The
newly updated mobile version of Google Maps can now find your location on a
map—more or less—even if your phone isn't equipped with GPS. Pretty cool,
but the new feature doesn't work on every phone.
TechCrunch reports that the new My Location can put a blue "you are here"
dot on a Google Maps page—all you have to do is press the "0" key to get the
dot. On phones with built-in GPS, the dot should come pretty close to
pinpointing your exact location, while on non-GPS handsets, you'll get a
reading that's within about 1,000 meters—a pretty big range, mind you, but
better than nothing. |
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So, how does Google Maps find you without GPS?
Simple—it uses nearby cell towers to triangulate your position, a method that
isn't nearly as accurate as GPS, although it works indoors as well as outdoors
(standard GPS works best when you're outside, with a clear view of the sky).
Here's the rub, though: the new My Location feature won't just work on any
phone. According to Google, you'll need one of the following:
That rules out a lot of phones, including Samsung and LG handsets. Also, I can
tell you that My Location doesn't work (yet) on Palm OS phones or the iPhone;
any iPhone update will have to come from Apple, and Google hasn't released an
updated Maps application for Palm yet.
Overall, it's a pretty cool feature, although it certainly raises some privacy
concerns (is Google, like, tracking our every move)? Google reps say they're not
collecting any personal info from My Location, and you can always turn the
feature off. Guess we'll have to take their word for it.