Apple restricts Latitude to Web app on iPhone

Latitude is a Web app only on the iPhone.

(Credit: CNET/Screenshot by Josh Lowensohn)

Google on Thursday released a version of its Latitude mobile application for the iPhone. But Apple, curiously, has decreed that it be a Web-based app and not a native iPhone app, which has raised some eyebrows.

In announcing Latitude for iPhone, a Google blog post noted that the application works much the same way as on other platforms like Android, Symbian, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile. It allows you to show your location on a map so that friends may find you.

The big exception for the iPhone version is that you have to use the service in the Safari Web browser. As for why, Google put it this way: "We worked closely with Apple to bring Latitude to the iPhone in a way Apple thought would be best for iPhone users. After we developed a Latitude application for the iPhone, Apple requested we release Latitude as a Web application in order to avoid confusion with Maps on the iPhone, which uses Google to serve maps tiles."

"The way Apple thought would be best for iPhone users" isn't a new concept: The company has tightly controlled what kind of applications are allowed access to the App Store--albeit sometimes without clear policy. But Apple telling Google what to do? Now that's interesting. The companies have a history together, such as when Google was allowed access to unpublished iPhone APIs for its Mobile app. And of course, Google CEO Eric Schmidt is on Apple's board of directors.

Apple's reason given for why the iPhone version of the Latitude is crippled is, as Google notes, that Apple was afraid people would get confused between a Google Maps app and a Google Latitude app. How? And why isn't Apple worried about this in other areas? For example, a brief search of the App Store reveals approximately 13 To-Do List applications and 30 streaming music apps. There doesn't seem to be concern about customer confusion for those two categories of apps. But there shouldn't be, since most people will just figure it out.

So from where exactly does this concern come? Perhaps Apple has a similar feature coming for the iPhone that it doesn't want competition for. If not, the solution appears simple: Why not just make Latitude a feature of Google Maps instead of a separate app? Clearly, there are a lot of unanswered questions.

There's also good news for Google here. It's a company that loves the Web and wants everyone to be on it. So Apple forcing the company to make a Web-based version of its own application is perhaps not exactly a punishment. Plus, it pushes Google to improve the overall experience of Web apps, the mobile browser experience, and HTML.

[cvaldes1831]

The argument that Latitude would be confused with Maps makes zero sense.

The iPhone/iPod touch already has Maps built-in; you can't even delete it. People that want a standalone Latitude app have to go to the store, find it, click "Buy", type in their iTunes Store password, and wait for it to download and install. If both Maps and Latitude were side-by-side at the Apps Store, yeah, there might be confusion but that is not the situation here.

There are already several services with standalone iPhone apps (Brightkike, foursquare to name two) so this demotion to being a web app is mighty peculiar.

[sodapop2k9]

"There reason given for why the iPhone version of the Latitude is crippled is, as Google notes, that Apple was afraid people would get confused between a Google Maps app and a Google Latitude app. How?"

Because people are generally stupid and blind. I am a UI a developer - I have seen it all. You can have 200x200 button and people will "still not see it". What amazes me is that you guys are surprised by yet another action by Apple to protect the prominence of it's apps.

[cvaldes1831]

While I agree that a lot of people are blind, it still doesn't explain why Apple chose to ban the Latitude app. After all, they approved a MapQuest app which is a far greater competitor to Google Maps. I have it on my iPod touch right now, on the second screen.

Something else is behind Apple's decision to force Google to implement Latitude as a web app.

[Morwen--2008]

It doesn't work very well regardless. My husband and I both ran it. It shows me located at our house, for the past two days its been showing my husband everywhere BUT at our house, where he actually was when he ran the thing. Up to 8 blocks away at times. :(

[thelemurking]

So basically what Apple is saying is that iPhone users are too freaking stupid to notice the difference? Gee thanks Apple!!!

I'm fairly certain I can distinguish the difference! I've been waiting for Latitude to show up for some time now... but since Apple thanks we are retarded, we don't get Latitude as a native app, but a web app.

I guess this is what I should expect from Apple and the moral police app department.

[faceless128]

Apple can do whatever they want, no matter how dumb the choice is, as long as they aren't breaking the law.

[thelemurking]

but the sad thing is, so many people accept that from Apple, but if it was another company, it would be like the end of the world. I don't get it!

I love my iPhone, I just despise the hypocrisy that comes into play with the app store. There's been more grief and hassle put on Amazon for pulling the two ebooks than there seems to be for Apple all the stuff that goes on in the app store.

[doubtthat]

Just another example of "Apple Knows Best". If Microsoft exerted the kind of control over Win Mobile phones that Apple does the iPhone, there would be much crying and gnashing of teeth. But Apple can do no wrong.

Also, can Lattitude share your location while running in the background on an iPhone? No? It can on my Blackberry Storm. :>P

[S R]

In my opinion, Apple is working on a similar feature to be introduced into the Maps application -- That's probably the reason they asked this to be introduced as web app. Also, the Latitude seems to get the location information from the wireless routers, and not from the GPS that iPhone has.

So, if only everyone will chill out a bit (including the author). It is very likely to be confused as the maps look exactly the same between the two applications (as they are both based on Google).

Just wait for what's in the bag for iPhone OS 3.1, and you will see when the feature is implemented. You guys were furious when the SDK was web-based and just 6 months later you got the native SDK (that was so well advanced that it couldn't have been started after you guys complained). So, do give some benefit of doubt that you have no knowledge of some things and wait.

[thelemurking]

Well that's pretty lame! Prevent people from releasing an app ahead of something you are planning on? Besides, Google Latitude already works with other phones and has a much wider user base. I wouldn't want to know just where my friends are who have iPhones, I would also like to know where my other friends are... unless Apple is trying to to convince me to only hang out with iPhone users...

I'm still of the opinion that Apple considers iPhone users too retarded to distinguish the difference between Maps, and Google Latitude. Why cater to the lowest common denominator? Let Google release the native version of the app and if people really are too stupid to tell the difference then the fault is their on and not Apple or Google's.

[djdj]

The Windows Mobile version of Google Maps does have Latitude built-in. I'm surprised (okay, maybe I'm not, considering it's Apple) Google isn't allowed to do the same on the iPhone.

[faceless128]

the Blackberry version of Google Maps has Latitude built in too. I wouldn't be surprised if every version has it built in except the iPhone version.

[davidwarren]

wow, I have been waiting for Latitude since February, and it's pretty much worthless in it's current state. Such a shame.

[dave_p_1]

The reason Apple is doing this is because the iPhone lacks multitasking. Smarter phones make your location available constantly in the background. Even if it had been offered as an application, the iPhone would only update Latitude when the application was the one application running. Rather than highlight this deficiency, Apple decided to bury Latitude as a web app.

[cvaldes1831]

Again, this makes no sense. Apple has already approved other services (Brightkite, foursquare) which only update location when you fire up the app. If Latitude was released as a standalone app, it would have just been another one of these.

The iPhone doesn't lack multitasking. More precisely, it doesn't allowed user-controlled multitasking. If Apple wanted to allow real-time location updating in the background, it could do so. After all, it is letting the phone software run in the background right now, as well as letting music playback occur while other things are going on (including the playing of some games such as Flight Control). Push notifications are also running in the background.

[swanky303]

too bad, this is a great little addition to google maps. Works great on my Blackberry. I'm guessing since you can't run applications in the background on the iPhone, there's no way for Latitude to keep sending your location back to the Google servers. But, as someone else noted, perhaps Apple didn't want to highlight this glaring problem with their phone and instead require them to change the app.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Could this be cracks appearing in the Apple / Google relationship?

[osantosg]

If it's true that Apple is working on adding the service to Google Maps why didn't it tell Google? They could have waited to launch it or better yet could have helped in the development... If memory serves right the first time Google Maps came out it was a joint effort. So Google owns part of the credit for Google Maps. Why not wait to add it to Google Maps in OS3.1?

Also iPhone doesn't have BB Chat or true background processing yes, we know the flaws, but instead of telling us ours why don't you go complain on your own backyard, for not having a true built-in Apps Store with 65,000 apps at your disposal... what's that? BB only has 2,000 apps, "Oh well at least we have bb Chat" , I can watch a live baseball game on my iPhone! that's just one of the 65,000 apps by the way ;)

It all depends on your needs, if your content with chatting and other people knowing where you are all the time getting their noses where it don't belong, that's fine with me, I'd rather sit under a tree in my backyard, and watch a movie streaming live from my computer via Wifi on my iPhone, no need to sync it thru iTunes. Life is full of flaws and benefits you just need to see the sum of it all and choose the one with the biggest benefits. 65,000 benefits to two or three flaws??? it's a tough one ;)

And by the way I also don't agree with Apple's decision, it should be a native app, and maybe it will be in the future, you need to learn patience with Apple.

fancy web based app on mobile

[setgo]

This writer you you goofballs are complaining about something that you probably won't use. I think I liked it better when CNET NEVER talked about Apple. You know, the way MTV use to never show Rap.

[cvaldes1831]

But iPhone articles get lots of pageviews...

If you're really unhappy with the editorial direction that Cnet is taking, why don't you go elsewhere? By reading and commenting on the blog entry (and eliciting others to comment on your comment), you're actually part of the "problem", not the solution.

[faceless128]

it's all about money. that's why MTV started showing Rap 20 years ago, and that's hy MTV stopped showing music 10 years ago.

[benjimen]

Slow news day? Get over it... Personally, I like that when I access Google Maps on my iPhone, I don't have to remember what I set my 'Latitude' settings at -- I can just use it to locate something, and maybe help me out in getting there... and nothing else ;)

[faceless128]

what's there to remember, on WM and BB it's off by default. you have to change settings to make it on, and it prompts you if it's on.

[benjimen]

...and I suggest the rest of ya use Google Maps to locate something called 'outdoors' and find something referred to as 'sunlight'... really now, is there nothing else to type about :)

[jakeZ2]

It's not an app because the iphone can't multi-task. In order for Latitude to work it has to run in the background. Why isn't that mentioned in the article. Erica ?

[cvaldes1831]

I reiterate that this argument makes no sense.

There are other location-based apps (Brightkite, foursquare) that already provide similar functionality. Heck, even Twitter clients use location-based services and can query nearby (e.g., 1km) tweets. The multitasking issue is irrelevant.

Also, multitasking is available, it's just that Apple chooses not to permit *user-controlled* multitasking. The phone app runs in the background. So push notifications as well as the music player (you can listen to music while you use many of the phone's other functions, including some games).

It's a completely different topic if Apple somehow does not want to run location-based services in the background for real-time public tracking. It might be a battery issue. There might be privacy concerns.

Latitude does not *have* to run in the background. It just doesn't provide real-time tracking without it and yet it is still functional.

[jakeZ2]

That's my point. What's the use of using Latitude if it's not real time. If I want to use the app as it was intended to be used, I don't care where someone *was*, I want to know where they *are*.

"The phone app" - you mean web app.

And sorry, this just makes me laugh "Also, multitasking is available, it's just that Apple chooses not to permit *user-controlled* multitasking." It's ridiculas in a phone with so many capabilities. Don't defend it.

"There might be privacy concerns" - umm... if you have privacy concerns, why would you sign up for Latitude?

[cvaldes1831]

The problem is that you can never be sure exactly where they are. Location-based services is not perfect. If you stop letting Latitude update, I assume it just shows you were you last "checked in".

When I meant "phone app" I meant "the app that controls cellular phone functionality -- the one that interrupts what you're doing to take a call". It was an example of several apps that actually do run in the background.

I did not defend Apple's limited multi-tasking. I just described the way it currently functions. Frankly, I would like to see some sort of limited user-defined multi-tasking capability (e.g., running a VoIP client in the background).

The privacy concerns would vary from situation to situation. Let's say I leave work and head to the doctor's office. Maybe I prefer not to broadcast this. Okay, I'm doing getting my, uh, abdominal exam, I'm ready to hit the gym, that's fine, broadcast away. Perhaps I don't like broadcasting where I live (even to friends because there might be some hack and I lose all my privacy) so I shut off real-time location tracking before I get home. Okay, I've changing and I'm going out on the town, fire it back up.

So in a nutshell, using Latitude is for MY convenience, when/if I want to be located.

[cvaldes1831]

In any case, Latitude behaves the way that other location-tracking apps already run. They all say that "So-and-so last checked in at this place X minutes ago".

While Latitude might be built into Google Maps on other smartphone platforms, I assume that not everyone runs the app in the background or constantly updates their location. The inability to offer real-time location tracking on the iPhone isn't really a dealbreaker.

The whole thing is mighty peculiar.

[lazycat202]

every developers and customers have to play under Apple's laws: "If you want to make profit and live in peace, just shut up and do what I say"!! yuck!!