Apple and Google to Blog the World

Zrop writes "AppleInsider is reporting that Apple has been working on OS-level integration of an geographical mapping technology as an integral part of Leopard, its next-generation OS. The technology is rumoured to employ GPS functionality. Will GPS chips make Apple iPod phones and MacBooks location aware? Users would be able to post information at a location, hanging in the air, ready to be browsed by people passing by. Imagine getting highly relevant messages, without even pressing a button, simply because you are in the vicinity and your preferences match the content of the post."

You mean...

[blike]

Imagine getting highly relevant messages, without even pressing a button, simply because you are in the vicinity and your preferences match the content of the post."

You mean "Imagine getting highly relevant advertisements..."

"integration" or "bundling"?

[macadamia_harold]

AppleInsider is reporting that Apple has been working on OS-level integration of an geographical mapping technology as an integral part of Leopard, its next-generation OS.

Why is it that when apple does this kind of thing it's somehow "cool", but when Microsoft does it, it's somehow "evil"?

Will this "feature" have an off button?

[Junior J. Junior III]

I remember when the Pentium III came out, and everybody freaked out because it had built-in serial number identification that were supposed to destroy your privacy. Now "They" will know where you are, but since it's Apple, slashdot puts a nice happy spin on it. Do they make tinfoil iPod cases?

Re:"integration" or "bundling"?

[brass1]

Why is it that when apple does this kind of thing it's somehow "cool", but when Microsoft does it, it's somehow "evil"?

Because when Apple does it, it becomes a well documented [apple.com], open [webkit.org] API. Microsoft? Not so much [microsoft.com].

BBS Lession 12,102

[Anonymous Coward]

and do you remember the quality of the grafitti board on every BBS in the 80's...

I guess as long as you know the worst people will take over this kind of a system... you can still get something useful out of it.

Re:Will this "feature" have an off button?

[dangitman]

I remember when the Pentium III came out, and everybody freaked out because it had built-in serial number identification that were supposed to destroy your privacy.

I don't remember everybody freaking out. That would surely make the world news, and lead to civil chaos, if the entire population of the planet started "freaking out." I don't remember anybody freaking out, actually. A few people raised some privacy concerns, yes. Not the same thing as everybody freaking out.

Now "They" will know where you are, but since it's Apple, slashdot puts a nice happy spin on it.

Actually, the majority of the posts so far are talking about ways this could be abused, and a sprinkling of "Apple is teh suck" posts. I haven't yet seen anyone on slashdot say it is "cool" or put a happy spin on it.

GPS + Ipod

[nurb432]

"Sorry, your content is not authorized for consumption in the country which you currently are in"

I like Gmail's targeted adverts

[EsJay]

If it's as unobtrusive as Gmail's topical advertising, I think topical+geographic advertising would be OK.

Re:Will this "feature" have an off button?

[mr_matticus]

Cars with OnStar and every cell phone made in the past 5 years (if not longer) already have the ability to be tracked. If someone especially desired it, your computer could also be located (to a lesser degree of accuracy).

If "the man" wanted to know where you were at any given time, it's not like it was hard before. The serial number 'scare' (if you can really call it that) was different because it reported information unrelated to any communication purpose. With wireless devices of any kind, you're already broadcasting your location by using it (even just having it turned on), so it's really a non-issue. Why not provide the option of doing something with it?

The difference between Microsoft and just about anyone else (including Apple) is that Microsoft would turn it on by default without any real security concerns, and it would "integrate" with a soldering iron. Take Media Center for instance--if you choose "satellite" in the setup, you CAN'T continue if it doesn't detect an MCE-compatible IR receiver (even if you don't want to use it). You also can't cheat by calling your connection "cable" and then choosing a satellite lineup. Microsoft is too smart for that. With this, it's like texting to a bulletin board (the cork-and-pin variety). You can put something up there that might be helpful to someone else--but you aren't obligated to post anything, nor are you obligated to read any of it.

Re:Too complicated for laptops

[Gnavpot]

You know what I see it useful in? A camera, so that it could automatically add the location to the EXIF data of each photo taken. I would think Google and Apple would be all over that kind of thing, since it would have really cool possibilities for iPhoto and Google Image Search. Too bad neither of them makes cameras...

http://www.geospatialexperts.com/ricoh.html [geospatialexperts.com]
http://scilib.typepad.com/science_library_pad/2006 /08/sonys_camera_gp.html [typepad.com]
http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg. tcl?msg_id=005bL5 [greenspun.com]

Re:"integration" or "bundling"?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes an open API Web kit for browser that has 5% of the market. So very open of them! And here I thought Apple was known for its closed system. So silly of me! Hey could go ahead and link to the open API for the iTunes store, DRM and iPod combo? You know, the thing they actually make money on? Missed it somehow. That'd be great. Thanks.

Re:Will this "feature" have an off button?

[pyr3]

Reading the article (btw, why was it linked to twice in the summary?), it seems to me to just be an opinion piece based on rumors and a single patent application. The patent application itself sounds more like it describes the rumored 'iPhone,' which would make GPS functionality not that out of place seeing as many cellphones on the market now employ GPS technology. As far as the OS-level integration, it seems more like adding GPS and/or map support to the OS is what Apple is interested in. More like iMap, with an API for other 3rd party apps to access it. There is nothing anywhere that there are going to be GPS chips in the computers or ipods. There are just people speculating. It seems to me that it's more likely that it will have support for 3rd party GPS devices. I know that the default on slashdot is tinfoil-ism, but sometimes you have to be a little more realistic than getting your panties in a twist over wild speculation.

Re:"integration" or "bundling"?

[Overly Critical Guy]

Because Apple doesn't have an OS monopoly.

Since when did Apple sign illegal OEM deals that forced OEMs to not ship competing products to prevent them from entering the market?

Next.

Physical location is a meat phenomenon.

[EWAdams]

The probability that I would give a rat's ass about the opinions of people who just happen to be in physical proximity to me is vanishingly small. I don't even want to LOOK at the other people on the subway, much less know what they're thinking.

At least on an Internet forum I stand a reasonable chance of meeting people I actually want to talk to, and where they are physically located is irrelevant.

Re:"integration" or "bundling"?

[Anonymous Coward]

Apple has really awful documentation and is not really open, BTW.

Want a good example? Compare the documentation for OS X and Windows on the same equivalent subject:
http://www.google.com/search?q=exception.port+site :developer.apple.com [google.com]
http://www.google.com/search?q=vectored.exception. handler+site:msdn.microsoft.com [google.com]

One has a two line blurb, the other has a full article and API documentation.

As for openness, well, they only use standards when they're useful to them. They have a half-assed implementation of the MPEG standard, for example. They also use proprietary connectors, such as ADC(now dead) and mini-DVI.

Has its drawbacks, but could be useful

[AlXtreme]

A location-based wiki (wikipedia, wikitravel) would be pretty neat. Travel to a city, walk around while having access to short descriptions of monuments. Figure out which restaurants are good by walking up to them and reading a few reviews.

Of course, abuse would be just as easy as messing up a wiki page, but that hasn't stopped their popularity either.

I don't see why this would have to be tied into an OS though, and it would make more sense for phones than laptops. Once we have cheap unlimited GPRS/UMTS connections, that is.

Re:"integration" or "bundling"?

[Benzido]

There is a long, boring answer to this which involves Microsoft's past and present sales and PR tactics. This is the answer most slashdotters would give.

A more interesting answer is, 'because their software sucks'. If Microsoft's software was better, they would have some fans, and on social websites like this one there wouldn't be such a strong prevailing dislike of them.

Obviously apple also engages in evil business ethics. But because they have fans, they can get away with it a bit more. Microsoft has, as far as I can tell, no fans. I am a long-time PC owners, and I don't give a toss about the monopolistic and unethical behaviour of either company, but I couldn't look you in the eye and say that Microsoft ships really good products. This is why I don't spring to their defense if some Mac or Linux fan calls them 'evil'.

Re:WHO CARES what Apple intends to use it for...

[644bd346996]

I'd much rather get the reminders when I'm in the wrong place! If I'm already in the meeting room, I probably don't need to be interrupted.

Re:WHO CARES what Apple intends to use it for...

[Anonymous Coward]

Wouldn't you prefer to get reminders when you were in the
wrong place instead? You know, to let you know you weren't
in the right place. ::so that I can get reminders when I'm in the right place, etc.

Re:"integration" or "bundling"?

[DECS]

ADC was only DVI, power, and USB together in one plug. Anyone wanting to use a standard DVI monitor only needed an adapter. Mini-DVI is just a another example of the same pins in a different connector to save space. Of all the real examples of standards, those two are the best you could come up with?

Re:WHO CARES what Apple intends to use it for...

[mrchaotica]

Well, that all depends on your definition of "place." For example, is the meeting room a "place," or is the whole office building a "place?" If it's on the former scale, maybe you have the situation where you want to be reminded of the meeting if you're in your office, but not if you're in the meeting room. But if it's the latter, maybe you want to be reminded to go, say, get something from a particular coworker before you leave. Also, it can even depend on the transitions between places. For example, if you're transitioning from work to home maybe you want to be reminded to get milk on the way when you get near the grocery store, but if you're transitioning in the opposite direction (or to a different destination entirely) you don't.

In other words, it depends a lot on context. For a more detailed investigation of the kind of thing I'm talking about, read this [atl.ga.us] (note: PDF).

Re:I can graphiti the WORLD!

[AndroidCat]

Predictions:

• The Cthurch of Scientology will sue after critics add the story of Xenu and other material to their buildings.
• In Texas, property owners will be able to shoot cyberspace "taggers".
• Red light areas will be interesting
• Spam, spam, spam, spam, lovely spam, wonderful spam!