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March 18, 2008 12:00 AM PDT

iPhone OS 1.2 includes location-logging feature

by Ben Wilson
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The forthcoming iPhone OS 1.2 release, already in the hands of select beta testers and the recipients of a leaked copy, includes a new location logging feature that tracks and stores the device's physical location based on cell tower and WiFi longitude/latitude data; this makes it possibl to see not only where you are, but also where you've been. The following is a sample location log:

  • LOCATION,Time,227256578.75,Type,GMM,Pos,1, 33.117950,-96.775681,Accuracy,1810,Confidence,,ActualLocation,0,MCC,310,MNC,410,LAC,0xcb29,CI,0x29ba,ARFCN,,BSIC,,RSSI,-78,TA,, 227256578.754-virtual void CellLocationRequester::requestCompleted(): queried for 7 cells but received only 1 responses
  • LOCATION,Time,227256582.90,Type,CL-Skyhook,Pos,1, 33.098492,-96.781595,Accuracy, 191.86,
  • LOCATION,Time,227256582.90,Type,CL,Pos,1, 33.117950,-96.775681,Accuracy,1810.00,

The feature creates some intriguing feature possibilities but is also raising privacy concerns.

Previous iPhone OS 1.2 coverage:

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by aldebaran6640 March 18, 2008 12:37 PM PDT
Well, it's not like they haven't known what cell towers you've always connected to, in the past, regardless of whether you've used an iPhone or not. It seems that anything with the name "iPhone" attached to it, is somehow "sensationalized" just so people will look at the article.

I've got an iPhone and it's great. All this "hullaballoo" about -- "iPhone this and iPhone that"... is a bunch of hooey -- when these article writers are just trying to sensationalize things for the sake of pulling in readers.

Why haven't people been complaining (or raising the issue) of phone companies knowing where you are by the cell towers you connect to -- before..., before the iPhone was around? Why? Well, simply because no one cared.... LOL...
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by Hophy March 18, 2008 1:28 PM PDT
Cool - but now Apple can track the guy from the log!

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%2B33.098492,-96.781595
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by timblount March 19, 2008 7:56 PM PDT
aldebaran6640: I think you missed the point. Location logging means your phone keeps track of your location. Not the telcos. And since your iPhone can use skyhook wifi to help, the location is that much more precise. Open up this data to apps and the possibilities are endless. I for one am definitely looking forward to geotagged photos and an iPhone lojack.

What you do with your location once it's recorded is your own business (hopefully users concerned with privacy can turn this off). Whether at&t is doing the big brother thing is another discussion altogether.
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