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Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Tutorial: Use and Manage GPS and Location Services

One of the useful features of your Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (#Samsung #GalaxyNote5) is the advanced navigation system through which you can use to determine your location via Global Positioning System (GPS) and Location settings. When enabled on your phone, you can use it to determine your closest approximate location and/or have access to your device remotely for as long as there is no obstruction to GPS satellites or you have a clear view of the sky.

Location Services must be enabled before using any features that require location assistance such as viewing your location in Maps and using your location to find local resources when necessary.

Click on the link to jump to a specific section…

How to Enable Location Services on Galaxy Note 5
Quickest way to turn Location ON or OFF on your Galaxy Note 5
More Tips on using GPS on your Galaxy Note 5
How to Change Location Method
Using My Places widget on Galaxy Note 5

How to Enable Location Services on Galaxy Note 5

Use the Location services settings menu on your Galaxy Note 5 to select how your phone determine its location via GPS satellites, wireless networks, or both. Here’s how:

Tap Apps from the Home screen.
Tap Settings.
Next, swipe the headings to the left of the Settings screen.
Tap Personal to view more options.
Scroll to and tap to select Privacy and safety.
Tap Location.
Tap the slider to enable Location.
Read and review the information, and then tap Agree if you want to allow the Google location service to collect location data anonymously. Otherwise, tap Disagree.
Tap Agree to proceed with this guide.
To specify or select the accuracy level of your locating method, tap Locating method.
You have three main options to choose from, including GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks, Wi-Fi and mobile networks, or GPS only.

Tap Wi-Fi and mobile networks option to proceed with this guide.

The next screen will display the Recent location requests section.

Any apps that have requested access to your location are displayed in this section. You will also see the battery usage required for an app to make the request under the app name. Simply tap an app to access its App information screen.

Scroll down and tap Google Location History to view a history of your location data.

Note: You may need to sign in to your Google Account for more options.

Review the details and then press the Home key to go back to the Home screen when you’re done.

You can also clear the history by tapping the Delete Location History button located beneath the screen.

Google utilizes Location Reporting for storing and using your phone’s most recent location data. This data can be used by Google apps, like Google Maps, to improve your search results based on places that you’ve visited.

Quickest way to turn Location ON or OFF on your Galaxy Note 5

Another way to turn Location on or off is through the Notification Panel. Here’s how:

Open the Notification Panel by swiping from the top of the Home screen to the bottom.
Next, tap the Location shortcut icon on the Quick Settings Panel shortcut.

It turns green when it’s ON.

Read and review the information prompt, and then tap Agree to allow the Google location service to collect anonymous location information. Otherwise, tap Disagree.

More Tips on using GPS on your Galaxy Note 5

What to do if your phone is unable to connect to GPS?

For instances when your device is unable to connect to GPS, it’s recommended to first try on checking for any updates for Maps in the Google Play Store. Just to the Home screen, tap Apps->Play Store, then tap the Drawer icon, and select My apps. Doing so will display all available update at the top of the list.
Second, go to an open area where you can clearly see the sky. Again, please note that any obstructions to the sky view, including mountains, dense canopy, thick walls, and tall buildings can prevent your device from acquiring a GPS signal. You can also try to remove any third-party accessory such as a casing or device cover.
Third, check and ensure there is no physical or liquid damage on your phone. Be sure you didn’t get it wet or it wasn’t dropped.
Fourth, try to force restart your device. Doing so will turn your device off and back on without affecting any data stored in it. To force restart your Galaxy Note 5, press and hold the Volume down key and Power/Lock key for 20-30 seconds. Doing so will let your phone perform a simulated battery disconnect.
Fifth, check for any software updates available for your device. To do so, go to the Home screen, tap Apps->Settings->System->About device->Software update.
Finally, try to use the highest possible Location accuracy setting on your phone. Here’s how it’s done on your Note 5:

Tap Apps from any Home screen.
Tap Settings.
Tap Personal.
Scroll to and tap to select Privacy and safety.
Tap Location.
Select Locating method.

To set the highest accuracy level of location tracking, tap the option using GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile data networks.

How to Change Location Method

If you want to change the methods used for determining your location, follow these steps:

Tap Apps from the Home screen.
Tap Settings.
Select Privacy and safety.
Tap Location.
Tap Location Method.
Select a locating method you desire.

Just read the description of which method or methods are used to estimate your location for each mode.

Again, Location must be enabled on your device beforehand, for you to change the locating method.

Using My Places widget on Galaxy Note 5

Setting up your location allows your phone to use advanced features including Smart Lock to bypass a secure lock when you’re in a trusted location. You can also use the My Places widget when GPS and Location settings are enabled on your phone.

Your Note 5 also comes with the My Places widget. It’s a tool that lets your phone recognize your location to provide relevant information and services. You can add places like Home, Work, and Out using Maps, Wi-Fi, or the Bluetooth feature to determine your location.

Here’s how to use location-based services in My Places widget on your Note 5:

Touch and hold the Home screen and then tap Widgets located beneath the screen.
Touch and hold My Places widget, position it on an empty area of the screen, and then release it.
To exit the edit mode, tap the Back key.
Now tap the My Places widget.
Tap a location to define it.

To proceed with this guide, tap Work.

Wait until your current location appears under Address.
To search for your location again, tap the Locate My Places icon.

To define your location using a Wi-Fi network or Bluetooth device, tap Other detection method.

Follow the onscreen instructions to complete a method you choose.

When using Maps, you will be required to search for your location or use the current GPS coordinates.
When using Wi-Fi, you will be prompted to choose the Wi-Fi access point.
When using Bluetooth, you will be prompted to choose the device from the list of available devices.

Tap Next to continue.
To manage shortcuts to functions and useful apps in the current location, tap Manage. Otherwise, tap OK to continue.
Wait until your phone recognizes the current location. The selected shortcuts will be displayed in the My Places widget.
Touch an empty area of the widget to view and access more options.

Settings and screens available may vary depending on your wireless service provider and software version of your phone.

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How to Fix Galaxy S3 GPS Problems

The Samsung Galaxy S3 GPS problems are characterized by any of the following conditions:

The app suddenly turns off
The function becomes unresponsive
The feature shows inaccuracy

If you find yourself experiencing any of those Galaxy S3 GPS problems, try out the possible solutions below:

1. Toggle the GPS App Off and On

Drag the Notification Tray, and tap the GPS icon to switch it off or on. You will know when it is on when the icon’s color turns green. You can also access GPS through Settings under the Location Services configuration. Simply uncheck or check the Use of GPS Satellites option to switch it off or on.

2. Tighten the Screws at the Back of the Device

According to a YouTube video uploaded by Hollywoodfrodo, the Galaxy S3 GPS Problems can be easily fixed by tightening the screws located at the back of the device. To do this, just turn off the phone, remove its battery and tighten the ten screws located at its rear.

This photo shows the screws that you need to tighten:

While this fix does not really make much sense, several commenters in the video said that it miraculously fixed their Galaxy S3 GPS problems. While I am not a phone technician, I think that tightening the screws actually improves the contact of the phone’s hardware to its sensors.

3. Perform a Factory Reset

If all else fails and you strongly believe that the Galaxy S3 GPS problems are caused by some third-party app that you have installed, simply perform a Factory Reset to bring back your phone to its default state and quickly fix the issue.

Email Us

For more questions or if you wish to share your ideas about this topic, email us at [email protected].

Galaxy S7 camera features not working with Whatsapp, other issues

We bring you four more #GalaxyS7 issues today. As always, we hope that the solutions provided here can help users who contacted us as well as those with similar problems. Don’t forget to follow previously published S7 and S7 edge articles as well.

Below are specific topics discussed in this material:

Galaxy S7 GPS not working properly on Runkeeper app when Power Saving Mode is on
Samsung Galaxy shuts down on its own when it’s located some parts of Manila
Received MMS on Galaxy S7 is converted to group message
Galaxy S7 camera features not working with Whatsapp

If you are looking for solutions to your own #Android issue, you can contact us by using the link provided at the bottom of this page, or you can install our free app from Google Play Store.

When describing your issue, please be as detailed as possible so we can easily pinpoint a relevant solution. If you can, kindly include the exact error messages you are getting to give us an idea where to start. If you have already tried some troubleshooting steps before emailing us, make sure to mention them so we can skip them in our answers.

Problem #1: Galaxy S7 GPS not working properly on Runkeeper app when Power Saving Mode is on

My GPS won’t accurately track my runs when it’s on power saving mode. I use the Runkeeper app.

I turn on the gps, open the app, it shows my location accurately. Then I start, when I get home it will only show points on the map if I got my phone out during my run, otherwise it shows just straight line (I can send screenshots). I run with my phone in a spibelt which is basically a fabric pouch that goes around your waist. Previously to my S7, I had an S3 and never had problems with GPS in power saving mode and I used the same app and wore the same belt. If I turn off power saving mode it appears to work ok. But it really makes me not have any trust in the phone. I hope you can help me. I should add that my friend who has an S7, does not have this issue using runkeeper on power saving mode. She usually keeps her phone in her pocket or a purse. Did I just get a crap phone? Thanks again. — Jessica

Solution: Hi Jessica. If this third party app works fine on another S7, the cause of the problem may be firmware-related, which means that the app may be incompatible with the operating system. Keep in mind that Android operating system can vary even among the same models as each wireless carrier modify their firmware to fit their needs. Sometimes, the modifications can lead to unforeseen problems or conflicts with apps.

Wipe the app cache and data

Before you do anything drastic, we recommend that you first delete the cache and data of the app in question. Here’s how:

Go to phone Settings.
Tap Device tab.
Look for Applications and tap it.
Once you’re inside Applications menu, look for Applications Manager and tap it.
Inside Applications Manager, tap All apps.
Look for the email app you’re using and tap it.
From there, you should see a page that list app-specific information and options. Tap Storage.
Tap Clear Cache and Clear Data buttons.

Keep in mind that tapping on Clear Data button will result to loss of app-specific data like logs so make sure that you create a backup of them in the cloud (if the app allows) before you do it. If this procedure won’t help, go to the next step.

Delete the cache partition

The next thing that you want to do is to force the phone to refresh the system cache. At times, a corrupted or outdated system cache also results to some problems. Just follow the steps below on how to do it:

Turn off the phone.
Once the phone has completely shut down, press and hold Volume, Home, and Power buttons at the same time.
Wait until the Samsung logo appears before releasing the Power button.
Once the Android logo shows up, release the two other buttons.
Wait for the Recovery menu to appear (may take up to a minute).
Go to wipe cache partition option using the Volume buttons, then press Power button to confirm.
Wait for the device to wipe the cache partition
Once the cache has been deleted, Reboot system now option will then be highlighted.
Press Power button again to confirm the reboot.

Install the latest update

Be sure that your app runs the latest software version from its developer. Sometimes, the simple act of updating matters. Updates are released for a number of reasons and of them is to fix known bugs. We’ve noticed that some users of this app mention in their reviews about intermittent issues with GPS and data generated after their runs sometimes. Most developers monitor user reviews in order to improve their products. Hopefully, they’re aware of the issue and there’s already an update to fix the issue similar to yours.

Contact the developer

If the things above won’t help in addressing the issue at all, make sure that you contact the app developer. This will make sure that they’re made aware of the issue directly.

Problem #2: Samsung Galaxy shuts down on its own when it’s located some parts of Manila

Hi. I own a Samsung Galaxy and I’m enjoying it. However, it may sound crazy but everytime I come to Manila, especially in some areas in Manila, my phone will shut down automatically and then restarts automatically but before completely restarting, it shuts down again and repeats the process. I tried removing the battery pack and sim pack and then putting them back again and trying to manually start but it does the same thing. After I leave the area, the phone can start and work properly again. This already happened a lot of times so I am wondering how should I do. Thank you so much! — Wryneth

Solution: Hi Wryneth. First of all, we’re wondering if you modified your Galaxy S7’s hardware so you can remove the battery pack yourself, or if you simply submitted your issue under a different section in our issue questionnaire. The Galaxy S7’s battery pack is difficult to remove at a user’s level and doing so requires some tools. The battery itself is glued in place, making it hard to remove in the first place. We haven’t even removed it ourselves for fear of tearing some delicate components underneath it. If you are doing this often, there’s a chance that you have damaged something that causes the phone to boot intermittently.

If you happen to have simply submitted your issue under the S7 section, consider doing a factory reset. This will ensure that any firmware issue that may be behind the problem is eliminated. Bear in mind that knowing the exact cause of your problem is beyond us as well. We have no idea what is happening to your phone and we need its full history to even come close to identifying the real reason. Telling us that your phone shuts down in certain areas is not enough to let us identify the problem. And we’re yet to receive identical issue from other readers.

The best thing that you can do is to observe how the phone behaves after you factory reset it. Do it when you’re in the area where the phone shuts down on its own. Make sure not to install any app after a factory reset to see if any of your apps is involved, or is the culprit.

Problem #3: Received MMS on Galaxy S7 is converted to group message

I just got the Galaxy S7 and I am having an issue receiving picture messages using the default Samsung messaging app. Wherever I receive a picture message from anybody it shows up as a group message with myself and the sender. When I reply to this “group” message I end up receiving my own text message in a separate message since i am replying to the “group” which consists of myself and the sender. I’ve checked that the sender is not actually sending a group message and this happens regardless of the messaging app the user is using. I’ve searched all settings in Samsung’s messaging app and nothing has worked. Please help. This extremely annoying! — Jessica

Solution: Hi Jessica. The problem may not be exactly a setting on your phone but rather how your wireless carrier processes incoming MMS. Usually, carriers convert a group message automatically into an MMS so that it can be sent, but not the other way around. Your particular carrier though may be doing the latter so it’s best if you can talk to them directly about the issue.

It may also be an issue with how the stock messaging app is modified by your carrier so contacting them is the best course of action for you.

Problem #4: Galaxy S7 camera features not working with Whatsapp

Dear TDG. I am writing on behalf of my mom who bought her phone this week. She has tried several times to download Whatsapp and every time that she does, some of the camera features stop working–basically everything except auto and panorama won’t do what they´re supposed to do. Since the primary reasons she bought the phone are the camera and Whatsapp, this has generated a lot of frustration. I am sorry that you’re getting this through two people, but I hope that you can help.

Can you also answer at her email at b****[email protected]*****.com Thank you! — Hillary

Solution: Hi Hillary. We don’t send our free advice to emails. You can instead direct your mom to our site for answers if you want.

Now the reason why the camera features do not work when using WhatsApp may be due to lack of permission for the said app. App permissions, as the name suggests, allows a device to do certain tasks with a user’s consent. Disabling permissions can result to some apps not working as intended. An app asks to enable permissions after it’s installed so if your mom did not allow them in the first, this may be the reason why she’s having the problem. Make sure that you enable the necessary permissions on your mom’s phone in order for Whatsapp to work properly. To do that, just follow the steps below:

Go to phone Settings.
Tap Applications.
Tap WhatsApp.
Look for Permissions button.
Make sure that Camera is permitted.

Engage with us

If you are one of the users who encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem.

If you find this post helpful, please help us by spreading the word to your friends. TheDroidGuy has social network presence as well so you may want to interact with our community in our Facebook and Google+ pages.

Google reportedly bringing GPS support to Android Wear soon

Android Wear is pretty versatile in its current form, especially for a new product. But it seems like Google is ready to take it to the next level as a company official is indicating that future Android Wear devices could get support for GPS. Android Engineering Director, David Singleton also said that Google will soon allow developers to make custom watch faces for Android Wear and post them on the Play Store. Another major feature which is expected to be added in the future is the ability to pair your smartwatch with a Bluetooth accessory such as your headphones.

Here’s an excerpt from Singleton’s interview with CNET – “If you’re someone who likes to go for a run, it might be convenient to be able to leave your phone at home. So you can start recording your track with GPS on the watch. You can throw on some music and have a really enjoyable run. And when you come back home, everything will be synced up with the apps running on your phone.”

The idea basically is to make users less reliant on a smartphone as smartwatches get more powerful over time. It’s good to know that Google is accelerating the evolution of Android Wear with useful features such as the ones mentioned above. Android Wear will reportedly receive an update this week with some improvements to voice action and navigation.

Source: CNET

How to Choose a Smartphone Guide: Connectivity

So far, we have tackled the topics about how to choose a Smartphone processor, storage options and display in the following series of articles:

The common aim of these articles is to impart you with the knowledge on how to be able to get the ideal Smartphone that will cater to your preferences and needs.

The next important element that you have to consider when choosing a Smartphone is Connectivity. This feature enables the hardware of your Smartphone to be able to connect to various service providers and to other devices.

There are different connectivity options available for Smartphone nowadays. The current technology that we have today offers 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE, Wi-Fi and GPS. So, basically, these are the things that will be explained here.

2G

2G stands for second-generation wireless telephone technology. This is the most basic since it only enables a phone to make or accept calls and send or receive SMS. An example of a technical specification of a 2G network is this, “GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900”.

Based on the given example, it means the phone can connect to a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) network within the four frequency ranges which were specified. Then, since it has the capability to connect to up to four frequencies, this is considered to be a quad band.

Again, this is the most basic, thus, current Smartphones have no trouble connecting to a network that offers 2G technology.

3G

3G or the third generation of mobile telecommunications technology offers Internet connectivity in addition to the features offered by 2G. With this, you will be able to check emails, browse websites, download applications and perform other activities that require Internet connection.

The indication of the frequencies that it supports is presented similar to GSM. But instead of using the term GSM, it uses HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access). For example, “HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100”.

Also it presents the maximum amount of data that it can transfer per second in terms of downlink and uplink. For example, “HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps”. Note that HSUPA stands for “High-Speed Packet Access”.

However, that the amount of data that you can download or upload is still dependent on your carrier. If your carrier only offers a data transfer speed which is less than what your device offers, you will not be able to fully enjoy the maximum allowed data transfer rate indicated in your Smartphone’s technical specification.

4G/ LTE

4G is the fourth generation of wireless mobile telecommunications techlogy while LTE stands for “Long Term Evolution”. So far, this is the latest technology used by Smartphones today. It combines all the features of 2G and 3G technologies and it boosts them to provide a data transfer rate that can go beyond 100 Mbps.

An example of a technical specification that offers a 4G/ LTE connectivity is “LTE 700 MHz Class 17 / 1700 / 2100”.

But then again, be reminded that you will not be able to fully enjoy the 4G connectivity of your device if your network only offers a data transfer speed lesser than what your device can hold.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi allows any computing or communication device to connect through a wireless local area network. When buying a Smartphone, make sure that it has the capability to connect to Wi-Fi. A Wi-Fi connectivity will give you the option to connect to any Wi-Fi Hotspots in your area which will save you a lot of money later on. This is because instead of using the data allowance provided by your carrier all the time (which is usually very limited and expensive), you can just tap to any Wi-Fi source and browse the Internet or download data all you want.

Here is an example of a Wi-Fi technical specification of a Samsung Galaxy S4, “Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz), DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Hotspot”.

In the given example, it shows the Wi-Fi networks supported by the Galaxy S4. Then, DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is a standard multimedia streaming technology which lets your Smartphone share multimedia files with other compatible devices. Next, Wi-Fi Direct means the Smartphone can set up a device-to-device wireless connection. Lastly, Wi-Fi Hotspot means the Smartphone can serve as a Hotspot or Wi-Fi provider to other devices.

GPS

GPS or Global Positioning System is a space-based satellite navigation system. It allows the user to determine his exact location on Earth, see the exact time of his area, get information on the weather and to get map directions. This is definitely a very handy feature for travelers and people who need directions from time to time.

Watch Out for the Next Topic

The next thing that we will discuss is Operating System. Be sure to read it as well, so you will be able to get the Smartphone that is ideally made for you.

Nexus 7 (2013) Is Having GPS Searching Issues

The latest Nexus 7 (2013) might be one of the hottest 7 inch tablets available in the market today but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have any problems. One particular concern that various owners of this device are complaining about is that it seems to have GPS searching issues. Those who have experienced this problem have posted this concern over at the xda-developers forum and based on the comments it looks like it is not an isolated incident.

Flippy125, member of the forum, said that “I was just wondering if anybody has been having this issue. After successfully locking onto satellites for GPS for navigation, if I turn off maps when I reach my destination, it requires a reboot until I can use GPS again, it only updates once every few minutes. Haven’t done much testing on it since I was on a highway going 80 when I noticed”

What happens is that the GPS works fine for 10 to 30 minutes or even longer then it will go to “Searching mode” with the GPS icon constantly blinking. Rebooting the device will solve the problem most of the time but there are times when it does not help. Some users are reporting that turning off “Access to my location” at Settings >Location Access then turning it back on after a minute may help but not all the time.

Some owners have resorted to returning their device to the store and exchanging it with another unit but the problem is still present.

Google seems to be aware of the issue and said that the problem exists in the Nexus 7 (2013) models. They went on to say that engineering will be issuing a patch soon to solve this issue. No specific date was given as to when this fix will be arriving however we do hope that it will come soon.

via xda-developers

Russian engineers working on a helmet mounted display for bikers

With the latest technological gadgets, travelling to any location with your car is pretty easy. You can look up on your mobile’s GPS or the inbuilt navigation system on your car to get directions to a particular place.

But what about people who love having long trips on their bikes?

Now you would say, they got their mobile phones for directions but we all know how hard it is to operate a smartphone while riding a bike. So, the only option for the biker is to take frequent breaks from his ride and look up on his mobile or a large map for directions and other stuff.

But now, a group of Russian engineers are looking to create a device which can potentially solve this problem. They are trying to create a helmet with an heads up display like the ones found on a F35 fighter jet helmet. Moreover the helmet would be voice controlled and hence will have inbuilt microphones and headphones.

Some of the features of the proposed device are as follows:

augmented reality for easy and user-friendly navigation
clearly visible collimated image i.e. it is always in focus, just like that in scope sights
full-color, translucent picture is projected right on the visor like in a F-35 fighter helmet, it’s safe, provides unobstructed view, doesn’t distract attention and eliminates the need for a separate display
supposed size of the system fits a motorcycle helmet – our helmet is going to be just a bit bigger than usual
two 3000 mAh batteries for a long operation time
microphone for voice control that keeps both hands free for driving
two earphones
light sensor for adjusting the image brightness according to external light conditions
G-sensor, gyroscope, digital compass for head movement tracking (the picture changes according to the view direction

The user interface is going to be simple and minimalistic so that the riders can easily control various functions with voice commands.

Unfortunately, as the interface is going to be simple, you can’t watch movies or play games using the device. But given that it is a helmet for riding a bike, you would be better off without such distractions.

The device is still in its initial developmental stages and the team promises more features as the funding reaches a given target.

You can visit their indiegogo page for more details.

Researchers found a way to cripple GPS, device manufacturers facing a big challenge

Researchers recently found that there is an easy and cheap way to cripple the infrastructure of Global Positioning System. They built a spoofing device worth $2500 to broadcast a malicious GPS message attacking both consumer- and professional-grade receivers. The results were shocking.

A 45-second crafted GPS message is said to cripple 30 percent of the global GPS Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) while other attacks could cause damages up to 20 percent of Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol (NTRIP) networks, according to the paper wrote by security researchers of Carnegie Mellon University and firm Coherent Navigation. (please see links at the end of the post for more details about the report)

It does sound like a big threat for the GPS infrastructure and great threat to the security of establishments that depend on the system but researchers assured the public that for now, they are the only ones that have knowledge on how to build a spoofing device. They, however, said that anyone who has a proper skillset and little cash to build the device can definitely pose a grave threat to the infrastructure.

All attacks are said to be targeted on the software layer of GPS receivers and once attackers are successful in their feat, they could cause substantial damage in the form of synchronization errors, system crashes, and even remote wipes of GPS devices. At least, these are the things researchers are positive about. There could be more but let’s just hope researchers like the ones who discovered the recent vulnerabilities could discover them first. Otherwise, the world would be at the mercy of the attackers.

There were six devices tested by researchers that were found vulnerable to the attacks, namely: Garmin, GlobalSat, Magellan, uBlox, Locosys and iFly. There is now a new challenge for these manufacturers to make their receivers better and harder to crack. Researchers suggested they put better data and OS-level defenses to identify untrusted code.

“One immediate best practice would be for GPS receiver manufacturers to build and deploy automated software update mechanisms. At present, users typically must go to the manufacturers home page, download the update, and then transfer it to the receiver. Other recommendations include receivers white-listing programs that can run, and implementing modern OS defenses such as ASLR and DEP.”

[source: research report in pdf]

Tips to Security and Privacy with Mobile Devices

Have you ever thought of security and privacy with mobile devices? Smartphones and tablet computers are now slowly erasing the desktop world. As a matter of fact, everyone with these mobile devices is doing their business tasks and personal stuffs just like a computer can do. But the growth of mobile devices means that they are more prone to vulnerabilities and security threats, they can also be lost easily from your hands because they are small in sizes.

One of the main concerns nowadays is privacy. There are a lot of apps available for your mobile devices that use GPS for geolocation to know your current location, just like a photo embedded with your location that will be uploaded in social networking sites. Anyone around the world will know where you are or where you live once you upload it on the internet. Usually, the apps will ask if you allow your location to be displayed the first time you open. You should not allow it if you are concerned for privacy.

Enabling the Passcode of your device and locking the screen will help you from other people to explore your contents. Different methods for every smartphones and tablets will vary in the procedures on how to enable passcode. For Android devices, connect-the-dots pattern is available while Apple devices possess slide to unlock and entering your Passcode. This is the primary security measure that everyone should activate when having a new device.

Backing up your data to your HOME computer will provide you security from your contents once you lose your mobile device. After making a back up, make sure to activate remote locate, lock and wipe so you can find your device in case you’ll lose it and can delete your personal contents remotely. Apple devices and Windows phone have this service by default and should be activated as soon as possible. Android and Blackberry have some apps that enable this service.

Avoiding WiFi hotspots is also a good step in protecting your mobile device from people who can harm by using the unsecured connection. You can use VPN (Virtual Private Network) to connect with internet but maintaining a secured status. Details of VPN connection from your company’s IT department is required to activate your VPN.

If you know more tips on how to be secured with your smartphones and tablets, please shared it with us by writing a comment below. Thank you and don’t forget to share to your friends.

Google Applies For Patent For Landmark Identification Via Photo

Google has had an idea that seems almost like a no brainer the way technology has been moving these days. In a new Google patent filing they are seeking to patent a system that allows you to take a photo of something with your smartphone. Once the photo is snapped Google’s servers will analyze it and tell you what the building is and the address of the building. It’s perfect for when you get lost.

The picture submitted with the patent also shows an example where you can upload a photo of a landmark, and Google will return flight information, hotel information and other pertinent information. It’s essentially like Google Goggles for GPS and landmarks.

Engadget suggests that this patent may also apply to the new Google glasses technology we expect to be shown off at Google IO later this year. That would make us think that Google may have real time, very quick scanning and matching. Essentially if it’s for Google glasses, you may never get lost again.

source: Engadget via Phonearena

MWC: Co-Pilot Free GPS Announced

ALK Technologies, the company behind CoPilot Live GPS navigation, has released a new free GPS app for Android, iPhone and iPad.

CoPilot offers routing and mapping navigation on your smartphone. The app also has millions of points of interest preprogrammed into the app so that you can see what’s near you or look up destinations by name. It’s also integrated with Bing search and Wikipedia.

One of the big plusses for the CoPilot app is that detailed street maps for an entire region or country can be stored on the device which makes the GPS functional in off-line mode.

Sure we all use Google Maps and Google Maps navigation but some people like premium GPS apps from dedicated GPS companies. CoPilot gives the user that, free.

Here’s a list of features, after the break

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Lights Dimming On Light Squared

Around this time last year, nobody seemed to be able to stop Light Squared. The Reston VA based satellite company was going to roll out a 4G/LTE network come hell or high water. Well it looks like both have swooped down on Lightsquared in the last two weeks.

LightSquared had signed a multi billion dollar deal with Sprint to help the nation’s third largest carrier roll out 4G/LTE. Luckily for Sprint that deal was contingent on LightSquared overcoming an obstacle with the FCC. The spectrum LightSquared intended to use for their 4G/LTE network is spectrum used for military and airline GPS.

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Top Halloween App Trick Or Trackr Updated In Time For Halloween 2011

Released last year in time for Halloween, Trick Or Trackr is an app that allows parents to keep track of their children during Halloween night, and of course any other time of the year. This year, the release of Trick Or Trackr 2.0 adds some of Iconosys’ top safety apps into Trick or Trackr.

Trick Or Trackr 2.0 features Iconosys’ Guards Up, Latchkey Kid and Tether Together apps. Trick or Trackr installs on both the parents and the childs phones allowing the parent to keep tabs on the child. Parents can locate their child on demand or at set intervals. Since Trick or Trackr 2.0 is a two way app, children can locate their parents and send a distress signal to them. If the child sends a distress alert to their parents the parent will receive an alert with the child’s exact GPS location.

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CTIA: Cadillac Unveils The Cadillac Cue Cockpit System!

Cadillac unveiled a fully integrated cockpit system that is far more than just infotainment. The Cadillac Cue (stands for Cadillac User Experience) system combines the sensor stack, dashboard and steering wheel controls into one fully customizable and integrated system.

Cadillac Cue handles audio, entertainment, navigation, safety, dashboard controls and meters, as well as HVAC for one dynamic and integrated cockpit system.

It features the first capacitive touchscreen experience with haptic feedback in the automotive world. Everything from the sensor stack is fully integrated and touch sensitive just as the 8 inch display is. The display also has a proximity sensor that allows less needed components to hide when the users hand is not near the display, when the user gets their hand 8 inches in front of the system it activates and becomes touch ready.

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