Google Maps for Mobile v3.00 released
Published by Steve Litchfield at 9:58 UTC, February 4th 2009
Yup, Google Maps for Mobile, the native S60 version, just hit v3.00 an hour ago. The main change is the addition of Google Latitude, a way of finding your friends on the map. More details, screenshots and the high-res version of the Latitude launch video below. To grab your own copy of v3.00, go to m.google.com and click on 'More' and then 'Maps'.
Latitude seems to be very similar to Nokia Chat Contacts on Ovi, Nokia FriendView and BuddyCloud, amongst others. The big, big question in this space is 'which player will get mass market traction first?'
With Nokia not pushing FriendView very hard, my money's now on the big G, with Google Maps being one of the most downloaded pieces of mobile software in the world and with Latitude apparently being completely cross-platform, so Android, Windows Mobile, Blackberry as well as S60. Plus any desktop browser in the world looking at Google Maps or iGoogle. And with iPhone coming soon, too, presumably in the next iPhone firmware update.
Some screens to illustrate how Google Latitude is set up on an S60 handset:
Latitude is the cornerstone of the new v3.0, I couldn't see much else that was new. And there's still no StreetView in the UK - I looked 8-)
Privacy is taken very seriously. Your location is only shared (to a degree you're happy with) with your stated friends and even then you can turn location sharing off if you change your mind.
Also notable is that you don't have to use GPS/cell tower location - you can also set your location manually. So if your boss thinks you're supposed to be in the office etc...... 8-)
Showing how friend location and status are reported. Note that Rafe now lives at Buckingham Palace! We wish him all the best...
And here's the high-res version of the official launch video on the cross-platform service, demonstrating how friends' location is actually viewed:
And here's the original commentary from Google.
Steve Litchfield, AAS, 9.40am, 4th Feb 2009
Categories: Software
Platforms: S60 3rd Edition, S60 5th Edition
News Discussion
tenoce
It is very interesting seeing that Google and Nokia coming from a totally different field have come to almost the same result.
Contacts on OVI vs. Google Latitude
It will be very interesting what approach will be the winner: Google which dominates the internet or Nokia which dominates the handset markets. Will users download to their phones all the Google software (because they use it already on the net), which still needs some effort from the customer or will Nokia win with all its competing applications already preinstalled on its handsets?
Contacts on OVI vs. Google Latitude
It will be very interesting what approach will be the winner: Google which dominates the internet or Nokia which dominates the handset markets. Will users download to their phones all the Google software (because they use it already on the net), which still needs some effort from the customer or will Nokia win with all its competing applications already preinstalled on its handsets?
Unregistered
Is that hamster in your contact list???
Ratkat
I really like Nokia's Friendview, but being cross-platform Google Maps Latitude has got to be the winner for me, not everyone has or likes Nokia's, it give you a choice if you wish to use other makes, and when the iPhone takes over the world, we'll all still be able to use it :-)
Unregistered
you have to have google maps app always on in order to make this useful, don't you? how does it update your location? if it does it only when you turn google maps app on, it's pretty useless...
Ratkat
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Unregistered
you have to have google maps app always on in order to make this useful, don't you? how does it update your location? if it does it only when you turn google maps app on, it's pretty useless...
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What effect this will have on battery life I don't know, but I am going to leave it all day and find out.
dougalzene
As much as I convince people to pick up a n82, it's Google Maps for me - purely for being a cross-platform solution. Now I just need time-sensitive privacy options!
juwlz
I spotted Google's Latitude post earlier today (before this one).
We really could have made good use of Latitude a couple of weekends ago, when I was trying to collect my partner by car after a football match in a town I don't know, and the roads to our intended meeting point were closed.
We both had Google Maps and could each see our own location, but although I searched and searched, I couldn't find an option to send him my location (e.g. a location by SMS - and that was all we needed.) Latitude's ability to plot a walking route from My Location to Friend's location would have been just the job, while I sat in a traffic jam (and then turned round to sit in a car park and wait for him to find me).
I like the fact that Latitude gives you the option to show people either exactly or roughly where you are (good for privacy). What I'd really like to see is that option on a friend-by-friend basis (e.g. allow certain friends to see exactly where I am, but only give general location information by default). I've only shared with one contact so far, but it doesn't appear to be a contact-specific setting.
Not sure why they decided on giving it a misleading name though!
Now if only Google would give us the option to buy turn-by-turn voice routing, I can't help feeling they'd probably corner the market!
Julie
We really could have made good use of Latitude a couple of weekends ago, when I was trying to collect my partner by car after a football match in a town I don't know, and the roads to our intended meeting point were closed.
We both had Google Maps and could each see our own location, but although I searched and searched, I couldn't find an option to send him my location (e.g. a location by SMS - and that was all we needed.) Latitude's ability to plot a walking route from My Location to Friend's location would have been just the job, while I sat in a traffic jam (and then turned round to sit in a car park and wait for him to find me).
I like the fact that Latitude gives you the option to show people either exactly or roughly where you are (good for privacy). What I'd really like to see is that option on a friend-by-friend basis (e.g. allow certain friends to see exactly where I am, but only give general location information by default). I've only shared with one contact so far, but it doesn't appear to be a contact-specific setting.
Not sure why they decided on giving it a misleading name though!
Now if only Google would give us the option to buy turn-by-turn voice routing, I can't help feeling they'd probably corner the market!
Julie
Unregistered
People think I'm mad when I mention this, but I guess I will take the risk.
About two years ago I was using an application called Blin (I think) or Blink...I can't remember.
Does anyone remember this application? It did a similar thing to this googlemaps but allowed you to upload photos at your location and the ability to upload videos was in the works. I can't find any sign of this on the internet.
About two years ago I was using an application called Blin (I think) or Blink...I can't remember.
Does anyone remember this application? It did a similar thing to this googlemaps but allowed you to upload photos at your location and the ability to upload videos was in the works. I can't find any sign of this on the internet.
Unregistered
Anyone else getting 'expired certificate' when attempting to install it?
Unregistered
Its bliin and I still use it get it here m.bliin.com/
Unregistered
> Anyone else getting 'expired certificate' when attempting to install it?
Was this on a 5800? If so, search for nokia-5800-certificate-expired-firmware-bug (there's a newlc article. I'll have to register so I can post links damnit! :-)
Was this on a 5800? If so, search for nokia-5800-certificate-expired-firmware-bug (there's a newlc article. I'll have to register so I can post links damnit! :-)
juwlz
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Unregistered
Anyone else getting 'expired certificate' when attempting to install it?
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btw, I was wrong - you CAN set the level of accuracy on a friend-by-friend basis, and also (globally) whether you want to update your position at all.
Julie
fernando20
Is this the only change? Updated, but I'm not keen on using this latitude thing.
Though I do feel sorry for Nokia, after all the trouble they had with developing friend view, I wonder if they'll continue with the plan and integrate it on maps 3.0 anyway
Though I do feel sorry for Nokia, after all the trouble they had with developing friend view, I wonder if they'll continue with the plan and integrate it on maps 3.0 anyway
juwlz
Quote:
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Originally Posted by fernando20
Is this the only change? Updated, but I'm not keen on using this latitude thing.
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Unregistered
got the app working but gadget on igoogle says:"not available for your location" I'm in UK
UKJeeper
Its all a bit 'nothing new under the sun' isn't it? Apps like Viewranger have had the ability to find other people a long time before 'SOLO' was even coined. And for a much more important reason (if i don't come back from my Cumbria hike on time i'd like the fact that someone can find my corpse...) than making sure we meet at the same latte house.
It even hooks into your Facebook, ages before everyone started getting excited about the N97 widget.
Admittedly google maps is free (assuming you have an unlimited data plan...), but as an app Latitude isn't breaking any new ground.
It even hooks into your Facebook, ages before everyone started getting excited about the N97 widget.
Admittedly google maps is free (assuming you have an unlimited data plan...), but as an app Latitude isn't breaking any new ground.
shadamehr
The Google Video talks of being able to use this to:
SMS
Email
Google Talk
...to your added friends.
Forgive me, but I see no way of being able to do ANY of these things, on my S60 version.
Am I missing something, or are Google being a bit lenient with the truth.
Either way, I still LOVE this app - the first mainstream, cheap way, for my son to tell me where he really is, if I need to pick him up etc., or my partner for that matter.
But I'd also love to be able to SMS, Email or Google Talk my friends, like Google claim you can do.
Anyone know where I am going wrong?
SMS
Google Talk
...to your added friends.
Forgive me, but I see no way of being able to do ANY of these things, on my S60 version.
Am I missing something, or are Google being a bit lenient with the truth.
Either way, I still LOVE this app - the first mainstream, cheap way, for my son to tell me where he really is, if I need to pick him up etc., or my partner for that matter.
But I'd also love to be able to SMS, Email or Google Talk my friends, like Google claim you can do.
Anyone know where I am going wrong?
streetdaddy
I tried updating to the new version of Google Maps on my Samsung INNOV8 (i8510), but it says I can't install it because it is a built-in app. Any clues on how I can get it to update to the latest version?
Unregistered
Hi all,
Just downloaded this update and while the location tag works and i can see people, i can no longer use the zoom in or out keys 1 and 3, nothing works.
Any ideas or anyone else had this problem.
Cheers
Colm
Just downloaded this update and while the location tag works and i can see people, i can no longer use the zoom in or out keys 1 and 3, nothing works.
Any ideas or anyone else had this problem.
Cheers
Colm
gemikon
Latitude works great on my n85 but I experience the following problem that was not there in the previous vrersion of gmaps: Very often the 3G connection drops and then when it needs to connect again it asks me again about which connection point to use? Previously it was always connected to 3G. It is irritating as sometims it asks me every 30 seconds... I have not changed any settings and all other programs that connect to the internet work great. It even happens with wifi. So i guess its a fault of the version 3. Does anybody else experience it?
qlifee
When I download Latitude on my Nokia E90 as well as the E65, a “File Corrupted” message ends the installation! :frown:
Maybe the S60 3rd Edtn version of the software has a problem... any body faced the same? :con?
Maybe the S60 3rd Edtn version of the software has a problem... any body faced the same? :con?
juwlz
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Unregistered
got the app working but gadget on igoogle says:"not available for your location" I'm in UK
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There are posts on the Google groups about this.
Julie
juwlz
Quote:
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Originally Posted by qlifee
When I download Latitude on my Nokia E90 as well as the E65, a “File Corrupted” message ends the installation! :frown:
Maybe the S60 3rd Edtn version of the software has a problem... any body faced the same? :con? |
PaulyLaw
Hmmm .. am I really the only one who REALLY doesn't like where all this is going? Maybe I'm just too paranoid but the thought Google / Nokia / the US government knowing where I am (or at least my phone is) at any given time kinda gives me the jitters.
This technology is still in its infancy really but we already have a lot of the software we use on a daily basis on our desktops "phoning home" with information on our usage, is it really a stretch to think over the next few years that the "optional" use of this technology will maybe not be so optional after all, with Google, Nokia able to track us even if we don't want to be tracked?
Not to mention that even away from conspiracy theories of big brother tracking us, I actually don't want everyone knowing where I am all of the time.
Then again, maybe it is me. I don't even use facebook!
This technology is still in its infancy really but we already have a lot of the software we use on a daily basis on our desktops "phoning home" with information on our usage, is it really a stretch to think over the next few years that the "optional" use of this technology will maybe not be so optional after all, with Google, Nokia able to track us even if we don't want to be tracked?
Not to mention that even away from conspiracy theories of big brother tracking us, I actually don't want everyone knowing where I am all of the time.
Then again, maybe it is me. I don't even use facebook!
Dynite
They already can work out where you are by cell tower triangulation.