And the reverse is true as well. Just because it's legal doesn't mean it isn't ethical.

I have spent lots of time adding data to OpenStreetMap with almost 25.000 edits (including the import of millions of address points in my country). I did it because I would like a map that's available for pretty much any purpose, not excluding Microsoft's usage.

I'm pretty fine with the arrangement. My contributions are to be used and Microsoft does exactly that. However trying to use my contributions as arguments against Microsoft (or any other part that uses the data) is douchebaggery.

Creative Commons is not a cult. There shouldn't be any kind of hidden zealotry about using data - it's not okay to say "This data is free under a CC license and you are encouraged to use it" - and when that happens shouting "However you are a dick if you don't contribute! We want your money or work or other stuff!".

(user from Denmark, Europe)

Furthermore, the iPod Touch receives information about nearby wifi networks for local storage (offline usage).

When I'm walking around the area with my iPod Touch (without any internet access) it is still able to tell me where I am.

It seems like the local information received is in the range of about 2 kilometers (about 1.25 miles).

This is a GPX track from a bus ride a few weeks ago heading north, logged with my iPod Touch:
http://maps.google.dk/?q=http://stock.ter.dk/bustur_touch_2.gpx

At the northest point of the track the iPod Touch couldn't find the local position anymore. The iPod wasn't online at any time.

Unfortunately it seems like it flushes the local database whenever it gets online. If I travel away from my home I can see my position until I reach about two kilometers away. If I go online at my destination (e.g. a friend's house) and travel home I can only see my position for a few kilometers away from my earlier destination and nothing from that point before I reach my own home again. It really would be cool if it was possible to store more information locally.

I'm pretty sure the iPod use Google's database as well as the Google Street View vans have been around Denmark pretty thoroughly last year. All the positions seem to be snapped to roads as well where the cars were positioned when driving around.

On another node; several public means of transportation in the metropolitan area of Denmark is now fitted with some kind of Internet access - usually free access with commercials injected in the web pages. This helps being online in trains or the most frequent buses (however not that one I was on when I logged the above track).

But as the wifi geolocation service is based on the idea that an access point is stationary the results for positioning when riding a bus or train could usually put you at that station where the train (carrying the access point) just happened to be when the Google vans were driving around. I hope the self healing mechanisms in Google's (and Skyhook's) databases could "invalidate" these access points.

The most common way is to use a meta refresh "header". When redirected this way browsers don't include the referer header.

Some forum software use such a feature when making URLs clickable.

Other methods include javascript tricks.

The actual output from Google when searching for slashdot is this and clicking the link is the following, which is primary javascript with fallback to the html meta header:

<script>var a=parent,b=parent.google,c=location;
if(a!=window&&b){if(b.r){b.r=0;a.location.href="http://slashdot.org/";c.replace("about:blank");}}else{c.replace("http://slashdot.org/");};
</script><noscript><META http-equiv="refresh" content="0;URL='http://slashdot.org/'"></noscript>

.. and to elaborate on this subject; I could upload every random picture I shoot with my camera or any picture my webcam takes every five seconds.

In that case it makes perfect sense to remove a lot of these pictures even though some randomly might happen to contain something interesting one day.

FTFA: ".. all images that are of little or no educational value .."

These images you mention seem to have educational value.

Yeah, there might be different opinions about how much is sufficient to be educational, but the comment is not "If this is porn/'inspiring', then it should be removed" but "little or no educational value but which appeal solely to prurient interests".

Four hours of clicking to gain progress of some sort?

Sounds like most MMORPGs to me as well :)

It works, but it's not as accurate as one might think. Signals bounce, which (at least in the GPS world) is known as multipath. This both result in a longer distance (and delay) and a weakened signal. The recipient (the antenna tower) do not know how much the signal has bounced.

Actually the distortion and reflection in the GPS signal makes it possible to gather (crude) information about the location and shape surrounding buildings. I wish I could find the appropiate video :-/

Have you seen Italian computers? They actually do require a key for the ignition.

The Sphinx: To learn my teachings, I must first teach you how to learn.

The Sphinx: He who questions training only trains himself at asking questions.

The Sphinx: When you care what is outside, what is inside cares for you.

Mr. Furious: Okay, am I the only one who finds these sayings just a little bit formulaic? "If you want to push something down, you have to pull it up. If you want to go left, you have to go right." It's...
The Sphinx: Your temper is very quick, my friend. But until you learn to master your rage...
Mr. Furious: ...your rage will become your master? That's what you were going to say. Right? Right?
The Sphinx: Not necessarily.

In that case we could assume that Hitler... ... damn, Godwin. Walked right into that one!

User from Denmark ( EU) here.

I admire the amout of (deliberately) open wifi hotspots in USA. A couple of friends traveled around the States last year and found free wifi services everywhere - except Las Vegas.

This seem to be an interesting phenomenon. At first it might seem reasonable: wherever you are expected to pay for services you are also expected to pay for Internet access.

However, this leads to some curious cases. I have experienced hotels in Denmark, England and Spain that charge for internet access. But on the other hand it is not uncommon for hostels (that are cheaper and where one would expect a lesser degree of service) to have free wifi.

The economic background is interesting. The cost of putting up a hotspot is pretty low, especially at simple hostels that probably already have internet access and wifi for the employees. But the expenses of putting up a payment solution and handling support is high.

This leads to an interesting paradox: It is the payment solution that might not be feasible at "cheap" places such as hostels; not the Internet connection by itself. The result is that since it is not worthwhile putting up a payment solution the Internet access is simply free!

In some places this leads to even more interesting results:

The suburban railway service in Copenhagen has free wifi on the the trains. These trips are usually short, hence the payment process might itself take too long to be convenient.

However the inter-city trains where travel times are usually about 1½-4 hours there is a wifi payment solution. At first it might make sense but as it is charged per minute any delays underway would lead to a larger travel time and therefore a higher total cost.

Free Internet access could partially make up for a bad travel experience with delays (one would be able to still work online, pass time by casual surf, chat and so on or update successive travel arrangements). Instead passengers are simply punished further economically when the travel is delayed underway.