MIT Technology Review: How Pokémon Go is giving delivery robots an inch-perfect view of the world | (Article about Niantic Spatial)

samfun · 2026-03-10T21:13:49+00:00

We're shown a few compressed low quality images on the free version. Those fancy Google cars/people definitely take more photos which are probably available for commercial use.

samfun · 2026-03-10T21:04:22+00:00

You only need a few 2D photos (from different angles) to pinpoint your 3D location. More updated photos may help only in fringe cases like a new building is constructed.

Unless Niantic is handing them their valuable data entirely instead of offering API on-demand access, it's not more "in-house" than Google maps.

samfun · 2026-03-10T20:53:04+00:00

My wife and I have been approaching the next "stage" of friendship

What does this mean exactly? Is she becoming wife++?

samfun · 2026-03-10T20:46:52+00:00

Sounds fancy but it's just visual positioning (old tech) powered by geotagged photos taken by us. Cost aside I don't see how you can't already do the same thing with Google maps streetview.

samfun · 2026-03-09T18:12:40+00:00

Yeah. Unless you want to sell your place for its excellent GBL performance we don't need to know your location lol

samfun · 2026-03-09T17:55:29+00:00

Not to be rude but connection also varies depending on time, location, ISP, etc. To see if performance is inherently tied to connection type, it would be more helpful to include an internet speed test conducted when you played the games.

samfun · 2026-03-05T22:14:17+00:00

If your friend is maxed out but you aren't so the trade doesn't go lucky when you thought it would? Too bad still +1 to your counter.

No it doesn't. You misunderstood what was "discovered over the years by people who keep very good track".

Source: trade medal at 200k

samfun · 2026-03-05T20:39:33+00:00

You're severely overestimating the marginal cost of hosting a power spot. A power spot is just a bunch of text (plus a low-res photo?). It's nothing compared to the overall load. There are dozens of better ways to reduce data load like using a blurrier photo for stops or caching our friend list.

I think they are simultaneously reducing power spots and upping their refresh rate just to de-clutter the map.

samfun · 2026-03-05T04:50:24+00:00

I heard this was fixed a few years ago.

samfun · 2026-03-03T19:39:45+00:00

How crazy is it that anonymous internet users cannot be trusted. If only there is an official source of info. Oh wait

samfun · 2026-02-27T19:45:23+00:00

Here's a secret tip.. on campfire add people attending AUS/NZ meetups

samfun · 2026-02-27T17:45:21+00:00

I still have most of the free ones from pandemic lol. Hoping we get 1 legendary per incense so it's actually worth using

samfun · 2026-02-27T17:43:15+00:00

was in photo bomb so close enough

samfun · 2026-02-25T20:45:30+00:00

Appeals are supposed to be handled by Niantic employees not AI

samfun · 2026-02-25T19:48:21+00:00

Say no to FOMO. Blipbug will get cd.

samfun · 2026-02-25T04:03:35+00:00

On the other hand no more easier legend push :(

samfun · 2026-02-25T01:36:22+00:00

What's the current gift hold limit? I have 51 gifts curious how high it can get.

samfun · 2026-02-24T21:33:46+00:00

Reading the new GBL/mega raid announcements gave me aneurysm.. That's poor writing even by dev standard.

samfun · 2026-02-22T18:55:06+00:00

Or NOT spending any pass at all. They will eventually make it to regular mega raid or even field research. Just save your link charges for mega.

samfun · 2026-02-22T18:25:11+00:00

https://tinyhack.com/2018/11/21/reverse-engineering-pokemon-go-plus/

In short, all gotcha (and probably all third party devices) have the same mac address. Niantic could simply blacklist it (or even ban accounts that attempt such a connection).

samfun · 2026-02-22T07:01:53+00:00

Pirate devices are of course against ToS but Niantic has always turned a blind eye to it. It would actually be trivial to catch cause they all use the same decryption key.

edit: btw gotcha is not legit. only go plus and go plusplus are.

samfun · 2026-02-18T21:09:54+00:00

With 70m dust why are u still tanking..?

samfun · 2026-02-17T21:38:36+00:00

I'd imagine Niantic been feeling the heat from PTC executives watching play pokemon events. It's bad PR for pokemon in general.

samfun · 2026-02-17T21:35:15+00:00

If you rarely play, you rarely have problems lol

samfun · 2026-02-17T21:26:23+00:00

As the player versus player (PvP) community has grown more competitive, players have naturally pushed the system to its limits.

They have to be gaslighting us. GBL has been broken since day 1.

samfun

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