4 ms·

Glassmap (YC S11) Launches v2.0: Social News Feed Meets Real-Time Map

30 points by jonochang 14y ago

jonochang 14y ago
A key point that's not emphasized in the article is the extremely large amount of data we use for our algorithms. We collect 3 orders of magnitude more data than other similar apps - 300M+ data points of high resolution location data are used to determine relevant content.
- ipince 14y ago
  Can you elaborate? What data do you collect, and what data do "similar" apps collect? What are the similar apps you refer to? Thanks!
  - jonochang 14y ago
    Sure I'd be happy to! We collect location data that might help determine what's interesting content for you to see - such as where you spend time with friends, where you take pictures, etc. By similar apps I meant other location sharing applications - whether they're check-in style apps or other passive location sharing apps. These other applications, usually in an attempt to reduce battery drain, collect data at a much lower rate. Our relay framework lets us collect lots of data without sacrificing battery performance, letting us make much more informed decisions for what's interesting and what's not.
CamperBob2 14y ago
Like Apple’s Find My Friends, but better. The key differentiator then was that Glassmap uses a proprietary, patent-pending technology Your mother must be so proud.
stephengillie 14y ago
What happened to Latitude?
- jonochang 14y ago
  Latitude's biggest problem is its battery drain. It's hard to get through a whole day without your phone dying, which is a real dealbreaker for location sharing services. We really bought into the concept of Latitude but found it just didn't work well enough, which is why we ended up building Glassmap in the first place. Glassmap also takes a bit of a different approach and focuses more on encouraging social interactions. We let you import friends from any/all your social networks - really helpful for those of us who don't want to bother rebuilding yet another social graph - and also have a lot more social features (pictures/filters/commenting/messaging) as opposed to the straight utility approach that Latitude takes.
jermfang 14y ago
So is this like marauder's map for muggles?
- jonochang 14y ago
  Yup. Less creepy more magical =)

30 points by jonochang 14y ago

A key point that's not emphasized in the article is the extremely large amount of data we use for our algorithms. We collect 3 orders of magnitude more data than other similar apps - 300M+ data points of high resolution location data are used to determine relevant content.

ipince 14y ago
Can you elaborate? What data do you collect, and what data do "similar" apps collect? What are the similar apps you refer to? Thanks!
- jonochang 14y ago
  Sure I'd be happy to! We collect location data that might help determine what's interesting content for you to see - such as where you spend time with friends, where you take pictures, etc. By similar apps I meant other location sharing applications - whether they're check-in style apps or other passive location sharing apps. These other applications, usually in an attempt to reduce battery drain, collect data at a much lower rate. Our relay framework lets us collect lots of data without sacrificing battery performance, letting us make much more informed decisions for what's interesting and what's not.

CamperBob2 14y ago

Like Apple’s Find My Friends, but better. The key differentiator then was that Glassmap uses a proprietary, patent-pending technology Your mother must be so proud.

stephengillie 14y ago

What happened to Latitude?

jonochang 14y ago
Latitude's biggest problem is its battery drain. It's hard to get through a whole day without your phone dying, which is a real dealbreaker for location sharing services. We really bought into the concept of Latitude but found it just didn't work well enough, which is why we ended up building Glassmap in the first place. Glassmap also takes a bit of a different approach and focuses more on encouraging social interactions. We let you import friends from any/all your social networks - really helpful for those of us who don't want to bother rebuilding yet another social graph - and also have a lot more social features (pictures/filters/commenting/messaging) as opposed to the straight utility approach that Latitude takes.

jermfang 14y ago

So is this like marauder's map for muggles?

jonochang 14y ago
Yup. Less creepy more magical =)