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Warning: GPS issues in all Galaxy S phones

I wish it were sarcasm. It is the dead truth.

Eh, I wouldn't believe the guy then. GPS units even those in phones don't work in that way, accuracy is usually based on the number satellites it can lock on to and then triangulate a position from. Unless they capped the number of satellites it can lock on to at 2, then a position given would be way more accurate than 1600m. Heck even using cell tower assistance would ge you more accurate than that.

So unless they completely bunked the GPS for Epic, while not changing it for all other Galaxy S phones, then I think the guy was just messing with you, or trying to get you off the phone.

I say that because reading through vibrant/captivate forums I see users getting accuracy within 10m or less. It seems there are less people getting bad GPS than there are those getting great GPS
 
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I just got off the phone with Joel in Level 3 technical support and he actually told me with a straight face that the Samsung Galaxy S was designed and its "specifications" are such that the phone's GPS is meant to get you within WAIT FOR IT ..... 1600 METERS OF YOUR ACTUAL LOCATION!!!!! THAT'S RIGHT 1 MILE! If you haven't already returned this phone DO IT NOW. I am stuck with this POS!

he's ignorant. or just sick of talking to people about something he can't fix and has come up with something to get people off the phone. :D
 
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From the Engadged review posted today:

Surprisingly, the now-infamous AGPS bug is still alive and well right now on the Epic. We're not sure how Sprint can justify releasing it with this bug now so well-known, well-documented, and critical to the operation of the phone -- seriously, it cannot find you most of the time -- but we suppose it'll just get fixed at the same time as the remainder of the Galaxy S models in September. In other words, unless we see a quick firmware update prior to the 31st, don't expect Google Maps to work particularly well out of the box. Oh, and here's another bug: like the Captivate and Vibrant, the Epic doesn't seem to want to mount as mass storage. We weren't able to get it working in USB debugging mode on our Mac, either, though we were able to download media to Image Capture without a problem -- it seems as though the computer is treating the phone as a camera, not a drive.

[Update: We just spoke with Samsung, who told us that Google is now requiring that the "use wireless networks" setting for location-based services be turned off by default in Android devices -- in other words, no AGPS unless you manually enable it. Sure enough, we went into Settings, found that it was disabled on the Epic, turned it on, and we were good to go. No GPS bug!]

From the slashgear review:
the GPS issues which many have reported affecting Galaxy S family devices aren’t apparent on the Epic 4G, with our review unit proving capable of quickly establishing a fix and tracking it accordingly.
Good to read that. Hopefully this bug is squashed for good in the Epic 4G.
 
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You still don't get it.

So easily satisfied. Yet you don't have a Galaxy S phone in your hand.

If you believe turning on assisted GPS works then why don't you make threads in the ATT Captivate and TMobile Vibrant forums and tell them how to magically fix their GPS issues.
It's a simple matter isn't it!

Put two and two together. If the Epic has such an easy fix....then why not this second tell Captivate and Vibrant owners to do the same thing and fix it. No more worries!

1. You don't think those users have tried?
2. You think those owners problems were solved or that they're satisfied?
3. Very simple, tell the tech reviewers to take an Epic, use GPS Test, and report their findings.
We all know at this point the Epic will have GPS problems. Stop living in denial.

I can not believe that engadget thinks turning on wireless networks is the answer to the GPS bug.

This is completely embarassing for them.

All they have to do is grab 5 other Android phones, turn off wireless network locations on all, and only turn on GPS. They will all work flawlessly, except for the Samsung Galaxy S phones.

How can engadget make such a mistake in thinking this was the solution to the GPS bug. It is nothing more a cover up, using wireles network locations, to mask the true GPS bug.

I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I READ!:eek:
 
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dietcoke, I would like to know something. What is your goal in all this? I mean what is it that you are trying to accomplish? Why go to the lengths that you are going, just to tell everyone that there are GPS problems?

I mean everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and you express yours fully. But why can't you just say what you have to say and leave it at that. Why do you have to keep going on and on?

People are going to buy this device regardless of what you say, in fact, the more you post the more folks think of you as a troll.

I see everything that you post in other forums, and you do not come off as a troll there at all. You do not bother the Fascinate forums at all, and they will be getting a Galaxy S phone as well. Why have you made it your mission to come here and do this?
 
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dietcoke, I would like to know something. What is your goal in all this? I mean what is it that you are trying to accomplish? Why go to the lengths that you are going, just to tell everyone that there are GPS problems?

I would like to know this as well. dietcoke, if you can not explain your goal, then accept it that you are trolling in Epic forums, and after seeing your posts and how you are so wound up for proving that epic will have gps issues and how you are willing to mock other posters in order to prove your point, it will be bs of it own if you say you don't have any goal. You dont come across as someone who is sharing his thoughts.
 
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ROFL... I just can't stop looking at the woman's expression and smile. Nice find!! Adrift, it is good about you that you can maintain your cool despite all the s*** that flies around ;). Earlier I kept rubbing my fists together and waited to speak out aloud every time dietcoke posted something flaming, but now I have stopped caring. You can not change few things, and its better to let them just be to protect your sanity. I still keep reading everything and when it gets too much for my inner sensible man and it refuses take nonsense anymore, then I have to speak up. :)
 
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Samsung Galaxy S GPS-gate: two problems, not one (and what to do about it) -- Engadget

Maybe if you had a Vibrant like me? (I'm returning it).
Maybe if you read Captivate or Vibrant forums?
You would know first hand what the GPS problem really is.
Don't call me a troll when you're just uninformed.
Have a nice day. :)

If you had a Vibrant and had a bad experience then get another phone.
Sure it is informative to alert people of a possible issue in an upcoming phone.

For that I actually thank you since I was unaware of the problem till it was brought to light.

It is always appreciated to hear the downsides of a product once in a while since no product is perfect and you help inform people about to something to look for in their new phone.

With all that said I feel you crossed the line of being informative a while back. You could have posted in one of the countless GPS topics and stated your opinion and then moved on to something else.

There is a clear difference between simply posting in one or two threads saying look out for the GPS problem and stating the experience you had than going into every possible topic and saying the phone is broken, dont buy it, samsung is crap, etc.

Nobody even takes you seriously anymore since your constant bashing of the Epic comes off as trolling more than trying to be helpful.

There is a mature and immature way to go about things and you are clearly the latter.
 
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Samsung Galaxy S GPS-gate: two problems, not one (and what to do about it) -- Engadget

Maybe if you had a Vibrant like me? (I'm returning it).
Maybe if you read Captivate or Vibrant forums?
You would know first hand what the GPS problem really is.
Don't call me a troll when you're just uninformed.
Have a nice day. :)

Engadget :The Captivate and Vibrant are both affected by this one; we're not sure on the Epic, but we're working to nail it down.

If you don't like the Vibrant go get another phone and stop whining. A GPS issue is no deal breaker for me as I hardly ever use it plus Samsung said it will be fixed next month. Also many reviews said the GPS worked fine.
 
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it is a dealbreaker, and it won't be fixed next month, no more than apple fixed the antenna issue, this is a hardware problem i'm willing to bet. samsung would have fixed it already if they could, but they are delaying to get people locked into contracts as long as possible. Epic comes out 31st, if they don't have it fixed within 30 days of that, phone goes back for an evo that works.
 
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it is a dealbreaker, and it won't be fixed next month, no more than apple fixed the antenna issue, this is a hardware problem i'm willing to bet. samsung would have fixed it already if they could, but they are delaying to get people locked into contracts as long as possible. Epic comes out 31st, if they don't have it fixed within 30 days of that, phone goes back for an evo that works.

Ok dietcoke alternate account.
 
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it is a dealbreaker, and it won't be fixed next month, no more than apple fixed the antenna issue, this is a hardware problem i'm willing to bet. samsung would have fixed it already if they could, but they are delaying to get people locked into contracts as long as possible. Epic comes out 31st, if they don't have it fixed within 30 days of that, phone goes back for an evo that works.

Saying this is a hardware problem is like saying the EVO capped 30FPS is a hardware problem, which it isnt.

It is strictly software.

Also some reviews for the phone claim to have no problems with the GPS so it is not affecting all phones.

Many people claim Samsung has horrible support and doesnt care for their products well now is the time to put it to the test. They already promised they are working on a fix so lets see how they handle the situation.
 
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Saying this is a hardware problem is like saying the EVO capped 30FPS is a hardware problem, which it isnt.

It is strictly software.

Also some reviews for the phone claim to have no problems with the GPS so it is not affecting all phones.

Many people claim Samsung has horrible support and doesnt care for their products well now is the time to put it to the test. They already promised they are working on a fix so lets see how they handle the situation.

I thought the same as you do, I have 2 epics on preorder at radioshack, until I started reading, that is not about getting a lock standing at your review desk, its about actually moving around and trying to get a lock. like people reporting if they angle the phone just right and point it at the sky that it works, but when putting on their dashboard it doesn't, thats a hardware problem, not software.

you really think samsung doesn't have it done yet? when did the vibrant come out?
 
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Saying this is a hardware problem is like saying the EVO capped 30FPS is a hardware problem, which it isnt.

It is strictly software.

Also some reviews for the phone claim to have no problems with the GPS so it is not affecting all phones.

Many people claim Samsung has horrible support and doesnt care for their products well now is the time to put it to the test. They already promised they are working on a fix so lets see how they handle the situation.

Not trying to get too involved in this little spat... but as a software developer one of the biggest signs of a hardware problem vs. a software problem usually is inconsistency in reproducing the issue amongst users with different devices. Software is consistent across platforms. Hardware, not so much.

This is why its a little dangerous to use the reviews as evidence that the GPS issue is fixed on the Epic. Because...

1. the GPS issue appears to randomly affect a percentage of phones. The reviewed unit could easily be in the unaffected percentage of units.

2. the GPS issue is also inconsistent on the same unit varying from circumstance to circumstance. Some people report that it will work for them all day and then the next day they cannot get a lock.

3. and at least one of the reviews DID run into the GPS problem with their unit (engadget).

That said, when a company says they have a fix on the way that would indicate that the issue is a software problem... provided the company has integrity.
 
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Or this could be something akin to what we saw with the original Sony PS3 systems and bitstreaming sound. It is a hardware issue and Sony created a nifty work-around in their firmware for it. It still isn't "true" bitstreaming, but it simulates it well enough that you get a lot closer to that sound quality and won't really notice a difference.

Perhaps it actually IS a hardware issue and Samsung is working on a firmware/software work-around that will resolve the problem enough that GPS will work properly on all phones (if not necessarily the way it really should work). I'm okay with this as long as it works.
 
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