Are you serious? It was *just* announced today! And it's Beta! And we already have one report on this forum of it breaking on a Sprint phone! I can't stop exclamating!!!
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Mobile Google Maps to Offer GPS-Like Positioning
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Are you serious? It was *just* announced today! And it's Beta! And we already have one report on this forum of it breaking on a Sprint phone! I can't stop exclamating!!!
So, living in a police state doesn't concern you at all? You trust the government to never track people for purely political reasons? Have you read 1984? The government in that novel was not solely interested in tracking down robbery suspects.
I love the thought of navigation using my cell-phone, but it genuinely worries me that we're walking into a situation where the government can track all people all of the time.
I doubt this new technology changes anything, but in a few years we'll all have GPS enabled cell-phones and so can be tracked to within a meter continuously throughout the day.
I use Navizon on my iPhone from time to time... Also paid for it, because I really think it is cool!
But, in about 3 out of 10 tries Navizon comes up with an error because it can't find *something*.. and that can be pretty annoying.
But, I did manage to find the nearest sushi bar in Berlin a few weeks ago when I was walking along the Kurfürstendamm.... and felt a bit pekkish.
BTW.. Berlin is cool.
But, in about 3 out of 10 tries Navizon comes up with an error because it can't find *something*.. and that can be pretty annoying.
But, I did manage to find the nearest sushi bar in Berlin a few weeks ago when I was walking along the Kurfürstendamm.... and felt a bit pekkish.
BTW.. Berlin is cool.
I don't think it's designed to help you get directions. I think its more useful in finding a place to eat, or maybe a local hospital, what have you.
And, really, Apple needs to push this out to us like yesterday. No reason why the individual widgets on the iPhone can't self upgrade OTA like we can on installer.app.
And, really, Apple needs to push this out to us like yesterday. No reason why the individual widgets on the iPhone can't self upgrade OTA like we can on installer.app.
Relax. They can do already.
You read and believe too many stories of frightening governments.
Bright side:
About a year ago some idiotic kids threw large flagstones off a bridge onto a highway where are lady was passing underneath in her car at around 80 mph, and that flagstone crashed through her front window, killing her.
Luckily these #$#%%^Y^$ kids were caught thanks to the fact that one of their cellphones was switched on at the time and scene of the crime.
Tnx to CCTV many crimes are solved and others prevented.
Just because your whereabouts can be pinpointed doesn't mean every government will use that information for political reasons.
Pardon me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression that Navizon was not free and this Google solution appears to be - is that correct?
You don't know what you are talking about.
Navizon uses wifi, and users have to register their access points.
Okay, I fail to see how the capability to locate my cell phone to within 10 city blocks, my name and telephone number has anything to do with Totalitarian Oceania. The goverment already knows my name and number, and if I leave my phone on the nightstand Big Brother will think I'm at home in bed. Big whoop.
Now, implanting GPS, for example, is a different story.
-Clive
actually, navizon uses cells AND wifi. And users don't register their access points, users with GPS collect wifi aps and cell towers by war driving and get paid for it.
Doesn't work with older Nokia series 60
Damn.. apparently this doesn't work with the older (2nd generation) Nokia series 60 smartphones (ie: my phone). But it does work with the newer 3rd generation ones. That totally sucks. At least the google maps app is updated...
Damn.. apparently this doesn't work with the older (2nd generation) Nokia series 60 smartphones (ie: my phone).
But it does work with the newer 3rd generation ones. That totally sucks. At least the google maps app is updated...
I say "bring it."
The ability to self-locate can really come in handy when in uncharted waters.
As has been stated - not meant so much for step by step directons as it is to get one's barings.
The ability to self-locate can really come in handy when in uncharted waters.
As has been stated - not meant so much for step by step directons as it is to get one's barings.
It's good enough that they can get the right map on the screen. Then all you need to do is read a street sign and match it to the map.
Apple could have installed a GPS receiver in each phone. But that would add at least $80 to the cost of each phone and it only works outdoors. the the GPS antenna is about an inch square and would have to go "some place". Tower triangulation works any place there is cell phone service and oof course does not need a second antenna.
One more thing. I doubt Google had to deal with actually triangulating the towers. This is almost certainly a core feature of the phone firmware that is made available to all applications. We will know if I am right when the SDK is out early 2008. But I can't see any other way
Yes Apple would have to work with the cell companies to get the location data but at least in the US all cell phones are required to be able to know their locatrion so it can be transmitted durring 911 calls. Like I said "location" (but not displying it) is a core funtion of the phone. Google is just using this.
After the SDK is out you or I could use the location feature too. Maybe write some kind of game that is played over a city sized area that can somehow use the camera too?
It appears that the technology is in practice usually more accurate than 10 city blocks- more like 1 block.
That's good enough to determine whether you're attending a political rally for instance.
And the technology will only get better.
Don't assume I'm being a tinfoil-hat here. Remember, the American government is already known for illegal wiretapping and monitoring of the internet. They're also currently trying to subpoena Amazon to give up purchase lists. It's not a great stretch to imagine that the same government will misuse cell-phone location data- and even if the US government doesn't- some other government will.
I'd like to know what privacy the users of this service can expect- if any. I think it's an important question.
Yes I thought it was rather suspicious this new version of google maps mobile I tried located me exactly at my house and there is no way cell locate is that accurate. But thats exactly the spot where I tried the old version with a GPS. So it would appear to me the old version logged the cell id at my house without my consent.
Aha, a technical demonstration!
At least they admit that they can find out your Name and Phone number. It'll probably make some paranoid people think twice about using it...
-Clive
The video that you are quoting says exactly the opposite.
I work near Tottenham Court Road (it's my tube stop of choice). Chicken Tikka Masala is quite nice, but get a Chicken Jalfrezi instead, eh? King Prawn Jalfrezi ... mmmm. Now I want a curry
The video explains why the function is useful, to all you who are moaning that it isn't exacting. If you are in a city, you can find a damn street sign, and thus find yourself on the presented map quickly. It's like an automatic "this is the area I am in" function, so you get where you are, rather than the entire map of the UK, or whatever.
The classic example is when you see an accident on the road and call 911.
The operator asks you where you are. "I'm standing on the road next to my car"
I'm sure is the most frequent reply.
The FCC has a web site that explains this.
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/wireless911srvc.html
Once we called 911 by accidient from the phone on the wired phone. It was a
2 second call that got hung up. the police were there in five minutes asking
what was up. The FCC has required that in time cell phones will allow this
to hapen too. Phone companies are working on their equipmet to allows
this.
My rather unexciting phone has done this since I got it earlier this year. No GPS, not even Edge needed. All that's needed for this is a provider that provides this feature, working within their own map system. Orange in the UK has this (and has since I've used their service). Is this new in the US, then?
Or am I missing something here?
Or am I missing something here?
Acuracy is irrelevant. If I leave my cell phone at home, or even just turn it off, my location can't be pinpointed using it. As long as it isn't teathered to my body at all times, I'm not worried about it.
Enough of us know better than to trust the government, but as far as today goes, as long as you're not being a screw-off, you'll stay off the RADAR. And as long as our government is playing tug-of-war with this ridiculous two-party system, I don't see that changing. There is no middle ground, so there is no compromise, so there is not progress. We are in a political stalemate and the government has to resolve its own issues before it works on enslaving us.
Probably about the same privacy as without mobile Google Maps... If the government can already pinpoint your cell phone's position with this pseudo GPS, what does it matter whether you can too?
-Clive
I have this on my Blackberry Curve now....and it's smooth as can be. Pinpointed my location almost to the T!! I live in Dallas and tested this throughout the day all around the city....never failed....within 1 block each time.
Good stuff!
Good stuff!
yeah, isn't 10 city blocks about a mile?
NOTE: I've seen the subsequent posts explaining it could be used to pull up an "area" map and you could then orient yourself to the map. I'd still prefer GPS, but i do see the value in this now.
Well, hopefully it'll work better then the GPS in my N95, which still refuses to pick recognise the the satellite signal after a month owning it.