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Comment by cwt137 | Hacker News Reader

I hate articles that talk negatively about GPS when they really mean navigation software. GPS allows you to determine where you are. Navigation software tells you where to go.

Two examples: GPS does not spy on you and tracks your every movement. But the navigation software might. GPS doesn’t tell you to go down the wrong road. But the navigation software might. Etc.

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GPS is a colloquial synonym for navigation, as in "I'd like to rent a car with GPS".

When GPS is trash talked, nobody understands that to be the satellite system.

And you can trash talk that all you want; it is immune to bad PR because it has no competition.

There are multiple competitors to GPS, though many receivers will receive signals from all of them.

GPS is the American system, operated by the US Space Force. There are also GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, and NavIC, operated by Russia, China, the EU, Japan, and India, respectively. Though QZSS and NavIC only have regional coverage.

Yes, but GPS is a colloquial synonym for GNSS systems such as these :)

Gp never said it wasn’t used colloquially, he was just stating gps does have competition. Read more carefully :)

My brother-in-law works in the construction business and has a CDL and speaks quite harshly of the quality of tractor trailer drivers in the Binghamton area, particularly on the Rt I-81 corridor. He says a semi gets wedged in the Tompkins Street Bridge about once a month despite prominent warning signs.

If it happens once, it's the fault of the driver. If it happens once a month, it's the fault of the engineers.

Seen that way they should tear down the bridge and build one with high clearance.

A quick search shows truck specific navigation apps for Android Google play. Quite a few actually.

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