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All I've been able to find is how to specify the sensor parameter:

http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/v3/#SpecifyingSensor

But nowhere does it say how to actually USE it. Isn't the whole point to be able to get the user's current lat/long coordinates through the device GPS, or am I mistaken?

Mike
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renegadeofunk
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1 Answers1

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That sensor parameter is only there to indicate to Google that you are using a GPS sensor to determine the user's location.

Unless using the W3C Geolocation API in browsers that support it, it remains your responsibility to get the latitude and longitude from your GPS device to the user's browser.

Daniel Vassallo
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    Aah, I must have thought there was a magical conduit that allowed GMaps to get the GPS info from the iPhone. Thanks for the enlightenment. – renegadeofunk Jan 04 '10 at 04:55
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    I don't get why google is so insistent on this parameter being passed via the webservice. What interest or use is it to them? – skaffman May 28 '10 at 14:45
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    @skaffman: I've also been wondering the same thing. They might use it to collect information on how the free maps api is being used. That is, if they trust that everyone sets it appropriately. – Daniel Vassallo May 28 '10 at 14:58
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    I've been wondering that too. Why should they care? How can they trust it? It seems daft. – Lightness Races in Orbit Aug 15 '11 at 11:01
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    @skaffman Your question has been answered [What is the sensor parameter in Google Places API good for?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8616764/what-is-the-sensor-parameter-in-google-places-api-good-for/8618552#8618552) – Dean Taylor Jun 15 '12 at 00:41