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I use the G+ version. Its useful for my partner or I to check each others location e.g. your cooking dinner and want to decide to wait or eat. You quickly check

I use the G+ version. Its useful for my partner or I to check each others location e.g. your cooking dinner and want to decide to wait or eat. You quickly check the app and you can see if they are at the office etc. When I've discussed, generally people steer towards the creepy side of being tracked and dont like it. Maybe this version finds a middle ground as it's selling it as 'keeping you safe' while giving Google the right to track your location to sell better targeted ads. Really, the latter is what this is all about.

dorfsmay 10y ago
Or tell you kids they're took the bus in the wrong direction! It's very useful, but why put it in g+ and only in the mobile version of g+!
lettergram 10y ago
If you think all that data is going to be used for is ads, you're probably mistaken. All that data is stored. They know all your contacts, how you write, what your interests are, where you go every day. What if suddenly the country your in makes it illegal to do X, or feel Z. They decide to arrest everyone who meets the criteria, and there's nothing you can do. Although, you are correct now, it is ads. But the risk is SO great I really don't understand not taking precautions
- Gustomaximus 10y ago
  > Although, you are correct now, it is ads. But the risk is SO great I really don't understand not taking precautions I'm a bit nonchalant, I suspect because I work in marketing and see this as trying to get more relevant ads to me. And I'm always interested when ads show up to see what triggered said ad where obvious. For the potential for abuse, it is a concern. I feel the key is we have a choice on a service like this. And what seems a slightly strange opinion, I am more OK with companies collecting this type of information but would be disturbed if I knew the government was generally accessing it without court order. Really if your that worried about big brother you should not be carrying around a mobile phone at all. Governments already have ways to track location and activate mics in the background, so in that way its nothing new, now we also have the information.
- xapata 10y ago
  If the government decides to "dissappear" you, there's very little you can do. If you've been sharing your location with your family, they might be able to do something. If you've been publishing your activities, it's even more likely that your family can publicize your disappearance and help you. So, in a way, this app is protecting you against an abusive government.
  - petre 10y ago
    With your family and Google. It's like inviting Google (a multinational for profit corporation) intro your family.
    - xapata 10y ago
      I use a mobile phone on subscription and use a few credit cards. I guess a number of large companies are in my family.
wfunction 10y ago
> while giving Google the right to track your location to sell better targeted ads. Really, the latter is what this is all about. Note that for those who have Location History turned on, this isn't adding anything.
cptskippy 10y ago
I use the G+ version too and the downside to it is that it only has one use case which is "always allow people I authorize to see my location" and the only way to hide yourself is to remove permissions which is apparent to the person seeking your location. I've never had/wanted to hide my location from someone I've permitted to see it but I can see there being a use-case for it. The Trusted Contacts app allows you to grant people permission to ask for your location or for you to push those people your location if you feel the need. If someone asks your location who is permitted, it prompts you to approve or deny the location request and then times-out and grants it after a few minutes. The whole ask for permission to ask for your location seems awkward at best. This grant/timeout thing completely defeats the reason why my wife and I use the G+ location sharing which is to avoid the "where are you? when will you be home?" interaction.

dorfsmay 10y ago

Or tell you kids they're took the bus in the wrong direction! It's very useful, but why put it in g+ and only in the mobile version of g+!

lettergram 10y ago

If you think all that data is going to be used for is ads, you're probably mistaken. All that data is stored. They know all your contacts, how you write, what your interests are, where you go every day. What if suddenly the country your in makes it illegal to do X, or feel Z. They decide to arrest everyone who meets the criteria, and there's nothing you can do. Although, you are correct now, it is ads. But the risk is SO great I really don't understand not taking precautions

Gustomaximus 10y ago
> Although, you are correct now, it is ads. But the risk is SO great I really don't understand not taking precautions I'm a bit nonchalant, I suspect because I work in marketing and see this as trying to get more relevant ads to me. And I'm always interested when ads show up to see what triggered said ad where obvious. For the potential for abuse, it is a concern. I feel the key is we have a choice on a service like this. And what seems a slightly strange opinion, I am more OK with companies collecting this type of information but would be disturbed if I knew the government was generally accessing it without court order. Really if your that worried about big brother you should not be carrying around a mobile phone at all. Governments already have ways to track location and activate mics in the background, so in that way its nothing new, now we also have the information.
xapata 10y ago
If the government decides to "dissappear" you, there's very little you can do. If you've been sharing your location with your family, they might be able to do something. If you've been publishing your activities, it's even more likely that your family can publicize your disappearance and help you. So, in a way, this app is protecting you against an abusive government.
- petre 10y ago
  With your family and Google. It's like inviting Google (a multinational for profit corporation) intro your family.
  - xapata 10y ago
    I use a mobile phone on subscription and use a few credit cards. I guess a number of large companies are in my family.

wfunction 10y ago

> while giving Google the right to track your location to sell better targeted ads. Really, the latter is what this is all about. Note that for those who have Location History turned on, this isn't adding anything.

cptskippy 10y ago

I use the G+ version too and the downside to it is that it only has one use case which is "always allow people I authorize to see my location" and the only way to hide yourself is to remove permissions which is apparent to the person seeking your location. I've never had/wanted to hide my location from someone I've permitted to see it but I can see there being a use-case for it. The Trusted Contacts app allows you to grant people permission to ask for your location or for you to push those people your location if you feel the need. If someone asks your location who is permitted, it prompts you to approve or deny the location request and then times-out and grants it after a few minutes. The whole ask for permission to ask for your location seems awkward at best. This grant/timeout thing completely defeats the reason why my wife and I use the G+ location sharing which is to avoid the "where are you? when will you be home?" interaction.