Q: Why does Maps need WiFi turned on?
More of a question than a support issue.
When I try to get directions (just the directions feature, not the map itself) from Maps in OS X, I get the message that WiFi needs to be turned. Because it is SO much faster, I connect to my router using an ethernet cable.
I struggle to understand what possible information Maps might get from my router wirelessly that it can't get over the cable. It is kind of silly to have to turn WiFi on just for this purpose.
Anyone have any possible explanation other than some laziness on Apple's part assuming every computer is wirelessly connected?
MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)
Posted on Feb 28, 2015 8:25 AM
Apple uses crowdsourced data to determine the location of wireless routers and access points. That's impossible for exclusively wired networks. If you used Ethernet exclusively and never used wireless, they would never have been able to establish a location.
Arguably, once your router's location is established, wireless should no longer be necessary and Maps could certainly function without it. Your location would always be that of the previously established location, but Apple (probably correctly) surmises that most people wouldn't understand that and would have to deal with constant complaints that Maps isn't showing their correct location. So, laziness has something to do with it, but bear in mind Apple's growth trajectory has been in the direction of portable devices for some time, and is only likely to become more so.
A corollary of this is that your location is really that of your wireless router or access point. If you were to relocate it to someplace else, Maps would continue to show its previous location until crowdsourced data establishes the new one. That takes a minimum amount of time, and is on the order of weeks for reasonably populated areas.
Because it is SO much faster, I connect to my router using an ethernet cable.
That's a good idea, but to enjoy the full benefit of an Ethernet connection, be sure to specify that service order in System Preferences > Network. Wireless can still be active for the services that require it, but as long as Ethernet is given precedence over Wi-Fi, it will be using Ethernet for everything that doesn't.
Posted on Feb 28, 2015 8:52 AM