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Lars77

(3,032 posts)
Sun Jul 1, 2012, 04:51 PM Jul 2012

Just turned on an Ipad for first time configuration bought in another country...

My question is, how does it know i'm here?

A friend of mine brought me an iPad from Norway bought in a store, never opened, never turned on. I'm in Germany right now and turned it on to configure it. It's the 32gb version WiFi only. The first thing that happens when i turn it on, is that it suggests Germany as a locale and German language. This is the absolute first thing in the configuration, long before i came to the wifi, which is a locked network.

How does it figure where i am? Can it get the location of locked WiFi-networks around me ?

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Just turned on an Ipad for first time configuration bought in another country... (Original Post) Lars77 Jul 2012 OP
My iPad knows where it is (through GPS?), and doesn't seem to care if WiFi is on or off. NYC_SKP Jul 2012 #1
I've never seen that happen, and we also don't share a common language.. Lars77 Jul 2012 #4
Steve Jobs knows where you are! OffWithTheirHeads Jul 2012 #2
I knew he wasn't dead, they got his head a damn jar like in Futurama. Lars77 Jul 2012 #3
GPS cbayer Jul 2012 #5
Correct. REP Jul 2012 #6
Your internet IP address reveals your country. Kablooie Jul 2012 #7
 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
1. My iPad knows where it is (through GPS?), and doesn't seem to care if WiFi is on or off.
Sun Jul 1, 2012, 04:55 PM
Jul 2012

The various constellation viewing apps don't care if there's signal or not.

Other than that, if Norway and Germany are the same timezone, maybe Germany comes up as the dominant country (and thus preset) for units delivered to Norway.

I, too, am curious and mine thoughts are but guesses.

Lars77

(3,032 posts)
4. I've never seen that happen, and we also don't share a common language..
Sun Jul 1, 2012, 04:58 PM
Jul 2012

The only thing i can figure is that it got some info out of one of the wifi networks (all locked) in my neighbourhood and figured out the location.

I dont think the GPS could figure out my position (inside a brick building) literally seconds after switching on for the first time? My TomTom takes like 30 seconds from when i switch it on, way longer if i turn it on in a different location than i was when i turned it off.

REP

(21,691 posts)
6. Correct.
Sun Jul 1, 2012, 07:51 PM
Jul 2012

Here's a screenshot of my iPad 1 showing the GPS indicators - the one on the upper right is not specific to the Map app:

Kablooie

(18,789 posts)
7. Your internet IP address reveals your country.
Sat Jul 7, 2012, 06:48 AM
Jul 2012

That's how web sites can block computers coming from specific countries.

If you log onto the Internet in a different country your computer will be assigned an IP address from that country.

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