Why does Google stipulate that you specify whether you are using a sensor in the maps API?

When retrieving the Google Maps API javascript, Google requires that you specify whether you are using a sensor or not with your application (e.g. sensor=false). Why is this? Is it simply a matter of data collection so Google can approximate how the API is being used开发者_开发问答, or does it actually modify what is returned in some instances?

Per the API, the sensor option is to determine if you are using a GPS-Enabled / location tracking device. The sensor=false maps are more light-weight since they don't handle this additional functionality. As you mentioned, the sensor=true maps handle device specific location tracking, etc.