GPS
GPS
The GPS hardware page.
This is a new page and it's in-progress, I should have it done by tomorrow
Software found elsewhere (location services - see SDK.)
Description
The Palm Pre has a built-in hardware GPS for location services.
Google shows some misleading information out there, because the initial tear-downs didn't spot a separate GPS chip it was earlier thought the Palm Pre didn't have a GPS and thus must rely on cell phone tower location. I found misleading detail on several reviews:
The Pre does use the assisted GPS capabilities of the Qualcomm baseband. That means the phone will not be able to get a location fix when it is not connected to the cellular network.
This isn't entirely accurate - the Palm Pre does indeed have integrated GPS hardware, and uses GPS if it's turned on (enabled.)
- If the GPS is on, GPS hardware will be used.
- If the GPS is turned off in Location Services, the Palm Pre will fallback on cell tower location.
Location of Chip
The GPS hardware is physically located on the Comm board as part of the OMAP3 chipset (PDF file),it's integrated into the NL55xx Bluetooth chip.
- this means the chip may be marked "NL5512" or similar (NL55xx) and will have the Texas Instruments logo.
- Rapid Repair shows the comm board in Step6 here. (photo.)
- Chip may possibly be Murata - researching this.
References
- Palm announced at CES the Pre uses the TI OMAP 3430 as an applications processor.
- Here is the Omap 3 bulletin from TI - PDF file.
- Here is the mainARM chipset detail from TI - PDF file.
- Ifixit tears down the Palm Pre.
- Here is Phonewreck's parts analysis. Maybe it really is Marvell?
TODO:
It's not clear why in some teardowns the MURATA brand chip is listed - I'm researching that and will update here.
Mojo
There are Mojo methods detailed in the SDK under Location Services (and so, no need to also detail them here.)