Google’s My Location comes to Windows phones
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
(Credit: Google)Google has slowly been adding its location feature to Google’s mobile applications. Last week, Windows Mobile phones were the latest to get the handy localization feature.
In Google’s mobile maps apps, My Location appears as a blinking blue dot that shows either your approximate location, based on cell tower triangulation, or a more precise reading based on your phone’s built-in GPS. The same principle now applies to search in the Google Mobile App. The blue dot will list your current location below the search box. Instead of specifying a city or zip code, you just type in your query, and Google will deliver the results closest to you.
The most recent version of Google Mobile App for Windows phones also weaves URL suggestions for Web pages into its search suggestions. By clicking one, you can bypass the search results page and go straight to the business’ Web site. Furthermore, if you have Google Maps installed on your phone, the app can plot local search results on a map. Google signifies these locations in the search results with a red pin (pictured).
As a nod to those with privacy concerns, Google encrypts your location on its way to the server, and only stores the most recent location to make subsequent searching easier. Of course, not everyone wants to make their location known. You can disable the My Location feature in the settings under Advanced Options.
For those who use Google Mobile App to quickly find places nearby, this update does, indeed, make the app a more capable tool. It also steps into Yelp’s mobile territory, delivering not only ratings as part of a search result, but also mapped locations. Combined with the map’s directions feature, the mobile app could help drivers and passengers, especially, find their destinations faster.
Google Mobile App first became available for Windows Mobile phones in February 2009. To get the latest update, point the mobile browser to m.google.com.
Originally posted at The Download Blog
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Google’s My Location comes to Windows phones
