T-Mobile's decision to
bundle Google's Latitude location-tracking service into the RC33 G1 update may have gotten all the attention this morning, but if you've got a BlackBerry, Window Mobile or S60 device, you can start oversharing right away -- Latitude is built into the newest version of the Google Maps app. Not only that, but it looks like iPhone owners will be able to get in on the fun soon -- Google says it's working on a Latitude app that will "hopefully" be available shortly. We're guessing that means El Goog is tied up in App Store
approval shenanigans -- it's certainly been
naughty before -- but what we're really wondering is if the next rev of Apple's Maps app will include Latitude, since it's basically just a really nice Gmaps implementation. We're guessing the developers of Loopt and Whrrl are equally eager to find out --
"duplication of functionality," anyone?
posted Feb 4th 2009 3:18PM
Seems like a great way to track down your lost/stolen iPhone
Seems like a great way to hemorrhage battery power.
as long as the iphone thief is kind enough to leave the app running all the time ;)
oh wait, the iphone can't run apps in the background
Yea it would be a great way to do that if the thief decides to open up the app and update his or her location since we all know that this can't run in the background on the iPhone.
Available in Google Maps 3.0 for S60 .. works well
to obtain .. use your mobile browser
goto .. http://m.google.com and click on 'More' and then 'Maps'.
enjoy :)
"iphone included"
lol
like iphone is a mystery and if something "reaches" it, it's a really big deal... lol
Obviously Apple isn't going to tell Google their product is a "duplicate". Pretty lame double standards, but not as lame as the "duplicate" policy. I guess that I why I bought a Blackberry and not a Iphone.
Engadget is saying that Apple will tell the other companies that their products are duplicates if Latitude gets integrated into the included maps app.
Someone tells Obama to install this software on his Blackberry.
Anyone know if this works on a Samsung Rant? I am thinking of getting my young daughter a Rant and if it does run Latitude, I will definitely get one.
Probably not... You need a smartphone OS (winmo, s60, android, etc..) to run Google Maps in the first place. I don't think Latitude works just on the web, so even if Rant has web browsing and GPS, it needs the dedicated Google Maps software to go with it.
On the other hand, I'm testing it out on my Touch Diamond, and it works pretty well. Winmo FTW
I would think so,
http://www.letstalk.com/cell-phones/productdetail.htm?prId=34634
That page says it has Java, and if you read the picture in the post it says it runs on J2ME, which the phone will have then.
I installed it on my Treo Pro (WinMo 6.1) and it runs great.. Mobile Maps reports version:3.0.0.2
Yup, it's been available in m.google.com since this morning!
This is the first Google application thet I will never install on my phone.
I don't want my GF to know where I am.
And I don't want to suspect her in cheating either.
That's why I'm sticking with Microsoft's Live Search Mobile app. Of course they will probably implement something like this in the future.
That is why you can choose whether or not to share your location. Pretty nice when I am someplace and want a friend to meet me. Now I can just link them to me via this tool.
ALL HAIL GOOGLE
Now they will not only know what I am up to on my desktop, but also be able to track me on the go. Excellent.
Interesting app...
Surely it'll get on the iPhone just fine? After all, isn't Google Maps bundled anyway?
Yeah but unless something changes it would only work if you turn the app on right? Or is it going to magically be able to run in the background.
You need to have the Maps app running , and Latitude feature turned on, and my-location (or GPS) enabled, and only then people with your permission could see where you are, and you can select if they see your actual location or just the City in general..
Why won't apple make it so you can run apps in the background? It'd be so much more useful if that were so ...
CNET reported a rumor that background apps will be part of iPhone 3.0 software... we'll see...
@alitman: according to a review I read, you can also manually set your location... i don't see a reason why you couldn't set your location to somewhere that you aren't, but other than the obvious reasons I can't see why you'd want to
Why won't they allow background running apps? Then what are they gonna add to get you to buy the next version? Apple always holds out on common features and then adds them to the next version. How the hell else do you get people to buy a new phone every year?
When i'm exiting the application the S60 version of google maps on my N95, it asks me if i want it to continue sharing my location after i exit. And if i agree it seems to continue sharing my location while running in the background.
Finally iPhone owners can say the absence of multitasking is a good thing so Google can't track you. It was all a part of Steve Jobs' genious masterplan.
Hmm, hopefully Apple and Google are incorporating this into the Maps app.
I been doign this for years with gmap-track dotcom.
If only they could get it working for the phones it was released on and then worry about other phones. I'm unable to get it working on my wife's BB Bold using a BES. "Login failed" seems so hurtful. Why google? Why?
It works great on my BB 8800 using BES.
Maybe I'm mistaken, but with this application, you can just deactivate the function anytime you want.
Nope... you aren't mistaken. You can switch it off... you can decide to hide from everyone... you can set a false location as your current location.
So you really are in control...
I installed it on my Storm a couple minutes ago. The location wasn't very accurate (.5 miles away), but still very cool app. This has a ton of potential for personal and business use. No need to call/text friends and find out why they are running late.
Only a matter of time before Facebook implements the same thing and integrates it with their chat, profiles, etc...
Google buying FB would also work.
It just lists the location reported by your GPS.
Its a conspiracy!
Google is planting virus ridden software in the app store to destroy the iPhone so that the G1 will reign supreme as the smartphone for the ages. Don't be fooled by this seemingly innocuous software, fight the power.
Down with the G.
I hope you can deactivate when needed
Yes, you can set the privacy settings to "update automatically", "set your location" (manual by picking on map), "hide your location", and "turn off latitude".
Whatever, I already have an application installed on everyone's phone that gives me a 3-D map of the entire city.
If this is "coming soon" to the iPod touch, that must mean the next iPod Touch will include GPS. No?
No, actually. Remember, the iPod Touch does location, uh, locating based on nearby WiFi hotspots. No cell-tower or GPS needed. You can find your location right now on an iPod Touch (you just can't share it via Latitude yet).
Is it possible to see your position from google earth on a PC?
Hmm, this is great, cause I've got a lot of traveling friends. If I know they're in the area, I can see it right away.
So why does the title read "iPhone Included". did they say it wouldn't at first? or is that engadget's favorite "not so smart" phone?
Oh yeah, I need one more (thing, govt entity, business, etc (fill in your own blank)) knowing where I am? What the hayal is wrong with everyone? Supposedly you can "hide" when you want to. Oh yeah, that'll never get hacked into. Can't wait for the inevitible first Google latitude stalking death newsstory.
What a wonderful app! I love anything that Google and Apple do. WOW! Glad I haven't drank the kool-aid.
One more useful application for the iPhone is CrispyApp. It is a customized question and answer application that will be available shortly. For further updates and details please check http://www.crispyapp.com
What I hate is that Google Maps has traffic level awareness but doesn't do anything useful like automatic re-routing with it.
Any clue about a possible Palm Centro version too?
I can see the culture of the future developing before our eyes...
When your best friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband, daughter or son have their "Latitude Sharing" setting suddenly change to OFF/NO SHARING, then get worried, very worried....
I can see lyrics of pop/rock love songs of the future containing phrases like "her latitude's off, her attitude's scary, and I won't be getting any sleep tonight, I miss my Mary"
Is this going to be any less crap than that POS Skyhook which seems to be wrong more often than right :/
We can only hope
We tried Google Latitude on BlackBerry Bold and we have written up a review from our 5 day use.
You can check it out at http://www.skratchboard.com/?p=566
regards,
Staff@SkratchBoard.com