Can iOS 8 provide info on satellites?

[Cod3rror]

I've discovered couple of days ago that while iOS' Core Location gives you information on speed, latitude, longitude, altitude, etc... it does not actually give you any information about satellites; such as how many satellites are visible, which ones are used (GPS, GLONASS), what's they location, how good is the signal.

I was wondering how this has changed in iOS 8, if any developer can answer.

A side note; Windows Phone does not provide the satellite information either.

 

[Zcott]

No.

 

[Cod3rror]

Thank You!

I wonder why do they block that information...

 

[Tyler23]

Thank You!

I wonder why do they block that information...

What do you mean "block that information?" Why would they have it, and why would they bother showing it?

Why would Apple know the satellites? Wouldn't it be dependent on your carrier, as it's their network that you're on?

 

[chabig]

Why would Apple know the satellites? Wouldn't it be dependent on your carrier, as it's their network that you're on?

He's asking about GPS satellites, which have nothing to do with your cell carrier.

 

[Tyler23]

He's asking about GPS satellites, which have nothing to do with your cell carrier.

Got it, my mistake.

 

[chabig]

I wonder why do they block that information...

It's not blocked. You just need an app to get to it. Here's one I found: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bluetooth-gps-status-tool/id422661436?mt=8

 

[Cod3rror]

Yes, it's GPS satellites that I'm talking about,

It's just another cool information to have; it's interesting to know how many satellites there are in use, which constellation are they, how good is the signal.

Here's a screenshot from Android.

----------

It's not blocked. You just need an app to get to it. Here's one I found: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bluetooth-gps-status-tool/id422661436?mt=8

That's from an external GPS, so they're using their own software.

You can't get the same info from an internal one.

 

[chabig]

That's from an external GPS, so they're using their own software. You can't get the same info from an internal one.

Darn. I just looked at the picture. Apparently, Apple's CoreLocation API doesn't give access to GPS specifics.

 

[VacTacks11]

This is something I've always wanted - access to the GPS location.

It's so freely given in the Android platform - I can't understand why it wouldn't be available on iOS.

 

[MorphMan]

I'd like it too but the reason Apple doesn't provide it is that you're supposed to be detached from the many possible ways Apple works out where you are. They could be using any number of systems or a custom combination of all of them.

 

[Tubamajuba]

This is something I've always wanted - access to the GPS location.

It's so freely given in the Android platform - I can't understand why it wouldn't be available on iOS.

It's just not something that most people need or even want. It's one of those "nice to have" things, and "nice to have" things get added to iOS whenever Apple feels like it, if they feel like it at all. Kind of like that slide at the end of the iOS part of WWDC keynotes where they list all the hundreds of new features in very small font.

 

[Topher227]

I had 'GPS Status and Toolbox' on all my android phones, mainly because they would have trouble getting a fix (it would download A-GPS data or something, making a fix easier).

I guess I never looked for a constellation style GPS app for iPhone because fixes have always been pretty immediate? Sounds fanboy'ish, but thats probably the best answer, ha.

I use 'GPS Status' whenever i've needed basic GPS data (elevation, speed, lat/lon, and fix status) on my iPhone. It hasn't been updated in years, but it gets the job done.

 

[daviddth]

It's just not something that most people need or even want. It's one of those "nice to have" things, and "nice to have" things get added to iOS whenever Apple feels like it, if they feel like it at all. Kind of like that slide at the end of the iOS part of WWDC keynotes where they list all the hundreds of new features in very small font.

I can think of one very good reason. I fly GPS Enabled quad and hexcopters and sometimes I get data from way fewer GPS Satellites than I would like and expect. It would be nice to fire up an App on the iPhone and be able to see what GPS Satellites were available according to the iPhone, and see if it can receive a signal from them too.

I would probably use this sort of data 2-3 times a week at least.

 

[Tubamajuba]

I can think of one very good reason. I fly GPS Enabled quad and hexcopters and sometimes I get data from way fewer GPS Satellites than I would like and expect. It would be nice to fire up an App on the iPhone and be able to see what GPS Satellites were available according to the iPhone, and see if it can receive a signal from them too.

I would probably use this sort of data 2-3 times a week at least.

That's a very good reason for you, but the vast majority of people don't need that data. I'm pretty sure it would be easy for Apple to include this feature in iOS, so there's probably another reason why they don't support it. If there's not, then they should definitely enable it.

 

[hurenkam]

That's a very good reason for you, but the vast majority of people don't need that data. I'm pretty sure it would be easy for Apple to include this feature in iOS, so there's probably another reason why they don't support it. If there's not, then they should definitely enable it.

As an outdoor enthusiast (i guess that's a bigger target group), I'm also interested in this info. In urban environments the Apple approach works well, and there is no need for detailed GPS info, but when I'm out on a forrested mountain face, detailed satellite info helps in deciding how to reposition myself for a better GPS fix.