Aye, just some relevant URLs:
AlternativeTo Google Maps:
https://alternativeto.net/software/google-maps/?license=opensource
OSALT Maps:
https://osalt.com/search?q=Maps
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the weakness may hit earlier. todays chips bundle GPS and baseband. GPS in turn needs satelite data which can be retrieved much faster via broadband (takes up to 20min to get that from the satelites) so these chips may include some way to do that. this method may leak privacy data.
as far as i know purism uses such a bundled chip but doesnt use the contained GPS and adds a separate chip for GPS (is that correct?) the blob for the baseband/gps chip isnt known. so you wont know if location data is leaked from the contained GPS via the baseband. such an operation isnt even visible to the main CPU.
depending of the level of assistance for the GPS via baseband the location can be calculated on serverside without having a fix in the GPS (all received raw data is send to the server, calculation takes place there).
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The built-in GPS module on the SIMCOM modem on the devkit is not used, as mentioned here. I don’t know whether the Gemalto PLS8 also includes a GPS unit.
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According to the datasheet linked here (LTE frequency bands), it does. Since the specifications already include a separate satellite positioning chip, I don’t expect the modem to be wired to any antenna.
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Since the GPS unit in the SIMCOM modem was not connected to an antenna, I expect the same will be the case for the Gemalto modem.
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Since for me usage of Traffic Message Channel (TMC) was like a lottery (rarely useful throughout whole year), and in order to avoid Internet connection, let me kind of dream about and just as a thought here; ideal-wise would be if Librem 5 GNSS Module (led by Pure Maps) have an additional capability (figuratively saying) of using DAB(+) in Europe or HD Traffic (Nord America) signals of Real-time Traffic Information over USB-C extension so that there, when driving, is no need for using the Internet (at all). Such HW/SW upgrade might bring Librem 5 v2 (or Librem 6) to the markets where professionals (with relatively old cars and, of course, buses & trucks) use the roads. As constant power source and antenna are important for turn-by-turn navigation I would suggest (as an example here and/or for an eventual future expert consideration) accessory for USB-C similar to Garmin GTM 60™ HD Digital Traffic Receiver or GTM 70™ Digital Traffic Receiver (Europe) even though direct integration of digital radio and processing system-on-chip within Librem 5 v2 may be cheap and quality infotainment/entertainment solution as well. Here is an intro (important) to Transport Protocol Experts Group (TPEG) Traffic and Travel Data via the DAB family of standards and here is (just as info) comparison of (Garmin) Traffic Service Differences for North American Automotive Devices.
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The GPS part of it must get its data from the satellites. It’s based on timing and triangulation from the satellites themselves to give your location. That is also why the more satellites you can detect the more precise your location can be determined.
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The GPS concept is based on time and the known position of GPS specialized satellites. The satellites carry very stable atomic clocks that are synchronized with one another and with the ground clocks. Any drift from true time maintained on the ground is corrected daily. In the same manner, the satellite locations are known with great precision. GPS receivers have clocks as well, but they are less stable and less precise.
Blockquote
Each GPS satellite continuously transmits a radio signal containing the current time and data about its position. Since the speed of radio waves is constant and independent of the satellite speed, the time delay between when the satellite transmits a signal and the receiver receives it is proportional to the distance from the satellite to the receiver. A GPS receiver monitors multiple satellites and solves equations to determine the precise position of the receiver and its deviation from true time. At a minimum, four satellites must be in view of the receiver for it to compute four unknown quantities (three position coordinates and clock deviation from satellite time).
Location data can be determined by applications using you position to cell towers.
Usually that is refered to course granular location while GPS data is fine granular location.
Very long reply… Sorry.
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Interesting addition to the OSM sphere:
Some new open-sourced components by Qwant.
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In order to plan and have overview of some optional routes for car, pedestrian and bicycle Qwant Maps Beta provides most necessary, thanks. Link is here: https://www.qwant.com/maps/routes/. Usually I use such overview when traveling somewhere for the first time, before entering main and particularly sub-direction place (next stop) to my navigation device. With http://map.project-osrm.org/ you are not getting optional routes, as usual. Qwant Maps current online address book is just basic but for orientation still useful. It looks very promising even though my first choice will be Pure Maps.
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Apart of the discussion about GPS chips and map services, what is needed too, is a way to store map tiles in the phone of a region of interest, i.e. where I am and will be the next days, a region of say 20x20km, a town, etc. for situations without data mobile or very expensive data mobile. I do need this always when I‘m in Cuba.
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I would assume this already exists. Didn’t check, but OSM Scout Server listed in the MGLA seems to do exactly that! ?
Also the category of maps server.
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So, you assume and have not cheched it, but …
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Has anyone contacted the developers to see if they would be willing to port their software to the librem 5? If they are a smaller startup of whatnot it might be worth their while to put in the effort.
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Forgive me for not doing one more search while on the phone.
OSM Scout Server is a native offline maps provider. This server can be used as a drop-in replacement for online map services providing map tiles, search, and routing. As a result, together with the map client, a full offline solution is available for map search and navigation (car, bicycle, and walking).
The server can be used to provide:
map tiles for other applications;
search for locations and free text search;
search for POIs next to a reference;
calculate the route between two or more locations.
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You will be able to get offline maps and associated functionality by having Pure Maps and OSM Scout Server installed on the same device. In this case, the server handles map storage, for example. Planet is not split into 20x20km sections, but larger regions, with the list of regions at https://github.com/rinigus/osmscout-server/tree/master/scripts/import/hierarchy .
You can test all already on desktop Linux (assuming that you don’t own Sailfish OS device) by installing OSM Scout Server and Pure Maps from Flathub. On desktop, start the server first, configure it (mainly state where you want to keep maps and few other options in the wizard), get maps and then start Pure Maps. To access all in offline mode, select offline mode in Pure Maps and you will be accessing maps from the server. Testing is limited if you don’t have it on mobile (with GPS), unfortunately. We use it on Sailfish in practice.
Server users’ guide is at https://rinigus.github.io/osmscout-server/en/
If you find an issue which is not filed, do so at Github. You are welcome to join and participate in development as well.
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Thanks for your hints, rinigus. Do both run for doing tests also on FreeBSD or do I have to setup a Vbox with which OS?
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Good question! I don’t expect FreeBSD to support Flatpak, but I can be wrong.
For simplicity, I would suggest to setup virtual box with any of the linux’es supporting flatpak. For reference, see https://flatpak.org/setup/ , you could add PureOS to these as well.
Main issue with running it natively would be installation of all the dependencies. I would expect something around 10 libs that are needed on the top of the “standard” ones available in the distribution.
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Hello, it is already asked :
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How about Gnome Maps? The Librem 5 phone uses Gnome Apps.
Furthermore, on the issue of looking up street names etc. Open Street Map has a project called Nominatim. Nominatim does provide a lookup functionality for street names etc.
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Gnome Maps has the potential, interface-wise. My concern would be crashing, voice prompts, and so on. I had regular Gnome Maps crashes when running PureOS and Debian, unfortunately. I do admit, I never bothered to track them down.
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