6 ms·

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

65 points by rburhum 12y ago

rburhum 12y ago
Code is here: https://github.com/tomtaylor/satellite-eyes https://github.com/tomtaylor/satellite-eyes
nkantar 12y ago
A refreshing change of pace from being tracked by others to being tracked by oneself!
- gargantian 12y ago
  Unless the whole map database is included in the app, then this is still you being tracked.
  - nkantar 12y ago
    Fair point, let me rephrase: A refreshing change of pace from being tracked by others to also being tracked by oneself!
robgering 12y ago
This is such a cool idea. Works perfectly with multiple monitors (the map extends across displays).
slapresta 12y ago
So creepy, yet so cool.
bobochan 12y ago
Cool idea. It finds my location and I can see the map in the browser, but it does not actually set the background on my Mac Book Pro (Yosemite 10.10.1).
joshdance 12y ago
Pretty cool. I wonder how often the wifi database needs to be refreshed? How often do the wifi points change, go offline. I assume that database also uses some info from the IP address as well.
- scraplab 12y ago
  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 http://www.skyhookwireless.com Disclaimer: I wrote the app! Nice to see it here.
  - spott 12y ago
    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?
    - dsl 12y ago
      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.
      - scraplab 12y ago
        You're right - I mean BSSID, which is the same as the MAC address.
- sneak 12y ago
  The databases are online, run by Apple and Google for their respective platforms. They are constantly being refreshed by devices with GPS lock and wifi reception, such as the installed base of handsets/tablets, as well as street view cars.
_-__--- 12y ago
Here's an idea that I don't have the wherewithal to implement: Take this location-based image service and pair it with something like artful (link is probably still on the front page) to give you imagery - not just maps - that are relevant to where you are. (eg local artists, photos of local landmarks, historical sites, etc)
userbinator 12y ago
This could be very useful on a phone, which actually has a GPS.
- martey 12y ago
  On Android devices, this used to be available through Google Maps as a Live Wallpaper: http://www.cnet.com/news/make-google-maps-your-live-android-wallpaper/ http://www.cnet.com/news/make-google-maps-your-live-android-... Unfortunately, it was removed in a later update.
  - icebraining 12y ago
    I always liked Muzei[1] with the Stamen maps [2]. The effect works better than a regular map or aerial view. [1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.nurik.roman.muzei https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.nurik.roma... [2] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.omarseyal.muzeimaps.app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.omarseyal....
rstoner 12y ago
Neat work. This plus a visible satellite overlay would be fun add-on.
arca_vorago 12y ago
I was using this before my Yosemite upgrade, I suggest changing to different maps (The bing ones seem more up to date at the moment). I've seen more interesting things that I didn't know were there than just randomly looking around google maps or openstreetmap. I also got lots of comments from people about it too.
sneak 12y ago
Thank you for contacting the map tile server via TLS. Apple's own Maps app does not do this. :( I'm not even sure if the daemon that provides the corelocation lookup contacts the wifi-signal location api over TLS...
lxmorj 12y ago
This is awesome and I like it. Thanks :)

65 points by rburhum 12y ago

rburhum 12y ago

Code is here: https://github.com/tomtaylor/satellite-eyes https://github.com/tomtaylor/satellite-eyes

nkantar 12y ago

A refreshing change of pace from being tracked by others to being tracked by oneself!

gargantian 12y ago
Unless the whole map database is included in the app, then this is still you being tracked.
- nkantar 12y ago
  Fair point, let me rephrase: A refreshing change of pace from being tracked by others to also being tracked by oneself!

robgering 12y ago

This is such a cool idea. Works perfectly with multiple monitors (the map extends across displays).

slapresta 12y ago

So creepy, yet so cool.

bobochan 12y ago

Cool idea. It finds my location and I can see the map in the browser, but it does not actually set the background on my Mac Book Pro (Yosemite 10.10.1).

joshdance 12y ago

Pretty cool. I wonder how often the wifi database needs to be refreshed? How often do the wifi points change, go offline. I assume that database also uses some info from the IP address as well.

scraplab 12y ago
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 http://www.skyhookwireless.com Disclaimer: I wrote the app! Nice to see it here.
- spott 12y ago
  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?
  - dsl 12y ago
    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.
    - scraplab 12y ago
      You're right - I mean BSSID, which is the same as the MAC address.
sneak 12y ago
The databases are online, run by Apple and Google for their respective platforms. They are constantly being refreshed by devices with GPS lock and wifi reception, such as the installed base of handsets/tablets, as well as street view cars.

_-__--- 12y ago

Here's an idea that I don't have the wherewithal to implement: Take this location-based image service and pair it with something like artful (link is probably still on the front page) to give you imagery - not just maps - that are relevant to where you are. (eg local artists, photos of local landmarks, historical sites, etc)

userbinator 12y ago

This could be very useful on a phone, which actually has a GPS.

martey 12y ago
On Android devices, this used to be available through Google Maps as a Live Wallpaper: http://www.cnet.com/news/make-google-maps-your-live-android-wallpaper/ http://www.cnet.com/news/make-google-maps-your-live-android-... Unfortunately, it was removed in a later update.
- icebraining 12y ago
  I always liked Muzei[1] with the Stamen maps [2]. The effect works better than a regular map or aerial view. [1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.nurik.roman.muzei https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.nurik.roma... [2] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.omarseyal.muzeimaps.app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.omarseyal....

rstoner 12y ago

Neat work. This plus a visible satellite overlay would be fun add-on.

arca_vorago 12y ago

I was using this before my Yosemite upgrade, I suggest changing to different maps (The bing ones seem more up to date at the moment). I've seen more interesting things that I didn't know were there than just randomly looking around google maps or openstreetmap. I also got lots of comments from people about it too.

sneak 12y ago

Thank you for contacting the map tile server via TLS. Apple's own Maps app does not do this. :( I'm not even sure if the daemon that provides the corelocation lookup contacts the wifi-signal location api over TLS...

lxmorj 12y ago

This is awesome and I like it. Thanks :)