The Localscope team wrote to share this news:
Apple has announced the much awaited Rewind 2011, considered to be the Oscars for the Appstore, presenting the best Music, Books and Apps of the year. We are honored and ecstatic to be chosen by Apple as the #1 App in the navigation category in the US Appstore and in the top 5 Navigation Apps in most other countries.
It's not an app I hear much about at all. Per the website: "Localscope is your social data powered GPS app."
- Cynapse blog
Boulder-based PlaceIQ, a startup collecting location based information about the world, has raised 4.2M in a Series A funding--but is moving to New York City. The startup--headed by Duncan McCall--said the funding was led by US Venture Partners, and also included Valhalla Partners, IA Ventures, kbs+p ventures, and Jerry Neumann. The firm said it is moving to New York to be closer to the advertising industry.
- Tech Rockies
Google is acquiring the Silicon Valley-based startup Clever Sense, both companies are announcing today. Clever Sense, as you may recall, is the maker of the mobile application “Alfred,” which delivers personalized recommendations for nearby restaurants, coffee shops, bars and nightclubs using a combination of artificial intelligence and machine-learning algorithms.
I've never heard of the company or product. The plan is for the team to join Google Places (not something you hear about much) and perhaps have the tech be used in Schemer.
- TechCrunch
by Adena Schutzberg on 12/14 at 05:42 AM |
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I'm having a hard time finding the actual patent documents, but I think it's this one: System and method for alerting a first mobile data processing system nearby a second mobile data processing system. Abstract:
Provided is a fully automated web service with location based services generally involved in transmission of situational location dependent information to automatically located mobile receiving data processing systems. The web service communicates with a receiving data processing system in a manner by delivering information to the device when appropriate without the device requesting it at the time of delivery. There are varieties of configurations made by different user types of the web service for configuring information to be delivered, and for receiving the information. The web service maximizes anonymity of users, provides granular privacy control with a default of complete privacy, and supports user configurable privileges and features for desired web service behavior and interoperability. The web service is fully automated to eliminate human resources required to operate services. Integrated with the web service are enhanced location based services providing map solutions, alerts, sharing of novel services between users, and complete user control for managing heterogeneous device interoperability through the web service.
It reads to me like an application of geofencing - sending a message to those in a defined area - though the "how" may be new.
Patently Apple dissects the document and explains:
More specifically, Apple's patent relates to location dependent delivery of information to mobile data processing systems and to a system for delivering situational location dependent content to data processing system devices traveling to locations for, or in directions of, that place which delivery content is designated as deliverable. Apple's invention provides transmission of situational location dependent information from a server data processing system (SDPS) to a receiving data processing system (RDPS).
In a preferred embodiment for enhancing mobile device locations, well known cell tower locations complement GPS coordinates received when locating devices. Cell tower or antenna triangulation, or cell tower communications information could further refine the whereabouts of mobile devices. An environment which couples multiple location technologies together could provide better accuracy for device locations.
- Patently Apple
by Adena Schutzberg on 12/08 at 05:02 AM |
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The patent that issued yesterday, RE42,927, is actually a reissue of a patent that Xerox received in 2000 and filed for in 1998. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple received ownership of the patent on December 17, 2009. (Yes, once again Xerox came up with a cool idea only to see Apple do something with it, as it did with GUIs and mice.)
Per C|net the patent covers these claims (in English):
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The system will display information that is specific to the location the device is in. That could mean text, video, sound, or images. There is no restriction on what the information conveys, so anything from something informative in a visual display to a two-for-one burger special would seem to be covered.
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The device has a location information system that receives location information from at least one object that specifies the location of the site where the device user is. The patent description makes it clear that this could include GPS signals from space or a barcode plastered on a building. Because "receiver" is another broad term, you could include GPS radios in cell phones or a camera and software combo that would obtain a two-dimension QR barcode. Apple broadened the language to include GPS systems.
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A transceiver (another general term) sends the location information over a distributed network like the Internet to some unspecified destination and, in return, gets location-specific information in return.
The suggestion by patent watchers is that this patent is so basic and so broad it applies to any location based system. The question, then, is what if anything Apple will do with it.
- C|net
by Adena Schutzberg on 11/17 at 06:00 AM |
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Booyah
After 4.5 million downloads of MyTown, Booyah is back with MyTown 2, a new take on gaming that incorporates more of a CityVille approach while still using the real world as a game board.
It's more along the lines of Monopoly, with property prices based on demand of other players. Check-ins are not required, but can result in more points.
- GigaOm
Street Fight Summit
Poynter highlights four take-aways from the two day event:
1. Local businesses need hand-holding, full-service partners. Local news sites may have an opportunity to fill that function.
2. Geo-tagging may soon be as important as SEO for local publishers.
3. The Daily Deals honeymoon is over.
4. Hyperlocal publishing is as much about sales as about content.
NextDoor
A new free service for neighborhood networks.
Nextdoor (
www.nextdoor.com), the first private social network for neighborhoods, announced today the nationwide availability of its free online platform specifically designed to foster neighbor-to-neighbor communication. Starting now, neighborhoods across the country can take advantage of this new type of social networking service to build happier, safer places to call home.
Loku
Austin-based
Loku, a new startup focused on providing information on local neighborhoods, has launched today [Oct 25], helping local users to find information on restaurants and bars, local news, and more. The firm is headed by Dan Street. Locu's site includes restaurant reviews, local event listings, police reports, local deals and coupons, and more, all represented in an easy to navigate, visual interface.
It seems the visual interface is to be the big thing, but it does not wow me.
Apple
Speaking with the Guardian iDownloadBlog’s Oliver Haslam said: "It appears that iOS 5′s GM release introduced a bug that causes the Setting Time Zone function to keep the location tracking circuitry running constantly, draining battery power considerably.”
He added: “Switching it off may mean that your iPhone will no longer set its own time zone when you travel, but that's a small price to pay for having your iPhone last more than 12 hours on a full charge.”
by Adena Schutzberg on 10/31 at 05:21 AM |
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One of the hot technologies at CES this year was from C3 Technologies. It makes a 3D data capture/creation solution. (APB coverage) Apple has confirmed it aquired the company last year. Now, there's all the speculation about how it will be used and connected to Poly9 (APB coverage) and Placebase (APB coverage), the other two mapping companies Apple now owns. Three C3 staffers are already on the iOS team while the rest of the company remains in Sweden and is now referred to as the Sputnik division.
- PC Mag
by Adena Schutzberg on 10/29 at 03:15 PM |
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