Michael Arrington at TechCruch (via Washington Post) chastises the two social networks because while they offer effective and popular apps for the iPhone, neither added in location, something he says is the only way to draw new users.
But while both applications are useful for heavy users, they won’t drive new users to the services because they failed to leverage the killer iPhone feature - location awareness.
He acknowledges privacy concerns, but seems convinced these can be managed. It does seem these and other players are simply “late to the party” giving Loopt, Whrrl and others a jump on the mobile platform.
by Adena Schutzberg on 07/17 at 08:40 AM |
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Below is a roundup of the experiences, limitations, insights and hopes for the new iPhone as it relates to GPS, location and location-based services.
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by Adena Schutzberg on 07/14 at 06:00 AM |
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The 3G iPhone goes on sale tomorrow. I note that since I received at least one e-mail telling it was already available; sure Mr. Pogue has one, but not any regular folks. One of Pogue’s (and other’s) issues is that the 3G for fast access is not widespread. Before you stand in line, check out the coverage map. The data is as of 5/31/08. I’m surprised the map’s not been updated for the launch. (Not sure how Silicon Alley Insider got newer maps.) The app and/or the data seems to be from ESRI.
Note that you need to check a box in the legend (below the map) when in the voice option (default, above the map) to view the 3G coverage.
by Adena Schutzberg on 07/10 at 08:15 AM |
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The New York Times tech guru is not impressed:
The new iPhone has true G.P.S. now, too, in addition to the fake G.P.S. of its predecessor — an ingenious system that shows your location on a map by analyzing nearby cellphone towers and Wi-Fi hot spots.
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do with the G.P.S. According to Apple, the iPhone’s G.P.S. antenna is much too small to emulate the turn-by-turn navigation of a G.P.S. unit for a vehicle, for example.
Instead, all it can do at this point is track your position as you drive along, representing you as a blue dot sliding along the roads of the map. Even then, the metal of a car or the buildings of Manhattan are often enough to block the iPhone’s view of the sky, leaving it just as confused as you are.
On the whole he says it’s a nice upgrade, but much of it comes from the new apps, which can run on the old device.
by Adena Schutzberg on 07/09 at 06:00 AM |
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This tidbit was in Reuters coverage of today’s Google/Tele Atlas deal:
De Taeye said he expected real-time, turn-by-turn navigation applications to be available for Apple’s iPhone despite reports that Apple’s rules for developing iPhone software appeared not to allow it.
“We are making sure that navigation is an application that is allowed,” De Taeye said. “If there is any restriction on the platform, that indeed has to do with the restrictions that we have in our contracts. Navigation is allowed, provided that the right fees are paid.”
Get out your checkbooks!
by Adena Schutzberg on 06/30 at 09:46 AM |
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