iPod touch Location Service

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alvdy

27 posts

Geek

#38812 4-Aug-2009 16:39

Hey everyone,
I was in town in CHCH today, and I had a Google Map loaded into cache on the Maps app on my iPod Touch, i was just watching the blue location dot and saw that it was moving to the correct location every so often, even though I was not connected to any WiFi.

Does anyone know how it does this?
Cheers
Allan

clicknz

445 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#242666 4-Aug-2009 20:47

Hi - I believe the GPS side of the iPod Touch & iPhone do not require data at all - it's a stand alone locator, if you have a map loaded.... but the map will need data if it needs to redraw....

Cheers,
Mike

Photographer/Videographer clickmedia.nz

Mighty Ape

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DrCheese

381 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#242692 4-Aug-2009 22:09

According to the tech specs on apple.com, the iPod Touch doesn't have GPS. So it's a mystery to me how your Touch was finding your location in the absence of a WiFi connection. I notice that my iPhone sometimes remembers where I was last located where I had a WiFi connection, so maybe your Touch is remembering your last connected location. That doesn't explain why the blue pulsating light moves, though.

alvdy

27 posts

Geek

#242695 4-Aug-2009 22:11

Thanks for the replies,
Tell you what, it's pretty scary watching the light move to where I am as the bus drives. And I never connected to WiFi anywhere along the path, I guess it will remain a mystery!
Cheers
Allan!

codyc1515

1598 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#242701 4-Aug-2009 22:18

I am a geo-location web developer for the iPhone & iPod touch. The way I understand it the iPhone/iPod touch location services are all run through a company called Skyhook Wireless, they map out the location of Wi-Fi access points, even if you are not connected to them, they send out a signal which can be translated to a location.

How it works

alvdy

27 posts

Geek

#242722 4-Aug-2009 22:38

Just one more question then, if the device is not connected to anything, does it have a database on it of the Skyhook locations? Or do routers send out geo location, which is unlikely!

codyc1515

1598 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#242725 4-Aug-2009 22:40

It must have been cached from when you were on the internet previosuly.

CJPhoto

73 posts

Master Geek

#242846 5-Aug-2009 09:14

codyc1515: I am a geo-location web developer for the iPhone & iPod touch. The way I understand it the iPhone/iPod touch location services are all run through a company called Skyhook Wireless, they map out the location of Wi-Fi access points, even if you are not connected to them, they send out a signal which can be translated to a location.

How it works

Has this been enabled in NZ? If so, you geo locates the wifi spots.

I would have thought location would be very accurate in the auckland CBD if this was the case because of the amount of wifi.

DrCheese

381 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#242894 5-Aug-2009 10:46

According to the Skyhook website, it is operational in NZ. I've not tested it out though as it's not clear if it is available in Dunedin.

CJPhoto

73 posts

Master Geek

#242901 5-Aug-2009 11:07

Is there a way to geolocate a wifi with them (ie how do they get their info).

If I could do my own wifi, my phone would actually know where I am when I am at home - currently it has me in the middle of the auckland harbour half the time.

Edit: Found it. there web site isn't very easy to follow: http://www.skyhookwireless.com/howitworks/submit_ap.php

DrCheese

381 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#242902 5-Aug-2009 11:09

I was under the impression that it worked automatically. Skyhooks has a database of WiFi networks. It's not as accurate as GPS. If you give GPS enough time to work it eventually will find where your phone is located, although it will work much more quickly outside where it can find the satellite signals.

CJPhoto

73 posts

Master Geek

#242903 5-Aug-2009 11:10

DrCheese: According to the Skyhook website, it is operational in NZ. I've not tested it out though as it's not clear if it is available in Dunedin.

This suggests it is: http://www.skyhookwireless.com/developers/blog/2009/03/

garvani

1874 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#242918 5-Aug-2009 11:29

Just using google maps on your pc you can geolocate, however it dosnt work to well here in NZ, it seems to think that im in auckland, whereas im actually a good 700km south from there..