Verizon promises fix to GPS issues on webOS 29
Since there are plenty of users still experiencing GPS issues on Verizon webOS devices, we're not calling the horse dead yet and therefore need to keep beating. The backstory, if you're not aware, is that apps not called VZ Navigator cannot access Verizon's Assisted-GPS system. We briefly hoped that this patch would resolve things but it hasn't for all users (but Ebag333 and the PreCentral crew are still at it).
The latest, then, is that Verizon has promised a fix. Terry went to them on Twitter and after @VZWSupport initially suggested the classic fix of temporarily launching VZ Navigator to jump-start A-GPS, they came clean and said:
Yes there is [a fix in the works], right now there is no ETA. The steps I gave you are a temp fix.
Good news, that. We hope we see it sooner rather than later.
Thanks, Terry!
29 Comments
wow. I ope this is soon. Now I just need anoter fix for double typed and dropped letters
Sprint Ftw
I think it's more like every uncovered it's them restricting it and now they're "fixing" it.
On the other note my Bell one has no issues with GPS, gpsDashboard and Google Maps locks real quick. Surprising since Bell was infamous for GPS crippling as well.
the "fix" will most likely be an aGPS subscription, instead of VZNav
Or maybe Palm tuning Webos for Vzw so that everything uses straight GPS instead of aGPS.
Correct me if I'm wrong but using straight GPS without aGPS is what results in your location showing out in the middle of a field instead of on the actual road.
From what I read, aGPS mostly affects the speed of the lock. aGPS is feeding your phone the location of the satellite, instead of your phone doing all the work of triangulation itself. Or something like that. aGPS is almost instant, but less accurate until GPS kicks in and your location is zeroed-in. I think. :\
if the big infected V holds true to it's history on 'fixes', it won't be sooner.
anyone wana bet how many times a rep tells a customer '2 weeks'?
it's pathetic this is even an issue..
the wait has begun...again...
In the words of 'Homer/Everett' from 'O Brother Where Are Thou?'
Well ain't this place a geographical oddity! Two weeks from everywhere!
I'm not gonna bet much on what some VZW customer service guy says on twitter. I'm not holding my breath.
I hope the fix is sooner rather than later. I came from the Droid and this is very annoying.
Maybe more of us should contact them and complain.
I've had my Pre Plus since March so I totally feel everyone here. Why so much pessimism though? I have faith that there will be a fix, and if a VZW customer service rep knows about this "launch VZnav" temporary fix, rest assured Verizon themselves are WELL AWARE of the issue. Afterall, they and Palm were quiet about double key press issues, and next thing you know we got a fix!
To put things in perspective, when my brother first got the Sprint Pre back in September(3 months after release), he kept telling me about how horrendous the GPS and Sprint Nav were. I'm not sure when they released a fix for it, but I believe it was 5+ months later.
Why so much pessimism though?
Because Verizon sells VZnavigator, How likely is it that Verizon wants to enable a free alternative?
That sounds strangely reminiscent to adobe and dataviz's "promises, promises".
A "promise" for third party things like Flash or high-caliber document editing solutions are much harder to implement than an internal fix to the native software.
Sometimes I wonder why I respond to all the negative and rather ignorant comments...
Really it isn't much different. A software issue is a software issue, otherwise Verizon wouuldd need to tackle hadware instead. But that would be my "ignorant" p.o.v. You could save yourself some time and name-calling by exercising your right to keep your opinion a secret.
I wouldn't hold your breath waiting. This is what I received Wednesday from VZN in an email trail I have going with them:
"Additionally, the Palm Pre Plus does not currently support open GPS and I apologize again for any inconvenience. At this time VZ Navigator is the only Verizon Wireless approved GPS application that will work with your Pre, and unfortunately we are not currently offering the application for free. I am also unaware if a planned software update will become available that will enable open GPS for the Pre device."
In another email I received this reponse:
"I have brought this matter to the attention of our Leadership and Marketing Teams to ensure this issue is specifically viewed."
Maybe enough people have complained that they are finally going to fix it.
the pessimism comes from past experiences with VZ on fixes and upgrades. Not that I'm in a rush for it cuz it takes 5 seconds to open vznav then minimize it to start gps on another program..but it is what it is..and IT is the truth.
look how long it took em to upgrade the pre plus to 1.4.1.1 after Sprint got it.
and notice the guy on twitter didn't say how long 'the fix' has been in 'the works'..
this is VZ's fault cuz they implemented this problem to begin with.
Me and my friend have pres, he has the VZ plus. I converted him into a believer... but he gets really salt when we pull up foursquare and i can see places but he sees like 2 day old cached data.
the pessimism comes from past experiences with VZ on fixes and upgrades. Not that I'm in a rush for it cuz it takes 5 seconds to open vznav then minimize it to start gps on another program..but it is what it is..and IT is the truth.
look how long it took em to upgrade the pre plus to 1.4.1.1 after Sprint got it.
and notice the guy on twitter didn't say how long 'the fix' has been in 'the works'..
this is VZ's fault cuz they implemented this problem to begin with.
I switched from Sprint to Verizon because I suddenly stopped getting coverage in my house, and Sprint wasn't willing to fix it (despite my 10 years as a customer).
So, on May 11, I switched to Verizon. But the coverage isn't any better, and the GPS issue is disgusting. AT&T beckons. Verizon gets 30 days for a GPS solution, or I'm gone.
Interesting. I'm pleasantly surprised by this. I'm still a bit annoyed at Verizon for this, but you know what, after this I'm getting a less evil image of Verizon. Yes, being a cell phone carrier, they're prone to greed and stupidity, but compared to the Verizon of a few years ago, they've improved by leaps and bounds. Now AT&T is the one crippling devices (Moto Backflip with no sideloading apps and no google search, iPhone and no tethering...) and while Verizon still has blood on there hands, hey, it's at least less blood.
I was browsing verizon site looking at possible replacement, still inside 30 days. So chat window pops up... "How can I assist you with your order?" Heh heh. I mention possible swap, or change of carrier, and expalin why, mainly GPS issue. She goes into standard VZNav script. I stop her and let her know that alot of people were unhappy with Verizon over this. Including current, and potential but unlikely, future pre plus owners.
I mentioned this site and she was aware of precentral site, this issue, and all the negative feedback associated with GPS issue. If some sales chat helper is aware of this it appears word has spread pretty wide throughout Verizon. Hopefully that translates to fix sooner than later. But mention it to a Verizon employee every chance you get until its resolved.
Squeaky wheel..
What a surprise. He didnt say "Wow really this is the first time i've heard of this!"
lol... I agree... That doesn't sound like a Verizon tech!
Internet is big corporations worst enemy. If it wasn't for that extra info that so many users have same issue, they would continue to tell you... Well maybe you got a lemon... Each company have their restrictions which is fine with me. We sign the contract knowing the restrictions. In situation with the gps it was missleading information regarding standalone gps. If I knew they continue blocking gps I would never sign another contract. Just wondering why after 5 months of pre on verizon most ppl continue blaming google and hardware issue.
This makes me very happy!
Now if somebody would develop a piece of navigation software for WebOS. =(
Too little too late for Verizon, unfortunately. They mislead their potential customers and current customers, falsified ads to promote things that were not true, took money from and continue to take money from customers that they are knowingly ripping off. I'm just sad Palm didn't step up and set it straight but instead just allowing their really nice Pre look like a useless piece of crap to many first time Palm customers. If I were Pal... I mean, HP, I would be looking into litigation. This phone was WebOS's life line. And now I actually had a Verizon tech on the phone just giving me any phone as a replacement last week. ANY phone but Palm and he even down played the phone a bit but couldnt knock it for anyone real issue. I told him any other phone I want is on another network and he still tried pushing the new HTC Droid. Damn, was that tempting when I don't have GPS... but I'm a fan of what Palm was(is?) and I think I may just have to break my ban on Sprint, because I miss Cingular and ATT aint them. It's the lesser of three evils right now.
Hey Palm! I'd pay a $1000.00 for one of these Pre's as just an all around SIM quadband go anywhere any network type phone. Maybe more!!! This exclusive to networks crap doesn't help anyone but the networks.
It's funny... if you go to Verizon.com and search "palm pre gps" it only returns "VZ Navigator" results for the first couple of pages. Odd... never even mentioned VZ anything in my search, but here we are. Now, how would a search engine make a mistake like that? Well it doesn't. Just like every other program, it works exactly how it was written. tsk tsk Verizon... Consumer manipulation at it's worst.