A few minutes ago, Judie asked me what my Gmail account name was so that she could add me to her Google Latitude setup. I figured I’d do the same for her so that we could stalk each other like all best friends do. 😉 So the idea is that you install an app on your mobile phone and then through iGoogle, you can see the whereabouts of your friends. Nifty huh? I decided to go install the app on my Android G1 (AKA google phone) and guess what? I got a coming soon message on the phone. I was pretty perplexed by this, so I went to the Google Latitude site where they have screen shots of what looks like a G1, but on the Supported Phones page, they have this message:
Google Latitude is available on the following mobile devices wherever Google Maps for mobile v3.0 and above is supported:
– Android-powered devices with Maps v3.0 and above. G1 users in the US will be receiving Maps v3.0 in a system update soon.
How is that for a nice kick in the pants? I mean how can a Google endorsed device NOT run a Google app? Looks like Symbian S60 and Blackberry users have been shown the most love. Color me grumpy right now 🙁
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A momentary FAIL if there ever was one… 😛
@Judie: Yeah, I kept thinking I must be missing something. I thought it was because my dev phone, but then it even says US G1’s don’t have it yet. Bummer…
G1 users in the US will have access to Latitude with the upcoming RC33 Over The Air update from T-Mobile.
This is already being pushed out and should be completed to everyone by the middle of February.
,Michael Martin
Google And Blog
@Michael Martin: It still seems odd to me that G1 users have to wait for a mobile application from google to work on their google phone. But Symbian and Blackberry users get it now.
Definitely strange that a Google application won’t work on a Google phone. Time to give it the boot. BTW, Google Latitude is nothing but cool.
I don’t see this as a FAIL. I see this as Google doing their best to INTEGRATE it into their system as best as possible. If anyone has seen the release notes on the new RC33 update, they will appreciate the wait for something that is truly integrated.
AND.. if you hurt that bad, head on over to Gizmodo and get the update done manually. Its pretty simple.
Though, GIZ does say to wait till tomorrow for some NEW surprises. How can you argue with that? 🙂
Not really sure why your SO grumpy seeing as the OTA update being pushed out as we speak has it integrated right into the phone. Don’t think we’ll be seeing that anytime soon on other devices…oh and it works great on my G1. I was just lucky enough to get the OTA on the 5th…the FIRST day of pushing it. Anybody here want some cheese with that “whine”?
@Brandon: What kind of cheese are you offering? 😉
When will the cupcake update come to the UK?
im still trying to add friend but dont know how on my latitude on the G1 if someone can help me out that would be nice..
@Troy go to igoogle. Then click on your own profile in the latitude box. You’ll then see an Add Friends link.