The compass is very handy, and unfortunately my older iPhone doesn't have one and it can be a problem.
The iPhone is something you carry around with you, and when you're in a foreign city and a bit lost, a compass will be very useful. The GPS alone will locate you but if you're at a confusing and badly signposted crossroads on foot, you have to walk for about two minutes before the GPS senses your direction of movement (phone GPS receivers aren't really all that fantastic). With the compass you instantly know which way you're pointing, and the phone can orient the map to show you, too.
I also have TomTom on my iPhone. Again, due to the fairly crap GPS receiver that phones tend to have, when you go around a tight bend, the TomTom app often gets a bit confused and ends up 'dead reckoning' straight on because the GPS isn't fast enough, or perhaps satellite coverage isn't ideal. If it can use compass input, it can immediately know you've rounded a tight bend and can figure out you're still on the correct road and not start trying to recalculate your route.
I don't have an Iphone (and I don't want one either), but my Samsung has built in GPS. If I open Google Maps, it plots my possition to "within about 25 meters", but, it's wildly inacurate and often places me about half a mile away from where I actually am :lol:
Google maps works in two modes. First, it tries tu use GPS, if GPS fails, it uses gsm cells localization. The gsm localization has about 1.5km tolerance, thus happens that aberrance.
Even better than that Mooooreeeeaaan! you can get a metal detector app for the Android phones, it uses the phones magnomitor which is the mechnasim that makes the compass work.
Mind you it looks crap, it works but you have to have the metal closeish to the phone. Still it would be useful for finding wires, pipes and nails in walls, if your a builder, plumber or electrician.
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I don't have an Iphone (and I don't want one either), but my Samsung has built in GPS. If I open Google Maps, it plots my possition to "within about 25 meters", but, it's wildly inacurate and often places me about half a mile away from where I actually am :lol:
:lol: No, I can try it now, but it will show me as being on the beach...it once had me about half a mile out at sea once :lol:
They're very handy for iPhone 4 users. Together with the in-built GPS, they can use them to locate the nearest public phone box. :-D
Even better than that Mooooreeeeaaan! you can get a metal detector app for the Android phones, it uses the phones magnomitor which is the mechnasim that makes the compass work.
Mind you it looks crap, it works but you have to have the metal closeish to the phone. Still it would be useful for finding wires, pipes and nails in walls, if your a builder, plumber or electrician.
Nope, just laughing at the lame apps that seems to be made on both platforms.
(that ones never going to get old)