Google latitude

[Brettus]

Just thought I'd mention as it might be useful to some.
like most people my wife worries when I'm off out on the bike and I often set out with little or no idea where I'm going (and even if I do then I can deviate from that due to mood or weather etc) and end up being out for longer than expected and I'm forgetful to rarely remember to text that I'll be out longer.

with iOS 4 on the iphone (and a lot of other smartphones) being able to run things in the background I have invested in a program (£0.59) called latitudie, it updates my position to google latitude a service I had used a while back but it got pointless when I had to manually update the location.

But I've signed my wife up for it, allowed her access to see my location and as I'm riding, whenever my phone changes cell tower it updates my location so she can see where I am on a map :) Kinda cool use of technology I thought.

Just thought I'd mention it in case it is helpful to someone else, or even just for getting small groups to help arrange rideouts or meeting up etc.

Make of it what you will :)

[L3nny]

On an Android phone and its free :P

Or you just get a Mrs who doesn't set you a curfew ;)

[Viney]

Set her phone up and you can see where she is whilst you are out riding ;)

[Owenski]

Set her phone up and you can see where she is whilst you are out riding ;)

+1
while the cats away an all that.

[Brettus]

you are all very cynical people on here :smt108
ah well, each to their own, just mentioning it :)

[Viney]

Cynical...yup! It was in jest you know.

Sadly my phone cant run apps as i have a dumb phone. Maybe when i get my next unit i will have a look at it. I know that 2 of my firends have their kids phones set up with it and they dont know :lol:

[Owenski]

Cynical...yup! It was in jest you know.

Sadly my phone cant run apps as i have a dumb phone. Maybe when i get my next unit i will have a look at it. I know that 2 of my firends have their kids phones set up with it and they dont know :lol:

Does it only show you their location at that instance?
Im just wondering if you could plot a route or something similar from any stored data.

In the case of tracking the kids it sounds ideal. I know I'd have spent a lot more time grounded had my parents been able to say "Oi what were you doing 5miles away on saturday at 4.30".. etc

[Jabba]

2 of my firends:

One of these sounds painful, never mind two of the beggars ;-)

[Brettus]

Cynical...yup! It was in jest you know
Sorry didn't mean mine to sound so blunt, been a tad harassed today, no offense taken or intended :)

I know the iphone one stores the location updates and will plot them on a map for you, over the course of my run to the peak district on Monday it logged maybe 10-15 points, not ideal for tracking local stuff, walking or biking but you can tell it to use the GPS all the time not just when it changes cell tower which would make it more defined I guess.

I find it useful anyhow, its a little odd handing over your location but we are getting more and more used to these things and its not like its posting it up on facebook, only your friends you have authorised can see you and you can see them etc (doesn't have to be two way though)

[hindle8907]

motionx GPS for tracking is a must. brill app.
can export into google earth and other report tools.

[Biker Biggles]

One of the reasons I ride a bike is so no one knows where I am including the wife.:)
I cant think of anything worse than being tracked everywhere by effing satelites.:smt120

[Ed]

I often set out with little or no idea where I'm going (and even if I do then I can deviate from that due to mood or weather etc) and end up being out for longer than expected

I know why you use it, I got totally lost in the lanes between Malpas and Bangor on Dee today..... it was very pretty, and millionaires' row, but lost nonetheless.

**

It's a cool idea:cool:

[beabert]

gps tracker for android is good too, linked my location to a personal website so ppl know where i am, well geeky.

[BigBaddad]

On an Android phone and its free :P

Or you just get a Mrs who doesn't set you a curfew ;)

+1:rolleyes:

If you use GPS it's fine. However if it's using a signal from the phone masts it can show your location as being different to where you are...explain tha to her in doors.:-dd

[yorkie_chris]

So when will you missus be able to watch the little blip on the screen move over to halifax and then come back slightly slower due to the burden of an SV front end? ;)

[Brettus]

Perhaps tonight actually if you are in, I'm picking up a pool car tonight (as I'm off to Devon in the morning :() so if you are in I could sheepishly creep over and pick it up ;)

I did debate towing it behind the SV but decided against it, would make a pretty cool flat bed bike trailer though :)