Track your friends with the new Google Latitude for Google Maps for Mobile

By on Feb 4, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Services February 4, 2009

Fan of Google Maps? Use it a lot on your cell phones? Maybe you use Loopt to stay in touch with friends and family and check out what they’re up to and where they are? Well, starting today, Google’s new Latitude feature looks to steal their lunch. Google not only lets you see yourself on the map, but your friends as well (assuming they accept your invitation and opt-in to sharing their location with you). Google Maps for mobile with Latitude is available now for Android (it’s in the current RC33 update that’s being rolled out), Blackberry, Symbian S60 and Windows Mobile. The Apple iPhone version will be available soon as part of the Google Mobile App. And, if you don’t have a smartphone (uh, why are you even visiting this site?), you can even add the Google Latitude Gadget to your iGoogle homepage. If you use Google Gears or Google Chrome, the location of your desktop or laptop can be tracked, too. Pretty awesome stuff. Just don’t go askin’ any BGR writers to share their location, we’re pretty private people, you know.

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23 Comments

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  • JoeS

    you can set your location to what you want people to see. I can say im somewhere im not.

    I have mixed feelings about this feature on latitude. Kinda defeats the purpose of the program. Either hide or show where u are. Why lie?

  • 1adonis1

    Hey there Loopt…oh wait that’s google latitude. :

  • emag

    Well, since I’m sick of waiting for Loopt to support the BB Bold… I mean, seriously, it’s been 3 months since it showed up in the US officially, and it’s been available a lot longer elsewhere, and still nothing?!

    Looks like I might have to finally get an account w/ the GOOG panopticon now.

  • Chad

    I think its awesome Google is doing this, as Loopt flat out won’t support Windows Mobile. Why Loopt would do that, and eliminate such a LARGE number of people that could use their service is beyond me, but hell Google will do it better anyway. F*** Loopt. When I heard about Loopt, I immediately checked it out, only to be disappointed. Hopefully this Latitude thing from Google will work for me….

  • aleis

    this works and its cool :)

  • http://www.bgr.com The Boy Genius

    @emag

    Dude, I feel your pain. The older version can work (you need 3.1.2 not 3.1.4.) but it’s terrible. Especially with the Android and iPhone clients being so nicely done. Bye bye, Loopt.

    @Chad

    You’re completely right. The other thing about Google’s Latitude though, is that it’s pretty much the entire world that is a potential userbase. How many people do you know without a Gmail/Google account and without a mobile phone?

  • Roger A

    Okay everyone…. WHO WANTS TO STALK ME!!

    No, Im totally serious.. Im down for it!

  • champ22

    i dunno im thinking brightkite has the whole “ohhh stalk me” game on lock…..well for anyone owning an iphone it does…people who own the iphone have been doing this for months now so as long as google plan is to soak up the market apple left behind they should be fine

  • StevenGlansburg

    Google is turning into Skynet like in Terminator.. freaking me out

  • http://Donthaveone Sarah Klain

    I personally find this new application creepy and unwarranted, especially if it gets into the wrong hands. It’s takes a minute to like someone but it also takes a second to dislike someone. Moments of haste can leave other people vulnerable. I’d be very weary with who has this access to this kind of information.

    p.s What if you just broke up with someone and you’re out on a date? ;)

  • JonnyBruha

    Well, if you don’t have a smartphone, you’re not just limited to using it on a PC. You can download the Java client, though I don’t have one lying around to find out if Latitude is included in that version.

    This is really a breakthrough. Everyone wanted something like this but there was no uniformity across platforms, but I know very few people who DON’T use GoogleMaps. I can’t wait for it to be available to iPhone and Android users so that everyone can reap the benefits.

  • http://buddhaofhollywood.blogspot.com/ buddha of hollywood

    I absolutely love it! :)

  • http://411macjunkie.com Alroy Gibson

    Yes it definitely looks like it’s good bye to Loopt!

  • Ayaz

    this is a good software.

  • Sonic

    There’s a update already.
    Google Mobile Maps v3.0.1.

    Nearly everyone (family and close friends) I invited is too paranoid to use it. I think it will be nice to have while I’m out and about on my Harley, in case something happens…

  • Jordan Brown

    I like it easy to use. And to those nervous ones, they can always pre-select somewhere on the map themselves if they don’t want to give away where they live or something. My brother was in Portugal on the map even though he was next door here in CA. Haha

  • Dan

    I agree with Sonic. It’s a nice tool to let friends track my Harley trips. I tried BB Tracker which works okay too, but everyone uses Google. Keep up the good work Google!

  • Big O

    What a waste of resources…I’m not a narcissist – I don’t want people to know what I’m doing.

  • Marc D

    All that remains is for you to be able to remotely activate the microphone and camera.

  • Galvatron

    BIG borother is wating you and his name is google

  • http://(null) PROLIFIC

    Now our girlfriends/wives/jump offs will know our every step…. Not good!

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

  • justin

    yo guys dont get this it makes u look like a mad creeper u have a cell phone for calling ur friends not tracking/STALKING them cus i dont want my friend to kno that i’m where ever it invades your privcy

  • Francisco Velasco

    gracias

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