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google-latitude posts

Filed under: Web services, Google, Social Software, iPhone, Mobile

Google Latitude looks great on the iPhone

Google Latitude is a great tool for sharing your location with your friends, and it works on a number of different mobile devices. Until recently, though, the iPhone was left out of the Latitude loop. Because of Apple's restrictions on iPhone apps running in the background, iPhone users didn't have access to Latitude's full set of features. Google and Apple have worked around that problem now, and Latitude options on Google's mobile site are rolling out now.

The iPhone Latitude experience is pretty smooth. Adding friends, approving requests, and changing privacy settings were all extremely easy. Privacy is adjustable for each contact you add: you can show your specific location, just your city, or nothing at all. Latitude can also update your location automatically or manually, depending on your preference.

Sure, you can be sour that Latitude is web app and not a native iPhone app, but it's a really well-done web app. Besides, a Latitude iPhone app would likely have been rejected by Apple for overlapping functionality with Apple's built-in Maps app (which happens to serve Google's maps).

[via CNET]

Filed under: Google, Search, Android

Google Maps for Android gets voice and transit search

Android users can now search Google Maps using voice commands, and access Google Transit info from their mobile devices. To use the voice seach, just speak an address or a search term while you're using Google Maps for Android. Google says it currently understands American, Australian and British accents. They've also added store hours, prices, ratings and reviews to their results.

Google Maps for Android also now includes transit and walking directions for over 250 cities, just like Google Maps on the web does. Although it didn't make the headline of Google's blog post, the are also some improvements to Google Latitude, the new(ish) location-based service. You can now make Latitude update your location continuously as long as your phone is on, and use the new "Updates" feature to leave location-specific comments about the places you go.

Filed under: Internet, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Google, Mobile, Web

Google wants to know where you are, make spying on friends easier


One of the first things people do when buying a first computer and connecting to the internet for the first time is look up people they know (or would like to know, or are upset that they don't know anymore). Now Google-stalking is about to go to a whole new level though, because Google has launched a new service called Latitude that lets you see the locations of people you know on a map.

Here's how it works. You can install Google Latitude on your mobile phone so it can report your geographical position. Or you can use it on a computer by adding Latitude to your iGoogle homepage. Then when you're friends are looking for you, they can see where you are on a map or contact you through Google Talk, Gmail, or SMS. It could be a great way to find out if you're just around the corner from the coffee shop where your friend is sitting.

Of course, it could also let you find out when people you know are walking into a health clinic, gun shop, or some other place they'd rather not broadcast to the world. So Google has made Latitude an opt-in service. If you don't sign up for it, your location won't be broadcast. And when a friend wants to add you to their list, you'll receive an email asking if you want to grant them the ability to track your wherabouts.

Google Latitude is available for phones running BlackBerry, Symbian S60, or WIndows Mobile operating systems. Android and iPhone versions are due out soon.

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