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Geosense brings location-aware computing to your Windows 7 PC

by Parm Mann on 1 March 2010, 10:58

Tags: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

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Just about every Windows release is full of Microsoft innovation, but unfortunately for those of us who enjoy new software toys, a lot of the promise quickly fades into memory.

Take for example some of the recent highlights - Vista Ultimate Extras, Windows SideShow, Windows Live Essentials, Sidebar Gadgets, Windows 7's rather-nifty Device Stage and the all-new Sensor and Location platform - all features that seemingly held potential for the future, but have thus far failed to spark the imagination.

Hoping to ensure the latter - Windows 7's Sensor and Location platform - doesn't fall foul to a familiar lack of development, Microsoft enthusiasts Rafael Rivera and Long Zheng have come to the rescue with what they call "Geosense for Windows" - a freeware software-driven location sensor designed to make use of existing Windows 7 tech.

What does it do? Well, the Windows 7 Sensor and Location platform is supposed to enable your computer to adapt to your current location, usually via the use of a hardware GPS module. Fortunately for those using systems without the required hardware, Geosense for Windows uses a combination of geolocation methods such as Wi-Fi triangulation, cell-tower triangulation and IP lookup to determine a relatively-accurate location.

The idea, in theory, is that with Geosense for Windows installed, your Windows 7 system will know roughly where you are in the world and consequently be able to provide a localised computing experience. Unfortunately, location-aware software built into Windows 7 isn't exactly groundbreaking - you'll find a sidebar gadget that displays local weather, location-based printing functionality, and little else.

Rafael Rivera and Long Zheng, creators of Geosense for Windows, hope the free release will trigger the development of more location-based services. "We believe by offering this tool for free will help enable the most possible Windows 7 PCs to be location-aware, and in turn add incentive for third-party developers to take advantage of the Windows 7 location APIs and make their applications stand out," said the pair in a statement.

Eager to give it a go? The software is available to download at geosenseforwindows.com.



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