The curious thing with GPS

losAntonis · 06-27-2012, 08:33

I bought the Cowon Z2 as a Music Player and it is great to be able to use much more functions via Android-Apps. The only think I really miss at the Z2 is GPS. When I bought the Z2 i read that the device has no GPS and it was ok for me.

After installing the AVG Antivirus i ran the Power Saving Options. In the settings i read that the GPS satellites are turned on.

First of all?? GPS satellites?? turned on?? It has to be a mistake. I have no options to change the GPS status via OS Settings. I thought it has to be a mistake of the AVG Antvirus program.

Some Days later I installed Android Assistent. By cheking the System informations it also says that GPS is available.

After all I am not really sure where the mistake is.
Either the OS gives the wrong information to the programs (more obviously), or the Z2 really has GPS wich is not implemented in the OS. (That does not make much sense, but it would be great)

Is there anybody out there knowing an answer to my questions or is Cowon playing Big Brother with us??

Ciao Antonios

sonic · 06-27-2012, 14:29

Judging by how Cowon are often quite 'cost effective' with their hardware choices (even the often touted Wolfson DAC chips which Cowon use retail at around $3), I don't think they are going to waste cash on GPS chips in a 'droid PMP. Incidentally, this is probably what makes their devices fairly reasonable priced considering they are coming from a small company rather than a large company like Samsung/Apple which enjoys better economies of scale.

da1writer · 06-27-2012, 19:58

What's funny is Quadrant and Antutu benchmarks report the z2 having a hidden camera inside, A 0.9mp to be exact - don't know where though

snakebite2 · 06-27-2012, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by da1writer

What's funny is Quadrant and Antutu benchmarks report the z2 having a hidden camera inside, A 0.9mp to be exact - don't know where though

On my D3 there's a dummy cam installed by default. The z2 might have it too. I thought maybe it is a requirement for android.

losAntonis · 06-29-2012, 02:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by da1writer

What's funny is Quadrant and Antutu benchmarks report the z2 having a hidden camera inside, A 0.9mp to be exact - don't know where though

Hopefully we don't have paranoia.

hidden camera.... hidden GPS..... cowon sees every step you do and you don't even know that your device has this functions.

Kizune · 06-29-2012, 11:35

About the camera, it's a virtual one (ie it doesn't exist physically). Don't ask me why Cowon implemented a driver to simulate a camera, maybe it's necessary for Android to work properly.

Kizune · 07-01-2012, 09:55

And that I'm back and can read this thread properly on my two 22" displays, I noticed that snakebite2 already answered the camera mystery.

Anyway, I'm sure it's the same with GPS. And some apps know that the Z2 only has a virtual GPS module, such as Juice Defender, which is indeed a nice app @da1. (My virtual credit card was finally activated so I could purchase it)

06-27-2012, 08:33	#1
losAntonis Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Germany, Bavaria Posts: 38	The curious thing with GPS I bought the Cowon Z2 as a Music Player and it is great to be able to use much more functions via Android-Apps. The only think I really miss at the Z2 is GPS. When I bought the Z2 i read that the device has no GPS and it was ok for me. After installing the AVG Antivirus i ran the Power Saving Options. In the settings i read that the GPS satellites are turned on. First of all?? GPS satellites?? turned on?? It has to be a mistake. I have no options to change the GPS status via OS Settings. I thought it has to be a mistake of the AVG Antvirus program. Some Days later I installed Android Assistent. By cheking the System informations it also says that GPS is available. After all I am not really sure where the mistake is. Either the OS gives the wrong information to the programs (more obviously), or the Z2 really has GPS wich is not implemented in the OS. (That does not make much sense, but it would be great) Is there anybody out there knowing an answer to my questions or is Cowon playing Big Brother with us?? Ciao Antonios

06-27-2012, 19:58	#3
da1writer Ya'll can call me da1 if ya like ;)! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 1,319	What's funny is Quadrant and Antutu benchmarks report the z2 having a hidden camera inside, A 0.9mp to be exact - don't know where though __________________ Prior MP3 Player \| Cowon z2 32gb w/ 64gb Memory Stick, 20hr Audio Current MP3 Player \| Samsung Galaxy Player 8gb w/ 64gb Memory Stick, linICS v2 and Voodoo Audio = 43hr Audio Da1writer's Soapbox \| http://www.youtube.com/user/da1writer1985

06-29-2012, 11:35	#6
Kizune Feel free to call me 'Kizu' ;) Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Germany, Baden-Württemberg Posts: 5,968	About the camera, it's a virtual one (ie it doesn't exist physically). Don't ask me why Cowon implemented a driver to simulate a camera, maybe it's necessary for Android to work properly. __________________ me @ Google+ \| Twitter \| Flickr \| deviantART audio setup: Cowon J3 32gb \| Cowon Z2 16gb \| Audio Technica ATH-M50 other: Galaxy Nexus \| Nexus 7

07-01-2012, 09:55	#7
Kizune Feel free to call me 'Kizu' ;) Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Germany, Baden-Württemberg Posts: 5,968	And that I'm back and can read this thread properly on my two 22" displays, I noticed that snakebite2 already answered the camera mystery. Anyway, I'm sure it's the same with GPS. And some apps know that the Z2 only has a virtual GPS module, such as Juice Defender, which is indeed a nice app @da1. (My virtual credit card was finally activated so I could purchase it) __________________ me @ Google+ \| Twitter \| Flickr \| deviantART audio setup: Cowon J3 32gb \| Cowon Z2 16gb \| Audio Technica ATH-M50 other: Galaxy Nexus \| Nexus 7

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06-27-2012, 14:29	#2
sonic Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 116	Judging by how Cowon are often quite 'cost effective' with their hardware choices (even the often touted Wolfson DAC chips which Cowon use retail at around $3), I don't think they are going to waste cash on GPS chips in a 'droid PMP. Incidentally, this is probably what makes their devices fairly reasonable priced considering they are coming from a small company rather than a large company like Samsung/Apple which enjoys better economies of scale.