Although I didn’t agree with Apple charging for its major software update to the iPod touch — I went ahead and did it anyway. It included features and enhancements that I thought would be handy to have. The upgrade itself was super easy — iTunes pretty much handled it all.
One of the nice new features included Google Maps. But there was one part of how Google Maps functioned on the iPod touch that just mystified me. And I am calling upon all Gnomies for somebody to explain how it works.
Using local Wi-Fi access points, it is able to roughly approximate your location. Whoa. How is that possible? I know the basics of how GPS works (my BlackBerry 8310 has on-board GPS), I also know that the newer iPhone software allows for “faux-GPS” using cell phone tower triangulation. But how does the iPod touch determine approximate location using Wi-Fi access points? I’m guessing something involving IP addresses and ISPs. But how the heck would that even work (and work so quickly)? I know that law enforcement can track somebody’s computer by back-tracing their workstation’s (or router’s) public IP address through the ISP. But I imagine that being a far from instant process.
Somebody enlighten me, please!