Google Launches My Location for Safari on iPhone 3.0
[qi:gigaom_icon_geolocation] Google (s Goog) yesterday evening launched My Location for iPhone 3.0, which returns search results relevant to a user’s current location. The feature, which only works in conjunction with the Safari browser, helps to narrow down results when looking for stuff on the go. Previously, this was possible using the Google Mobile App. Because of privacy concerns, Google says it has made My Location an opt-in service.
The new search capabilities leverage the HTML 5 Geolocation API support included with Safari in iPhone 3.0. (More details can be found on Apple’s web site.) I think in the not-so-distant future more and more developers will leverage this browser’s geo-location capabilities to build compelling applications.
I’ve often wondered what kind of applications would emerge as a result, and how the location information would make them different from previous generations of apps. Any thoughts?
The functionality is available for Blackberry Browsers, Browsers supporting Google Gears(Android,some Windows Mobile) and others as well. For some reason it seems to be an underused feature, despite being so useful.
I wrote an open source library that provides a simple interface to the variety of APIs and services:
http://code.google.com/p/geo-location-javascript/
enjoy
Word of caution – Google “My location” pulls cell tower IDs by default ( GPS optional ) and in doing so throws a flag at some carriers ( AT&T especially ). The result my be getting your data connection turned off until the log file gets reviewed.
Not tin foil hat paranoia, happened to me after enabling “My location” in Google maps on my phone.
Yelp, anyone?
I have been considering an entry in the promotions space. It is awfully difficult to get smaller businesses to use readily available tools.
The ability to opt in might be optional. But, is the ability for Google to know where you are optional?
Xtify.com
Geo-Location applications is seriuosly xtify’s thing – take a look!