Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Your thoughts on the built in app Find Friends?
- Thread starter eclipse01
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I've done it on every version of iOS from 2.1 through 9.0.2 over the years. All have operable GPS/GLONASS when in Airplane Mode. There was never a software or hardware change that effected use of GPS when in Airplane Mode.
I recall coming across a number of different threads over the years of people complaining that GPS is disabled when in airplane mode when it doesn't really need to be and wishing that Apple would change it. It wasn't until one of the iOS 8 updates that various people noticed that that behavior changed and GPS would finally work in airplane mode.
It's also possible that those people weren't waiting long enough. Without the assistance of cellular towers, pre-4S devices took a very long time to get a lock. Even the 4S and later devices take a long time, but not as long as pre-4S devices.
I'm petty sure a number of those discussions were from iPhone 5 days of not later. It's possible people didn't wait enough, but it seems like a number of people having the same discussions over the years with more people agreeing with them gives what they are saying some decent support.
Edit: Just went to look up some information about it and looks like Apple's own documentation supports that GPS was being disabled in airplane mode until iOS 8.3: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204234
Last edited:
We each claim conflicting experiences are correct. As mentioned, Apple's own documentation matches my experiences. No point in arguing over this as this is no longer an issue thankfully.
Maybe you're all meeting somewhere and you're trying to make sure everyone is OK? Maybe you're all converging on one place for a surprise party and you're coordinating arrivals? Maybe you've just moved and you're having a party and someone calls you and he's lost and you want to give him directions?
Some things have a benign use and are not always negative.
One requires someone to do something to let others know the other one allows others to know without be need of someone to do something (like send a message). There is a difference.iMessage, WhatsApp > send current location
iMessage, WhatsApp > send current location
At which point you're also tracking their location thereby engaging in the same activity which you labeled as stalking.
Certainly didn't work for me in the iOS 6 days. I often go hiking in the middle of nowhere, and turning on airplane mode to save battery would have been great, but it simply didn't work. If I opened a GPS-enabled app and waited and waited, it would eventually just say it couldn't determine my location. Turning off airplane mode would get my location within seconds.
I use the feature with my wife full time. We've got nothing to hide But it's definitely too limited. Obviously requires iOS so no work with android. Wish it incorporated functionality similar to Glympse, when I simply want to let someone know where I am. Current approach requires too many steps.
But it's definitely too limited. Obviously requires iOS so no work with android. Wish it incorporated functionality similar to Glympse, when I simply want to let someone know where I am. Current approach requires too many steps.
do you even understand the meaning of stalking? stalking doesn't involve consent. FMF works by consent of the other party, so your argument is meaningless. secondly, just because you don't see any use for it doesn't mean others do not. common meeting place while say in an amusement park in groups, etc. Its unnecessary to keep sending location thru imessage or whatsapp all the time.
or people hiking in groups and wandering about but later meeting up together. There could be so many other uses.
I shared my location when I was at a festival in San Fran in order to find my friends. It came in handy then.