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Periodic Auto Check-in using GPS (iPhone)
I am from the Netherlands and I am soon going to buy an iPhone. I believe Brightkite is very promising since it is one of the best location based services outhere for Europeans, and unlike Loopt its free. My issue:
I believe this service to be only very successful if it can run completely automatically. With this i mean that the application runs in the background (in the iPhone's case with the push service apple provides) giving periodic checkins wherever i might be, continuously, every 5 or 10 minutes or so. I hope this is possible to implement, optional at-least. Please let me hear from one of the people inside the company if this option is or will be in the pipeline.
I believe this service to be only very successful if it can run completely automatically. With this i mean that the application runs in the background (in the iPhone's case with the push service apple provides) giving periodic checkins wherever i might be, continuously, every 5 or 10 minutes or so. I hope this is possible to implement, optional at-least. Please let me hear from one of the people inside the company if this option is or will be in the pipeline.
I’m hopeful
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Inappropriate?Simply give us a check in / leave API to supply GPS coordinates, then I can just write my own simple client for it for my WM6 Professional phone with built in AGPS.2 Comments
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Hi peSHIr
Our API is done, we are testing it and finishing up the documentation. Expect it to be publicly available very soon. -
Great news. Unfortunately HTC desillusioned me once again with their crap hardware going belly up, so I might unfortunately be while until I'll be using it. Once I have the phone troubles sorted, I will enhance my Twitter client (or rewrite is as a more general online presence interface client) to include setting location in Brightkite.
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Inappropriate?Well that is great when you can write apps, but for someone like myself, that cannot write apps, i need to have this the periodic-auto-update-gps-option build-in :) -
Inappropriate?I thought Loopt was free on iPhone? -
Inappropriate?I thought so to at first, but check out there FAQ, there are cost. Something like 2.99 per month. PS: I still dont have an answer to my question: Is there going to be background, fully automatic, periodic (for example every 5-10 min) check-ins using GPS for the iPhone?
I’m sad
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Inappropriate?in with Evert on this one. i have a HTC Tilt and a aBlackberry curve (wifes phone) and woudl love to have a working ap for GPS checkin liek loopt.
Loopt has it ut i like Brightkites web inface better and woudl liek to see you guys step ahead on this.
I’m anxious
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WarpedJester, lets hope it will be there in the native app or in the company pipeline in the near future
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Inappropriate?We are releasing a native iPhone application that takes advantage of the iPhone's GPS/cell-triangulation. Checking in and posting will become much easier :)
Additionally the Brightkite iPhone application will be completely free. No monthly charge.
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Inappropriate?I know that Brightkite is going to have a native app for the iPhone that takes advantage of the GPS, but you still have to do manual check-ins. I just hope that there is also going to be an automatic (periodic) checkin system that does the check-ins for you. This option, in my mind would be a great addition.
For example: I could be walking/driving around. During this time I would not manually check in, that would be cumbersome. But a auto check in system that would check-in every 5 min and than delete the last position (check-in) could be useful. A friend that is on brightkite.com could get realtime information, and get alerts when i am within 200m. My friends could be better in-touch with me.
This feature could also be nice for a enroute feature. My check in, like now is orange. When i would go it becomes red, indicated i am not anymore there. Instead a new marker appears that is green, indicating that is my real-time position (or at-least less than 5 min old), meaning that i am enroute. This could be useful for the following. For example: I have an appointment with some friends, with this feature they can see where i am and know if i'm going to be on time. Of course there are many more applications to this feature. Brady I would love to know what you think about this :)
I’m hopeful
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Neat idea, but here's the problem: your iPhone won't remain on/unlocked for five minute stretches. As soon as your phone auto-locks, it also locks down the app (the OS will not let an app run when the screen is locked, because it goes into standby mode -- it even puts your WiFi connection and data connection into standby). So the app would have to force your phone to not lock -- ever... which *is* possible..... BUT... now, you're walking around, with an unlocked iPhone in your pocket, it'll take about 3 minutes before you accidentally dial someone, or start up iTunes, or hit the home button and exit BrightKite... and since unlocked means the screen is on, you'll run that battery down (even on 2.1) in almost no time flat (the light on your screen eats much more power than the CPU, radios, and other functions).
This, unfortunately, is Apple's doing -- no developer can legitimately get around it (without jailbreaking the phone, which violates all sorts of licensing and SDK rules).
What this all means is if you want constant/auto-updating, you're going to have to go with Windows Mobile or Android (and wait for a client), as they don't have the same restrictions. -
Inappropriate?The iPhone app should ask location services for your location everytime you post a note or photo. The thing that most annoys me about BK is having to manually checkin so my note/ photo shows up on the correct place. By the time I have gone through all that on a sketchy EDGE connection, the feeling has gone. If you do add periodic auto-checkin, make sure the user can opt out of it. -
Inappropriate?I agree that the BrightKite app for iPhone should allow the option to automatically check you in when you open the app. For now I'll continue to use Loopt, though I like BrightKite's interface and service better. The primary reason for staying with Loopt is the auto check in upon launching the app. I also like being able to ping my friends, then they can just launch the app and it tells me where they are (rather than 2-3 texts back and forth to find out).
I’m undecided
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We keep the checkins user initiated because of privacy/security reasons. We want the user to always be in control of their location information. :)
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Yikes. That's why I *don't* like loopt, because it will check you in without giving you a chance to abort it. It has gotten me in trouble a few times when I accidentally hit the loopt icon instead of mail or ipod.. :) Good thing Loopt always guesses my address/etc completely wrong and puts me 5-6 miles away from where I really am. :D
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Yikes. That's why I *don't* like loopt, because it will check you in without giving you a chance to abort it. It has gotten me in trouble a few times when I accidentally hit the loopt icon instead of mail or ipod.. :) Good thing Loopt always guesses my address/etc completely wrong and puts me 5-6 miles away from where I really am. :D
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