[_mitch]

If an app needs to connect to a Wi-Fi AP on the appliance, you have to allow location since having access to the Wi-Fi scan of networks that are in range can allow for some coarse geolocation, thanks to open source SSID databases [1]. I wish Android and iOS would add functionality that allowed an app to connect to a known SSID without access to the scan because the permission requirement is rightly off-putting.

[1] https://wigle.net/map?maplat=37.76559999999937&maplon=-122.4...

[bscphil]

> I wish Android and iOS would add functionality that allowed an app to connect to a known SSID without access to the scan

Would that really help that much? If you know the user's approximate area, e.g. by IP address, and their SSID is unique in that area, than if the app says to the OS "please connect to this SSID if it's available" and the connection happens, the app now has your location.

I suppose that's a case for making location access more granular, not leaving things the way they are. But I bet people doing UIs for Google and Apple won't do that because the average user doesn't understand the possible location implications of giving away your SSID.

[boring_twenties]

I could be wrong but I don't think this is the case?

Even after enabling the Location Services access, I still had to manually connect to the appliance's AP through the iOS Settings app.