Re:See where your friends are with Google Latitude
by alexandros on Wednesday February 04, 2009 @05:38AM
(#465560)
While this may sound scary at first, I suspect it could mature, with people finding the appropriate social norms around this new technology, and slowly integrating into their daily lives. In this sense it could resemble the social network or the mobile phone, where even luddites eventually cave in, as it eventually becomes a no-brainer, benefits greatly outweighing drawbacks.
That said, there is still a long way to go and this technology still has not found a compelling application. The only reason I would consider using it is to be one of the first people to actually figure it out on the ground and potentially find those compelling uses, if they exist.
Re:See where your friends are with Google Latitude
by ajju on Wednesday February 04, 2009 @10:37AM
(#465854)
Sharing your location is, at least right now, more of a feature than a product in users minds. If you have a google maps client on your phone already, you'll probably try it.
Users probably won't download an app that does just that as readily.
Google has the classic big company/large install base edge in this area.
Re:See where your friends are with Google Latitude
by wallflower on Wednesday February 04, 2009 @10:54AM
(#465874)
If sharing the location is not the neat feature - perhaps it's visualizing/mining that information accrued over your daily life/time. Here's some concepts from MIT
Re:See where your friends are with Google Latitude
by ajju on Wednesday February 04, 2009 @10:34AM
(#465850)
Except fireeagle doesn't have a client with an install base as large as Google Maps' and is really more of a pipe/aggregator than a client in the first place.
Re:See where your friends are with Google Latitude
by brkumar on Wednesday February 04, 2009 @09:16AM
(#465748)
Seems like google has done a good job on privacy. From Mashable "When it comes to privacy, Google seems to have done it right, since absolutely everything about Latitude is opt-in...you can set it up so that your wife always sees you at work. Why you’d want to do that, we leave to your imagination."
http://mashable.com/2009/02/04/google-latitude/
Re:See where your friends are with Google Latitude
by physcab on Wednesday February 04, 2009 @09:44AM
(#465787)
And Loopt.
Which makes me wonder, how does everyone deal with the prospect of competition from Google?
I had an awesome idea for a startup, worked on it for a few months during graduate school...and then Google announced they were getting into the space. I just about crapped myself.
Re:See where your friends are with Google Latitude
by jacquesm on Wednesday February 04, 2009 @10:51AM
(#465868)
I seriously wouldn't worry about it too much. They either do or they don't it's a bit like the weather, it will influence you but since you can't control it you might as well simply adapt to it.
If it wouldn't be for that then you could never do anything at all for fear of some 'force of nature' coming along and destroying it.
And who knows, maybe you'll be better at it than they ever will be simply because you are focusing on just one thing instead of on 50.
Re:See where your friends are with Google Latitude
by agotterer on Wednesday February 04, 2009 @11:36AM
(#465955)
A valid point. Most Google products never reach critical mass. But for a device like the iphone you are already using google maps. If its integrated directly into that, the barrier to entry is nothing.
Re:See where your friends are with Google Latitude
by michaelneale on Wednesday February 04, 2009 @05:33AM
(#465557)
Am I the only one who started reading and was confused as to what the use was of only knowing someones lattitude? (other them perhaps getting a feel for the expected climate to aid in small talk about the weather).
Re:See where your friends are with Google Latitude
by redorb on Wednesday February 04, 2009 @11:42AM
(#465963)
I think this is direct competitor to Twitter; as it includes not only location but a spot for 'Im at starbucks' too; you can also have followers etc...
- just seems to be a competitor; and not many people are seeing that I think.
Re:See where your friends are with Google Latitude
by almost on Wednesday February 04, 2009 @05:10AM
(#465533)
This kind of stuff makes me a little uncomfortable. I can imagine someone being in a situation (abusive relationship maybe?) where they are compelled to share this information. Even under normal circumstances it seems a little creepy, but maybe that's just me.
Not saying it's wrong to provide the service or anything like that, just wondering about how it could effect things.
Re:See where your friends are with Google Latitude
by schoudha on Wednesday February 04, 2009 @04:51PM
(#466589)
Loopt needs to look to be acquired or abandon the idea of a mobile only social network and focus on leveraging services like Facebook connect. Although there level of funding might make it difficult, I also think they're a great target for Facebook.
In any case, this will be a large space and there is room for multiple players.
Re:See where your friends are with Google Latitude
by dc2k08 on Wednesday February 04, 2009 @03:46PM
(#466472)
Surprising that Ireland where their European headquarters are located is not among countries where latitude can be used, though it is the same way with twitter. I don't suppose anyone knows the reason?
That said, there is still a long way to go and this technology still has not found a compelling application. The only reason I would consider using it is to be one of the first people to actually figure it out on the ground and potentially find those compelling uses, if they exist.
Google has the classic big company/large install base edge in this area.
http://web.media.mit.edu/~orkan/projects/portraits/main.html
eg if someone is going on a long journey, be able to track them to see they get there safely etc
But I don't think it's anything more than a feature.
Here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=465458
Here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=465359
Oddly, they're both by the same person.
Which makes me wonder, how does everyone deal with the prospect of competition from Google?
I had an awesome idea for a startup, worked on it for a few months during graduate school...and then Google announced they were getting into the space. I just about crapped myself.
If it wouldn't be for that then you could never do anything at all for fear of some 'force of nature' coming along and destroying it.
And who knows, maybe you'll be better at it than they ever will be simply because you are focusing on just one thing instead of on 50.
For example as it is, it would be useless for ages 13-25.
- just seems to be a competitor; and not many people are seeing that I think.
Not saying it's wrong to provide the service or anything like that, just wondering about how it could effect things.
Did you see this part?:
Instead of having your approximate location detected and shared automatically, you can manually set your location for elsewhere
Apologies for my lack of reading-all-the-way-throughness
In any case, this will be a large space and there is room for multiple players.
apart from that being true, I believe Google's approach to location leaves open other opportunities.
This might make http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/ redundant, if you know where he is all the time.
Mixed feelings about this Google, mixed feelings indeed.