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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: rodekyll on July 29, 2016, 08:12:22 PM
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I just gots me this 7" tablet-thingie. It's got the google android pretty bad, so I think I need to work with it. There's wifi and something called 'data' and 'bluetooth' in there. I feel an affinity already, on account of my tooth is also blue. So with the G4 or 4G I should be able to check email and do other stuff that needs a connection. It's some off-brand that cost $100 with a month of service. It comes with some stuff like FM music and singles hookup software, but nothing useful except the phone part unless your goal with a tablet is to hook up with a giggling pair of 20something . . .well. . .nevermind.
They tell me it's easier to use than the pre-flipfone I couldn't make work (in my defense, my daughter couldn't figure out how to retrieve a message either). I figures that what with all that apps out there I should get me some. Weather would be nice. Something that makes it a gps (mapping?) and something to show the stars would be cool, and abosolutely issentale is a text processor so's I can make some notes. Who's got a clue? Not me!
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A good note-taking app (simple text editor) is Note Everything. A more complete set of tools (like a light version of Office) is Polaris Office 5.
The built-in Maps application is a version of Google Maps, and is OK; other more GPS-like apps that can work when you're not connected to the Internet are available, though they aren't as good as most of the true GPS software. In order to get offline maps (i.e., always available) you'll have to pay for the app - map data is all licensed intellectual property of Garmin, TomTom, Thales and others. Many of these are offered as free online versions (like Sygic) with the maps being an optional purchase if you want to work offline.
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Is it required to purchase/download from the google play store, or can I get this stuff anywhere? So far it's acting like it wants to load stuff through the store. and while I'm reluctantly owning this thing, I don't want to drop my pants for google in order to use it.
. . . and what's it calling the built-in weather and map programs? I can't tell if they're there or not.
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I like OSMand+ for maps. The maps are loaded onto the device. I have a display render file that I did for AMOLED (Samsung) screens that saves a lot of power and is more readable in sunlight.
For note I like Onenote. It is compatible with most platforms. And it is easy to share section like trip reports if you want.
https://1drv.ms/o/s!AgTqBTinl2Tqge5kqda HvOSGO-b0Tw (https://1drv.ms/o/s!AgTqBTinl2Tqge5kqdaHvOSGO-b0Tw)
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That looks like it's cloud based?
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I think you would enjoy Stellarium for astronomical observation. (I do.)
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That's exactly what I'm looking for (except I'd like it to know where I am rather than me tell it), but it's not available for the android.
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nevermind -- I just found it. :thumb:
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There's plenty of free apps on the app store. I use Fast NotePad by Igor for notes, Weather Underground has a weather app that is pretty good and Google maps works pretty good for mapping.
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For Wx, I like One Weather. Good precip images with the radar, and text explanation of what is and will be happening. Even has an aviation section. It's like talking to a chatty FAA wx briefer. :thumb:
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So far I've found Wordpad, Polaris office (with PDF), Stellerium, and some mapping software. I'm currently frustrated because the damn thing thinks I'm on the east coast and despite telling it I'm elsewhere, it keeps synching to Donald Trump time. The other thing is that it won't use the 32Gb SD card I got it. It sees it and lets me copy stuff there, but it won't load a program to it. It wants to overflow the 1.2Gb primary card and then stop me from adding maps to the mapping program. I've been to the manual, which refers to settings in the control panel that aren't there.
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I second the choice of OSMand+ from the Play Store. It's free and you can store the offline maps on the SD card instead of the device memory. Some of the European maps are 500MB and would fill up my phone memory fast.
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That looks like it's cloud based?
You work offline. But it does sync to the cloud when you go online. Which is good, and bad.
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Yep.
And, yes, you do have to deal with the Google app store.
Some programs allow you to load them to a card, others do not. Some also allow data to be loaded to the card. You have to select all that in the setups. Before I learned how I had one device that I had to do a reset to factory default and start over.
OSMand is the one to go to these days. Most of the rest all charge a bit for their services. I got Copilot when it first came out so paid $29.95 for it. Have used it on 6 different devices now.
I liked Intellicast for my phone/tablets, but, they have been merged with Weather Underground which I do not like as much. May have to find a better weather radar app.
My phone always thinks I am somewhere else. Never figured that out. Good thing is apps that use the GPS figure it out promptly.
Have fun with the toy. :)
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So far I've found Wordpad, Polaris office (with PDF), Stellerium, and some mapping software. I'm currently frustrated because the damn thing thinks I'm on the east coast and despite telling it I'm elsewhere, it keeps synching to Donald Trump time.
I'm not sure everything I have is at the same version number as yours, but here's how Stellarium handles finding your location, as I understand it.
Open Stellarium, then click the nine-box logo at the lower left. You will see a three-horizontal-line logo appear; click it. Then click the "Location" option, and click "Use GPS," if necessary, to set its check mark on. (This all assumes your device has a GPS receiver.)
The Android device also has a Location service, that may also need to be set for Stellarium to use the GPS. (I'm not sure this is necessary.) To get to it, swipe down from the top of the screen, while outside any program, using two fingers together. This will show a bunch of icons, one of which is "Location." Click it if necessary to highlight it, removing the diagonal bar on the icon.
But wait, there's more. Now click the gear wheel at the upper right edge of the same screen opened in the last paragraph. You will see a page headed "Settings." Click on the "Location" heading. A new page appears; click the "Mode" setting at its top. Make sure you choose a Mode option that includes GPS as a location service. On mine, the options are "High accuracy," "Battery saving," and "Device only." Both the first and third options include GPS. I use "High accuracy."
If you've lately been feeling like you might need a tinfoil hat, or that the government is too interested in you because of your particular characteristics, "Device only" should be your choice; GPS receivers don't report your location to anyone. :evil:
It is true that Google will try to track every single thing you do, so "High accuracy" may not be your best choice. Me, I'm flattered by the attention.
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I bought a Bluetooth gps and headset for the tablet, so there will be high accuracy. I'll explore that location thing when I get a break in the boat wiring today. I gotta get used to where they hide menus and information on this darn thing. I don't expect them to be lurking off the screen stage left/right or whatever, and I sure don't expect them under the "9" logo.
Stellerium so far thinks it's a few degrees off the equator somewhere near the Azores. I type in my gps coordinates, it accepts them, and does nothing with the information. Same with the time. I can tell it what time and time zone I'm in, and although it's 1AM here, the program says it's daylight, advances to night time, and gives me constellations at unlikely azimuths. It's a learning curve. When the Bluetooth gps gets here it might improve.
The mapping software won't work at all without the gps operational. It says I'm in Alaska, but it refuses to let me even use the Alaska map as a view image unless I can confirm my position to within a meter. So I can't work with that yet. Then there's still the problem of how to load things to the 32Gb SD card instead of the 1Gb internal memory. You'd think the tablet would be smart enough to know you can't pour 5Gb of maps into a 1Gb container and try using the bigger chip. I guess that's so I can somehow feel smarter than the phone.
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The tablet didn't already have GPS hardware?
Pretty rare.
What OS version is on the table. One of the versions, 4.4 I think, they increased the security to the point where the external card could only be accessed by internal or root software. There were a few workaround, but it was an issue. They fixed that in later versions, while maintaining security.
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The tablet with a month of 'minutes' was $100. The Bluetooth items I bought will work with anything, so I'm not counting them as an expense. They'll move forward as my other equipment improves.
I don't expect a lot of options on a $60 tablet. I thought a 7" screen (it operates like a smart phone) would be easier to learn than a 2" smart phone where I can't even see the pictures and when I break it I won't feel as much pain.
Also, being that basic, it would get me thinking about what to look for when I get ready to spend some real money on the buck rogers stuff, what it takes to really run the stuff I'm trying to use, and I can look at OS choices better. For example, this silly thing is a one-trick-at-a-time pony. While the application is downloading you do not get to check your email. A real OS in the 21st century should be able to multitask more than simultaneous advertising feeds. Also, what's up with a single input port that can't be multiplexed? I can either charge the battery or use the usb keyboard -- not both. Using the keyboard is exactly when I don't care about battery life. :rolleyes:
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The tablet with a month of 'minutes' was $100. The Bluetooth items I bought will work with anything, so I'm not counting them as an expense. They'll move forward as my other equipment improves.
No, you don't understand.
They almost ALL have REAL GPS hardware in them already. No need to buy minutes or anything. No cell towers needed.
FREE, Guzzista priced.
Some iPads need you to buy the 4G version, to get the GPS hardware. But even then, you did not need to pay for monthly minutes.
I guess it is possible that it has no actual GPS hardware, but it would be rare.
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No, you don't understand.
They almost ALL have REAL GPS hardware in them already. No need to buy minutes or anything. No cell towers needed.
FREE, Guzzista priced.
Some iPads need you to buy the 4G version, to get the GPS hardware. But even then, you did not need to pay for monthly minutes.
I guess it is possible that it has no actual GPS hardware, but it would be rare.
The need for monthly minutes comes when you don't have access to WiFi and are using a mapping tool that relies on online maps.
As for packages, well, they are just that - the vendor puts together something to get you to buy and hopes to make it up in subscription costs later.
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It seems the tablet is defective. Yes, the gps was supposed to be internal. The SD card should have automagically taken downloads, and the date and time should have been settable to the local network. Also, it was not storing contact data. So I returned it. I'm off to find something else.
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. . . and it seems that the tablets available don't have actual gps the way I think of it. They call it gps but it's using cell phone and wifi to approximate a location. Cheezy.
I've replace the defective tablet with some ipad clone running android. I'm not liking android, but I had to start somewhere. So the gps I ordered is still worthwhile. Bummer. But I found a workaround for the google app store. Amazon already has as much of my sperm count and voter history as they need to do business with me, so I'm buying through them. I've got the Stellarium and Outlook installed, and the Sygic maps are downloading. I'll get to that word processor later.
Looks like a Bluetooth keyboard is in order too. The other tablet had a usb board included. I assumed this one would too, but alas, at 4x the cost, no.
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My Samsung had a true GPS in it. It did not have phone capability.
Android version/type has a lot to do with it. Some makers had a hacked up version, most notably the Kindle and Nook types. They disable some of the functions to suit their product.
Yep, one of the things I did not like about iPads was no real expansion. No extra memory available, no USB. Not sure about your version but I could not use a mouse either unless I rooted the code.
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My Samsung has a true GPS and the ability to use cell towers. It was free (Guzzi content) with a new Galaxy phone that was half priced, as it was last year's model. (More Guzzi content) :smiley:
It is an amazing bit of kit. I have an aviation nav app on it that is more than the airlines had just a few years ago. It will overlay weather on it so you can see what is ahead as long as you can get cell reception. It would take a special antenna if you can't get cell reception, but it will do that, too. Another screen will give a virtual instrument panel.. airspeed, rate of climb, turn coordinator, gyro compass, etc. (!)
Like I said, an amazing device. Never crashes. You name it, there's an app for that.
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Is the aviation app FOREFLIGHT? I've chatted with pilots who use it alongside their official cockpit software -- and some official software IS Foreflight.
Maybe the gps will get there today.
The Sygic mapping software crashed already -- simply refuses to open on the screen, even through the settings area says its running. This happened when I tried starting it after getting the maps downloaded.
A month into retirement and I guess I forgot everything I knew about computers. I THOUGHT they had some way to look inside and see the files that were on the hard drive, and that I used to be able to do things like move, copy, and delete files. Not so with Android. If you want to see anything except you-toobe you need to get an app for it. I thought you got some way to write -- a text processor, as it were. Apparently I'm wrong about that, too. When I went in to ask the six giggling girls about it, the one who fielded the question looked puzzled, examined the tablet, and said "write?" like I was asking it to perform a tonsillectomy.
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. . . and it seems that the tablets available don't have actual gps the way I think of it. They call it gps but it's using cell phone and wifi to approximate a location. Cheezy.
To see if you have a true GPS, install Physics Toolbox Suite, from the Play Store. One of the functions (available by swiping from the left edge of the screen) lets you see the GPS's count of satellite signals it has acquired.
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Now I'm feeling like a rube. According to the physics suite I have a gps -- 20 sats, shows my walking speed and a reasonable elevation. lat/lon look right. So why did the giggling girls tell me "not really"? Why can't my apps and 'location finder' use it?
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Now I'm feeling like a rube. According to the physics suite I have a gps -- 20 sats, shows my walking speed and a reasonable elevation. lat/lon look right. So why did the giggling girls tell me "not really"? Why can't my apps and 'location finder' use it?
Is the aviation app FOREFLIGHT?
I fly GPS. Foreflight doesn't support android.
There's probably a place to toggle location finder on. The giggling girls probably have never used a tablet except to watch videos. <shrug> The same ones over and over if my grand daughter is.. uh.. a normal giggling girl. :smiley:
Edit: On mine, from the home screen, do a 2 finger swipe down from the top. The second icon from the left on the top row is location. It toggles on and off. From this screen you can set many defaults.
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Interesting. After finding the gps with the physics suite I can now get lat/lon to show in stellarium (don't know if it's showing the right declensions and all, but we'll see after dark, if the stars show). Also maybe getting it in the weather app, but there's so much uneditable bullcrap going on there I can't tell. I'm in Sitka. The app has canned reports for Mexico City, Paris, London, etc. Sitka goes at the bottom of the list. The list is uneditable. So I have to scroll through pages of useless crap to check the temperature. That app has got to go.
Still no joy with the mapping software -- simply refuses to run now. Checkign with Amazon . . .
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Interesting. After finding the gps with the physics suite I can now get lat/lon to show in stellarium ...
Great! You'll like it.
I prefer the Maps, MyRadar, and Weather Underground apps for their respective functions. All are free on the Play Store.
Maps opens when I say, "Okay Google ... Find directions to a Moto Guzzi store near me," for example. It's part of the Google environment. The maps look great.
MyRadar's display of moving radar images is unsurpassed, I think, for clarity and, pardon the expression, graphical beauty.
Weather Underground is just the best weather app I've found, but not nearly so good as the phenomenal web site by the same name.
They all keep track of where I am, presumably with the GPS I've activated as described before.
Moto
P.S. If you're a programmer, it'll take a while for the impulse to use a terminal emulator and a tree structure file system to subside. In the meantime, install Terminal Emulator and type "pwd" and "ls -l" to begin exploring. I quickly found the typing on the phone to be too big a drawback. Another app called Computer lets you see a more Mac- or PC-like display of folders.
M.
P.P.S. QuickEdit is a good plain-text editor that I use.
M.
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MyRadar's display of moving radar images is unsurpassed,
<Throwing down gauntlet> Hah! Sir! You are mistaken. Dorcia has MyRadar on her phone, and it cries wolf. If you really want to see precip, download one weather. :smiley: :boozing:
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ES File Explorer app will allow you browse folders on android os.
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I found ES and tried it -- it wants to take over the screen lock function and display updates continuously, as though the most important thing I do with my day is check what files have been added or changed I the last 2sec. I tossed it for a popular 'file manager'. I'm giving that a try now as I look for Synic files to delete. Even reinstalling the map program won't let it work -- there's something broken in a configuration file that controls the way it opens, and I can't find the file.
Physics suite seems to be stuck in metric. I can do 7.142 meters/sec, but I can't do any miles per hour.
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You'll find that there is a basic file explorer of some form built in. Often a odd name like "my files".
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Yep, My Files is the app I use to look at the contents of the system.
What is the text editor for? I use the Memo app to make notes for myself. Polaris Office for stuff that I need to transfer to a PC.
Have you tried OSMand for mapping and nav or not enough memory to hold the maps or did you need it for something else?
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<Throwing down gauntlet> Hah! Sir! You are mistaken. Dorcia has MyRadar on her phone, and it cries wolf. If you really want to see precip, download one weather. :smiley: :boozing:
Perhaps I ventured to say too much. I guess you mean "1Weather." I loaded it. I can't see how to manipulate the point the map is centered on, but I'll keep at it.
Moto
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No, this one had no memo or file manager app. The giggling girls were puzzled by it, too. One looked it up and confirmed that they were now 'options' to the OS. I think it's just a way to suck you into the google store for that first identity-stealing purchase. I don't trust google.
I'm going to sort out the sygnic map before moving on to the weather. That will be after I wash the boat. I'm selling it. Anyone need a boat?
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Yep, My Files is the app I use to look at the contents of the system.
What is the text editor for? I use the Memo app to make notes for myself. Polaris Office for stuff that I need to transfer to a PC.
Have you tried OSMand for mapping and nav or not enough memory to hold the maps or did you need it for something else?
I want to keep a trip log and work it into a story. I'm getting the synic mapping program under control. Although it does odd things like telling me to pull a U-turn and get back on track (home address chosen) when I pull into my driveway, it sends me to Canada for local points of interest, and had me making a left at no intersection to get to the brewery, it's doing ok.
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Perhaps I ventured to say too much. I guess you mean "1Weather." I loaded it. I can't see how to manipulate the point the map is centered on, but I'll keep at it.
Moto
It follows you around. The text wx information is for where you are. The radar rox..
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Android is much like the different distros of Linux (not surprising). Each vendor uses a slightly different package for their systems. Some work well, others not so much. The Nook version was really bad, but, it worked well if all you needed was a reader, also not surprising.
In the end, Google developed Android so if you don't want to play in their sandbox it will be a bit more difficult.
You can 'root' the system and do whatever you want to it, again kinda like Linux.
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I found ES and tried it -- it wants to take over the screen lock function and display updates continuously, as though the most important thing I do with my day is check what files have been added or changed I the last 2sec. I tossed it for a popular 'file manager'. I'm giving that a try now as I look for Synic files to delete. Even reinstalling the map program won't let it work -- there's something broken in a configuration file that controls the way it opens, and I can't find the file.
Physics suite seems to be stuck in metric. I can do 7.142 meters/sec, but I can't do any miles per hour.
ES.....like most apps, has a option to turn off updates and notices. I have it on my Samsung S5 phone and my Samsung Tab4 Tablet. Don't even know that it's there unless I want to use it (also didn't notice any problems with screen lock). I also have all my apps set for manual update. That way, only the apps I use get updated when I want them to update. It seems, that if you let them update automatically that's all the phone would be doing everyday....updatin g apps.
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ES.....like most apps, has a option to turn off updates and notices. I have it on my Samsung S5 phone and my Samsung Tab4 Tablet. Don't even know that it's there unless I want to use it (also didn't notice any problems with screen lock). I also have all my apps set for manual update. That way, only the apps I use get updated when I want them to update. It seems, that if you let them update automatically that's all the phone would be doing everyday....updatin g apps.
The updates over the past year have really turned ES from a tool, into an annoyance. It once was my go to app for exploring my network servers, FTP, and of course Android storage. Now it has pop ups and automatically 'checks' your apps for who knows what. Some of those notifications show up on the lock screen. If I were a new user, I would be deleting in about 2 minutes after installing it instead of dealing with it.
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Now it has pop ups and automatically 'check' your apps for who knows what. Some of those notifications show up on the lock screen.
Wierd.......I haven't seen any of that. Maybe because I just don't use it much......or have it set up correctly.
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The updates over the past year have really turned ES from a tool, into any annoyance. It once was me go to app for exploring my network servers, FTP, and of course Android storage. Now it has pop ups and automatically 'check' your apps for who knows what. Some of those notifications show up on the lock screen. If I were a new user, I would be deleting in about 2 minutes after installing it instead of dealing with it.
That was about how long I had it installed. It also had ads. I don't need ads in my file manager.
I ran around town with the sygic mapping stuff last evening. Overall it look like I could live with it. It has a heads-up-display mode where it flips everything backwards, you lay it on your dashboard and it projects onto the windshield. I liked that a lot. But it also has menus and a 'side panel' that has a number of fields. You can change what is in the display field, but you can't leave it blank and you can't remove a field. That's annoying. It gets busy to the point that some of the stuff is too small to read. The difficulty is a distraction from driving. I don't like distractions whan I'm driving.
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<Throwing down gauntlet> Hah! Sir! You are mistaken. Dorcia has MyRadar on her phone, and it cries wolf. If you really want to see precip, download one weather. :smiley: :boozing:
Sirrah, you go too far! I compared your 1Weather radar with MyRadar on a storm out in Nebraska. The storm-blob on 1Weather was larger, meaning any wolf-crying was being done by it! MyRadar was more conservative, with a smaller blob.
Also I noticed the radar display in 1Weather was a bit drab, with only two colors for intensity (yellow and green), while MyRadar showed blue, green, yellow and red, I believe.
I think you should re-examine Dorcia and your own displays, side-by-side for a particular storm.
BTW, there is an option letting you move the focal point around the map.
Moto
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RK,
I have the same problem with most other GPS units/software. They have stuff I don't want and stuff I want is either not there or too small to read.
Copilot has two small windows at the bottom that you can put different info in, which is really nice. But, to read them I have to pull over. Doesn't keep me from using it cause I like everything else about it.
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I use google maps just like GPS. I have a bracket that mounts the phone on the CD slot on my radio. I can play music from my phone through the car stereo and get verbal navigation instructions.
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I don't want to be dependent on an internet or cell connection for my mapping software to work, and I'm so far getting by without a google account. So google maps-dependencies are currently out.
Tried the sygic heads-up display in daylight -- not as impressive. I think I need some tint on the windshield right there.
I'll look into co-pilot , but the HUD (if I can make it work for me) feature in sygic overcomes a lot of shortcomings.
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I don't want to be dependent on an internet or cell connection for my mapping software to work, and I'm so far getting by without a google account. So google maps-dependencies are currently out.
Tried the sygic heads-up display in daylight -- not as impressive. I think I need some tint on the windshield right there.
I'll look into co-pilot , but the HUD (if I can make it work for me) feature in sygic overcomes a lot of shortcomings.
I really like CoPilot for point A to point B on the interstates. It has good routing. When I get off on the side roads or a long day ride through the mountains, and just want to know what the roads and terrain ahead look like, I use OSMand. The routing in it works OK, but not as polished as CoPilot. But OSMand if good for viewing the Open Source Maps.
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I'm so far getting by without a google account. So google maps-dependencies are currently out.
Use of Google Maps by software (for example, Tyre, etc) does not require the user to have a Google account. What makes Google Maps dependency a problem is that you must be online to access them.
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I don't see the need for real-time maps. I'm not commuting, so I don't care what the local traffic is like and I don't need the photo view and stuff. So having an internet connection open to google is all in the ISP or data provider's and google's favor, not mine.
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Any chance there is a GPS that will indicate how many Sheppies per Friedman I am traveling ?
Dusty
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For Wx, I like One Weather. Good precip images with the radar, and text explanation of what is and will be happening. Even has an aviation section. It's like talking to a chatty FAA wx briefer. :thumb:
Not finding this one. I can find something called 1weather, but it's not like you describe.
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I've been using Intellicast, mainly because the first screen that comes up is the radar. I may lose it soon since Weather Underground 'bought' them.
Copilot does display speed (or ETA or time to next waypoint/checkpoint or distance or etc) but the little windows are too hard to see, at least for me. It is the main thing I'd like them to change.
But, if all you want is a speed display try DigiHUD. It can be set up as a HUD in a windscreen or just as an overlay on top of any other program. I use it all the time (cause my speedo is so far off).
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Not finding this one. I can find something called 1weather, but it's not like you describe.
Yeah, it's 1weather, and yes it is. :smiley: My tablet has a button for the wx briefer. The phone's second button from the left on the bottom "area forecast discussion" at the top. Tapping that gives a very detailed description of what is happening and why.
I think you should re-examine Dorcia and your own displays, side-by-side for a particular storm.
We have. MyRadar has pretty colors. :evil: :smiley: It shows moisture that isn't and won't hit the ground. If 1weather shows rain ahead, you can take it to the bank..
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Any chance there is a GPS that will indicate how many Sheppies per Friedman I am traveling ?
Dusty
No, but you can get a route for doing the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs!
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I think parsecs is the distance, not the time. :laugh:
Still at it -- got the Bluetooth ear thingie in the amazon package today. Gonna see if that helps the robot lady give me directions on account of she keeps complaining that I'm not listening. I used to have a wife for that. Aren't tablets wonderful?
Chuck -- is this the free 1weather or something else? So far that program is looking like fluff to me, but then I don't always know what's a button to push and what's just clutter on the screen, so there may be more to it than I can see right now.
It's kinda silly when you have 20 choices for 'wallpaper' in a program, but no choices on how the program actually operates. I'm finding that most of these apps let me use funny voices or RED, but don't offer a compass (nav software) or allow you to change the default reporting site (mexico city for weather????? I don't live there!).
Also -- why can't stellarium tell where I'm looking and automagically pull the picture around to that orientation? If it's so darn smart it knows the names of all those stars, it ought to know where they live. Maybe it's the compass thing.
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Also -- why can't stellarium tell where I'm looking and automagically pull the picture around to that orientation? If it's so darn smart it knows the names of all those stars, it ought to know where they live. Maybe it's the compass thing.
I does that.
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I don't want to be dependent on an internet or cell connection for my mapping software to work, and I'm so far getting by without a google account. So google maps-dependencies are currently out.
Tried the sygic heads-up display in daylight -- not as impressive. I think I need some tint on the windshield right there.
I'll look into co-pilot , but the HUD (if I can make it work for me) feature in sygic overcomes a lot of shortcomings.
I am not sure how the cell phone navigation works. I suppose the map is loaded from the phone connection and location is set by GPS?
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I picked up a Samsung Galaxy S5 (phone not enabled) as a mini tablet. Needed it for some Android only apps I wanted to use; mostly OBD2 dongles.
Have not used it on the bike as intended, yet. Just around the house and to control my ham radio (one of the apps I needed as Icom does not have an IOS app yet).
So I have very limited experience with Android and it has been a mixed bag - as you're finding out yourself. First thing it did; upgraded to Marshmello (Android 6.0.1).
Little things I have discovered: Samsung does not allow apps to run from the SD card. App writers may or may not allow their apps to use the SD card for data. The camera automatically started to use it for single photo's, won't do video to it. Can't put music there - yet.
I have down loaded the following apps:
Flashlight -
DoubleTwist - to play music, hopefully using the SD card. No joy yet. This was to use my iTunes library. Low priority.
Facebook.....
GPS Status - this was really useful to see what my GPS was seeing as the dang phone seems to do a better job than the GPS built into my two ham radios.
HERE WeGo - GPS tripping software, maps loaded on the SD card (many of these apps have to be told to use it, will not go there on their own). Seems to be a very good product but have not used it. google maps, in my limited experience, led us astray and I much prefer my TomTom to google maps. So far, I think this will be a good one. I tried osmand app and found it totally un-useable; clear as mud.
Intellicast - I prefer this on the laptop. got it for the phone
MyRadar - use it on the iPad, really like it but now it appears it uses predictive software for approaching rain which in Phoenix is a very bad thing to do as it is too unpredictable.
NOAA Weather Radar - seems more realistic. Has ads. Yuck.
OBDLink - for the OBD in the F150
PdaNet - forgot why I installed it. Has something to do with Bluetooth.
Photos - to manage photos, this thing as a really good camera. Not sure I really need the app though; google thing.
QR Code Reader - needed it once for something. Left it in case it comes in handy again.
RPN Calculator - about the only kind I can use any more. Not impressed with this one, but the really good one on the iPhone does not seem to be available in Android.
RS-MS1 - controls my Icom radio via bluetooth.
ScanM5X 1.29 - OBD2 reader for the dongle I installed on the Griso. Since it shows ambient and engine temps I can look at blocking off the oil cooler this winter. It's an experiment.
Peel Smart Remote came on the phone and I discovered it last night. I can now control our TV remotely, which is cool but not earth shaking. The earth shaking part; once I told it in the setup that we get our signal via an antenna (in Phoenix), it lists the popular TV channels available (you can edit the list it provided) and shows you whats on at the time, or later in the day. The movies (just touch the thumbnail on the show or movie and boom, it takes you to that channel!! You can also look at the channel list and it shows what is on at the time. This is very very cool.
There is a bunch of other crap I have no need for but since we're on t-mobile, I'm leaving it there for now just in case my iPhone dumps, I can have a quick and dirty back up phone.
Side note; being a Samsung phone, there is a Samsung version of Google Play for Samsung's apps. Hold me back. :p
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For astronomy apps I much prefer SkySafari Pro (IOS or Android). The pro version is pricy, but I see Android has a simpler cheaper version available. The darn thing does more stuff than you can shake a stick at. One could easily offer up a one or two quarter college class on using it. Not useful for you, but with a wi-fi hotspot dongle hanging off my scope, I can control my telescope via wi-fi from the iPad - this is really good for public outreach.
GoSkyWatch and Astromist; simpler apps, don't seem to be available for Android.
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I am not sure how the cell phone navigation works. I suppose the map is loaded from the phone connection and location is set by GPS?
It depends on which app you use and what you have enabled on the phone.
You can selectively turn on or off the GPS, the cell phone connection, data sync over the cell connection and WiFi.
Each app that needs location data can use triangulation of cell signals, the IP address of whichever WiFi connection you are on, and/or the GPS receiver (which is the same type used in most consumer GPS products). GPS is most accurate, the others just give a general idea of where you are at.
As for maps, that is also app specific. Google maps in normal mode uses data over a real time data connection through the cell or WiFi. Go out of cell or WiFi range and you don't have a map. Google maps does have the ability to download certain areas if you know where you will be. Then if you lose cell connection it can still navigate.
GPS specific apps, like OSMand, CoPilot, Garmin, TomTom, etc will download the entire country/continent and save it to your phone (on the SD card if you choose). Then you can navigate even if you do not have a cell or WiFi signal (as long as you have enabled the GPS data, remember you can turn the GPS on or off).
To download maps, either with Google or any of the others you need to be connected to the net, preferably on WiFi. Once downloaded you have them as long as you want.
Sorry, hope this isn't too confusing.