Integrate your location into your Windows 7 computer without GPS

[javajolt]

Keep in mind - YOU are giving up YOUR privacy using this utility!

GPS has made life dramatically different (and, yes, better) for many of us, but it's not the only way to get location info. Windows 7 has a built-in framework for sensors that is only just now getting some developer love. Take a look at GeoSense, a nifty, free tool that pings local Wi-Fi networks, cell signals and other stationary devices to get a lock on your computer's current location. It's slick and seamless, and there are likely to be quite a few apps making use of it soon. Here's how to get it:

1.Download and install GeoSense here.

2.Enable GeoSense by opening the Control Panel, selecting "Hardware and Sound," then "Enable location and Other Sensors."


Step 2: Enable GeoSense.

3.Tick the box next to GeoSense, then click "Apply."

4.Check it out by downloading this cool Google Maps client that should very quickly bring up your current location and let you search for nearby amenities and services--great for lost travelers!


Step 4: Check GeoSense.

Perhaps more developers integrate GeoSense into their apps. Time will tell!

Setting Up Geosense

After installing the sensor, you need to enable Geosense. Go to your > Windows Start menu, search for > location, and select > Location and Other Sensors from the results listed under > Control Panel.



Check the box next to > Geosense Location Sensor and click > Apply to enable Geosense.



To view more information about the Geosense Location Sensor, change its description, change who can access the sensor, and to uninstall Geosense, click on > Geosense Location Sensor.



Now that the sensor is enabled, you can use it with location-aware applications.

Google Maps

To demonstrate the functionality of Geosense, its developers have created a Google Maps demo client, which you can download from the Geosense homepage or through this link (ZIP file). The app reveals your current location on a Google map and allows you to quickly locate facilities in your area.

Testing this is scary



In tests, the accuracy was so good that the street address displayed in the Google Maps sidebar diverted only by meters, i.e. it calculated that I was sitting in the house next door.

This location-sensing Google Maps client can be very useful for travelers. When stranded in a foreign city, not knowing your current street address, all you have to do is connect to the Internet, launch the client, and it will tell you right where you are. You can then use the Google Maps > Search nearby feature to look for restaurants, bars, or other public facilities in the area.