Google brings My Location feature to phone maps
updated 01:00 pm EST, Wed November 28, 2007
Google My Location
Google today upgraded its mobile Maps program with a feature dubbed My Location, a feature that helps pinpoint the whereabouts of a cellphone without demanding a potentially expensive GPS receiver. Similar to assisted GPS, the utility calculates the rough position of the user based on their distance from cellular towers. The feature is usually accurate to within several meters and can even supplement devices which already have GPS, providing a location fix when buildings block satellite reception or consuming less power when a precise fix is less necessary.
My Location is currently in an open beta and does not work with all devices, though most any BlackBerry, Symbian Series 60, or Windows Mobile smartphone can upgrade to the test version of Google Maps. Some Motorola and Sony-Ericsson phones that support mobile Java apps also work, Google says.
Notably, the feature opens the possibility of location-finding on the iPhone, which has lacked both true GPS and assisted GPS to date. The touchscreen phone's version of Maps was co-developed by Apple and Google and so shares code from both companies.
great!
11/28, 01:13pm reply
There has been assisted GPS on the iPhone for a few months now, but it's even better that google now provides the feature!
dliup
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Joined: Jan 2006
Navizon
11/28, 01:48pm reply
Navizon is the GPS assisted solution available right now, but it doesn't work all that well from what I've seen (and it costs money to purchase after the trial period is over.) I'm looking forward to a free option from Google!
schwie
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Joined: Aug 2006
Great!
11/28, 02:13pm reply
I am really hoping that this comes to my iPhone soon. The Google Map feature is one of the ones I find most practical, and having it automatically locate me (even if it isn't 100& precise) would be a wonderful time-saver.
Can anyone confirm, rather than speculate, on plans for Apple to use this? The one helpful fact I can think of is that Steve's original demonstration (the seafood place) seemed to include this.
njfuzzy
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Joined: Apr 2001
dag
11/28, 03:33pm reply
This feature was available through the application Install for the iPhone before firmware 1.1.1 Now it is not available without risking your iPhone from future brickings.
Thanx again APPLE!
BelugaShark
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Joined: Aug 2007
re:dag
11/29, 08:00am reply
Why did Apple remove such a feature when they were promoting it on their own device all along? I have typed seafood on my phone and it thinks that I am still in NJ as opposed to knowing that I am back in NC. I have to type Seafood,Zip Code for it to deliver the closest seafood restaurants in the area that I am in. I am doing this in my normal home WiFi environment. You're right! belugashark...
Tanker10a
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Joined: Jan 2003