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View Full Version : Google maps now offers geolocation.



clevin
Jul 9, 2009, 07:48 PM
http://lifehacker.com/5311245/google-maps-location-finder-pinpoints-you-in-chrome-and-firefox

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/17/2009/07/504x_gmaps-location.jpg


belvdr
Jul 9, 2009, 07:52 PM
Well, it sort of worked.
r.j.s
Jul 9, 2009, 07:55 PM
It got the city ...
MisterMe
Jul 9, 2009, 09:13 PM
It got the city ...It didn't even get my planet.
clevin
Jul 9, 2009, 09:17 PM
It does not work with safari.
localoid
Jul 9, 2009, 11:06 PM
I get a "your location could not be determined" message, on Firefox 3.5 for OSX.
clevin
Jul 9, 2009, 11:15 PM
I get a "your location could not be determined" message, on Firefox 3.5 for OSX.

did you allowed it? firefox will display a notification bar and ask you if you want to share your location.
SFStateStudent
Jul 9, 2009, 11:18 PM
If it doesn't work on Safari, I don't need it.....
localoid
Jul 9, 2009, 11:37 PM
did you allowed it? firefox will display a notification bar and ask you if you want to share your location.

Yeah, I clicked the always allow... After about 3 or 4 tries it's now getting past the "location can't be determined" thing but I'm getting no blue dot on the map itself to indicate my location -- just a map that zooms out to a multi-state-wide view that's kind of in the general vicinity of where I'm actually located.

But then I do live in Podunk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podunk)... ;)
OutThere
Jul 9, 2009, 11:43 PM
This would be highly accurate if my backyard was the entire state of Connecticut. Unfortunately it's not, and it's not.
anjinha
Jul 10, 2009, 12:33 AM
Not very specific is it?

http://idisk.me.com/stfontes/Public/Pictures/Picture_1-20090710-053235.jpg
upinflames900
Jul 10, 2009, 12:36 AM
With the low to no accuracy on finding the location, what is the point of this feature other than being cool? Like can't you just as easy type your home address in when looking for directions? Someone correct me if I am missing something (and I am really not trying to be rude).
OutThere
Jul 10, 2009, 01:06 AM
With the low to no accuracy on finding the location, what is the point of this feature other than being cool? Like can't you just as easy type your home address in when looking for directions? Someone correct me if I am missing something (and I am really not trying to be rude).

Useless as far as I'm concerned.
upinflames900
Jul 10, 2009, 01:18 AM
Useless as far as I'm concerned.

Yea i kind of figured that would be the case...does anyone know how they try to pinpoint your location?
MisterMe
Jul 10, 2009, 09:50 AM
With the low to no accuracy on finding the location, what is the point of this feature other than being cool? Like can't you just as easy type your home address in when looking for directions? Someone correct me if I am missing something (and I am really not trying to be rude).Cool? Before it can be cool, it must first be useful. As I posted above, it can't locate the correct planet on my system. (It shows a map of the Western Hemisphere, but no blue dot anywhere to be seen.) But what if it did work? I'm sitting at my computer at home. I know where my home is. If I didn't, then I would have a bigger problem than the blue dot was designed to solve.

This would be a useful feature in Safari on my iPhone 3GS. However, it is not supported in Safari. The Google Maps app on the iPhone 3GS already has it, so that the feature in iPhone Safari would be redundant. This is the answer to a question that nobody asked.

Let us hope that Google has not jumped the shark.
upinflames900
Jul 11, 2009, 12:04 AM
Cool? Before it can be cool, it must first be useful. As I posted above, it can't locate the correct planet on my system. (It shows a map of the Western Hemisphere, but no blue dot anywhere to be seen.) But what if it did work? I'm sitting at my computer at home. I know where my home is. If I didn't, then I would have a bigger problem than the blue dot was designed to solve.

This would be a useful feature in Safari on my iPhone 3GS. However, it is not supported in Safari. The Google Maps app on the iPhone 3GS already has it, so that the feature in iPhone Safari would be redundant. This is the answer to a question that nobody asked.

Let us hope that Google has not jumped the shark.

Sorry didn't mean to slight you on that...I was just asking if there was a purpose to the feature. I would have to agree with you in that you should know where your house is so you really don't need google to find that for you. Plus if the feature doesn't work as you say you are having problems then I guess really a waste of effort by google.
MisterMe
Jul 11, 2009, 02:12 AM
Sorry didn't mean to slight you on that...I was just asking if there was a purpose to the feature. ...No need to apologize. However, I think that it has been fairly well established that the very concept is flawed. The feature might serve a purpose on a laptop with a GPS receiver attached. On a desktop computer, it is difficult to even conceive of a useful purpose for the feature.