Wondered why Google’s Google Friend Connect features have not been working like I said they do? Here’s why!
I said your Google Friend Connect friends show up in Gmail contacts. They didn’t.
I said Google Friend Connect friends appear in chat. They didn’t.
I said the blogs you join are added to Google Reader by default and your friends are added to your friends shared items. They weren’t and have not for a while.
Even I could not figure it out, but now we know. The big Google social networking killer app is out and it kicks all the other social networking wannabees right in the social butt.
The Google Friend Connect network was not performing the way I said it would because Google had to disable these features so they could complete the code for Google Latitude.
Google Latitude is here and it is good
I even say it’s FRAKIN great! But that is because I envisioned an app like this built on text so it ran on any phone. But this is even cooler than I imagined.
It is the applications that will be built on this that will be really powerful.
Here’s how it works
You are able to display your location in real time in Google maps. Stay with me here this is a game changer.
Google Latitude lets you see your friends location on a map on Google Maps for mobile and iGoogle. Use Latitude to plan an impromptu meetup, see that a loved one got home safely, or just stay in touch with friends.
See where your friends are on a map with Google Latitude. Latitude is a new feature for Google Maps for mobile and an iGoogle gadget.
Then you can invite your Google Friend Connect friends to join Google Latitude too.
You can turn it on or off when you want and you can just set a zip code, city or just your state.
You can set you location manually from your computer, set your cell phone to display your location, or use Google gears to do so from your laptop.
Your Google Friend Connect friends that choose to can accept your location sharing request and then you can see where they are. YOU CAN shut this off at any time on any platform.
NOTE: You can put in the state, city, zip or the address of where you are or going to be by using the manual link in the gadget in iGoogle. You don’t have to give up anything you don’t want to and you can set your location very generally this way. Give it a try.
The old people (that’s me) out there will cry PRIVACY till they are hoarse, of course. However it is the teens, 20 somethings and the nightlife crowd that will take to this like they did text messaging 8 years ago.
I am lucky, I waited tables while I built my online business and even though I was turning 40 I got to hang around with a bunch of 20 year old guys (girls too) but I still have those friends 5 years later. I SEE what a guy half my age does, likes, hates and embraces.
Google Latitude Is Going To Rock
- Think looking for the hot night spot where the opposite sex is
- Think knowing where your kids are
- Think directions to a party where your friends are
- Think NOT going to where everybody is
- Think sporting event, and “Hey, I wonder if any of my GFC friends are here”
- Think networking possibilities with that big marketer that you never met up with
- Think Restaurant chain builds big GFC friends list and spys on competition
- Think finding your drunk friend that always get lost somewhere vast like Vegas
- Think of the demographic data anyone could pull from this
- Think anything you like, the possibilities are endless
IF Google has decided to enable your location in Google Latitude you will see a working gadget below.
Click this link Google Latitude and add the gadget to your iGoogle. Be sure to you are logged into your Google account you use for Googling social apps.
I am not the best at describing something when I am excited about it and I know it well, so here is a Google video if you don’t get my Googling Social drift.
Any ways, add me to your Google Latitude contacts by sending me an email from the iGoogle gadget at chrislang [at] gmail dot com. If we are already Google friends then you can just send me a link from your Gmail contacts thru the Gadget once you add it to your iGoogle page.
Now we will really be seeing each other on the Google social network.
If this does not put a fire under you to join my members only site and find out what the rest of Google social is all about nothing will. Oh well I tried.
Click that link and get the rest of the story because this is just the beginning.
$27 every 30 days, four articles a month, better than this one by far and all for less than the price of lunch.
Do you want to wait and see? Then just wait and see your competition kick your butt with my information.
Cheers! – Chris Lang
I’m not feeling it yet. Only geeks are going to use it until it is tied to an app that comes with something mass consumers buy anyway, like cheap cell phones or cars.
Thanks, Chris. Once again I can count on you to keep me up to speed on the latest Google apps. For my purposes, this is useful down the road, but I think the prelimary move is to identify Google Friends through GFC with TwitterLocal (in combination) so I can pinpoint areas of potential clients. Then Google latitude becomes a way to zero in on anyone interested in working with me and their local friends/contacts to whom they may introduce me. Please remind me how that Twitter/GFC interface is suppose to work. Can I send a Tweet from GFC to my Twitter followers or from Twitter to GFC? How do I make this work? Thanks. -S.
@Stephen,
Here is the link to my YouTube channel.
Twitter Google Friend Connect
Hi Chris
I’m only just getting my head around Google Friend Connect.
Google Latitude sounds like a great application, however my only concern would be privacy but if you can activate or deactivate it at any time then that would be ok. Makes me wonder though, if this information could be used in a negative way by governments or hacker fraternity…the web gets more like Big Brother every week!
I’m probably just being far too cautious! but that’s my nature.
Take Care
John O’Hara
United Kingdom
Hi Chris
I’m only just getting my head around Google Friend Connect.
Google Latitude sounds like a great application, however my only concern would be privacy but if you can activate or deactivate it at any time then that would be ok. Makes me wonder though, if this information could be used in a negative way by governments or hacker fraternity…the web gets more like Big Brother every week!
I’m probably just being far too cautious! but that’s my nature.
Take Care
John O’Hara
United Kingdom
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Just when I was running out of reasons to give my friends as to why I don’t have a cell phone, along comes this little gem. I still enjoy the pleasure of getting and being lost, but to each their own.
Just when I was running out of reasons to give my friends as to why I don’t have a cell phone, along comes this little gem. I still enjoy the pleasure of getting and being lost, but to each their own.
@Eric, you can still get lost by simply turning off the Google Latitude.
There are plenty of times when I don’t want to be found. But there are times when I want someone to find me too.
Think brick and mortar type businesses. Just by friending Google social networking users that are in your target market they can see and find you business address.
@Daniel, very true, however the early adopters of GFC will have a huge advantage over the late comers because they will have HUGE friends lists they can leverage against the coming Google apps.
@Daniel, very true, however the early adopters of GFC will have a huge advantage over the late comers because they will have HUGE friends lists they can leverage against the coming Google apps.
I signed up for the map thing but turned it off. So far there is no one I want to stalk. I already know where you live Chris! :o)
I can see where this could be benefical in some circumstances. I also appreciate the privacy option.
Google is constantly improving, and Chris is constantly among the first to share what he knows to help people in the field of Social Marketing.
Nice new blog, Chris.
I signed up for the map thing but turned it off. So far there is no one I want to stalk. I already know where you live Chris! :o)
I can see where this could be benefical in some circumstances. I also appreciate the privacy option.
Google is constantly improving, and Chris is constantly among the first to share what he knows to help people in the field of Social Marketing.
Nice new blog, Chris.
Thanks as always Rocque.
Thanks as always Rocque.
It’s a waste of time! I haven’t been able to pinpoint any of my friend yet. It only gets you within a mile or so of where they are. I know that most of the time anyway.
@Scott, you have to add the widget to iGoogle and it sounds like you did.
Then thru that widget you have to invite your friends to use it.
Then, they have to install the widget in their iGoogle and SET their location.
If they one put in a ZIP code then you are going to get a within a mile location.
If you are friends with me you will see my location set EXACTLY to where we were the other night doing a beta test.
When more adopt this and use it on phones it will become more accurate.
It is only been in release for a week, it is REAL beta and hence you can’t expect it to be perfect.
Even the widget embedded on this page does not yet work due to coverage in the area.
Gonna take a bit for major adoption. But it is the NEXT major piece of the Google social networking features coming out.
You can add me as a Google friend easily by inviting me to share my location with you thru the iGoogle widget.
If you more questions just ask in comments here and I can help you.
@Scott, you have to add the widget to iGoogle and it sounds like you did.
Then thru that widget you have to invite your friends to use it.
Then, they have to install the widget in their iGoogle and SET their location.
If they one put in a ZIP code then you are going to get a within a mile location.
If you are friends with me you will see my location set EXACTLY to where we were the other night doing a beta test.
When more adopt this and use it on phones it will become more accurate.
It is only been in release for a week, it is REAL beta and hence you can’t expect it to be perfect.
Even the widget embedded on this page does not yet work due to coverage in the area.
Gonna take a bit for major adoption. But it is the NEXT major piece of the Google social networking features coming out.
You can add me as a Google friend easily by inviting me to share my location with you thru the iGoogle widget.
If you more questions just ask in comments here and I can help you.
You might be interested in checking out some new google moves here: http://scobleizer.com/2009/02/10/googlepowerfulmoves/
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hello Chris,
hello guys,
add me!!
inkyumail at gmail dot com
hello Chris,
hello guys,
add me!!
inkyumail at gmail dot com