There is a Web that is more local/location-oriented, though. A Web that is (or should be) instantaneously GIS-dependent, in a way that doesn't benefit desktop computers (so it makes sense to me that we don't have a "Desktop Web"). It's like the difference between the asynchronous and realtime Web, no? - Meg V. Meg

Pull quote: “Many developers also consider desktop browsers. And text browsers. And screen readers. And possibly print. Or e-books. Or whatever. Because the Web is about universally accessible structured content. Which data you get and use and in what form will depend on your device and your circumstances. Your context, if you are so inclined. And that will constantly be changing. So maybe it’s a semantic distinction and I’m simply exaggerating like the American I am. But as long as there are developers selling and building completely separate mobile websites or iPhone websites or iPad websites where well-designed universal websites would suffice, it’s not only a semantic distinction.” - Stephen le Francoeur

Although aren't there websites that when visited on your desktop will ask permission to use your location? Foursquare, for example, does this. See this FAQ from Mozilla for details on how Firefox uses geolocation services http://www.mozilla.org/en-US... - Stephen le Francoeur

They ask? I don't think I've seen that on my desktop. I thought they just use your IP, and give you the option to correct the location (like Worldcat does, for example). EDIT: Whoa, Firefox has never warned me about this. - Meg V. Meg

There's a privacy setting for whether your browser will cough up your location to websites that ask for it. - DJF

I guess my hunch was that "the things" people would use the Web for on a desktop do not tend to require as active or precise detection of location as "the things" they would use the Web for on a mobile device. Though clearly there's a continuum, and "the things" are not exclusively one or the other (desktop/mobile). - Meg V. Meg

It's kind of nice for google maps to know my computer's location when I'm looking for directions. This is even more true for my laptop. - DJF

Absolutely. But you wouldn't usually need your computer to update the directions in realtime, as you walk around. - Meg V. Meg

they just want to localize your ads. - kendrak