google maps - use wifi or gps

[deel]

does google maps use gps? i tried doing the My Location feature with wifi on and gps off and it worked. when i tried it with gps on and wifi off, it said current location unavailable. so does that mean google maps only uses wifi, or is there just an issue right now with gps?


thanks

 

[bitxboi]

does google maps use gps? i tried doing the My Location feature with wifi on and gps off and it worked. when i tried it with gps on and wifi off, it said current location unavailable. so does that mean google maps only uses wifi, or is there just an issue right now with gps?


thanks

not at all, it means Google Maps needs data (wifi or 3G) to work properly. With a data source and GPS on, your location at the map is going to be much more accurate.

edit: not 3G exactly to be technically correct, GPRS,EDGE or HSPA.

 

[Rusty]

As I understand it, it uses wifi, cell locating and GPS to determine you position.

I find even with GPS turned off, it's very accurate.

However, as mentioned above it uses remote stored maps, so unless you have some form of data turned on, it'll never be able to work.

 

[finisterre]

How does locating a phone via wifi work?

 

[hunta]

How does locating a phone via wifi work?

Big Brother is watching! It's crazy, but here it is:

Skyhook Wireless - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[finisterre]

Thanks. It works too!

I went to the Skyhook site on my PC and it located me very accurately here in London.

I wonder why Google don't use it for the full web version of Buzz.