Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

391–400 of 447 posts

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#391

Post by gbil »

dsl wrote: post #184
dessant wrote: post #86

Refusing service when the user does not consent to non-essential data sharing is illegal in the EU, and it also breaches Google Play's developer agreement. WiFi scanning is not essential to navigate with an app, and the least they could do to follow the law is to gracefully degrade the service if the user does not consent to share data about nearby devices, such as disabling traffic predictions. Of course Google's la…

> non-essential data sharing But it is essential. Google (and Apple) maps provide lane specific navigation directions, which are really only possible with assisted GPS. In theory GPS has the accuracy, but remember you are in a big metal box filled with electrical wires. Not to mention other applications like isle specific navigation within stores, which is made possible by bluetooth beacons. Heck, we are on the verge…

>But it is essential. Google (and Apple) maps provide lane specific navigation directions, which are really only possible with assisted GPS.

I'm trying very hard to not be sarcastic, but the past 10+ years it was not essential and served me great every time

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#392

Post by aembleton »

Seattle3503 wrote: post #146
recursive wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand this at all. If they're both in the same app, then aren't you using them both every time you're using it? What does it mean to navigate without using a map?

My partner and I will be driving and my partner will point to a funny looking building and say, "Whats that?". To answer the question I need to quit navigation to view the map. You can't "browse" the map while in navigation.

You could just use another application such as Windy Maps to answer that.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#395

Post by lr1970 »

dsl wrote: post #184
dessant wrote: post #86

Refusing service when the user does not consent to non-essential data sharing is illegal in the EU, and it also breaches Google Play's developer agreement. WiFi scanning is not essential to navigate with an app, and the least they could do to follow the law is to gracefully degrade the service if the user does not consent to share data about nearby devices, such as disabling traffic predictions. Of course Google's la…

> non-essential data sharing But it is essential. Google (and Apple) maps provide lane specific navigation directions, which are really only possible with assisted GPS. In theory GPS has the accuracy, but remember you are in a big metal box filled with electrical wires. Not to mention other applications like isle specific navigation within stores, which is made possible by bluetooth beacons. Heck, we are on the verge…

> But it is essential. Google (and Apple) maps provide lane specific navigation directions, which are really only possible with assisted GPS. In theory GPS has the accuracy, but remember you are in a big metal box filled with electrical wires. Not to mention other applications like isle specific navigation within stores, which is made possible by bluetooth beacons.

Tell me exactly how this bluetooth beacons and WiFi APs will help you to determine the lanes? I did several research projects in this area and RF mapping by indoor beacons for navigating outdoors at vehicular speeds is very hard and unreliable. You don't want to get wrong bearing just because an WiFi AP has been moved to another spot. Nice in theory, BS in practice.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#396

Post by Youden »

seqastian wrote: post #160
Youden wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google Maps doesn't make money using wifi data. It makes money the way it always does: through ads [0,1]. [0]: https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/7040605?hl=en [1]: https://ads.google.com/hotels/

They can sell ads better if they know where you are. Wifi data is making that every easy and battery saving to track.

They already know where you are to a sufficiently high degree of precision with GPS. The battery matters to you, not to Google. Wifi ads next to nothing for Google.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#397

Post by tentacleuno »

folmar wrote: post #238
dsl wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> non-essential data sharing But it is essential. Google (and Apple) maps provide lane specific navigation directions, which are really only possible with assisted GPS. In theory GPS has the accuracy, but remember you are in a big metal box filled with electrical wires. Not to mention other applications like isle specific navigation within stores, which is made possible by bluetooth beacons. Heck, we are on the verge…

My 10 year old navigation device (WindowsCE-based) has no wifi nor celluar and lane specific navigation works fine. Also having lane specific navigation is not essential.

Could you share more information about your device? What is it?

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#398

Post by yencabulator »

ikt wrote: post #268
jonas21 wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So Amazon gives you 3 options, two of which result in a charity of your choice getting money in exchange for a minor inconvenience to you, and the third of which is to not participate in the charity program. And this makes them the bad guy?

Why not just donate the money directly to charity and not have Amazon notifications?

With Amazon Smile's charity thing, the money donated is not from my pocket. I am pretty happy with the idea of being able to give some of Amazon's money to EFF.

Simply don't use the Amazon App, and there are no notifications.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#399

Post by patentatt »

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…

Somewhat of an aside, I'm pretty sure at least one of the items was on amazon at that price in error. The manufacturer/retailer charged a large shipping cost (40lbs) when ordered through their website while on amazon the shipping was free. The item still shipped from the seller (not Amazon and not prime), so I saw it as likely either an oversight or an error because what I paid could hardly cover the shipping costs of such an item.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#400

Post by seba_dos1 »

dsl wrote: post #184
dessant wrote: post #86

Refusing service when the user does not consent to non-essential data sharing is illegal in the EU, and it also breaches Google Play's developer agreement. WiFi scanning is not essential to navigate with an app, and the least they could do to follow the law is to gracefully degrade the service if the user does not consent to share data about nearby devices, such as disabling traffic predictions. Of course Google's la…

> non-essential data sharing But it is essential. Google (and Apple) maps provide lane specific navigation directions, which are really only possible with assisted GPS. In theory GPS has the accuracy, but remember you are in a big metal box filled with electrical wires. Not to mention other applications like isle specific navigation within stores, which is made possible by bluetooth beacons. Heck, we are on the verge…

WiFi triangulation is absolutely useless when determining which lane are you on. Your whole comment has been derived from false assumptions.
Post reply on HN