Z3 tablet GPS

[Dacket123]

Hello,

I plan to move from iPad mini to Sony Xperia Z3. I have the Xperia Z1 mobile phone for a while now and like it, so I would like to give it a try with the tablet as well.

Before I make my final decision I was wondering about the GPS functionallity of the Z3 compact tablet (not 4G). I can't find this information anywhere on the Sony web pages.

I would like to download maps and use the tablet as a map when I am out and about (this is one of the reasons why I would like to exchange it with the iPad mini).

Can anybody confirm that a Sony Z3 Tablet compact purchased from the Sony Ireland webpage comes with build in GPS chipset and will this chipset be used by all the aps? Also (more for a member of Sony) will it still work when updated to the next version of Android (version 5 Lollipop)?

Thank you for your help.

[Thommo]

All version are reported to have GPS but some work on different bands for data like mobile phones

[Rickard]

Z3 Tablet Compact has a builtin GPS which can be used by any app. The GPS doesn't need any internet connection but the map application you use must allow you to download maps for offline use if you want to user it without internet.

I'm afraid i don't have any details on what changes the update to Android 5.0 will bring but i can't imagine that we would remove support for the GPS. It's used by several features in our software.

[Dacket123]

Dear Rickard,

Thank you for the feedback. I hoped that the tablet has GPS.

I am aware that app must allow to download maps so it can be used off-line when I am out an about. In the worst case szenario I can use the Z1 mobile phone to get briefly access to the Internet to add additonal information.

So it might look that I will go ahead with the Z3 tablet (never thought that I move away from iPad and iPhone, is that called "progress"?).

Regards,

Eberhard

[Dacket123]

Dear Thommo,

Thank you for your feedback.

You mentioned "...but some work on different bands for data like mobile phones". I must admit I am not sure about this. I followed the link in your post (which was interesting) but it lists all options including phone network and SIM. The version I am interested will not have SIM, so I am afraid that GPS only works with the phone network chipset (as the iPad does).

But Rickard send some informaiton which says that the Z3 tablet has GPS chipset even without the phone network chipset. Which is brilliant, because that allows me to use it as a map when I am out and about.

Regards,

[Rickard]

What Thommo means is that the difference between the variants are what mobile networks they support. There are also 16/32GB variants but the GPS is the same in all of them.

The only difference you may notice regarding the GPS is that it may take a bit longer to get the first fix compared to your phone or the LTE variant. This is because that without an internet connection it can't use assisted start for the GPS and needs to rely on satellites only. Not that it takes long to get a fix though and once you do there's no difference.

[Dacket123]

Dear Rickard,

Thank you for the explaination.

While I am here - I will place the order for the Z3 tablet now from the Sony Store Ireland. But maybe you could answer me a question (I am sure it sounds stupid to you...):

The tablet has a microSD slot. So I will buy either 32 or 64 GB microSD card. But is it possible to use several cards (of course not at the same time)?

Lets say on one card are all the photos, on the other card music and the third card videos and I swap the card depending what I want to do or to look at. Will the device work and recognize several micro SD cards?

Thank you for your help.

Eber123

[Rickard]

Yes, it's possible to have several SD cards and switch between them. But if you have apps that use the external SD card (the apps themselves decides where to store their data) they may only work when you have the correct card inserted. Say for example that your map application stores its maps on the external SD and you then remove that you will not have any maps.

But if you want more storage you can also buy an 128GB microSD or you can connect a USB drive (or microSD reader) using an OTG-cable.

[SergioPL1]

I'd go for single, bigger SD card. Switching them all the time is asking for trouble. First, you will have to deal with opening and closing flap and make sure it is properly closed for waterproof feature, second you will need to track which app relied on which card.

[Dacket123]

Hello,

Thank you for the information. I might go for the 64 or 128 GB microSD card. Have to see how much they are.

Also I will look into the OTG-cable, I was reading that people connect USB hard disks to the mobile devices and was asking myself how this is done.

I tried some functions with my Sony Z1 and Sony Bravia 47W802A this afternoon. The screen mirroring is working in wireless and in NFC mode. But it stalls or stops ever so often (between 5 or 10 minutes). That can be a bit anoying. Is there a way to achieve screen mirroring using a cable?

Sorry that I add all these addtional questions.

Regards,