c’est très pratique … quand cela fonctionne.
en attendant plus de fiabilité, je propose toujours d’indiquer la localisation à la main.

j’attends les retours de mes visiteurs pour voir la proportion de géolocalisation ratée de firefox

#1. As Florin Negoita Says:

“What the API does is merely exposing that info to location-aware applications.”

Ok so #1 tells us that it only works if someone has the technical ability to use the built in App.

#2. As David says, “I don’t understand why I can’t tell Firefox the exact location of my desktop. For a laptop – ok IP lookup is great, but I have my *exact* address. Why should I ever have to type it in rather than just hitting “Yes, give this site my location”?”

Ok so #2 tells us that it would work better if we could communicate with websites which used a location box that worked with the browser to automatically type in our location except on an occasional roaming laptop.

#3. As Mark Gosdin says: “As long as the code for this exists in Firefox you can never be certain that you have complete control over who does or does not know your location.”

Ok so #3 tells us that an addon (which can be used if preferred or needed) would be more user preferable than a built in location spy that can be conceivably hacked into.

So, “Why would I want others to be able to locate me through a built in Browser App. ?”

Truth is, I wouldn’t.

#1 Reason is based on someone who is for this app.
It is not convenient, as David said above, it would be more convenient to have an Addon that could simply put the proper address in place.

#2 is simply privacy

Yes, Mozilla is Open source and we can know what it is doing, but that does not change that fact that this being built into the browser is a security and privacy risk, which cannot be removed from the software, like an Addon would be capable of. Even if the Addon came standard with the browser, at least those opting out would be able to remove this code from the browser by removing the Addon.

I don’t feel that this is going to destroy Mozilla’s popularity, but it is a first step in that direction. First you will have a small divide over this issue, next you will have a web-browser developed by and for those concerned, and eventually you will have Mozilla caring less for those they lose because of this, until finally, there will be little to no difference between Mozilla and Google Chrome in terms of privacy.

So with such little convenience and concern to the majority of privacy conscience users, we must ask, what is the real motive for adding this code? What is its benefit and who does it benefit?

While this may benefit Mozilla and their partners, there are clearly better and more useful options from the user standpoint.

For the vast majority of non-mobile users, the simple IP geolocation is remarkably precise anyway. What the API does is merely exposing that info to location-aware applications.

Nonetheless, perhaps a checkbox under Privacy to “Enable Geolocation” would alleviate many concerns.

Mark: That’s the beauty of Open Source Software. If you want, you can know precisely what Firefox does. Please rest assured that Mozilla absolutely respects your privacy.

Please also refer to the geolocation page on mozilla.com that I mentioned a few comments earlier.