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]
Posted on Sunday, Mar 15, 2009 by Rene Ritchie
File Under:App Store Apps, Development, Games, News; Tags: agency wars, facebook, facebook connect, gaming, social networking, south by southwest, sxsw, TUAW, whhrl
South by Southwest (SXSW) 2009 is trendy, twitter-filling, and the source of increasingly social iPhone news releases. What’s going on this year?
FaceBook connect comes to the iPhone. Sure, they may just have redesigned their home pages to basically become Twitter with invitations to apps you don’t want and events on continents you can’t attend, but behind the scenes:
You can now use Facebook Connect on your iPhone in the same way you can for a website. Simply download any application featuring Facebook Connect and log in using your Facebook account from your iPhone. Then, you’ll be able to easily find your Facebook friends. They will be able to see the same profile information as they can on the site, controlled by your privacy settings. You can also share what you’re doing with your iPhone applications with all of your Facebook friends by publishing stories back to your profile.
Pelago has launched Whrrl 2.0:
an application for the iPhone that enables people to capture and share the moments of their lives, as they happen, as a story. Through location, photos and text updates, users can easily turn everyday life experiences into lasting stories that can be remembered, organized and shared. Each user controls exactly who can view their story, ranging from public to private, and includes the option to broadcast status updates on Facebook and Twitter.
SGN Launched Agency Wars, a game tied into — you guessed it! — social networking and Facebook connect!
Agency Wars is capitalizing on the classic spy genre and offeres massively multiplayer game play so you can become the most deadly spy around.
TUAW is also live and on location at SXSW 2009, and have posted up coverage of the iPhone Gaming Panel.
Goodrec, from the company by the same name, is now available in the iTunes App Store for the absurdly low price of FREE and is also accessible online at their web site, www.goodrec.com.
Although there are numerous apps that take advantage of the location-based feature the iPhone offers in order to serve up local eats, treats and other items, Goodrec is worth a hard look and download.
Even though it’s free, does Goodrec deliver the goods? Is it worth taking up some space on your iPhone, or is it something you’ll use a couple times and then banish to the electronic void of deleted apps? Read on for my take on Goodrec!
Read the rest of this entry »
Last month, Dieter let us know that Facebook’s popular, but feature-thin App Store application would be getting an update to (hopefully!) bring it up to par with the older WebApp version accessible via MobileSafari browsing. The due date was September, and boy did they just manage to sneak it in under the wire! Check out the iTunes App Store for Facebook 2.0 (still free!).
So what’s in the Facebook 2.0 update?
- Notifications
- Full news feed
- News feed story comments
- People search
- Friend requests
- Photo tagging
- Photo captioning
- Photo posts to friends’ walls
- Full mini-feed combined with the wall
- Entire inbox, including sent and updates
- Inbox search
- Message attachments
- Speed and stability improvements
Impressions so far? The extra content accessibility is awesome. The UI changes are interesting, especially the horizontally scrolling menu bar under Home, but the visualization of it seems more than a little strange. What do you think? Is it as good as the WebApp yet? As the Facebook website? Has it changed your experience of the social monster? Let us know!
(Thanks to Gregory for sending this in!)
