Safari to Support Geolocation, Video Of Google Latitude Using Feature

[Michael Johnston]

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<a href="http://blogs.computerworld.com/iphones_safari_browser_to_include_geolocation_0" target="_blank">Computerworld Blogs</a> has picked up that iPhone 3.0's Safari now includes Geolocation info. The new API allows web applications to utilize the iPhone's CoreLocation information to determine a user's location. The new feature can be used for any number of things, such as finding nearby restaurants or automatically filling out your Zip code in a form.

<a href="http://www.google.com/latitude/intro.html" target="_blank">Google Latitude</a>, Google's recently announced location-based social networking service, requires the user's location information to place them on a map. The Latitude team recently announced that they'd be building the iPhone version as a web app instead of going through the App Store. During a presentation of the service, it was said that Latitude would be using Safari's built-in Geolocation information. Video below.<!--break-->

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[via <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2009/05/31/iphone-safari-to-support-geolocation-google-latitude-demoed/" target="_blank">MacRumors</a>]</div>

[Stephen007]

Yowzers, that's pretty darn neat. I do hope, though, that they ask you if you want to provide your information each time a website will be using it.

The current scheme appears to be that ever application asks you 2 times if they can access your geographic information and then after that they can just take it, no further questions asked. That makes send (to me) for the Maps program, social networking, etc. but I would prefer it ask each time for something as far ranging in uses as Safari.

Neat feature, though :-)

[Michael Johnston]

Yowzers, that's pretty darn neat. I do hope, though, that they ask you if you want to provide your information each time a website will be using it.

The current scheme appears to be that ever application asks you 2 times if they can access your geographic information and then after that they can just take it, no further questions asked. That makes send (to me) for the Maps program, social networking, etc. but I would prefer it ask each time for something as far ranging in uses as Safari.

Neat feature, though :-)

When I tried it on my phone, it asked about Safari using my location and THEN asked about the website using the info. It looks like Apple is treating Safari and each website as separate items.