adamz
08-25-2008, 07:21 PM
Google (http://google-code-updates.blogspot.com/2008/08/two-new-ways-to-location-enable-your.html) has launched their new Gears Geolocation API which currently works exclusively on Windows Mobile devices. The Geolocation API allows web developers to access user device locations via GPS or cell ID tower locations.
Don't worry about stalkers though;
The privacy of users' location information is extremely important. The first time your site calls the Geolocation API to request a user's location, that user will be shown a permissions dialog where they can choose to allow or deny your site access. Users can change that decision at any time via the "Gears settings" dialog in the browser menu. Google does not keep location information about users when your site uses the Geolocation API.
If you're in the UK and want to try it out, visit m.lastminute.com (http://m.lastminute.com) and m.rummble.com (http://m.rummble.com). The first time you use the location feature you will be prompted to download and install Gears.
For more information, see the Google Code Blog. (http://google-code-updates.blogspot.com/2008/08/two-new-ways-to-location-enable-your.html)
Don't worry about stalkers though;
The privacy of users' location information is extremely important. The first time your site calls the Geolocation API to request a user's location, that user will be shown a permissions dialog where they can choose to allow or deny your site access. Users can change that decision at any time via the "Gears settings" dialog in the browser menu. Google does not keep location information about users when your site uses the Geolocation API.
If you're in the UK and want to try it out, visit m.lastminute.com (http://m.lastminute.com) and m.rummble.com (http://m.rummble.com). The first time you use the location feature you will be prompted to download and install Gears.
For more information, see the Google Code Blog. (http://google-code-updates.blogspot.com/2008/08/two-new-ways-to-location-enable-your.html)