Actually I was searching for a hair dresser in a town the other day, I filled in at Google "hair dresser <town_name> (in Dutch), and then Google Maps found me quite some. It was convenient to see the nearest one, find their addresses, phone numbers, opening times. It didn't say if it was on appointment or not though.

And, with Mozilla Geode which using Skyhook API this is easy and free.

From the article it appears Fennec will also support this although Fennec seems to support quite some APIs.

Thats thought-crime related, and as brain waves can be analyzed to detect lying, we're heading this way sooner or later. In order to understand pain one must suffer, and in order to solve the pain, one must understand the roots of it. The general public is unable to do this, so we're heading towards this kind of society. We deserve it.

Anyway, I'm sure GPS can be tracked as well just like IMEI, and Geode + Skyhook allows you to specify your position based on what you prefer: 1) Country 2) City 3) Neighborhood or 4) Exact position. You can make such decision permanent if you wish.

I agree to assume TANSTAAFL, but sometimes the payload is worth it. Or you can't find the payload; perhaps you really met a philantropist!

[In-reply-to my Minority Report reference]
I wasn't thinking of that part, only of the 'personal ads' that followed you everywhere because you were iris-scanned everywhere you went through the city.

Bah, that requires eye hacking (GITS ). Now I understand your point better, and its same with Brave New World, Nineteen Eighty Four, Twelve Monkies. (I prefer Blade Runner.)

This kind of following is already running rampant in logistics. Watch logistics related development and you know where we're heading, too. Mifare RFID cards, transportation systems requiring electronic cards, bank passes, road pricing, barcode, and so on.

It is one side of the coin of the digital age...

We used to pay in gold. Then it became other materials. And depositing at a central place. Then the central place lended your money to others. And bank notes appear. Now its all digits, with banks lending all too happily to whoever they can trick. No wonder we're bankrupt...

Most people just don't realize nor understand (yet)...