Google Latitude

harveyc · 02-05-2009, 02:27 AM

Hey, have you read the news today about Google's new product "Latitude"?

Many people have GPS units in their mobile phone and don't realize it. This is a new version of Google Maps which will allow you (at your option) to share your position with others. It's easy to go in stealth mode, if you wish.

In can be found at Google Latitude

So far, it seems really cool. I've already shared it with Pete and have told my wife she can now keep tabs on me. :P

Harvey

Richard · 02-05-2009, 10:16 AM

This is cool, and I added it to my iGoogle homepage. For others to keep track of me though, it appears I have to enable web services on my mobile phone.

harveyc · 02-05-2009, 10:18 AM

I've got a free data plan on my phone so I've got web services on anyways, but I think I read something on Google that a data plan wasn't necessary.

Richard · 02-05-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harveyc

I've got a free data plan on my phone so I've got web services on anyways, but I think I read something on Google that a data plan wasn't necessary.

Hmm ... if this is the case then I wonder how the GPS information from my phone gets to Google.

harveyc · 02-05-2009, 08:11 PM

Okay, it looks like a data plan is required. If I recall correctly, even without a data plan your phone will utilize the GPS equipment (if it has it) for 911 calls, but only for that, I guess. You can still track others on their mobile devices from your computer.

Google Mobile | Latitude for your phone

I don't give my data plan much thought I signed up for the Sprint SERO plan about 26 months ago. It was not very widely publicized (except on some forums) but folks could get a plan with 500 minutes and unlimited data for $30/month or 1250 minutes and unlimited data for $50/month. I went for the 1250 minute plan since I knew I'd go over 500 minutes during some months of the year (i.e., chestnut harvest, etc.). Several people got the 500 minute plan primarily for the data. While the phones are not supposed to be tethered to a notebook under this plan, it is widely discussed as a common practice. Unfortunately, this plan is not open to the general public like it was for almost two years.

I think this service must have some bugs as my phone will update my position very quickly but when I view Latitude on my computer, it doesn't update for at least several hours in some cases. Maybe it will get taken care of when a friend updates the ROM on my phone for me (I'm afraid I'd botch it doing it myself).

Harvey

Chironex · 02-05-2009, 09:15 PM

I tried it, but it doesn't work on my phone with Verizon.

harveyc · 02-05-2009, 10:27 PM

Works on Pete's phone.

Chironex · 02-06-2009, 02:55 AM

Yeah, i think it is just my specific model of phone.

02-05-2009, 02:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,116 BananaBucks : 232,879 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,020 Times Was Thanked 4,452 Times in 1,893 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Google Latitude Hey, have you read the news today about Google's new product "Latitude"? Many people have GPS units in their mobile phone and don't realize it. This is a new version of Google Maps which will allow you (at your option) to share your position with others. It's easy to go in stealth mode, if you wish. In can be found at Google Latitude So far, it seems really cool. I've already shared it with Pete and have told my wife she can now keep tabs on me. :P Harvey __________________

02-05-2009, 10:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 421,392 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Google Latitude This is cool, and I added it to my iGoogle homepage. For others to keep track of me though, it appears I have to enable web services on my mobile phone. __________________ Doodling along at tangentvectors.org

02-05-2009, 10:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,116 BananaBucks : 232,879 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,020 Times Was Thanked 4,452 Times in 1,893 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Re: Google Latitude I've got a free data plan on my phone so I've got web services on anyways, but I think I read something on Google that a data plan wasn't necessary. __________________

02-05-2009, 08:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,116 BananaBucks : 232,879 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,020 Times Was Thanked 4,452 Times in 1,893 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Re: Google Latitude Okay, it looks like a data plan is required. If I recall correctly, even without a data plan your phone will utilize the GPS equipment (if it has it) for 911 calls, but only for that, I guess. You can still track others on their mobile devices from your computer. Google Mobile \| Latitude for your phone I don't give my data plan much thought I signed up for the Sprint SERO plan about 26 months ago. It was not very widely publicized (except on some forums) but folks could get a plan with 500 minutes and unlimited data for $30/month or 1250 minutes and unlimited data for $50/month. I went for the 1250 minute plan since I knew I'd go over 500 minutes during some months of the year (i.e., chestnut harvest, etc.). Several people got the 500 minute plan primarily for the data. While the phones are not supposed to be tethered to a notebook under this plan, it is widely discussed as a common practice. Unfortunately, this plan is not open to the general public like it was for almost two years. I think this service must have some bugs as my phone will update my position very quickly but when I view Latitude on my computer, it doesn't update for at least several hours in some cases. Maybe it will get taken care of when a friend updates the ROM on my phone for me (I'm afraid I'd botch it doing it myself). Harvey __________________

02-05-2009, 09:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
Chironex The causasian Asian! Chironex's Photo Gallery Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Find me on the map! Zone: I have no idea Name: Scot Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,788 BananaBucks : 110,766 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,544 Times Was Thanked 1,405 Times in 807 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 609 Times	Re: Google Latitude I tried it, but it doesn't work on my phone with Verizon. __________________ Scot

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02-05-2009, 10:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,116 BananaBucks : 232,879 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,020 Times Was Thanked 4,452 Times in 1,893 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Re: Google Latitude Works on Pete's phone. __________________

02-06-2009, 02:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
Chironex The causasian Asian! Chironex's Photo Gallery Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Find me on the map! Zone: I have no idea Name: Scot Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,788 BananaBucks : 110,766 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,544 Times Was Thanked 1,405 Times in 807 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 609 Times	Re: Google Latitude Yeah, i think it is just my specific model of phone. __________________ Scot

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