The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    iPod GPS location alert

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by bogatyr, Apr 11, 2012.

  1. bogatyr

    bogatyr Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    85
    Messages:
    693
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Is it possible to have an iPod touch 4th gen send an alert when it leaves a set perimeter?
     
    bogatyr, Apr 11, 2012
    #1
  2. azn4lif3s

    azn4lif3s Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    51
    Messages:
    270
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I'm not 100% sure, but its an iPod Touch and to use the GPS it would need to connected to a wifi network.
     
    azn4lif3s, Apr 11, 2012
    #2
  3. masterchef341

    masterchef341 The guy from The Notebook

    Reputations:
    3,047
    Messages:
    8,636
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Is this like a theft prevention measure you are looking for? The ipod touch doesn't have GPS, so you won't be able to do this type of thing.
     
    masterchef341, Apr 12, 2012
    #3
  4. kornchild2002

    kornchild2002 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,007
    Messages:
    1,925
    Likes Received:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    66
    There are anti-theft options but they are dedicated accessories, not apps that you run. There might be an app to let you know when an iPod touch leaves a wi-fi network but that doesn't do any good especially if you are in a public place where networks tend to extend for extremely long distances. A thief would already be out of sight by the time the app on the iPod goes off letting you know that it is no longer connected to the wi-fi network (not only that but they could just turn the volume down).

    As I said, there are measures for this type of performance though. I don't have any specific names or links but one company has an anti-theft setup. You put the accessory in your backpack and then attach a small sensor to the iPod. Then, if the iPod is more than a certain distance away from you (I think it can be programmed), a loud alarm will go off until the iPod (sensor) is brought back to the device in your backpack (or whatever). Something like that isn't designed specifically for the iPod touch as it can be used with notebooks, iPads, smartphones, other tablets, or even a wad of paper. The sensor has its own independent power supply and so does the alarm device.
     
    kornchild2002, Apr 12, 2012
    #4
  5. masterchef341

    masterchef341 The guy from The Notebook

    Reputations:
    3,047
    Messages:
    8,636
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    206
    You can use something like Find My iPhone - which will work on an iPod Touch, but the iPod doesn't have a GPS, so all of the position information is completely dependent on it being connected to a wifi network with an internet connection and a known location. There is no real concept of a perimeter. With Find My iPhone on a device with GPS like an iPhone or a iPad, you could locate the device if you lose it.
     
    masterchef341, Apr 12, 2012
    #5
  6. bogatyr

    bogatyr Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    85
    Messages:
    693
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks for the info guys. The basis for the question is:

    We are looking at using iPod scanners for tracking inventory in our warehouses. Using the exact same scanner accessory the Apple Store employees use on the iPod Touch devices there we would be able to have a cheap scanner for the system ($700 vs. $1300-$3000). However, theft is the big question right now. These will be used overseas where a $200 iPod may be worth more than a low paying job (i.e. Manufacturing in China).
     
    bogatyr, Apr 12, 2012
    #6
  7. kornchild2002

    kornchild2002 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,007
    Messages:
    1,925
    Likes Received:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    66
    This might be a question that should be towards the supplier of the setup as we can really only tell you what is out there for the end consumer, not a business setup. You might even want to visit your local Apple Store and ask them what they have to prevent theft. Then again, if you are working at an Apple Store, you probably have access to much more expensive items like iPads, iPhones, Mac Pros, etc. Still, they might have some type of setup and it never hurts to ask.

    I doubt anyone here has a setup like that in their house so you might be on your own if the supply company has nothing.
     
    kornchild2002, Apr 12, 2012
    #7
  8. masterchef341

    masterchef341 The guy from The Notebook

    Reputations:
    3,047
    Messages:
    8,636
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Well, the iPod doesn't have any hardware or software that supports the functionality you are looking for. You could try buying some type of accessory, as described above.
     
    masterchef341, Apr 12, 2012
    #8
  9. KCETech1

    KCETech1 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,527
    Messages:
    4,112
    Likes Received:
    449
    Trophy Points:
    151
    KCETech1, Apr 12, 2012
    #9