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Google Latitude API Launched at Google I/O

During Google I/O today, out here in San Francisco, Google announced among many other things, that it is opening up a Google Latitude API. Google Latitude is of course the company's major component in the increasingly competitive location space. With the release of the API, its presence will be felt much more greatly throughout the mobile web. The company calls the API an "easy and safe way" to use Latitude location with any apps/services.

Google Latitude Introduces Location History, Smart Alerts

A quick, but important, note: the stuff we're about to discuss is only available on an opt-in basis.  So there's no need to stop halfway through this article and drown your phone or tape it to a neighbor's car.  Now, with that out of the way, let's move on to the news that Google Latitude's gained two features called Google Location History and Google Location Alerts (which is in beta).

Apple May Have Some Explaining to Do Over Google Voice

There was a lot of hoopla made regarding Apple's banning of Google Voice from its App Store. Fingers were pointed, names were (probably) called. Today Google announced that the FCC has made its letter (pdf) available to the public. The letter reveals what Google claims to be the explanation it got from Apple about why it would not accept its Google Voice app (as well as Google Latitude).

iPhone Finally Gets a Google Latitude App

Google has released a Google Latitude web app for the iPhone and iPod Touch, running Safari. To use it, users can go to google.com/latitude. A bookmark can be created so that there is a home screen link of course.

Google Maps Gets Some Improvements on Android

Today, Google announced the addition of search-by-voice and transit directions to Google Maps on Android devices. In addition, some improvements have been made to Google Latitude in Google Maps for Android. Searching By Voice

Google Latitude Badge Launched for Blogger

Google has released the Public Location Badge, which allows users to publish geographic information to their blog automatically whenever they go somewhere. The badge is powered by Google Latitude. If you're unfamiliar with Google Latitude, it is a feature of Google Maps that when enabled, shows your friends your current location wherever you are if you have given it permission to do so.

Google Latitude Bug Looks Into Future

Barry Schwartz recently shared an interesting story about his brother-in-law showing up at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida on Google Latitude, although he was in Newwark Airport in New Jersey. The interesting part is that he was getting ready to go to the Florida airport. Google Latitude is a feature in Google Maps for mobile and iGoogle that allows you to share your location with your family and friends in real time.

Alleviating Google Latitude Privacy Concerns

Google's recently announced Latitude service has sparked a bit of concern among privacy advocates and the generally paranoid. I spoke with a Google Spokesperson about this. Google Latitude is a feature in Google Maps for mobile and iGoogle that allows you to share your location with your family and friends in real time.