Footprints: Track Friends & Family With This Handy iOS App
by Joe White
May 6, 2011
Footprints (free) is a recently released iOS app that allows users to safely share their location with friends and family.
Currently, the app is available to download and use for free. However, after an initial trial period (which lasts three months), users have to subscribe to the service in app, for a minimum of $0.99 every three months.
I've just downloaded the app, and I have to admit: I'm intrigued. The last time I considered using a "people tracking service" such as this, was when Google Latitude became available in the App Store. I eventually stopped using that app, because of the massive strain it put on my iPhone's battery. However, Footprints promises to be a little more economical when it comes to preserving your iOS device's battery life. As outlined in the app's release notes:
[The app runs] in the background – without draining your battery – by leveraging Apple's Significant Location Change technology, which monitors location changes as your device “sees” new cellular towers. (Footprints typically logs a waypoint when there is movement of 500 meters to 3 km or a quarter-mile to 2 miles, depending on cellular coverage in the area.) This default setting provides a good balance of timely location updates without draining the battery.The application itself is beautifully designed, and works great. Users can define tracking options (as you can see in the below screenshot), and choose exactly what is shared with friends and family. Furthermore, you can choose exactly who you share your location with via a "permissions" list. Locations are displayed on a map screen, and the application also integrates with Facebook Places. Users can make check ins using Footprints, and view their friends' check ins, too. As mentioned, Footprints is currently available to download and use for free. You get a three month trial period before having to subscribe to the app, which is great. Check it out, and let us know your thoughts in the comments. [gallery columns="2"] [via TechCrunch]
