“Google is set on Wednesday to launch a new feature in its Google Maps for Mobile program that automatically sets your location even in phones that lack a global positioning system (GPS) device,” Elinor Mills reports for CNET.
“The beta feature triangulates your approximate location based on nearby cell towers so you don’t have to type in your address,” Mills reports.
“The new My Location feature is launching in beta to get it into the hands of consumers faster, said Steve Lee, product manager for Google Maps for Mobile. The performance of the technology, which was developed in-house, will improve the more people use it, he said,” Mills reports. “‘We’re creating a database of cell tower locations and that database is built from people using Google Maps for Mobile,’ Lee said.”
“Because it works indoors, doesn’t drain the battery as much as GPS does, and is much faster (a few seconds compared with what can be a few minutes on GPS), according to Lee. However, GPS is more accurate; GPS can be off by a few meters while My Location will be within 10 city blocks, on average, he said,” Mills reports.
“Google Maps for Mobile is available on the iPhone, but the My Location feature isn’t yet,” Mills reports.
Full article here.
InformationWeek’s Stephen Wellman interviewed Steve Lee, product manager, Google Maps for mobile, who says, “As more and more devices that support cell ID technology ship, we’ll be working to make the My Location technology available on them. Users can access Google Maps for mobile with My Location in the following countries, though coverage may vary at first: US, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Portugal, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Russian Federation, and Taiwan.”
Full interview here.
Google Maps with My Location (beta):
Direct link via YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIG-Dx7kF3Q
Google Maps with My Location (beta) here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Tony” for the heads up.]
But will Apple upgrade it for the iPhone???
Get it on the iPhone, Steve-O!!!
I squarely believe this is a good idea, as it could help to keep you from driving in circles, and it will planely help the tourist angle by showing the right way to avoid traffic with parallel routes to alternate intersections, and also to pinpoint businesses to some degree, which could easily impress acute girl….
I want this! C’mon Apple/Google!
@TowerTone
What about obtuse girls?
“[…] a few seconds compared with what can be a few minutes on GPS […]”
Actually, I’m pretty happy with my Garmin Edge 205. It’s initial sync is generally around 30 seconds. Of course, it stores what satellites were around when it was turned off. I have had it take over a minute when I radically move it while it’s off (eg, taking it from Southern California to Vermont).
By the way–for those of you getting all excited, 10 city blocks is about one mile. I’m not sure it’s going to be all that useful for any kind of crowded environment…
Typical, if Apple can’t profit from it, you (us) won’t get it. Apple is being too cagey with the iPhone. His Steveness just cannot give up even a small amount of control. It is not in his nature.
“What about obtuse girls?”
The angle of the dangle is inversely proportional to the circumference of the field.
Google Maps Mobile has GPS-support!
Just downloaded the new version and tested it on my Nokia N95.
I like this! Other than the accuracy—which I seriously hope they rectify—this is pretty sweet. Less battery draining and fast. Guess it can be a good alternative to actual GPS… at least until GPS is more energy efficient anyway.
No new hardware is needed for iPhone. It is only a software issue. Now all the people bitching about non GPS look like idiots. That obtuse, battery sucking, overserving garbage on phones is soon to be a thing of the past.
All that money Nokia is spending will go down the toilet.
Seriously guys, this type of triangulation is not going to give you the accuracy of a GPS, which can give you elevation and so forth.
This will be great as an add on, but it ain’t for hiking, sailing, locating you crop; uhhh, where was I….
Jack, what the hell…..
Are you stupid or what? Has nothing to do with profit, it’s a software issue that I’m sure can be added to just about any cell phone. It’s a matter of licensing and maybe Google doesn’t want to license it until it’s finished.
Dumba$$!
A similar app is available already for “jailbroken” iPhones. Naviscon does the same thing except after the 30 day trial you have to pay $29. I’m all about the free app from Google!
And people, most importantly: Lichtenstein is the painter, and Liechtenstein is the country. I know it’s informationweeks fault.
…and Licked In Stein is gay porn….
Do we really want Google knowing where we are? I understand the cell phone companies know where we are, but that’s out of technical necessity in routing the calls.
The great thing about GPS is that it’s one-way communication — you get signals from the satellites, but no information goes back. It’s up to you and your device in determining how the data is used.
i’ve had this feature forever on my blackberry.
I just hit the “0” key and it automatically finds me on google maps and pinpoints the spot with a blinking icon…
been using this on my BB for months now… and often get My Location to within 3-10 meters… which is way more accurate than you really need.
For all of you that have had this…it uses the GPS in your BB currently, but the cell location is new.
This better come to iPhone instantly upon launch.
Hum, I’d have to think Apple knows about this. I’m hoping they’ll provide this to us ASAP so we can start using it. I know it won’t replace my GPS, but if I’m walking around a strange city I usually don’t have my GPS with me anyway….
I don’t have to worry about it since I never go anywhere.
And Lichen Stein is really bad beer.
“…and Licked In Stein is gay porn….”
But it’s pronounced “leaked on stain”. A German thing.
Did any of the bozos proclaiming this as THE GPS feature that iPhone needs, actually read the article?
“GPS can be off by a few meters while My Location will be within 10 city blocks”
This feature would only be useful to determine what zip code you might be in. Almost completely useless for navigation.