Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Connor

[Twilight]

Google Latitude. It's a privacy nut's worst nightmare, but there are apparently immense privacy settings and safeguards.

It will place your friends' near exact locations on Google Maps (so parents can find kids, etc.) - using cell phone triangulation. Crazy!

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/see-where-your-friends-are-with-google.html

Obviously, it's an opt-in service. And it actually sounds pretty cool - if you don't mind your friends knowing exactly where the world you are 24/7 (though you have to specifically allow that).

 

[FordSVT]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

Google Latitude. It's a privacy nut's worst nightmare, but there are apparently immense privacy settings and safeguards.

It will place your friends' near exact locations on Google Maps (so parents can find kids, etc.) - using cell phone triangulation. Crazy!

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/see-where-your-friends-are-with-google.html

Obviously, it's an opt-in service. And it actually sounds pretty cool - if you don't mind your friends knowing exactly where the world you are 24/7 (though you have to specifically allow that).

I can see a lot of parents using this to keep track of their kids. I can see apps coming out that rely on the info to, for instance, catch your kids speedingat 100 mph in the family car too.

 

[John Picard]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

Google Latitude. It's a privacy nut's worst nightmare, but there are apparently immense privacy settings and safeguards.

It will place your friends' near exact locations on Google Maps (so parents can find kids, etc.) - using cell phone triangulation. Crazy!

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/see-where-your-friends-are-with-google.html

Obviously, it's an opt-in service. And it actually sounds pretty cool - if you don't mind your friends knowing exactly where the world you are 24/7 (though you have to specifically allow that).

I can see a lot of parents using this to keep track of their kids. I can see apps coming out that rely on the info to, for instance, catch your kids speeding at 100 mph in the family car too.

Which is why my son's first car is a 1965 VW Beetle

 

[Mallory]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

Skynet. Google is building it, one piece at a time.

 

[Sledder]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

Cool I just installed it. This could be a lot of fun.

I wonder if you have to keep google maps running on your smartphone for it to update your location. I'm thinking you do.

 

[Twilight]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

I wonder if you have to keep google maps running on your smartphone for it to update your location. I'm thinking you do.

Nope!

There is apparently an option to enable background sharing. When this option is selected, your location will continue to be updated even when you're not running the maps app. (The app will warn you that this results in a lot of data useage, so you should have an unlimited data plan on your phone to avoid massive charges).

http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?answer=136647&ctx=sibling

The iPhone / iPod touch update is apparently on the way - it's apparently just getting cleared through the Apple AppStore bureaucracy first.

 

[Sledder]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

Interesting, yes it does ask when you exit. Then it shows Google Maps as still being open however I'm guessing it's just the tracking portion that's open.

 

[Neeka Keet]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

I love Google but they keep freaking me out. I mean, Google acquires sentience and it's one step from Skynet.

 

[cultcross]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

Should make things easier for them in 24.

 

[nx1701g]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

This just made my mission a lot easier.

[knocks on door]

Sarah Connor?

j/k

 

[FordSVT]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

Google Latitude. It's a privacy nut's worst nightmare, but there are apparently immense privacy settings and safeguards.

It will place your friends' near exact locations on Google Maps (so parents can find kids, etc.) - using cell phone triangulation. Crazy!

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/see-where-your-friends-are-with-google.html

Obviously, it's an opt-in service. And it actually sounds pretty cool - if you don't mind your friends knowing exactly where the world you are 24/7 (though you have to specifically allow that).

I can see a lot of parents using this to keep track of their kids. I can see apps coming out that rely on the info to, for instance, catch your kids speeding at 100 mph in the family car too.

Which is why my son's first car is a 1965 VW Beetle

On the other hand, I'd rather my kid not be dead after getting hit by another car.

 

[RoJoHen]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

As long as they can't use my cell phone camera to watch me masturbate...

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

I'm developing that one.

 

[Venardhi]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

Ya know what, I DON'T want people to know where I am all the time. I don't want some future boss to call me up angry cause I went out to get some lunch on a day I called in sick, or a girlfriend to pull some drama over me hanging out with friends when she wanted us to go out that night and I made an excuse. I'm not scared of the government or terrorists; I just like to be able to "compartmentalize" my life to some extent and be able to have a few secrets.

 

[Mallory]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

Don't carry a cell phone then. Sooner or later it will come down to making that choice.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

Just wait until cell phones are implanted into our brain.

 

[RoJoHen]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

Don't carry a cell phone then. Sooner or later it will come down to making that choice.

And that is an absurd notion.

I use my cellphone a lot. I shouldn't have to keep it at home just so people can't track my movements.

 

[Mallory]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

I agree. You shouldn't have to. Time will tell though, eh?

 

[nx1701g]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

Just wait until cell phones are implanted into our brain.

I think that it's coming.

 

[Nobody]

Re: Google introduces new software to locate friends, find Sarah Conno

Ya know what, I DON'T want people to know where I am all the time. I don't want some future boss to call me up angry cause I went out to get some lunch on a day I called in sick, or a girlfriend to pull some drama over me hanging out with friends when she wanted us to go out that night and I made an excuse. I'm not scared of the government or terrorists; I just like to be able to "compartmentalize" my life to some extent and be able to have a few secrets.

You're able to set who can see you and you can also set a different location, if you feel the need to hide from your girlfriend. And if you want people to stop tracking you, you can always opt-out.



-nobody