how does my Touch know my location ?

[zippo2008]

Here's something I can't figure out.

How does the iPod Touch know where you are ?

Sure it uses WiFi, but just how does it know ?

Does it use your IP address and guess ?.... I don't think so..... it's just too
accurate !

so how is this accomplished ?

:D

[jhollington]

It actually uses the SSIDs and hardware addresses of any WiFi access points it finds within range, and then looks up this information in an online database. Essentially, a company known as Skyhook Wireless has driven around North America cataloguing the locations of various WiFi access points and where they're reachable from, and then put this all into a database that can be used for triangulation.

You'll find that it doesn't work so well in more rural areas where a concentration of WiFi access points isn't available for reference.

The iPhone adds cellular location as well to assist with the process, and can therefore determine somewhat general location even when there's no WiFi available, but cellular positioning is far less accurate, as cellular towers have a much longer range.

See http://www.skyhookwireless.com/ for more information.

[zippo2008]

Thanks very much for that info ! - very interesting !

I'm really impressed. So this really only works for the city,, if you were further out ( in rural area ) and don't have high speed access, I guess the Touch would not tell you where you are. So you must have a high speed connection, with WiFi and then it may pick up your location I'm guessing.

I can see the next version of the Touch coming in a year or 2 , will have a GPS included in the unit. Seeing how small these units are these days, I would not be surprised to see this built in.

[jhollington]

Well, firstly you have to have a connection to the Internet in general, since the actual database of access points is online -- it's not stored on the device itself.

You don't necessarily need a "high-speed" connection -- the iPhone can access this information over a cellular connection -- even GPRS is fine, since not that much data is transmitted. For the iPod touch, you would need a WiFi connection, and chances are if you have a WiFi connection, then you'll be able to get an approximate location (assuming the WiFi access point you're connected to is in the database itself).

Rumours and speculation abound of having a GPS built-in, but then again keep in mind that Apple is not the sort of company to throw in a whole lot of frivolous features in their devices, and they're somewhat obsessed with keeping them small -- a GPS would add to the size and complexity of the device. I'm not saying that they might not eventually do this, but at this point an integrated "true" GPS chip is more of a niche feature, and for things like turn-by-turn driving directions, there are many standalone devices that do a far better job than any integrated PDA/phone solution I've ever used (and I've used most of them :) ).

[bobb-mini]

See http://www.skyhookwireless.com/ for more information.
Holly crap, that's alright. I question whether they actually have a superfleet of cars going all over the place and instead rely on users to "fine-tune" their database, a-la Wiki. Well, it didn't recognize my home router and gave me the best guess, which is my service provider's HQ 7 miles away. Mhhhh....

[jhollington]

As I understand it, they originally covered major metropolitan areas themselves to build up an initial database for major centres. They are now accepting submissions from end-users, but I don't really know if they're still doing anything themselves to increase their database or whether they're relying exclusively on third-party submissions...

[rockmyplimsoul]

Skyhook is accepting user inputs:

http://www.skyhookwireless.com/howitworks/submit_ap.php

If you know your access point's MAC address, you first map its physical location and then enter the MAC address. This submits the information to Skyhook's database for others to use "within a few weeks" (it's been 2 weeks since I submitted my home network info and it's still not there).

This is not of much use for home networks (you better know where you live!) and you can't submit information for public Wi-Fi spots unless you happen to know the MAC address of the access point (not likely). For public spots, it would be up to the "network administrator" to enter this information.

[bobb-mini]

and you can't submit information for public Wi-Fi spots unless you happen to know the MAC address of the access point
Just did it, it only asked for my address.

I AM in a metro area, not exactly Mahattan, but will be going 'round my neighbouhood the next few days to see..... good post.

[Stay Alive 305]

My iPod touch locates me in the wrong place. When I put in my address it puts that same odd place. There is something wrong with the addresses of my neighborhood when it comes to Google Maps.

[rockmyplimsoul]

Just did it, it only asked for my address.Your street address is only used to determine the longitude/latitude of your location. If you look below that you'll see that you're also prompted for the MAC address of your access point. Without that, the submission is pointless.

[rockmyplimsoul]

My iPod touch locates me in the wrong place. When I put in my address it puts that same odd place. There is something wrong with the addresses of my neighborhood when it comes to Google Maps.If you're using the submission page and your address gives you an incorrect location, you can drag and drop the "pin" to more accurate location before submitting your MAC address.

[bobb-mini]

If you look below that you'll see that you're also prompted for the MAC address of your access point. Without that, the submission is pointless.
Not trying to question u, but that also means when the hardware is replaced... data point becomes useless.

[DerekVOF]

I believe that is the case. I saw someone on one of the boards say their locate me was showing a location they had lived in a few years before -- only consistent was their router went with them...

[rockmyplimsoul]

Well, nuthin's perfect ... data's only as good as the maintenance given to it. I wonder if their database accepts multiple submissions for one MAC address, and takes the most recent submission?

[n1philli]

What do you mean how's it know where you are???:confused: I want to see how smart my Touch is:D Where do I find this info?

[zippo2008]

press "maps"... Then the little circle button down on the bottom left

[n1philli]

Ah, ok thanks. I haven't bought the update yet. Waiting till June. Thinking maybe I can save $20.:D

[emjoi]

If you install the jailbreak app called Stumbler, it will show you the MAC address, and a numerical signal strength too. Helps you get closer to a wifi point.

[jhollington]

This feature is in the Google Maps application on the iPod touch. You need to be running the v1.1.3 software update and have installed the $20 add-on apps package (Mail, Maps, Notes, Weather, Stocks) that was released at that time.

To use it, just go in to Google Maps and click the small circle button at the bottom-left corner of the screen.