If the app ever makes it through Apple’s notoriously strict review process, PlaceTrack could give Google’s Latitude service a much needed boost by enabling iPhone owners to automatically update their location without having to manually “check-in” each time.
Automatic Google Latitude updates have been part of Android since the launch of Latitude but iPhone users would have to manually “check-in” by way of a browser bookmarklet. PlaceTrack aims to deliver the same functionality as its Android cousin by utilizing iOS4′s new background features, becoming the first iPhone app to deliver such a service.
To get the most out of PlaceTrack all an iPhone user needs to do is to download the app (when/if it’s approved), install it, authenticate with Google, switch on the background feature and then quit the app. It’s that easy.
PlaceTrack has a few clever features – one of the most useful being when the app crashes. If the app unexpectedly quits and backgrounding is enabled, the app will automatically launch itself in the background on the first location change event. Users can also publish location information to Facebook aswell as manually updating via email.
The app can also double as a “Find My iPhone” service, if the app is launched and processing location data in the background, a user can look up their username on Latitude to get an idea of where their phone is (we don’t recommend trying to recover your iPhone yourself, alert the authorities!).
PlaceTrack could help bring Latitude up to the level of its competitors like Gowalla and Foursquare, updating friends as to your whereabouts (should you allow them) at almost real-time. As we mentioned above, the app is still awaiting approval, we will update you once Apple makes its decision.
Be really interesting if Apple approves this. I suspect they wont.
I was so keen to have my movements tracked I did a little labs project at work that syncs (sends) your Twitter Location with Google Latitude. Because I’m tweeting all the time with location enabled this works quite well.
If you want to check it out, you can see it here: http://vzaar.com/labs/location-sync/
(Disclaimer: I’m CTO for vzaar and this was done a bit to get some buzz for my company vzaar. We still think it’s a cool way to solve the problem for the moment)
I’d be surprised if they didn’t approve this since there is already a similar app called Latitudie that background updates Latitude.
PlaceTrack looks much more feature rich and polished. I’m eagerly awaiting the apps release. Hopefully this additional publicity will help.
That app is called Longitude, and it’s a jailbreak app only available in the Cydia/Rock store. Apple had nothing to do with it.
I’ve been using Latitudie, which has been available in the App Store for some time and I couldn’t be happier. It runs in the background and updates your position as you move.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/latitudie/id373706743?mt=8
PlaceTrack is now available on Cydia. I don’t know why Apple is not approving it for the App Store, some of its features (still missing from similiar apps they approved) probably triggers some sort of escalation.. maybe it’s tracking your Latitude friends on a map but this one is one of the most requested feature that I cannot remove from the app.. so I released on Cydia.
Does PlaceTrack also work in the background on the 3G?
The reason of my question is because Latitudie works in the background but only on 3GS and iPhone 4. On 3G it does not work regardless you have enabled multitasking with redsn0w.
Errr… Latitudie has been in the App Store for a while now. Just use that.
Nico, why is it that you don’t allow reviews of Placetrack on Cydia, and even on your blog comments appear disabled (at least when browsing the mobile version via my ip4)?
I bought it a few days ago and am a little less then impressed – it is not “sleeping” as suggested (my GPS indicator is on constantly even when I’m stopped for some time) and therefore is thrashing my battery.
Clearly a bug. That aside there should be a simple “Update every x minutes or x hours” option as well to simplify things – the “smart update” (only when you move) is a good idea (if implemented right, see above concerns) but for people like me who are move around a LOT at work (about 300 kilometers per day) it’s just updating too often!
Mark, the indicator does not indicate anything regarding the GPS hw power status: when an application is registered to receive significant location change event the arrow is just there.
Please discuss anything related to the application on the application page here: http://www.facebook.com/NicoTranquilli#!/apps/application.php?id=114149145290990&v=wall
most people are not noticing any impact on batteries, though.
Beg to differ, I have the Google Latitude Tracking history to prove that Placetrack appeared to be updating my location almost continually on the day I installed it. I don’t know if it was a bug in the version I had at the time, but my GPS indicator stayed on and battery was severely effected.
FWIW, I bought the “Longitude” app about a year back and it doesn’t trigger the GPS indicator to stay on constantly – since it updated to iOS4 compatibility I’ve moved back to it and my battery issues went away.
PlaceTrack has been finally approved for the App Store: itms://itunes.apple.com/us/app/placetrack/id371178753?mt=8