iPod Touch 4G photos has GPS data?!

**Tsarli** · 01-12-2011, 09:26 AM

The iPod Touch 4G doesn't have a built-in GPS right? So imagine my surprise when I uploaded a photo to panoramio and it was automatically mapped. Upon checking the photo in question (and others taken with the iPT 4G) I was amazed to find GPS coordinates in the EXIF data.

Via WiFi you say? Not a chance, I wasn't connected to a WiFi hotspot when I took the photos (I checked). In some cases there wasn't even any WiFi signal at all.

Any guesses on where the GPS data is "magically" coming from? Would this work with other GPS apps as well?

**Sponsor** · 01-12-2011 09:26 AM

**Mad Mac** · 01-12-2011, 05:29 PM

Those pics don't look like they were shot in antartica. If you want gps do the ff:

iPod Touch 4:

- Jailbreak
- Install BTstack GPS

Nokia phone with gps:

-install ExtGPS

Disable bluetooth on iPod Touch. Run GPS app now on your iPod. Run ExtGPS on the Nokia. When the phone gets gps lock, your iPod Touch now has gps.

**shonen_red** · 01-12-2011, 08:43 PM

I'm surprised myself that it has one. When I checked some of my photos using the "photo" app, I tapped on the "places" and surprised to see pins where we took our pictures - Newport mall, along Aguinaldo highway, MOA, Makati. Take note I didn't use or did not have wifi for the first two locations I mentioned.

**Tsarli** · 01-13-2011, 05:17 AM

Thanks for the tip MadMac. Unfortunately I don't have a Nokia phone with GPS (not yet anyway

). Too bad it doesn't work with Android. That I do have.

Correct me if I'm wrong but are you suggesting that the iPT somehow manages to geotag via WiFi even if it isn't directly connected or logged-in to a network? And it'll continue to geotag as long as it can detect (but not necessarily connect) to a WiFi network? Wow, ayos a!

Daig pa pala niya GPS-enabled Android ko kung ganun, na minsan naghahagilap pa ng GPS signal lalo na kung medyo maulap. They should have trumpeted this as a main feature: "Geotag without GPS"!

**Mad Mac** · 01-13-2011, 07:19 AM

Most likely it uses location services using isp data during last hookup with the internet. Or the data are simply "go to" results of programmers for the iOS which is also shared with the iPhone. Rest assured the iPT4 does not have a gps receiver. The unit has been torn apart by bloggers an no chip was found.

The cheapest gps Nokia are used units from tipidpc. The E51 is the cheapest. You can have it share gps AND 3G over wifi. Most E and N series have gps. For new models, it has to be the Nokia E52. You can also use dedicated Bluetooth gps receivers. That's what the Nokia is emulating.

At the moment you have to be on iOS 4.1 Jailbreak to make this work.

**dakilang_waiter** · 01-13-2011, 12:04 PM

Does the iPod Touch 4g have the Maps app?

**itgbkj** · 01-13-2011, 12:38 PM

Thanks mad mac on the info. been looking for a fone with 3G that can act as a hotspot server. I will check out Nokia E51

**epifaniod** · 01-13-2011, 12:55 PM

The previous iPhone models used assisted GPS right? That means pinpointing your "general" location using cellphone transmission signals (triangulated using nearest cellphone tower locations). Maybe that was the case here?

**Tsarli** · 01-13-2011, 02:28 PM

@dakilang_waiter
The iPt 4G has Maps.

@epifaniod
There is something definitely assisting the iPod Touch in getting GPS coordinates, but it can't be GSM/3G transmission signals. It's an iPod Touch remember?

It could be that hidden FM radio chip receiving signals of some kind he he. I ask other iPT 4G users to take snapshots while in a WiFi-free environment, or at least some place where you're not logged in on an active network. See if those photos in the Places section of your Photo Album are geotagged correctly. Mine seem to be.

**Mad Mac** · 01-13-2011, 02:44 PM

The tagged photos in my Places pins are pictures I took were I last used wifi. My guess is it uses isp data. The iPod probably uses last known info. This is strongly supported by a set of pictures I took in a condo where gps signals are impossible to get.

I had some shots in Batangas, none of them showed up on the map.

I did test shots today where no wifi was available. First few shots weren't tagged. They did not appear in Places. I drove off to another location and photos weren't tagged. After that I turned on my Nokia and paired the iPod. This time each shot was tagged accurately on the map.