See where your friends are with Google Latitude(googleblog.blogspot.com)
googleblog.blogspot.com
See where your friends are with Google Latitude
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/see-where-your-friends-are-with-google.html
39 comments
I think there's a pretty solid trail of startups who have tried and failed to make a compelling use case for it so far.
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.
Google has the classic big company/large install base edge in this area.
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
http://web.media.mit.edu/~orkan/projects/portraits/main.html
http://web.media.mit.edu/~orkan/projects/portraits/main.html
Completely agree. It's a feature, and if it was a free add-on, it'd be useful.
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.
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.
Yahoo has also tried too, not to much success though: http://fireeagle.yahoo.net/
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.
Live journalism is one use case: http://friendfeed.com/scobleizer?service=feed&servic...
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/
Already posted:
Here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=465458
Here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=465359
Oddly, they're both by the same person.
Here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=465458
Here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=465359
Oddly, they're both by the same person.
Oh well, there goes Bright Kite.
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.
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.
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.
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.
what makes you think Google Latitude wont meet the same barrier to reach critical mass for this application?
For example as it is, it would be useless for ages 13-25.
For example as it is, it would be useless for ages 13-25.
There are a lot more people with google accounts then the competition. People seem to also trust google more then a random startup.
you know what happened to Google Video right?
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.
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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).
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.
Not saying it's wrong to provide the service or anything like that, just wondering about how it could effect things.
I can imagine someone being in a situation (abusive relationship maybe?) where they are compelled to share this information.
Did you see this part?:
Instead of having your approximate location detected and shared automatically, you can manually set your location for elsewhere
Did you see this part?:
Instead of having your approximate location detected and shared automatically, you can manually set your location for elsewhere
No, I didn't. And that kind of eliminates those concerns a bit.
Apologies for my lack of reading-all-the-way-throughness
Apologies for my lack of reading-all-the-way-throughness
Why not include a cloaking/misdirection feature?
I believe I read something about manual entry of location
Ah yes. Clearly I need to work on my skimming skills :-)
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.
In any case, this will be a large space and there is room for multiple players.
"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.
apart from that being true, I believe Google's approach to location leaves open other opportunities.
With Google's Latitude, I might finally learn where on earth Carmen Sandiego is.
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.
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.
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?
It's interesting that Google chose to build this out on their own instead of acquiring Loopt (or someone else). Was Loopt even open to an acquisition?
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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.