey Chin

I actually like the look of that phone for when I dont wanna bring my gs2 incase of damage.
Must investigate further >_>

Im such a phone whore

robinph

If you are going to be properly out in the wilds then not only will the battery life of a phone be useless for you, but the lack of signal will make it relatively useless as well.

Get a dedicated GPS unit, the battery's will last longer and the phone signal, or lack of won't matter.

Creamy Goodness

dingdong1234567 wrote: »

I have read that switching your phone into Airplane mode will save some battery. Can't vouch for this personally but worth a shot.

will make the gps unusable as it's assisted gps in phones.

your friend should get a ****ty nokia and a dedicated walking gps preferably from garmin.

dingdong1234567

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

will make the gps unusable as it's assisted gps in phones

Strange, I have assisted GPS switched off and GPS works perfectly. Any refs to your claim? Curious that's all...

robinph

The AGPS just means that it will be able to make an approximate fix to your location faster based on the known location of the cell tower that you are connected to. Google maps will get your location relatively accurate with GPS switched off totally if you are in a big town and connected to a few cell towers at the time. Once you have a proper GPS location though that will always be more accurate.

The "assisted" is just that, assistance. It does not make it better.

Creamy Goodness

True, never said it wouldn't work at all just not as well . I still don't think having a phone in airplane mode would give a great user experience. Preloading google maps tiles on wifi/cellular connection every time you want to walk a new area would be a pain in the man tits.

Jarren

Actually I would've get a dedicated GPS device OP.

If your friend still prefers a smartphone then getting a few spare batteries would be an answer to your question.

My main concern would a proper waterproof case for the phone tbh.

dingdong1234567

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

True, never said it wouldn't work at all just not as well . I still don't think having a phone in airplane mode would give a great user experience. Preloading google maps tiles on wifi/cellular connection every time you want to walk a new area would be a pain in the man tits.

Its not really about user experience tbh, airplane mode will simply prolong battery life. As for downloading maps etc. Its pretty simple once you what your doing.

MackDeToaster

I've just gotten a Galaxy Note which picks up the Russian Glonass system as well as the usual US system and it gets a lock from cold without wifi assistance in about three seconds.

The big screen is magnificent for maps, I've got Viewranger with the full Ordnance Survey maps for Ireland. I've only been out once and the battery still had 40% after six hours but it all depends on how much you have the screen on for. It has a replaceable battery or you cld get something like one of thes on go chargers either, amazon.co.uk/TeckNet-Yoobao-Dual-Port-11200mAh-Blackberry/dp/B000X30AYA

I've had a Garmin Oregon 550 for over a year with full OS and road maps and to be honest my phone just blows it away.

k123456

I've used a number of differnt Android phones for skiing (GPS on all day), the battery does get low of course, but does last the day (wifi off)

BostonB

Wouldn't you need a phone thats weather resistant?

Mycroft H

Nope I'd just get a dry bag for the phone when things get wet. most of them have a transparent cover to see through

damo86

What software are you using for walking.

Have view ranger for my galaxy nexus with OSI maps..is that the best detail?

Class phone in the first post..didnt know they made that!