Need clarifications concerning GPS access via the HTML5 API, or an external sensor

Question

Hi,

I have an maps app in store and many user complain that it doesn't grab their GPS position, even tho their tablets have a GPS integrated.

To grab the user's position, I used the HTML5 Geolocation API (navigator.geolocation). Is this one only catching network geolocation and not sensors ? Should i use the Geolocation API from WinJS instead to get better results, including results from embedded GPS sensors? This is the API I am not using at the moment: Windows.Devices.Geolocation

http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsapps/Geolocation-2483de66

Also, some users have external Bluetooth GPS that communicate via the COM port (say COM 4). Can I access the informations from these sensors ? I read online that it would also be seen as a USB devices and that thanks to the Windows 8.1 new USB APIs, I would be able to grab the data from this device. Is that possible, and is there any ressource about this techniques?

Thanks a lot for your help,

Fabien

Answer 1

You want to use the Windows.Devices.Geolocation not the HTML 5 version:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/windows.devices.geolocation.aspx

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Jeff Sanders (MSFT)

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Answer 2

Hello and thanks for your answer, that's what i thought.

Do you have any indication on the external Bluetooth devices? Are they also used when using the Geolocation API or it is something different?

Thanks,

Fabien

Answer 3

You also want to specify a "DesiredAccuracy" of "High" in order to get GPS data.  If you use the default DesiredAccuracy, it will resolve the location using the WiFi/IP-based location provider.

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