Model Railway Forum

Why not? I think it’s great, nobody has to use it.

Can’t understand why everything has to be disected. It is there for those who want it. I for one had no idea you could do that with the map app.

Bit like saying why have DCC when DC works OK.

Stese wrote: ↑Fri Aug 21, 2020 7:02 am .............................................Why do we need another service tracking what we are doing, just to give us what we already have?

Because it is becoming the preferred location method for emergency services.

Stese wrote: ↑Fri Aug 21, 2020 7:02 am Why do we need another service tracking what we are doing, just to give us what we already have?

But it's not tracking you. It calculates where you are when you ask it to. As for internet connection, it will depend on your lifestyle if you're out of range or not. If you're in a populated area then you'll have some connection the majority of the time. As others have said, if you don't wish to use it then don't.

IanS wrote: ↑Fri Aug 21, 2020 8:54 am

Stese wrote: ↑Fri Aug 21, 2020 7:02 am Why do we need another service tracking what we are doing, just to give us what we already have?

But it's not tracking you. It calculates where you are when you ask it to. As for internet connection, it will depend on your lifestyle if you're out of range or not. If you're in a populated area then you'll have some connection the majority of the time. As others have said, if you don't wish to use it then don't.

Sorry, but no one spends the money on writing an app, promotes it to popularity, releases it for free, and then doesn't collect the data that these devices offer.

Practically ALL mobile apps report SOME telemetry back to their controllers, and in many cases this is then sold on... (correctly anonymised in most cases, but there have been failures in this). This is the kind of tracking i'm on about.

Anyway, trusting this app to find you in an emergency is inherently dangerous, and also redundant as there is a much more widely used system in place which has served the world for hundreds of years and will continue to do so, and needs no power. This system is comprised of a map and the ability to read one. W3W is a fad, and it will cost someone their life one day. please DO NOT RELY ON IT for your, or anyone else's safety.

I have other issues with w3w, as they are a private corporate entity with its own agenda... which scares me considerably.

for more information on them : -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What3words

You’re entitled to your view Stese. I know it worked for somebody so that is good enough for me.

What good is a map If you are lost in the pitch dark on a country lane?

I'm going to lock this topic as IMO its beginning to turn away from what was intended by the OP.
Each to our own views. Marmite comes to mind