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Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#361

Post by vinay427 »

walterbell wrote: post #353
vinay427 wrote: post #342

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And iOS needs an outbound firewall This can already easily be added through third-party apps. Would a system-wide firewall be a worthwhile improvement? I suppose it would help to have it enabled by default for users who wouldn’t install a tracker firewall app afterwards.

Is there an iOS 3rd-party app which can provide on-device outbound firewalling across all apps?

Yes, AdGuard seems to do so and IIRC also has customizable block lists. The default includes Safari-only blocking but it is able to add a device-wide filter using Apple's API for VPNs. It seems to identify the various trackers used by the social media apps on my device, for instance.

App store link: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1047223162

GitHub link: https://github.com/AdguardTeam/AdguardForiOS

System-wide blocking: https://adguard.com/en/blog/how-to-configure-system-wide-blo...

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#362

Post by dragonelite »

citizenpaul wrote: post #192
jdiez17 wrote: post #81

While I'm not sure if this change to Google Maps has been or will be widely rolled out, you may want to look into what GrapheneOS is working on with their Google Play compatibility layer [1]. It basically lets people use Google's services inside Android's standard app sandbox. That means they don't get access to privileged system APIs and can only access what the user chooses. It can also be used without a Google acc…

I wondered how long before google will have a reason for grapheneOS to suddenly stop being supoorted on the pixel. Now i know it will be soon and i get to tell everyone i told you so

They are creating custom silicon and a new operating system, wouldn't be surprised that will be the cutoff moment.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#363

Post by awiesenhofer »

FourthProtocol wrote: post #144
uneekname wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does anyone have a favorite that has worked well for them?

Not in the list, Here maps (with ancient roots in Nokia Maps) is excellent.

Seconded, especially the HERE WeGo app just for route navigation is excellent and imho better than gmaps most of the time.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#364

Post by amarant »

I don't really get what the objection is here, if you're using maps with GPS, Google has your location, adding precision to that helps you more than it helps them, they don't need sub-metre precision to know what store you were in, but your navigation prompts to switch lanes in a more timely manner becomes possible/more accurate with this, especially in cities where buildings mess with satellite signals.

This seems like hating Google because it's Google, not because this particular action merits any hate at all

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#365

Post by thegrasshopper2 »

I just tried to disable every "augmented navigation" and use GPS only.

Everything works, it's just a bit more annoying because it takes more time to get the location. If I press the "current location" button before that I'm prompted to activate augmented location, if I wait a bit google maps successfully finds my position on the map.

Trying to navigate brings the annoying pop-up again (every time I close/open the screen, actually), but clicking OK and then reverting manually keeps the navigation open.

I live in Europe, so that might be a reason for the difference, anyway I can suggest OpenStreetMaps as a good alternative (superior to gmaps at times too).

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#366

Post by blitzar »

Diesel555 wrote: post #269
patentatt wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And yet sometimes I'm basically forced into using them. Twice in recent months an item bought from a retailer is 20-40% cheaper if I buy it from that same retailer but through their amazon account. It infuriates me. I'm trying to avoid amazon as much as possible, but if you charge 20-40% more for the same item when ordered direct from you vs your amazon storefront, I'll give amazon my business every time. I wish reta…

Clearly that seller is getting some benefit for selling the product through Amazon, probably close to 20-40% of the value of their product if they didn't. They aren't just using Amazon because it's fun. It provides them some value. > I'm trying to avoid amazon as much as possible, but if you charge 20-40% more for the same item when ordered direct from you vs your amazon storefront, I'll give amazon my business every…

> Clearly that seller is getting some benefit for selling the product through Amazon, probably close to 20-40% of the value of their product if they didn't.

Or the small pool of people who refuse to use amazon are willing to pay 40% extra out of principle, and the seller is happy to exploit this behaviour while it lasts.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#367

Post by em-bee »

propogandist wrote: post #301
em-bee wrote: post #296

Earlier quoted context omitted.

big yes to this. whenever an app asks for a permission i want these options: allow deny pretend allow but send empty responses (like no wifi found) pretend allow but send fake responses

this was supported with Xprivacy many years ago and it was fantastic, but it stopped getting support. The entire pro-privacy android scene seems to have become a very small niche over the years

interesting. f-droid has an app called xprivacylua which seems to be a successor to xprivacy. last updated less than a year ago. the problem is that it requires rooting the phone which not many people will want to do, and the xposed framework comes with a big warning that it could prevent android from booting.

what we need is to have this integrated into the core OS so that it can safely be used by anyone.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#368

Post by thegrasshopper2 »

mhardcastle wrote: post #252
busymom0 wrote: post #245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amazon has also become a dumpster for poor quality products and high prices now a days here in Canada. Few months ago, I bought some bedsheets which claimed to be Egyptian cotton but upon delivery, that wasn't true. I have had this experience with other products too now on Amazon. Their customer service and returns are still very good but the product quality and online marketing is filled with lies.

In my experience they've always required me to go to a UPS store or retail location (Kohl's, Whole Foods, etc.) to process a return, even when it's a counterfeit product. Returns I've elected are a great process; being forced to run errands for a $trillion+ company because they've deceived you about the bedsheets they are selling is something else entirely.

There's a point to be made about how it's not possible for Amazon to check every single listing (made by other companies) for authenticity, nor they can use user feedback as a way to check/block those companies as many people use a different return reason than the real one (eg. "I don't like it" becomes "it's counterfeit").

It's unfortunate but you'll have to learn how to navigate the new amazon, and possibly use the mentality that everything CAN be counterfeit on this platform.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#369

Post by [deleted] »

voakbasda wrote: post #83
dzhiurgis wrote: post #67

I don't like this being forced on you, but who the hell cares about wifi/bt SSID sniffing? What's so bad about collecting it? You are literally broadcasting it yourself and on most devices you can't even turn broadcasting off anymore.

My access points are inaccessible to the public. You would have to trespass deep into my property. No one has any business knowing anything about my network or devices here.

[deleted]

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#370

Post by moritonal »

yojo wrote: post #189
moritonal wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't believe I'm on this side of the debate, but at what point are we asking too much for free? Google provide Maps for free to an incredible accuracy and value. Unlike Apple, the user is welcome to use any other app, and yet chooses to use Google Maps. You could maybe argue that Google Maps is part of a package you bought the phone for, but realistically I think the solution is Google are just open about the use of…

Google is a large monopoly that subsidizes “free” products to burn a thousand mile clearing around their money engine. If Google maps was not free, there would be more of a market for competing mapping products. A mapping product has a natural intersection with advertisements - a non-negligible number of mapped trips are commercial in nature, and can thus catch consumers right before the moment of purchase. This migh…

I do btw, fully agree. If Google Search was forced to exist as an independent company it would radically affect (I believe for the better) the finance model of the rest of their products and help the market as a whole.
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