Do offline apps not work in flight mode?

jsmith99 · 25-04-2016, 10:16

I've downloaded a very good maps app called 'Here'. Like Google, you can download maps for offline use, but unlike Google you can download entire countries and store them on your phone's memory card (should it have one).

The app worked well in Rome last week, when we were temporarily lost a few times. Your position's shown by a green circle with a pointer, and the pointer shows the direction the phone's pointing.

I had been hoping to use it during take off and landing, to see where we were in relation to the ground, but the circle stayed black, meaning no GPS.

Was this because I'd set the phone to flight mode? The symbol for 'location' was still showing as 'on'. Data was always 'off' since leaving the UK, so would it have worked if i'd simply turned wi-fi and the phone off?

BKM · 25-04-2016, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsmith99

Was this because I'd set the phone to flight mode? The symbol for 'location' was still showing as 'on'. Data was always 'off' since leaving the UK, so would it have worked if i'd simply turned wi-fi and the phone off?

"Flight mode" always seems to mean "no phone, no data, no Wifi, no Bluetooth and no GPS" - why GPS is included (when it is a receive-only technology) has puzzled me!

tdenson · 25-04-2016, 14:23

Works on an iPhone

jsmith99 · 25-04-2016, 14:37

Thanks for the replies. I've just thought of putting it in airplane mode and trying Here. And it worked, so the location setting was still on. I wonder whether sitting in an aisle seat rather than by a window could make a difference.

tdenson · 25-04-2016, 14:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsmith99

Thanks for the replies. I've just thought of putting it in airplane mode and trying Here. And it worked, so the location setting was still on. I wonder whether sitting in an aisle seat rather than by a window could make a difference.

Sorry, I was rather assuming that you were aware that the signal can be poor inside a plane, I assumed you would be by a window. Given the weakness of a GPS signal it's amazing it works at all, indeed I remember with early GPS it didn't.

Yossi · 25-04-2016, 19:12

Airplane mode is quite annoying.

For example, as you descibe, GPS is disconnected in airplane mode. GPS is incoming data only so it makes no sense it turn it off.

But then there are the apps that notify that you don't have data every single time you open the app. I'm listening to a freaking audiobook, what do I care if I don't have an active data connection?

Funny enough, if you turn on wifi while on airplane mode, those apps stop bugging you about not having a data connection. Makes no sense whatsoewver.

jsmith99 · 26-04-2016, 10:13

I hadn't realised an aisle seat could make a huge difference, but it makes sense. Maybe the small size of the windows could make a difference - sorry, I'm not that technically minded, so that may be a ridiculous thought.

The app works well in buses, which is useful when you're on a strange bus route, and the bus doesn't have an indicator showing stop names.

Roush · 27-04-2016, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by BKM

"Flight mode" always seems to mean "no phone, no data, no Wifi, no Bluetooth and no GPS" - why GPS is included (when it is a receive-only technology) has puzzled me!

With iOS this changed about a year ago with 8.3

Prior to 8.3 GPS was turned off when in airplane mode. Since 8.3 it remains on.

25-04-2016, 10:16	#1
jsmith99 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 19,936	Do offline apps not work in flight mode? I've downloaded a very good maps app called 'Here'. Like Google, you can download maps for offline use, but unlike Google you can download entire countries and store them on your phone's memory card (should it have one). The app worked well in Rome last week, when we were temporarily lost a few times. Your position's shown by a green circle with a pointer, and the pointer shows the direction the phone's pointing. I had been hoping to use it during take off and landing, to see where we were in relation to the ground, but the circle stayed black, meaning no GPS. Was this because I'd set the phone to flight mode? The symbol for 'location' was still showing as 'on'. Data was always 'off' since leaving the UK, so would it have worked if i'd simply turned wi-fi and the phone off?

25-04-2016, 10:34	#2
BKM Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6,288	Quote: Originally Posted by jsmith99 Was this because I'd set the phone to flight mode? The symbol for 'location' was still showing as 'on'. Data was always 'off' since leaving the UK, so would it have worked if i'd simply turned wi-fi and the phone off? "Flight mode" always seems to mean "no phone, no data, no Wifi, no Bluetooth and no GPS" - why GPS is included (when it is a receive-only technology) has puzzled me!

25-04-2016, 14:23	#3
tdenson Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,214	Works on an iPhone

25-04-2016, 14:37	#4
jsmith99 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 19,936	Thanks for the replies. I've just thought of putting it in airplane mode and trying Here. And it worked, so the location setting was still on. I wonder whether sitting in an aisle seat rather than by a window could make a difference.

25-04-2016, 14:54	#5
tdenson Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,214	Quote: Originally Posted by jsmith99 Thanks for the replies. I've just thought of putting it in airplane mode and trying Here. And it worked, so the location setting was still on. I wonder whether sitting in an aisle seat rather than by a window could make a difference. Sorry, I was rather assuming that you were aware that the signal can be poor inside a plane, I assumed you would be by a window. Given the weakness of a GPS signal it's amazing it works at all, indeed I remember with early GPS it didn't.

25-04-2016, 19:12	#6
Yossi Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 164	Airplane mode is quite annoying. For example, as you descibe, GPS is disconnected in airplane mode. GPS is incoming data only so it makes no sense it turn it off. But then there are the apps that notify that you don't have data every single time you open the app. I'm listening to a freaking audiobook, what do I care if I don't have an active data connection? Funny enough, if you turn on wifi while on airplane mode, those apps stop bugging you about not having a data connection. Makes no sense whatsoewver.

26-04-2016, 10:13	#7
jsmith99 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 19,936	I hadn't realised an aisle seat could make a huge difference, but it makes sense. Maybe the small size of the windows could make a difference - sorry, I'm not that technically minded, so that may be a ridiculous thought. The app works well in buses, which is useful when you're on a strange bus route, and the bus doesn't have an indicator showing stop names.

27-04-2016, 12:59	#8
Roush Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 2,938	Quote: Originally Posted by BKM "Flight mode" always seems to mean "no phone, no data, no Wifi, no Bluetooth and no GPS" - why GPS is included (when it is a receive-only technology) has puzzled me! With iOS this changed about a year ago with 8.3 Prior to 8.3 GPS was turned off when in airplane mode. Since 8.3 it remains on.

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Do offline apps not work in flight mode?