Utterly useless Maps application on iPod Touch

[CrocodileD]

I like most things about my shiny new iPod Touch (apart from the issue I've raised in a different thread) but seriously... what is the point of the Maps application without GPS?

My research indicates that this application uses WiFi scanning in order to determine your current location. My understanding of the way this works is that the device "sees" a number of SSIDs and there's a database of known SSIDs in the world and their locations. Therefore, if it can "see" several uniquely named SSIDs it can deduce where you are.

Well now let's think about this for a moment...

This means that some organisation needs to arrange for every place in the world to be scanned for broadcast SSIDs and to correlate those access point names with the global position known at that time.

Does everyone broadcast their SSID? No.

Does everyone change their wireless access point's SSID from the default that was configured "out of the box"? No.

What if it can only "see" one SSID? And let's say it's called NETGEAR.

Now I wonder how many places in the world you could go to where you can only "see" one SSID called NETGEAR. Thousands probably.

I tried it in Hong Kong airport and whilst it placed me in that country, it certainly did not put me as being at the airport.

Please tell me I'm wrong but I can tell you this much... I live in the UK and it has no idea where I am when I'm at home. I'm currently in New Zealand in a major city and still it can't figure it out.

Perhaps I should move to Manhattan. I bet it works there!!!

[AndyT4097]

I believe that service is called Skyhook. They manage the wireless service that places you in the maps app. Hopefully the next gen touch will have a GPS chip. That would be great if you could use your iPod as a GPS device.

[AdrianW]

So I suppose a map book is utterly useless as well. Just because ONE feature of the map software doesn't work on the Touch doesn't make the whole application useless.

[CrocodileD]

...but you can't do anything with it if it doesn't know where you are.

[AndyT4097]

Most of the time, the locate me feature works well. I haven't had a major problem with it yet, you just need to be connected to wifi. If you get directions while at the hotspot, then leave, the direcions are still there in the app, with the maps at each step. So it's not completely useless, but GPS would deffinatly help.

[AdrianW]

...but you can't do anything with it if it doesn't know where you are.
You can search for places, you can get directions between two places, you can checkout the satellite view of places you've been on holidays. Sure, it would be nice if it knew exactly where you were - but there's plenty of uses without GPS functionality.

Have you checked out Google Earth? (on PC or iPhone/iPod touch) - lots of interesting stuff to look at, regardless of whether it knows where you are or not.

[ryanc2]

I think the fact you can't use Maps while away from Wifi makes it more useless. It would be nice to map out directions and then use "offline" would make it more valuable.

[AndyT4097]

I think the fact you can't use Maps while away from Wifi makes it more useless. It would be nice to map out directions and then use "offline" would make it more valuable.

That's how it works. While your on wifi, get directions to some local place that you have to go anyway, maybe the grocery store. Take your Touch with you, and tap the next button along the way to see each direction, and map. It will work, you just wont be able to pan around the map.

[DeCSS]

Hey you know the GPS on the iPhone isn't that great either. I sat their with my wife's iPhone for 30 minutes trying to find a damn resturaunt. Pulled out my BlackBerry and GPS'd it in 2 seconds with voice navigation (turn-by-turn), lol. Don't get me wrong, I like the iPhone, but the GPS/Maps feature is awful.

[bobb-mini]

Yeah, the location-by-WIFI is more of a novelty at this point.

However, am surprised to hear the iPhone's locator feature is that bad. Location-by-cell tower is shown to be pretty decent in urban areas. If u HAVE to have real GPS, then yeah, wait for G3 (maybe).

[nadnerb]

...but you can't do anything with it if it doesn't know where you are.

What a load of rubbish.
People have been using paper maps (which don't have GPS, duh!) for years and without them we'd still be stuck in a cave rubbing sticks together.
The "locate me" feature was just an add on in a later firmware, kinda like a bonus feature. It's not meant to replace GPS, it's just a cool feature which may or may not work.

As for your point about the NETGEAR SSID, the developers of Skyhook are not stupid!
It's based on the MAC address of the access point which is unique.

..and your next point about someone needing to scan the entire world, well no they don't need to.
They only survey parts of cities/towns and then the people using the system combined with the Skyhook software does the rest. In theory it should slowly spread and update itself as access points are added or moved around.

In fact Skyhook has changed a lot since it first started as it's now using GPS, WIFI and also cellphone towers to locate you, something they're calling XPS.

Anyway, I find it works great where I am (Bath, uk) and can get a position with an accuracy of about 5-10m within about 8 seconds.
Your area has probably not been scanned or maybe it's out of reach of the expanding cloud. Check the coverage here: http://www.skyhookwireless.com/howitworks/coverage.php
and if you really wanna see it in action then submit your location and access point MAC address here : http://www.skyhookwireless.com/howitworks/submit_ap.php


Utterly useless? No
Very interesting, developing technology? Yes