While going through the Opera's Preferences in I found a parameter that I hadn't noticed before...to enable/disable geolocation. Googling it, I found this article:
Geolocation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
After reading it, I'm left wondering if this is really of any use, except to provide others with more precise data about my computer...like built in spyware?
In Google search, I typed 'my ip' hit enter. Clicked thhis link What Is My IP Address? Lookup IP, Hide IP, Change IP, Trace IP and more... it did not give my real location.
Because Google didn't reveal more precise data, doesn necessarily mean that it isn't being sent to them. Even if this is for local use on a PC, what good would it really do?
With it enabled & you search for Fish & Chips with Google it shows a local map with their locations.
Disable Geolocation & you get national results & no map.
In my case using a desktop PC my location according to Google is about 5 miles from my real address , if I was using a wifi connection it would be more accurate.
Opera: Geolocation | About location-aware browsing
Opera Desktop Team - Skin fixes, Unite, and then some
Another big thing geolocation is used for is blocking or stopping people from using certain features on some sites. Something like this,
is what anyone without a US IP address gets when they try watch any videos at hulu.com. And no that setting in Opera doesn't allow it for those outside the US either.
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