1. How does Send My Location for webOS get location information?

Send My Location for webOS makes use of the Location-Based Services(LBS) APIs that are part of the Palm®webOS^TM platform.

2. Why does it seem the accuracy of the Location data varies?

The location services provide the best available location information depending on the circumstances (location, network availability etc) of the end device. The most accurate location information is available when the device can receive a good GPS signal. Generally a good GPS signal requires a clear view of the sky. Buildings can impede the reception of a good GPS signal. When a GPS signal is not available, the location services make use of other location methods such as the location of cellular towers or well know WiFi locations. The LBS APIs report an estimated location accuracy based on the technique used to provide the location. Send My Location for webOS Version 0.9.5 now reports that accuracy on the screen as well as email messages. The accuracy is displayed in either yards (default) or meters. Users can select their prefered units in the preferences screen.

3. Why is the time displayed in the results much older than the current time?

If current location information is not available, the location services will provide cached location information from a previous time the device could obtain location data. The user is advised to look at the "Data Time Stamp" field of the location results. If the Data Time Stamp field indicates a time several minutes older than the current time, that is a good indication the location data is cached. In Version 0.9.6, the app checks the time stamp of the location data. If it is more than 3 minutes older than the current time, a warning is displayed. Send My Location for webOS then changes the type of request to the LBS for subsequent requests to increase the requested accuracy of the location data. This increases the probability of getting current data, however the side effect is that it takes longer to get the results.

4. How do I send my location?

Use of the Send My Location for webOS application is simple. Tap the "Get Location Data" button to determine your location. Once the location data has been populated in the display list, the messaging and compose email icons are enabled.

Tapping the "Compose Email" icon on the bottom right of the screen launches the Palm®webOS^TM Email application. A new email is opened and the location information written in the body of the email. A link to Google Maps is also included in the email (note : Google Maps does not support all browsers, some recipient of your email may not be able to open the link ). You can send the email like a normal email from your device, add who you wish to send it to, as well as add additional text or attachments as you wish. Send My Location for webOS opens the email using your default email account, however you can change the "From" account while in the compose view of the email.

Tapping the "Messaging" icon on the bottom left of the screen launches the Palm®webOS^TM Messaging application. A new text message with your location information is composed. As the approximate address information can vary in length, the message may go out as 2 text messages (labeled 1 of 2, and 2 of 2) .

Location information can be refreshed by tapping the "Update Location Data".

5. What are the available options under Preferences ?

Send My Location for webOS Version 0.9.5 adds the option for users to select several preferences. These include the option to include or not include the Latitude and Longitude in text messages. Another preference setting is the option to include or not include the URL or web link to plot your location using Google Maps in text messages. These options allow you to shorted the length of text messages as well as not include information that recipients may not need or use. The final setting under preferences allows you to choose the units in which to display estimated location accuracy. The options are yards or meters. Version 0.9.6 adds the option to include or not include the location address in the text message.

6. Can I see my location on a map?

Once the location data has been populated in the display list, you can tap the "Google Maps" button at the bottom of the screen to launch Google Maps to get a visual display of your location.

7. The recipient of my text message or email cannot open the link contained in the body of the message, is the link broken?

Google Maps can be opened by the web browser included in the Palm®webOS^TM platform as well as most major web browsers for computers. Many mobile browsers can not open Google Maps.

8. How can the recipient of my text message or email get directions to my location?

If their computer or mobile device browser can support Google Maps, recipients of your text message or email can simply click on the hyperlink included in the message. The link opens up Google Maps with your location plotted. Users can then use Google Maps to get directions to your location. If they do not have a way of opening Google Maps, the address contained in the text or email can be used in most portable and car GPS navigation systems.

9. The recipient of my email cannot click the hyperlink.

The email generated by Send My Location for webOS includes a hyperlink that opens Google Maps to display your location. The hyperlink appears as a clickable link in most email clients, to include the email client included in the Palm®webOS^TM platform. There are some email clients to include Microsoft Outlook 2003, that do not display the hyperlink as a clickable link. In those cases, the user would have to copy the hyperlink into a web browser.

10. Why does the application fail to display my location or my address ?

There are two conditions that will cause the application to fail to display your location or address :
1. Poor GPS signal / failure to return good data from the LBS API. If your handset does not received a good GPS signal (indoors, shielded by other structures etc), the LBS will make use of your data connection to query various databases to provide your location information based on known cell tower or WiFi information. If the LBS query does not return a valid value from this query, location information from a previous valid query (cached data) may be returned. There are occasions where for a a variety of reasons (no data available in the databases for a specific location, poor or interrupted data connection at the time of a query..) where invalid data is returned (null). If this occurs, the application will trap the error and display an error message. Try to look up your location again or move to improve your GPS signal if possible. Additionally check your cellular data or WiFi connection to ensure you have a good data connection (see below).
2. Poor data connection. The address look up depends on a good data connection. The latitude and longitude received from the LBS API query are used as arguments to look up your address via your data connection. It is possible if you have no data connection, but have a good GPS signal, for the application to display your Lat/Long, but not be able to look up your address. The address look up data call is sensitive to poor data connections. If the address look up call fails due to a poor data connection, it is possible for it to hang and not respond to subsequent valid calls even when the data connection is restored. In cases where the address look up continues to fail even after the data connection is restored, it may be necessary to power off and on your phone to clear the error. The application does trap these errors and display warning messages.

11. What changes were made in Version 0.9.5 ?

Several changes were made in Version 0.9.5. These include :
- Improved error checking to prevent the application from hanging when valid results are not returned by the LBS APIs or address look up request.
- The accuracy value returned by the LBS API is displayed and included in email messages.
- User preferences are included. These preferences provide options to include or not include items in the text messages. Additionally users can select their preferences for the units that the location accuracy is displayed in.

12. What changes were made in Version 0.9.6 ?

Changes include :
- Optimizing display for the Pixie.
- Accuracy value moved to the List Title.
- Option to include the address or not in text message added to User preferences. This allows for text messages <160 charaters.

13. Should Send My Location for webOS be used in emergencies?

Given the practical limitations on location accuracy, this software is not intended for emergency or life-saving purposes.