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Have You Turned Off Geotagging?
- Thread starter lieblax
- Start date
Colchicine
Android Expert
I'm not concerned about it either, but I do like the ability to geolocate where I've taken photos.
zuben el genub
Extreme Android User
Privacy freak. If I want anything from a person or vendor, I'll get in touch with them.
MyNamesTooLong
Android Expert
I dont see the purpose either, and I love photography. I suppose if I were travelling to places ive never been, or may not return to I may turn it on
KENNECTED
Android Expert
It's not a big deal. Why would anyone be worried?? Or are people confusing/worried that geotagging is a way they can be tracked?
As a person that take multiple pictures a day, having geotagging enabled allows me to upload to flickr and other sites, without having to manually input that information.
As a person that take multiple pictures a day, having geotagging enabled allows me to upload to flickr and other sites, without having to manually input that information.
KENNECTED
Android Expert
How can geotagging be used to track me when my phone information is anonymous?
I'm sure that Google/Android could use the information to track me, but since the phones ID and the user of the phone's information are separate, you still wouldn't be able to track me.
Please explain.
novox77
Leeeroy Jennnkinnns!
It happens when you share pics to facebook, flickr, picasa, etc, and the geotagging info in the EXIF metadata is present. For a lot of people, EXIF means absolutely nothing to them. They think they are sharing a pic and only a pic.
So, if you take a pic of your kid at his/her daycare center, and you post it on some site to show off how cute they are, you're inadvertently sharing where that picture was taken. Which means someone on the internetz could know where your kid was.
So it's a combination of the geotagging along with context from the photo, and context from your identity (your FB account, your flickr account, etc) that someone could profile you and figure out where you live, where you work, where your kids go to school, where you cheat on your spouse, etc.
Of course if you're savvy, and you only share geotagging when you allow it, there is absolutely nothing wrong with geotagging.
KENNECTED
Android Expert
That's known or at least it should be known.
They way I read the initial post is when geotagging is enabled, a person can tracked, strictly by that feature.
Again, I don't see what the big deal is.
novox77
Leeeroy Jennnkinnns!
Then I refer you to Geotagging - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia because geotagging has a very specific definition, and it doesn't include live location tracking.
That said, I don't think Android has a setting that's specific to geotagging. It has a toggle for "location-based services" which could be used to track where you are given that you've granted an application to do just that. Apps like "Where's my Droid," "Lookout," etc.
And I agree, it shouldn't be a big deal. It's only a big deal for the ignorant because they don't realize what they're really sharing, so when they find out, they think it's a conspiracy on Google's part.
I've got geotagging enabled for all my pics, nice to know where taken when I look at them in the future. e.g. +43
KENNECTED
Android Expert
I know the difference. I agree with you.
zuben el genub
Extreme Android User
I do know about EXIF and usually strip it if I post. But if I take a picture of Balanced Rock in Arches, it's unmistakable.
Colchicine
Android Expert
I went to a photo that I had geotagged on my FB account. I could not find any way to get any of the Exif data that comes from the camera. If there is a way, please let me know.
novox77
Leeeroy Jennnkinnns!
Facebook recently announced they strip all EXIF data now.
zuben el genub
Extreme Android User
Since I mostly shoot raw with a DSLR, Photoshop can strip it. There are a couple of apps in Market for stripping exif.
LBPHeretic
Android Expert
I know that this is a year old thread, but I wanted to address what was mentioned in a few posts above. I just had some of my own insight to add.
Every Android device that I have used has always required that the GPS be turned on to even enable geo-tagging of photographs. It will not simply work with just the network location enabled. Although, custom camera apps might handle this differently. I am talking about the stock camera apps on the Android devices that I have used. It makes a lot of sense that it only makes use of the GPS for geo-tagging anyway. Why would you want to save coordinates of a photograph that might be several miles off from the location you are interested in saving in the EXIF data?
Every Android device that I have used has always required that the GPS be turned on to even enable geo-tagging of photographs. It will not simply work with just the network location enabled. Although, custom camera apps might handle this differently. I am talking about the stock camera apps on the Android devices that I have used. It makes a lot of sense that it only makes use of the GPS for geo-tagging anyway. Why would you want to save coordinates of a photograph that might be several miles off from the location you are interested in saving in the EXIF data?
zuben el genub
Extreme Android User
I know where I took the pictures. Why do I need location? I dump photos from the camera on a weekly basis, which means I am in town, and if I go on a trip, I know where I was. I don't need a couple of degrees in EXIF to know I was in Arches NP by Balanced Rock. I usually save by the date, not the place.
Colchicine
Android Expert
Well that's great for you. But not everyone else operates like that. The condescending wasn't necessary. Clearly if the feature was developed and desired by users, it's not a matter of what everyone else is doing wrong, it's more about what *you* are missing.
zuben el genub
Extreme Android User
Wasn't trying to be condescending. I just started taking pictures long before the digital age. You waited until slides were developed, then wrote on the slide.
If you want to do things digitally, that's fine. For myself, I see no reason to post everything on line. I clear the EXIF in Photoshop before posting anything. I also change the DPI to 72/100 and image size to 5X7 or less. Never at what the camera used. Simple reason - it loads faster, and those I sent the link to might not have a large data plan. Why should I be so vain as to think everyone has what I have? Or wants it?
Where you took a shot doesn't interest me. HOW you took the shot to preserve lighting or special feature of the shot does. EXIF doesn't cover the creative side of taking a picture. How did you SEE the picture?
Some people just take snapshots to send via mms or email. They really don't care about the info. That's their prerogative. Just because the capability is there doesn't mean everyone has to use it. You buy a camera of any kind and use it your way for your purposes. There are those who buy a TOL DSLR, and only use program mode. As long as they are using and enjoying the camera - who cares?
I'm not missing anything. We were supposed to memorize stuff when I was in school. I see no problem with memorizing today. You pay attention to where you are and what you are doing. I understand and can use the new stuff, but it's my call as to whether or not I do. Whatever works for you is fine by me. Assuming that everyone else wants things that way will bother me.
There are still those fans who use older SLRS with film. You can get film for a view camera.
If you want to do things digitally, that's fine. For myself, I see no reason to post everything on line. I clear the EXIF in Photoshop before posting anything. I also change the DPI to 72/100 and image size to 5X7 or less. Never at what the camera used. Simple reason - it loads faster, and those I sent the link to might not have a large data plan. Why should I be so vain as to think everyone has what I have? Or wants it?
Where you took a shot doesn't interest me. HOW you took the shot to preserve lighting or special feature of the shot does. EXIF doesn't cover the creative side of taking a picture. How did you SEE the picture?
Some people just take snapshots to send via mms or email. They really don't care about the info. That's their prerogative. Just because the capability is there doesn't mean everyone has to use it. You buy a camera of any kind and use it your way for your purposes. There are those who buy a TOL DSLR, and only use program mode. As long as they are using and enjoying the camera - who cares?
I'm not missing anything. We were supposed to memorize stuff when I was in school. I see no problem with memorizing today. You pay attention to where you are and what you are doing. I understand and can use the new stuff, but it's my call as to whether or not I do. Whatever works for you is fine by me. Assuming that everyone else wants things that way will bother me.
There are still those fans who use older SLRS with film. You can get film for a view camera.