Google Latitude to be retired on August 9

[bananas]

Source: CNET

Google Latitude is about to enter the search giant's junk heap.

Google announced Wednesday that Latitude, its location-aware application that allows users to share where they are with others, will be retired on August 9. When that day rolls around, users will no longer be able to share their location and their friends list will be deleted.

Third-party applications that use Latitude will also see that feature stop working.

The news was part of a broader announcement of a major update to Google Maps. CNET's Seth Rosenblatt detailed the update, which includes a new Explore feature for finding places of interest around a location and support for tablets.

In anticipation of its retirement, Google Latitude was left out of the Maps update.


Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57593023-94/google-latitude-to-be-retired-on-august-9/

[bananas]

1. location sharing and check-ins added to Google+ for Android

http://blog.chron.com/techblog/2013/07/hello-new-google-maps-app-good-bye-google-latitude/

One important change you should know about is that Latitude and check-ins are no longer part of the new Google Maps app, and will be retired from older versions on August 9. We understand some of you still want to see your friends and family on a map, which is why we’ve added location sharing and check-ins to Google+ for Android (coming soon to iOS). More details about Latitude and check-in changes can be found in our help center.

[onehandle]

2. Never trust Google's free services.

They are killing anything that weakens their ad sales.

Never click on their ads.

Ad Blocker is your friend. Google is not.

[bananas]

3. Forcing people to move to google+

http://phandroid.com/2013/07/10/google-latitude-dying/

We imagine this has something to do with Google wanting you to use the location sharing feature in Google+ more than anything. It’s a viable alternative, but it would rely on you and your friends both using Google+, and we imagine that’s not something a lot of people are happy about.

It really is a shame that all these great Google services are taking a backseat to Google+, and although Google will ever admit that is their goal we are going to continue to assume that’s what it is until we are afforded a proper explanation. Set your calendars, and reset your counters to see how long it will take for your next favorite service to eventually bite the dust.

Lots of good comments with that article.

[PatrynXX]

10. this is a heavily used app by parents

so not sure where their head is. sure I'm on Google + but they better make it just as easy. because I heavily use it

[Hosnon]

4. The functionality was moved to the G+ app for me a few weeks ago.

It's a slicker interface there.

[Submariner]

5. They're getting rid of iGoogle later this year too

I'm going to miss my iGoogle homepage. A lot of good stuff can be customized on the page.

[Ratty]

7. Me too!

I love my personalized homepage with news feeds and headlines from different places, Scientific American, NYT, Wired, The Onion. You're the first person I've encountered who likes iGoogle too. I suppose there are other places that have the same features but I kinda liked it on the same page I did my searches on. One stop shopping. I guess I'll have to find a new homepage soon.

[nebenaube]

6. who cares...

It was only good for friends anyway to know you were within a few blocks of each other... I tried using it with the family and it always reports the wrong location anyway.

[bananas]

8. Backitude made it a lot more accurate and useful

Backitude is a free app which lets you specify desired accuracy and how often to poll.

It allows you to use gps as well as wifi and cell tower triangulation.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gaugler.backitude&hl=en

http://www.downwindoutdoors.com/apps/backitude/faq.html

http://www.xda-developers.com/android/backitude-for-google-latitude-released/

[darkangel218]

9. You know what i understood from your OP? that if i google Latitude i will retire on Aug 9

I need coffee