Satellite Eyes – Change your Mac desktop to a map of where you are

Re:Satellite Eyes – Change your Mac desktop to a map of wher... by scraplab on Tuesday December 09, 2014 @03:53PM (#8725647)

It uses Apple's CoreLocation framework. The data was, I believe, initially bought from Skyhook, and then augmented by iOS devices reporting SSIDs from a known GPS fix.

It's abstracted away behind the API, but I think the framework uses trilateration of SSIDs with signal strength. The fix is often very precise - even shifting slightly between the front and back of my house.

It doesn't use any IP geolocation - it's just not precise enough.

http://www.skyhookwireless.com

Disclaimer: I wrote the app! Nice to see it here.

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Re:Satellite Eyes – Change your Mac desktop to a map of wher... by spott on Tuesday December 09, 2014 @04:13PM (#8725792)

You sure it doesn't use IP geolocation to narrow down the SSIDs it should search for? I'm thinking of an R-Tree like structure based on IP to get your search for SSID coordinates most of the way there.

On the other hand, maybe simple database searches for SSIDs are fast enough?

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Re:Satellite Eyes – Change your Mac desktop to a map of wher... by dsl on Tuesday December 09, 2014 @04:56PM (#8726090)

It is a common misconception that the SSID is used in these types of databases. What it is actually looking for is the MAC address of the wireless access point.

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Re:Satellite Eyes – Change your Mac desktop to a map of wher... by scraplab on Tuesday December 09, 2014 @05:03PM (#8726139)

You're right - I mean BSSID, which is the same as the MAC address.

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