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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

#421

Post by neop1x »

tuyiown wrote: post #348
bowmessage wrote: post #324

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, this seems like overly harsh feedback for stopping maintenance work on a project.

It's harsh, but not really about the maintenance being stopped, KennyBlanken paid for a pro version and the author changed commercial strategy and rebooted the project with a different approach, without granting a licence of the replacement to his existing customer. This is not respectful of paying customers.

Vendors stop giving system upgrades for their $1000 phones after 2 years and some people are complaining about their $2 one-time software license no longer working. What a sad world...

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#422

Post by floatingatoll »

RIMR wrote: post #414
floatingatoll wrote: post #253

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's probably a violation of the App Store Review Guidelines; you're not allowed to withdraw app functionality unrelated to notifications if a user denies notification access; Apple has various language in various places that hints at 'you can't arbitrarily take away features to compel users to opt-in' being a core intent. If you're an Apple developer, and you're willing to stake that claim with Apple, you can repo…

You're talking about the Amazon app. Technically, the fact that you can add your credit card to pay for things violates the TOS. You never see anyone put up a fight against a giant.

Incorrect; Apple allows apps associated with purchases and rentals of physical objects to add credit cards to pay for things.

In one digital goods example, Kindle books are not “sold”, even though Amazon uses the word “Buy” in the button; if Amazon truly sold you a Kindle book, then they would be required to provide it to you upon terminating your account, as it is your possession in their care, and withholding it upon request would be grounds for a lawsuit. Under such a scenario, Amazon could successfully argue that Kindle purchase should be given the same rights as physical purchases, as they are truly purchases and not just “licenses”. Amazon has chosen not to pursue that scenario to date, as granting each of us full ownership of a copy of a digital good would compel Amazon to act in ways that are hostile to Amazon’s interests.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#423

Post by dsl »

Xelbair wrote: post #349
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…

>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. As someone who's degree had a course in sattelite ran…

> As someone who's degree had a course in sattelite rangefinding

So you are well versed in multipath reflection and why it makes unassisted GPS in urban environments with tall buildings close together almost completely unusable?

> You don't need to get precision down to a lane on the road for purpose of navigation

If you want to build an early 2000s Garmin competitor, sure. But people don't buy $1,500 pocket computers every 18 months to keep doing the same thing.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#424

Post by Friedduck »

dsl wrote: post #423
Xelbair wrote: post #349

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>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. As someone who's degree had a course in sattelite ran…

> As someone who's degree had a course in sattelite rangefinding So you are well versed in multipath reflection and why it makes unassisted GPS in urban environments with tall buildings close together almost completely unusable? > You don't need to get precision down to a lane on the road for purpose of navigation If you want to build an early 2000s Garmin competitor, sure. But people don't buy $1,500 pocket computer…

Are you saying every tomtom, garmin, etc used Bluetooth and cell services for navigation all those years?

Not to be argumentative but dedicated GPS devices didn’t always have that option. Also I’m curious: it uses triangulation off cell towers to help. I don’t see how Bluetooth helps improve accuracy. Do they map WiFi spots accurately?

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#425

Post by Terretta »

gerash wrote: post #358
wildfire wrote: post #312

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not let the user decide what their personal privacy trade-off is? That is, fundamentally, what the original post is about.

Because it adds to the software complexity. several boolean toggles for deciding what to incorporate into the localization algorithm: one toggle for GPS, another for wifi, Bluetooth, cell tower, barometer, etc. and fusing these in all the various combination, testing them, etc. and after doing all that users will mess up their config and then complain that this app sucks not knowing someone on HN had this feature req…

Sorry, that argument doesn't hold water. The software has to work in the park with no wifi too.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#426

Post by cush »

fatboy wrote: post #157
cush wrote: post #125

If you have an iPhone and haven't been using Apple Maps, it's basically on par now with Google Maps for navigation. I hadn't tried Apple Maps for years because of how bad it used to be, and was pleasantly surprised to find the maps are incredibly accurate and turn by turn navigation is rock solid. I haven't touched Google Maps in months, and this post is reminding me that it's time to just uninstall it

Are you in the US? I've found it pretty ropey in Europe every time I try to ween myself off Google maps. Another benefit of Apple maps is that it gets preferential treatment from the os in that it appears on the lock screen when navigating (I really wish this api was open to third parties). This is nice for navigation on foot.

I am in the US, yes

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#427

Post by cush »

mint2 wrote: post #149
cush wrote: post #125

If you have an iPhone and haven't been using Apple Maps, it's basically on par now with Google Maps for navigation. I hadn't tried Apple Maps for years because of how bad it used to be, and was pleasantly surprised to find the maps are incredibly accurate and turn by turn navigation is rock solid. I haven't touched Google Maps in months, and this post is reminding me that it's time to just uninstall it

Apple Maps has better integration with my 2020 Subaru so I switched. It has some features that are more advanced than google, like the voice telling what to do next or advance rather than just immediately before. It’s still rather bad about explorative searching for businesses/restaurants and getting accurate hours, so sometimes I’ll find a place using google maps and then put it into Apple Maps.

So did I! My 2019 Subaru’s OS crashed so many times on Android auto was the reason I switched to iPhone at all.

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#428

Post by cush »

NovemberWhiskey wrote: post #142
cush wrote: post #125

If you have an iPhone and haven't been using Apple Maps, it's basically on par now with Google Maps for navigation. I hadn't tried Apple Maps for years because of how bad it used to be, and was pleasantly surprised to find the maps are incredibly accurate and turn by turn navigation is rock solid. I haven't touched Google Maps in months, and this post is reminding me that it's time to just uninstall it

It is amazing how long it takes to recover from a rough product roll-out, isn't it?

Truth

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#429

Post by cush »

howinteresting wrote: post #303
kiwijamo wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When did this change? Last time I had an iOS device it was definitely possible to use GPS without WiFi. If this is a recent regression that is disappointing.

Simply turning off the wifi icon doesn't turn off wifi.

How so?

Re: Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation

#430

Post by Seattle3503 »

aembleton wrote: post #392
Seattle3503 wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Pushing your customers to a comperror in this way is an unforced wrror.
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