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iPhone Safari to Support Geolocation, Google Latitude Demoed

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Apr 12, 2001
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ComputerWorld points out a little publicized fact that iPhone 3.0's Safari browser will support Geolocation services. This means that websites will be able to request your current location (if you give them permission).
How many times have you had to put in your Zip code in your browser to tell it where you are? Looking for restaurants? Bank branches? Auto repair shops? This can now be built into the browser.
Click to expand...
This certainly hasn't been a secret to developers who were notified by Apple in March of the support:
Safari also supports the Geolocation JavaScript classes, which work with the onboard location services to retrieve the current location of the device.
Click to expand...
The possibilities, however, came to the forefront last week when Google demoed (via SlashGear) their Latitude location service on the iPhone through a web browser alone.

Google said they will be launching the Latitude website for iPhone after the 3.0 OS is released.


Article Link: iPhone Safari to Support Geolocation, Google Latitude Demoed
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2009/05/31/iphone-safari-to-support-geolocation-google-latitude-demoed/
leandromp said:
Is that the new iPhone? it looks like it.
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It's just a new Safari Mobile version. It's been updated to Safari 4 webkit version, which supports a lot of the HTML5 stuff which includes the geolocation stuff. it'll also support the new Nitro JS engine that's in Safari 4, which means it'll be even faster than the 2.2.1 Safari Mobile, noticeable faster.
 
I just wish I could set Location Services: ON in the Settings>General menu and be done with it. Every app still seems to ask me if it's okay to use location settings.
 
I tried this out today (well, the Google Maps, not Google Latitude) on my iPhone 3G with the iPhone 3.0 OS beta. It works great. The accuracy is the same as what you get with GPS (in fact, it uses GPS coordinates).

Even in Firefox 3.5 beta 4, it's stunning how accurate the IP geolocator was! It found me down to the leasing office of my apartment on my street (living in an apartment complex, that's probably the best it can do).

Website: http://htmlfive.appspot.com
 
skwoytek said:
I just wish I could set Location Services: ON in the Settings>General menu and be done with it. Every app still seems to ask me if it's okay to use location settings.
Click to expand...

That can be a good thing security-wise. Watching the video makes me think it could be a new iPhone or it could just be a prototype or an internal Google testing device.

It does look different. No chrome lining and it looks squarer.
 

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its probably just a 3g with a case


also:

dagamer34 said:
I tried this out today (well, the Google Maps, not Google Latitude) on my iPhone 3G with the iPhone 3.0 OS beta. It works great. The accuracy is the same as what you get with GPS (in fact, it uses GPS coordinates).

Even in Firefox 3.5 beta 4, it's stunning how accurate the IP geolocator was! It found me down to the leasing office of my apartment on my street (living in an apartment complex, that's probably the best it can do).

Website: http://htmlfive.appspot.com
Click to expand...


what exactly did you try with google maps and os 3.0?

i just tried maps.google.com through safari but didnt find any way to use the location...any tips?
 
infernohellion said:
Why can't it be built in to Maps?
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doing it this way allows them to make one web app that can be used on the iphone, android and webos.

also, the current situation does not allow google to update maps when new features come out because apple controls it. latitude has been out for a few months now but the iphone has been left out because apple has not updated the maps app. if its a website then google can provide improvements without apple holding them back.
 
skwoytek said:
I just wish I could set Location Services: ON in the Settings>General menu and be done with it. Every app still seems to ask me if it's okay to use location settings.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's annoying to me too. One answer to rule them all - would be nice. :)
 
ruinfx said:
doing it this way allows them to make one web app that can be used on the iphone, android and webos.
Click to expand...

Also means you don't have to wait for a firmware update for the app to get updated.

arn
 
I think I'm not going to check mac rumors until day two or three of WWDC because of all of this iPhone crap. A little speculation is harmless, in fact it's the point of the whole site, but it's been blown way out of proportion, every little detail is front page news, literally.
 
Peace said:
That can be a good thing security-wise. Watching the video makes me think it could be a new iPhone or it could just be a prototype or an internal Google testing device.

It does look different. No chrome lining and it looks squarer.
Click to expand...

Its a skin. Look at the distance from the screen edge to the buttons. Too big. So its a skin.

infernohellion said:
Why can't it be built in to Maps?
Click to expand...

It probably will be build in, or Google will have separate app.
 
ivladster said:
It probably will be build in, or Google will have separate app.
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I would hope it was built-in, but from this preview, it doesn't look like it. Wishful thinking, though.

I wonder if the Google Lat geolocation services will still work if the Safari App is closed? I wouldn't want to have to have Safari open all the time for this to work.

ivladster said:
It probably will be build in, or Google will have separate app.
Click to expand...


Or it could just pop-up in their Google Mobile App like they original said it would. Clicking on the "Application" could then bring up a Safari browser within the Google Mobile App itself.
 
mikeinternet said:
Regardless of this working in safari. Wouldn't it always work better as a stand alone app?
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It might but you are pulling all your data from the web not matter what. Might as well just be a web app as it is right now. Web Apps are a pain sometimes but the google mail web app for iphone is very nice. The nice thing about safari it has many built in things already. Hopefully the new safari will be much faster. Also they do take up a lot less space.

Peace said:
That can be a good thing security-wise. Watching the video makes me think it could be a new iPhone or it could just be a prototype or an internal Google testing device.

It does look different. No chrome lining and it looks squarer.
Click to expand...

Just a case looks like. Apple wouldnt slip that much I dont think.
 
It's a convenient feature to have. However, I'm glad we have the option of turning it off.
 
Does this mean if your phone stolen you could possibly track it down if being used!

Hi All, I lost/had stolen my ipod touch, It pains me to think someone is using it even tho my email address is enscribed on the back.

I would now like to get an iphone but these devices are small expensive and there are lots of dishonest people about, I would like some security on the device.

Rather than the device be rendered useless with the aid of a pin number I would like to locate the device whether it be at home in a public place.
In theory I should be able to do this via my desktop? Remote App anyone?

Makes sense no?

Im guessing that this common sense attitude wont be quickly adopted and that this is only going to be used as a marketing tool to sell advert products to us depending on our location. Thing is the isn't that much good if the device is lost or stolen.
 
madina said:
Hi All, I lost/had stolen my ipod touch, It pains me to think someone is using it even tho my email address is enscribed on the back.
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That would extremely piss me off too. I feel for you.
 
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