Google Latitude released for iPhone, Apple figures users are too stupid to know what Apps are what
Cell Phones, The Internet — By Andrew on July 23, 2009 9:09 pmIf you have not heard, Google Latitude is a great application that allows you and your friends/relatives to help know where you are. All you need is your Google account (like you don’t have one) and you can use the web based app on your iGoogle page to pin point your location at any given moment. On a regular PC it uses your IP address and ISP information to get a general location, but on a GPS enabled phone.. it can pinpoint it as good as anything can. It’s already been out for Blackberry and Android (obviously) for months now, but just recently it finally came out for the iPhone. Unfortunately, it’s not really an iPhone “app” per say, it’s a web app. Why? because Apple knows their users easily shell out the $400 cash 3x for every new iPhone, so they have to be too slow to realize the difference between Google Latitude and the MAPS app…
The real reason it’s an issue is because iPhone’s can’t multitask. It can’t run in the background like on Android or Blackberries, or even the Palm Pre if they make an app for that. So what can you do? You can make a new maps app that incorporates Latitude, since Google maps controls the map functionality of the iPhone, or you can make a separate app entirely, or finally you can make it a web app and call it a day. According to Gizmodo, they decided that the best course of action was to not confuse users, and just make a web app. I’m guessing the rebuilt maps app was out of the question because Mr Jobs didn’t want to push wide-scale update app to everyone, but that’s just my own guess.
No matter how bland this move is, Latitude is still a great app. It can actually help you trace a stolen phone if you’re feeling dangerous, and it also cuts down on worrying for parents not sure where their kids are… If anything I’d install it on their phone without them knowing and let it run! *cough*check your phones kids*cough*. Really, it’s like everyone running around with Boost Mobile, only without the stupid rappers or armpit-hair-draggin’ hippies. Where you at?!
Thanks Gizmodo
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