Geolocated tweets

[AnthonyW]

In the last couple of days Cumulus tweets are now containing geolocation information which is based on the information set in the station settings. This is happening despite the option being deselected in the Twitter account settings. There appears to be no options to switch this feature on or off within Cumulus. Is this something to do with the recent changes to Twitter API 1.1 and is there any way this can be switched off? I have noticed that all the weather stations I follow on twitter that use Cumulus are doing this. I am using version 1.9.3.

Cheers

Anthony Waltham

[steve]

Strictly speaking, there should be a setting in Cumulus to turn off the sending of location data. I haven't done this because of the option in Twitter itself which should stop the location being displayed. Cumulus changed quite some time ago (last year) to use API 1.1, so it's presumably nothing to do with that. If Twitter has only started displaying your location recently, then it may be yet another random change by them. I have mine turned on anyway, so mine has always been displayed. I tried turning mine off just now (the "Tweet Location" setting in Twitter itself), and it wasn't displayed on the next Tweet:

2013-06-26 10_47_03-SandayWeather (SandayWeather) on Twitter.png

So, yes, there should be an option in Cumulus, and I can look at adding one, but it appears that there is an issue at Twitter with the "Tweet location" setting on your account.

[AnthonyW]

Hi Steve

I think it must be a strange Twitter issue. I have always had the 'Tweet Location' setting switched off in Twitter itself so was surprised when this started happening. I have logged into the Twitter account and toggled the setting on and then off ensuring I 'Saved Change' both times and unlike yours it still contains the location information. I have the feeling it is affecting other users too. Very strange.

Cheers

Anthony

[AnthonyW]

I decided to let Cumulus tweet with the 'Tweet location' setting on and then with it turned off again, to see if there is a difference in the tweets. The attached image shows the two, 11.30 with the setting on and 12.00 with it off. As you can see the tweets are different & both still contain the geolocation information on expansion of the 'pin'
I *think* I read somewhere that even if the location setting is switched off in the Twitter account settings you can override on an individual tweet basis. If this is so, could it be that Twitter (following some sort of recent change) is now assuming an override as Cumulus is submitting the geolocation information?
However, that doesnt explain why it worked ok for you.

Cheers

Anthony

[steve]

However, that doesnt explain why it worked ok for you.

No, mine does the same; I hadn't realised until you pointed it out. So the setting in Twitter only means that you have to delve a bit deeper to get the information. That seems wrong, but it would be pointless complaining to Twitter as they will say that Cumulus should be allowing it to be turned off, so I'll have to put that option in.

To be honest, I don't really understand the point of telling people what the weather is where you are, but not wanting them to know exactly where you are, but I've had this discussion several times in the past and I guess people have their reasons...

[AnthonyW]

Including the geolocation information is not really an issue as far as I am concerned, I had just chosen not to include it in tweets as the station location is available elsewhere & I had noticed things had changed.

Would just like to say I think Cumulus is a great product and thanks for continuing to develop it. At the risk of going 'off topic' its great to hear you are working on a version to work on Linux (currently running it on Win7 in VirtualBox)

Cheers

Anthony

[JacquesSteventon]

Hi Steve,

Is there an update on this at all?

Thanks

Jacques

[steve]

I'm not sure what you mean. If you're asking whether I've done an update to Cumulus to allow location data to not be sent, the answer is no. Is it that critical?

[steve]

Option added in build 1081 of 1.9.4.