MarcoPolo: automatic location manager

We've previously mentioned locations managers like Location X ($20) and NetworkLocation ($15). These are tools that can change a variety of settings depending on your location (e.g. SMTP server, default printer, etc.). This is very convenient for mobile users moving between work and home, etc. MarcoPolo is a new entry in this category and adds a number of cool features that we haven't seen before, including "fuzzy logic" rules for setting the location based on matching a variety of different criteria (wifi network, IP address, etc.) and USB and Bluetooth support (as criteria). The USB detection is a great feature if, for instance, you have one model of mouse and/or keyboard at work, but use a different set a home.

Best of all, MarcoPolo, unlike most of the other utilities, is open source and a free download.

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Source: http://www.symonds.id.au/marcopolo/

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Portables Cool tools Freeware Open Source

We've previously mentioned locations managers like Location X ($20) and NetworkLocation ($15). These are tools that can change a variety of...

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Anon

Its a good thing its free. Otherwise the author would be really upset when this feature turns up in 10.5

April 25 2007 at 4:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

JPL

Does anyone know of a similar application for Windows? I need something like this at my office.

April 25 2007 at 2:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Eric

Aron Trimble,

I use PearPortVPN to automatically log me into my school's network when I'm on it. It works pretty well. Here's a link to it:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/22544

April 25 2007 at 2:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

(Downloading this now)

If this does what I think it will (determining current location based on a set of heuristics, and letting you define a configuration that should be used for that configuration), then this will make me very happy indeed.

Regularly switching between a network where DHCP is pretty much mandatory, and one where DHCP breaks things (don't ask) gets quite tedious, especially when you forget to switch locationsâ€¦

April 25 2007 at 11:34 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

aron t

Please somebody tell me a way to auto-connect to a VPN when I log on to a specific network! There has to be an easier way than hacking the kicker files with an applescript that uses Cisco's client!

April 25 2007 at 11:28 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

F.H.

I am not sure if this was already a subject on tuaw, but in this context I would like to mention "Home Zone". The goal of the app is a bit different, but it fits the whole "network location manager" thing.

http://metaquark.de/homezone/

April 25 2007 at 11:12 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply