iPhone Owners Can Now Get Checked In With Google Latitude
March 22, 2011
Nearly two months after the Android version of Google Latitude gained the familiar location-based social-networking "check-in" feature, iPhone users now have a chance to share the name of the shop, store, etc the moment they step inside.
Now you can share the specific name of the coffee shop, restaurant, store, or park that you'll be hanging out at without your friends needing to guess simply by your map location. Not only that, but automatic check-out allows others to know when you've decided to move on. Google Latitude for iOS v2.1 also employs more efficient background location monitoring, offering less battery drain.
Google's location sharing app contains another common feature of location-based social-networking services: status ranks. The more times you check-in to a place, the higher you can build your rank, from Regular to VIP to Guru.
Google Latitude features:
• Check in and gain status at the places you go to share with friends.
• See your friends on a map – find out who’s nearby and meet up.
• Share your location continuously with whomever you choose – help friends and family stay in touch with you, even when you can’t take out your phone.
• Control your privacy – share only city-level location, hide your location, or turn off background updating at any time.
As a related reminder, the Google blog post announcing the Latitude update also mentions that Google Places now supports 30 languages.
The free Google Latitude is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, third generation iPod touch, and fourth generation iPod touch running iOS 4.0 or later. Background location updates require a GPS-enabled iDevice capable of background multitasking: iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPad Wi-Fi + 3G.
