Broadcast my Location

[Brettus]

After traveling this holiday season, I am curious whether or not an application exists.

My mother is a complete worry wart. Because of this, I was wondering if there is a way I can broadcast my location, using my Droid, and provide her with a link that can show her where my car is located as my wife and I are traveling home.

Before you go thinking my mom is a psycho - this isn't anything she requested, or something that I think is necessary - I was just thinking of ways to let her know I am OK, without her having to call me every 30 minutes while I am on the road.

I did a search for "my location", "broadcast location", "mytrack" in the app store and came up with nothing of any value. Does anyone know of anything that can help?

 

[Deleted User]

Google Latitude.

 

[dja1980]

I've been told that apps like these kill your battery because they require your GPS to stay on... any truth to this?

 

[will_m68]

I use Latitude and can not tell that the battery drains any faster.

 

[Brettus]

Thanks! The answer was right there on my phone the entire time.

For those curious and stupid like me : on Google Maps, glick the "menu" button at the bottom of your phone (what is that button called, the one right next to the home button?) and then click "Join Latitude".

http://www.google.com/latitude

 

[Brettus]

I've been told that apps like these kill your battery because they require your GPS to stay on... any truth to this?

From what i can tell - if your GPS is turned off, your phone uses the cell tower you are connected to to determine your location. So, even if you aren't using the GPS - the phone can still approximate your location to the 1/2 mile or so (it's been that accurate so far).

 

[dja1980]

That's good to know... does the GPS indicator stay displayed in your notifications area... like when you use the "Maps" app?

Edit: Thanks Brettus... didn't see your post before I submitted mine.

 

[Eugene]

I used latitude, when your not using the GPS/maps it does log based on cell tower. You can go into the google latitude web site and turn on history and see, it will bounce your location around several towers around your area.
I put mine in the car dock and opened the map app and lit logged my trip and when I came back I could see the history.

 

[dja1980]

When not using GPS/Maps, how often does your phone broadcast your location via cell tower? I opened the Maps app nearly an hour ago, but the map for my location doesn't seem to be updating... however, I haven't moved. The map currently displays "52 minutes ago" for my location. Do I need to move for it to update?

 

[MustangChris04]

When not using GPS/Maps, how often does your phone broadcast your location via cell tower? I opened the Maps app nearly an hour ago, but the map for my location doesn't seem to be updating... however, I haven't moved. The map currently displays "52 minutes ago" for my location. Do I need to move for it to update?

I think it refreshes every minute or so. So when you open the maps application and go to latitude, let it sit on that screen for a minute or so.

 

[Eugene]

Every few minutes. Here's Monday Dec, 7th. I was sitting in my office all day.

10:16 AM Columbus, OH
10:26 AM Columbus, OH
10:36 AM Columbus, OH
10:45 AM Columbus, OH
11:14 AM S Old State Rd, Columbus, OH
11:23 AM Columbus, OH
11:52 AM Polaris Pkwy, Columbus, OH
12:02 PM Polaris Pkwy, Columbus, OH
12:32 PM N High St, Columbus, OH
12:41 PM Gemini Pkwy, Columbus, OH
1:24 PM Gemini Pkwy, Columbus, OH
1:33 PM Gemini Pkwy, Columbus, OH
1:43 PM N High St, Columbus, OH
1:53 PM Gemini Pkwy, Columbus, OH
2:03 PM Gemini Pkwy, Columbus, OH
3:39 PM Newmills Ln, Lewis Center, OH
3:49 PM Gemini Pkwy, Columbus, OH

Notice how it bounced all around even though I never left my desk, those were the towers it was locating to. Now I would assume if your in an area with less towers it may update less since it won't change towers as much. I was going to attach a screenshot but the attachment button doesn't seem towork

 

[dja1980]

Yep, mine seems to be working. One thing I can't seem to figure out is why profile pics aren't showing up on my Droid map. They are showing up fine on my fiance's Droid, and also on both of our iGoogle accounts. Any thoughts?

 

[rothenbj]

Every few minutes. Here's Monday Dec, 7th. I was sitting in my office all day.

10:16 AM Columbus, OH
10:26 AM Columbus, OH
10:36 AM Columbus, OH
10:45 AM Columbus, OH
11:14 AM S Old State Rd, Columbus, OH
11:23 AM Columbus, OH
11:52 AM Polaris Pkwy, Columbus, OH
12:02 PM Polaris Pkwy, Columbus, OH
12:32 PM N High St, Columbus, OH
12:41 PM Gemini Pkwy, Columbus, OH
1:24 PM Gemini Pkwy, Columbus, OH
1:33 PM Gemini Pkwy, Columbus, OH
1:43 PM N High St, Columbus, OH
1:53 PM Gemini Pkwy, Columbus, OH
2:03 PM Gemini Pkwy, Columbus, OH
3:39 PM Newmills Ln, Lewis Center, OH
3:49 PM Gemini Pkwy, Columbus, OH

Notice how it bounced all around even though I never left my desk, those were the towers it was locating to. Now I would assume if your in an area with less towers it may update less since it won't change towers as much. I was going to attach a screenshot but the attachment button doesn't seem towork

I've been looking for a post on how this refreshes and is there a way to force a refresh. My SO went to Virginia this weekend and on her way, I spoke with her and brought up Latitude. She was near a town that was 15 minutes from her location. It never moved from there the entire time.

Now on her way home, she was in a town about an hour away when I first looked, 45 minutes have past and it still shows the same location. Not getting it.

 

[Eugene]

If you have it set to do location via the network and there are not many towers it could be just sitting on the one tower.
It won't update the location via GPS unless you have the map app up and running.

 

[JoeProcopio]

I've been told that apps like these kill your battery because they require your GPS to stay on... any truth to this?

but if you're in a car, wouldn't you be using the car adapter anyways if you were using the GPS? I would be...

 

[rothenbj]

If you have it set to do location via the network and there are not many towers it could be just sitting on the one tower.
It won't update the location via GPS unless you have the map app up and running.

I don't think it works very well. She had the GPS on and Maps loaded, but running in the background. It still didn't update.

 

[Eugene]

I found too that if I set my location manually from my computer is syncs that setting down to the phone and I have to click on the latitude icon, then my name, then edit privacy settings then set it back to automatic. So hers could have gotten turned off.

 

[rothenbj]

I found too that if I set my location manually from my computer is syncs that setting down to the phone and I have to click on the latitude icon, then my name, then edit privacy settings then set it back to automatic. So hers could have gotten turned off.

Checked her phone, it's set to auto. Last question, does the map app need to be in the foreground or just running? My head hurts from trying to figure out. Thanks for your help.

 

[ccoram]

Yeah I fought this exact problem for a while when they first came out. I have two of them and I can't get Latitude to work right at all. I have tried EVERYTHING. You can get a decent idea +/- 20 miles where someone is but that is about it. I have tried leaving the map app up, tried leaving the GPS on, etc but I never could get it to work. I eventually gave up.

Good luck.

 

[yzingerr]

I know where you are and were dispatching police units to your position.

I have heard that PDs were able to track fugitives using software similar to the GPS enabled ones on the droid

 

[Eugene]

Yeah I fought this exact problem for a while when they first came out. I have two of them and I can't get Latitude to work right at all. I have tried EVERYTHING. You can get a decent idea +/- 20 miles where someone is but that is about it. I have tried leaving the map app up, tried leaving the GPS on, etc but I never could get it to work. I eventually gave up.

Good luck.

You have to turn off the location by network otherwise it puts your location at the nearest cell tower. You should see the big blue circle around your location on the map when its doing that letting you know that the accuracy is low. When I turn off the network location (aGPS) mine is spot on. I can zoom in and walk around the fence in my back yard and see my location on the satellite map showing me in the exact corner I'm standing.

Here is zoomed in on a GPS location, with aGSP turned off. Notice there is still an accuracy circle and it shows me in the yard instead of the house, I'm inside the house so there is some signal blockage, its even more accurate if I stand outside.

 

[rothenbj]

You have to turn off the location by network otherwise it puts your location at the nearest cell tower. You should see the big blue circle around your location on the map when its doing that letting you know that the accuracy is low. When I turn off the network location (aGPS) mine is spot on. I can zoom in and walk around the fence in my back yard and see my location on the satellite map showing me in the exact corner I'm standing.

Here is zoomed in on a GPS location, with aGSP turned off. Notice there is still an accuracy circle and it shows me in the yard instead of the house, I'm inside the house so there is some signal blockage, its even more accurate if I stand outside.

Where do you turn aGPS off? I thought all I needed to do was turn the GPS on..

 

[Eugene]

Settings, Location & Security settings, then uncheck use wireless networks.
Down side to that is you won't get any latitude updates unless you remember to turn gps on for a big, I just hit the maps for a little bit when i want mine to update. but I figured having to let it update is still better than the inaccurate locations I was getting from the cell towers.

 

[imac]

You can use PhoneLocator. Allows you to receive periodical phone position by sending a SMS message to the phone.

 

[rothenbj]

Settings, Location & Security settings, then uncheck use wireless networks.
Down side to that is you won't get any latitude updates unless you remember to turn gps on for a big, I just hit the maps for a little bit when i want mine to update. but I figured having to let it update is still better than the inaccurate locations I was getting from the cell towers.

Thanks Eugene, After your post I remember setting that switch on when I got the phone, but I could not find it anywhere.

Reset and we'll see how it works.