"Google will also continue to power the Safe Browsing and Geolocation features of Firefox."
It's disappointing to hear that Firefox isn't yet using Mozilla's location services project [1].
Background: These are the services that will, say, take the SSID of your current WiFI access point and map that to a latitude/longitude. My understanding is that almost all commercial users subscribe to Skyhook Wireless's database[2], other than Google, which has built its own WiFi AP maps using its StreetView trucks.
I think Mozilla's "open" service, contributed by individual users, is a welcome alternative, since it means you no longer have to send your location to a large corporation on every look-up.
It's disappointing to hear that Firefox isn't yet using Mozilla's location services project [1].
Background: These are the services that will, say, take the SSID of your current WiFI access point and map that to a latitude/longitude. My understanding is that almost all commercial users subscribe to Skyhook Wireless's database[2], other than Google, which has built its own WiFi AP maps using its StreetView trucks.
I think Mozilla's "open" service, contributed by individual users, is a welcome alternative, since it means you no longer have to send your location to a large corporation on every look-up.
[1] https://location.services.mozilla.com/
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyhook_Wireless