Loopt [Free - iTunes link], which matches social networks with location-based services into one smoldering hot Web 2.0 sammich, has struck a deal with AT&T that will let them update their iPhone users’ location information even when the Loopt app proper isn’t running.
Yes, you read that correctly — the Loopt iPhone app isn’t being granted any extra special background multi-tasking sanction by Apple for the iPhone, this is strictly a server-to-server, Loopt-to-AT&T deal, and it will come at a price. BusinessInsider scores the scoop:
Loopt will first offer the new always-on service in a trial for 5,000 users. You can sign up at Loopt’s site using your iPhone’s MobileSafari browser. After the 14-day trial, the always-on feature will cost $3.99 per month, added to your AT&T bill.
BusinessInsider also renews that old rumor about how Apple is seriously considering limited multi-tasking in a future software update. And, yes, they’ll have to have something interesting to tempt users with in iPhone 4.0/4G next summer, so why not run with that? We’d like it!
But back to Loopt, anyone dying to give AT&T an extra $4 a month for precise stalking tracking of their friends and family?
[Via Daring Fireball]
Like an old episode of Star Trek, Apple patents provide us with a look at many possible futures for the iPhone, some of which — but not all of which — may one day be ours. Cases in point, AppleInsider rounds up the latest batch from Cupertino:
Location-based home screen means a user would be presented with a dynamically generated Home Screen based on factors such as location (get off the plane, automagically be presented with local weather, maps, contacts, etc.)
Speech-to-text would take what you say into the iPhone and transcribe it into editable text (similar to what many 3rd party apps offer now).
Image transportation, where picture are automagically scaled and sent for display on a TV or similar external monitor.
Event-based contact lists, hosted server-side, that would allow access for event participants.
In-call file transfer would let users share a file with someone they’re already talking to on the phone.
Yeah, iPhone 4.0 is coming when again?
The iPhone Dev-Team take a break from the Jailbreak to throw some light on the issue of 3rd party iPhone apps tracking users’ location. Joey Hess and our friends over at PreCentral.net kicked up a bit of a ruckus last week detailing how the Palm Pre reports users’ location data back to Palm HQ. Well, says the Dev-Team:
Although we have yet to find an application by Apple that tracks your location, there are certainly a number of “free” applications in the official AppStore that are designed to do just that. Case in point: there’s this rather cute/gimicky app that lets you determine the tip for your waiter or waitress by tilting your phone as you pass it around the restaurant table. But if you dig a little deeper (like bushing did) you’ll find it uses a library by Pinch Media that is specifically designed to track your geographical location through time, then upload that data to Pinch Media. (Oh and it also show you an ad, as an extra bonus).
They point out that the iPhone will ask before any app is allowed to use location data, but also that it will keep asking to the extent that users might just agree to prevent being constantly annoyed with popups.
The Dev-Team goes so far as to describe these types of apps using the dreaded “s” word. That’s right — SPYWARE. However, in a web increasingly dominated by companies seeking to aggregate (hopefully anonymized?!) user data as a way to monetize (providing free or cheap apps in exchange for the shared data and tolerance for advertising), how broadly can that term now be applied? Many, especially tech-savvy, users are happy to let Google’s Gmail scan their email and serve ads in exchange for the service (and don’t even get us started on Chrome parsing all URLs a user enters through Google, or their purchase of DoubleClick…)
Should we be concerned more about small, 3rd party companies? About Apple, Palm, and Google-type companies? Or is it just the way of the world now?
How about this — Perhaps Apple could give us app-specific Location settings, much as we now have app-specific Notification settings? That way, there’d be a list of apps that use location, and we could individually turn off those with which we don’t want to share our location. How about it, Apple?
TiPb loves answering your questions, but we also love sharing our answers with the community in hopes that more people will benefit, and even better answers will present themselves (hey, that’s why we have them forums!). Today’s question comes from Stupendoussteve on Twitter:
ever heard of iPhone finding you at a previous address, states away, where you’ve never even taken the phone (post restore)?
We have! And TiPb answers after the break!
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