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Europe's Own SatNav Galileo Goes Live

posted by FatPhil on Saturday December 17 2016, @01:19AM   
from the god-didn't-buy-any-of-these dept.

On IRC, Bytram brings us:

After 17 years, numerous setbacks and three times over budget, Europe's Galileo satnav system went live on Thursday promising to outperform rivals and guarantee regional self-reliance.

Initial services, free to users worldwide, are available only on smartphones and navigation units fitted with Galileo-compatible microchips.

Some devices may need only a software update to start using the service, according to the European Commission, which funds the 10 billion euro ($11 billion) project.

Source: http://phys.org/news/2016-12-galileo-europe-satnav.html

There's a list of Galileo-enabled devices at www.useGalileo.eu. One thought that goes through this editor's mind is that wIth two sources of data, the deliberate inaccuracy in the US military system seems somewhat futile now, I wonder if that misfeature is reaching end-of-life?

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Original Submission

• Re:Look up to the skies and see Re:Look up to the skies and see (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 17 2016, @02:08AM

  by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 17 2016, @02:08AM (#442328)

  Oh my god! 2 devices allows the use of the plural "smartphones"!

  Well, it's technically correct, and pedantically correct, and in a binary world of "is or is not Galileo compatible" you've only got two choices and this list has two devices. I'm not sure the list can ever be improved beyond its current state.

  Parent

• Re:Look up to the skies and see Re:Look up to the skies and see (Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday December 17 2016, @02:15AM

  by takyon (881) <{takyon} {at} {soylentnews.org}> on Saturday December 17 2016, @02:15AM (#442330) Journal

  I'm not sure the list can ever be improved beyond its current state.

  You don't think newer phones like the Galaxy S8 or iPhone 10 will support Galileo?

  --
  [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]

  Parent

  • Re:Look up to the skies and see (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 17 2016, @09:43AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 17 2016, @09:43AM (#442400)

    Whoosh?

    Parent

• Re:Look up to the skies and see Re:Look up to the skies and see (Score: 1) by Demena on Saturday December 17 2016, @04:39AM

  by Demena (5637) on Saturday December 17 2016, @04:39AM (#442361)

  If you are not sure, then you did not check the chipset radio button.
  This lists the chipsets that can access it. Chipsets used in many current phones.
  Since only software needs writing, I think it will be safe to assume that some already existent phones will be added to the list.

  Parent

  • Re:Look up to the skies and see Re:Look up to the skies and see (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 17 2016, @09:45AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 17 2016, @09:45AM (#442401)

    You realize GP was mocking GGP's post, right? Perhaps your next phone should use a more advanced sarcasm detection chipset.

    Parent

    • Re:Look up to the skies and see (Score: 1) by Demena on Tuesday December 20 2016, @04:34AM

      by Demena (5637) on Tuesday December 20 2016, @04:34AM (#443545)

      Look up to the skies and see that as an AC you are entitled to be sneered at when you criticise a named user on a personal issue rather than a technical one. Dismissed

      Parent