GPS missing from NA version of the Transformer?

The US version is exactly the same as the Euro one. In other words, it HAS GPS.

The Anandtech reviewer was very sloppy and reported that it didn't have one, which lead to everyone spreading gross misinformation.

However, he has since corrected his review:

Anandtech Reviewer said:

I just confirmed with ASUS, the US version does have GPS hardware. Maps seems to require an active WiFi connection to use GPS however, which is why I originally assumed it wasn't present.

That was an error on my part - sorry about that! There is GPS hardware in the Eee Pad Transformer.

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I'm not even sure that's correct. I think it's like ANY device today, Google Maps and any other Internet-based navigation software requires a data connection to pull down the initial data. On-board software like CoPilot, however, could do navigation without any Internet connection because it's maps are stored in local storage.

Until I see otherwise for sure, that's the theory I'm going with: it's "normal" GPS just like the EU version.

Curious, last night I put my Evo into Airplane mode and tested how the GPS worked. I opened google maps and I was able to determine my location (at my home). It also showed the map there; I have started the map many times there before so I'm assuming it had the vector maps stored in cache. I was not able to get directions to anyplace which may be what Asus meant in their statement on Facebook saying it has location GPS but not Navigation GPS. So you think this is the same thing we can assume on the Transformer? If you open maps in a location that has been cached it can show your location on the map but can not give you directions to anyplace w/o a data connection?

If Asus is calling the ability to find your location by wifi tower "Location GPS" I have to call shenanigans. It either has a GPS receiver or it does not. Putting GPS in the title of any device means it has a receiver not another device to kind of give you your location. Correct me if I'm wrong but GPS means Global Positioning System right? If it uses Wifi shouldn't it be called WPS?

~DC

rushmore said:

Good
So it has AGPS (assisted GPS like Xoom). This mean you need a data connection for it to work correctly (ie, no using the tablet as a stand-alone GPS).

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Nope. I'm pretty sure AGPS can work just fine without a cell or wifi connection.

GPS is GPS. Think TomTom.

A-GPS is GPS, but it can also uses other data connections (wifi, cell towers) to get the current satellite info faster. Especially important in poor signal conditions.

wynand32 said:

I'm not even sure that's correct. I think it's like ANY device today, Google Maps and any other Internet-based navigation software requires a data connection to pull down the initial data. On-board software like CoPilot, however, could do navigation without any Internet connection because it's maps are stored in local storage.

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Yep.

GripnRip said:

I was not able to get directions to anyplace which may be what Asus meant in their statement on Facebook saying it has location GPS but not Navigation GPS. So you think this is the same thing we can assume on the Transformer? If you open maps in a location that has been cached it can show your location on the map but can not give you directions to anyplace w/o a data connection?

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GPS is GPS. GPS can tell you your location and be used for turn-by-turn (except for poor signals of course).

As you said, you couldn't have used GMaps for navigation because GMaps requires a constant data connection and the Transformer wifi is wifi only.

If you have a dedicated GPS app on your Transformer that has preloaded maps and the Transformer does have a GPS receiver inside, then it should work for navigation without a wifi connection.

DroidCake said:

If Asus is calling the ability to find your location by wifi tower "Location GPS" I have to call shenanigans. It either has a GPS receiver or it does not. Putting GPS in the title of any device means it has a receiver not another device to kind of give you your location. Correct me if I'm wrong but GPS means Global Positioning System right? If it uses Wifi shouldn't it be called WPS?

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One thing to keep in mind is that it seems like most of the guys behind that facebook page and their marketing team don't speak English as a first language.

My multiple lifestyle, I decide!

Feel free to crucify me if I was wrong about anything^ though.

rushmore said:

If you want sloppy half a55 reviews, read the Cnet and Engadget ones (Cnets is real bad).

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Engadget are sloppy with anything that's not Apple.

You are confusing terms here. GPS and aGPS are different. aGPS uses cell phone towers to determine your GPS location. This was primarily used so that 911 systems could locate a caller if using a cell phone. GPS technology uses satellites.

The ASUS tablet has GPS. It just does not have preloaded maps like a stand alone navigation device does. It depends on a data connect to download this maps. This does not make it aGPS though. The aGPS system triangulates your position based on cell phone towers and data exchange.

briankh said:

You are confusing terms here. GPS and aGPS are different. aGPS uses cell phone towers to determine your GPS location. This was primarily used so that 911 systems could locate a caller if using a cell phone. GPS technology uses satellites.

The ASUS tablet has GPS. It just does not have preloaded maps like a stand alone navigation device does. It depends on a data connect to download this maps. This does not make it aGPS though. The aGPS system triangulates your position based on cell phone towers and data exchange.

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Actually this is not correct. aGPS uses satellites in the same way as GPS. The a in aGPS means assisted where mobile phone towers are used to get an initial position to speed up the lock on satellites. You can see that aGPS uses satellites with the various apps you can get that shows the number of satellites you are using. Also as people have suggested, you can use google maps without wifi or 3G and get a position lock using aGPS. aGPS is GPS