9 ms·

Google releases 'Field Trip' app, a location-aware guidebook

46 points by denzil_correa 14y ago

hahainternet 14y ago
> This item cannot be installed in your device's country. I'm sure I'll enjoy it in a few years.
- netfeed 14y ago
  same here, really annoying
  - davewasthere 14y ago
    Fuck this country-limited shit... honestly!
    - pkulak 14y ago
      Yeah! If they can't release it in every country in the world, they should never release it!
    - jonny_eh 14y ago
      Jealousy isn't a helpful emotion.
    - awolf 14y ago
      Do you truly not understand why a developer creating a location-based discovery app - an app that will be judged mostly on the quality its location-based content - might need to launch in limited locations to start? Does this really need to be explained to you?
      - TillE 14y ago
        People who live in one country may travel to others. It's absurd to enforce the limitation at this level. I'm getting really sick of apps in the Android store that are restricted by country when they're not legally obligated to be that way.
        iamdave 14y ago
        I think you missed the point, let me go get it for you: It's a location based application. Operative and key words there are "location" and "based". It makes more sense to release in a limited location you have proximity to and are familiar with in an early release to iron out all the bugs before making an international release where tracking down inaccuracies can be much more difficult logistically. I doubt it's an arbitrary restriction, it's done for the sake of ensuring the app works as designed in a controlled test-environment.
        awolf 14y ago
        If the problem is that Google Play won't let you download an app from the U.S. store based on where your current ISP is located then: 1) that's dumb* and 2) download Field Trip when you get back to the U.S. The point is developers shouldn't have to worry about people in un-supported countries downloading their apps and finding them worthless due to no content. * (it should be based on your Google Play account settings or billing information)
        _djo_ 14y ago
        How about if I, as a non-American, want to buy this app to use on an upcoming US trip?
        awolf 14y ago
        The other side of this coin, people downloading the app to use in their home countries when those countries are un-supported, is much more common. Probably two orders of magnitude more common. Sorry it sucks for you, but I'd make the exact same decision as Google here 100% of the time.
        _djo_ 14y ago
        Would be nice to have a third option, that incorporates the country limitations into the purchasing process and warns you when buying the app that it has no data/support/whatever for your country. At least then those of us who do travel frequently and want to be able to use these apps when we do will have that option.
Uhhrrr 14y ago
This will be neat together with Project Glass.
fumar 14y ago
I've had for a couple of hours. Its a nice looking app. I found a couple interesting spots while walking around Chicago. It does not look like a "Google" app. I imagine its one of the first apps to use the Google Now API. Edit: It was created by Niantic Labs. http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/27/googles-niantic-labs-launches-field-trip-app-for-android-helps/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/27/googles-niantic-labs-laun...
- denzil_correa 14y ago
  I think so too. There is definitely some Google Now at play in this app.
bluetidepro 14y ago
This looks neat. I hope they can get that iPhone version out soon!
mathieuh 14y ago
US only.
sebbi 14y ago
"This app is incompatible with all of your devices." I have a Galaxy Nexus and a Nexus 7 ... hmmm
iamdann 14y ago
I'm still a little confused about the actual product. Does it use GPS data to show information about surrounding landmarks? Or something else/more?
- fumar 14y ago
  Like Google Now it uses your location to display a variety to things; Some are historical landmarks others are upcoming concerts or movie locations. You choose in what frequency the app notifies you. For example, I was walking from work to home and Field Trip notified me of where a scene for Oceans 11 was shot.
  - iamdann 14y ago
    Oh, that's really cool. Thanks
  - waterlesscloud 14y ago
    It's a mixed bag for me. I live in Los Angeles next to a movie studio. There's a ton of cards for right here at my home. Some are cool stuff, some are generic tourist guide info for tourist food and tourist shops, a bazillion movie locations, and some (the ones I'm most skeptical about) are celebrity news. I don't care where some celeb was seen yesterday, and I wouldn't care much even if I didn't live here.
mikeevans 14y ago
It says it's by NianticLabs@Google. Any more information about what The Niantic Project is? Their website doesn't say much: http://www.nianticproject.com/ http://www.nianticproject.com/
- elq 14y ago
  AFAIK Niantic is a internal google "startup", from what I've heard their real product/project (that I haven't seen) will be released soon-ish.
  - wicknicks 14y ago
    Here is their twitter account: https://twitter.com/nianticproject https://twitter.com/nianticproject
- waterlesscloud 14y ago
  Origin of the name for the curious - "Niantic was a whaleship that brought fortune-seekers to Yerba Buena later renamed San Francisco during the California Gold Rush of 1849." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niantic_(whaling_vessel) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niantic_(whaling_vessel)
parfamz 14y ago
http://www.nokia.com/in-en/citylens/ http://www.nokia.com/in-en/citylens/
jcoder 14y ago
Of all the companies to require flash to view their video...
awolf 14y ago
Yikes. I've been working on an iOS based competitor for the past three months. My concept is a bit different. I'm using photo data from public sharing sites and clustering geotag locations to determine scenic or popular points of interest. Users can then create custom walking tours to one or more of these locations. I've only got a few days left of development, so I'll probably get it out before Niantic/Google's iOS launch. The good news is that Field Trip seems fairly well received so far so there's a demand for this type of thing.
- waterlesscloud 14y ago
  There's tons of room in this space. This version seems to be general interest, but there's plenty of specialized versions that will come along as well. Be a specialized version.
- eranation 14y ago
  I rather be in a business that has a few competitors but lot's of market than in a business that has no competitors, and no market...
- martythemaniak 14y ago
  Don't get discouraged - look at it as validation of your idea. Not everything Google does turns to gold and there may be plenty of opportunity in doing something vaguely similar, but different. So, launch, listen to your users and iterate! Good luck.
vailripper 14y ago
That was one of the best product videos I've seen. Engaging, with enough hints to what it does to make you want to download it.
- wukkuan 14y ago
  Interesting. I thought the opposite. I watched it before I saw any information about what it was, and had no idea what it was supposed to be about in the end. I just needed a little more context at the beginning, and I think it would have been quite clear.
  - mtgx 14y ago
    Same here. Plus, I'm not a big fan of the "creative" ads that don't talk about the product or say nothing about what it's supposed to do. Sure, it's a pretty ad, but ads are expensive, and air time is expensive, too(well on TV), so viewers need to realize immediately what it's about.
- yitchelle 14y ago
  I have to say the video left me more confuse about what it does. The name gives it very little context, and the video does not provide any additional information. A bit too abstract for me.
  - diminoten 14y ago
    I'd have to agree with this. It's a beautiful video, but from an advertising standpoint it provides literally nothing. I know absolutely nothing more about the product than I did before I watched the video.
windle 14y ago
Love how there was obviously no testing of the site on Firefox, as clicking the video pause or volume buttons hides the entire video. Pause/volume works fine on Chrome/Safari of course.
- itsouk 14y ago
  what os/firefox/flash version are you using?
  - windle 14y ago
    I tried it in FF Nightly and FF release. Using the latest Flash as far as I know.
knerd1 14y ago
Can't wait to try it out. I do wish google would be a tad less serious with their advertising. These overly earnest, schmaltzy ads are getting old.
jimmywanger 14y ago
Hey all. This app is _really_ cool. I've found out a lot of stuff in my neighborhood (just a little south of SF) that I didn't know existed. The website is here: http://www.fieldtripper.com/ http://www.fieldtripper.com/ There's even a launch party on Saturday (9/29) - http://www.fieldtripday.com http://www.fieldtripday.com I'm a member of the team which has launched this product - any questions, and I'll let you know to the best of my knowledge and ability to answer. Hope to see you in two days!
hodder 14y ago
It looks like they can really put the Frommer's acquisition to use in this.
carterschonwald 14y ago
youtube link to video in case anyone else has trouble getting it to play on chrome http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zusjUjaiWJQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=z...

46 points by denzil_correa 14y ago

hahainternet 14y ago

> This item cannot be installed in your device's country. I'm sure I'll enjoy it in a few years.

netfeed 14y ago
same here, really annoying
- davewasthere 14y ago
  Fuck this country-limited shit... honestly!
  - pkulak 14y ago
    Yeah! If they can't release it in every country in the world, they should never release it!
  - jonny_eh 14y ago
    Jealousy isn't a helpful emotion.
  - awolf 14y ago
    Do you truly not understand why a developer creating a location-based discovery app - an app that will be judged mostly on the quality its location-based content - might need to launch in limited locations to start? Does this really need to be explained to you?
    - TillE 14y ago
      People who live in one country may travel to others. It's absurd to enforce the limitation at this level. I'm getting really sick of apps in the Android store that are restricted by country when they're not legally obligated to be that way.
      - iamdave 14y ago
        I think you missed the point, let me go get it for you: It's a location based application. Operative and key words there are "location" and "based". It makes more sense to release in a limited location you have proximity to and are familiar with in an early release to iron out all the bugs before making an international release where tracking down inaccuracies can be much more difficult logistically. I doubt it's an arbitrary restriction, it's done for the sake of ensuring the app works as designed in a controlled test-environment.
      - awolf 14y ago
        If the problem is that Google Play won't let you download an app from the U.S. store based on where your current ISP is located then: 1) that's dumb* and 2) download Field Trip when you get back to the U.S. The point is developers shouldn't have to worry about people in un-supported countries downloading their apps and finding them worthless due to no content. * (it should be based on your Google Play account settings or billing information)
        _djo_ 14y ago
        How about if I, as a non-American, want to buy this app to use on an upcoming US trip?
        awolf 14y ago
        The other side of this coin, people downloading the app to use in their home countries when those countries are un-supported, is much more common. Probably two orders of magnitude more common. Sorry it sucks for you, but I'd make the exact same decision as Google here 100% of the time.
        _djo_ 14y ago
        Would be nice to have a third option, that incorporates the country limitations into the purchasing process and warns you when buying the app that it has no data/support/whatever for your country. At least then those of us who do travel frequently and want to be able to use these apps when we do will have that option.

Uhhrrr 14y ago

This will be neat together with Project Glass.

fumar 14y ago

I've had for a couple of hours. Its a nice looking app. I found a couple interesting spots while walking around Chicago. It does not look like a "Google" app. I imagine its one of the first apps to use the Google Now API. Edit: It was created by Niantic Labs. http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/27/googles-niantic-labs-launches-field-trip-app-for-android-helps/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/27/googles-niantic-labs-laun...

denzil_correa 14y ago
I think so too. There is definitely some Google Now at play in this app.

bluetidepro 14y ago

This looks neat. I hope they can get that iPhone version out soon!

mathieuh 14y ago

US only.

sebbi 14y ago

"This app is incompatible with all of your devices." I have a Galaxy Nexus and a Nexus 7 ... hmmm

iamdann 14y ago

I'm still a little confused about the actual product. Does it use GPS data to show information about surrounding landmarks? Or something else/more?

fumar 14y ago
Like Google Now it uses your location to display a variety to things; Some are historical landmarks others are upcoming concerts or movie locations. You choose in what frequency the app notifies you. For example, I was walking from work to home and Field Trip notified me of where a scene for Oceans 11 was shot.
- iamdann 14y ago
  Oh, that's really cool. Thanks
- waterlesscloud 14y ago
  It's a mixed bag for me. I live in Los Angeles next to a movie studio. There's a ton of cards for right here at my home. Some are cool stuff, some are generic tourist guide info for tourist food and tourist shops, a bazillion movie locations, and some (the ones I'm most skeptical about) are celebrity news. I don't care where some celeb was seen yesterday, and I wouldn't care much even if I didn't live here.

mikeevans 14y ago

It says it's by NianticLabs@Google. Any more information about what The Niantic Project is? Their website doesn't say much: http://www.nianticproject.com/ http://www.nianticproject.com/

elq 14y ago
AFAIK Niantic is a internal google "startup", from what I've heard their real product/project (that I haven't seen) will be released soon-ish.
- wicknicks 14y ago
  Here is their twitter account: https://twitter.com/nianticproject https://twitter.com/nianticproject
waterlesscloud 14y ago
Origin of the name for the curious - "Niantic was a whaleship that brought fortune-seekers to Yerba Buena later renamed San Francisco during the California Gold Rush of 1849." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niantic_(whaling_vessel) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niantic_(whaling_vessel)

parfamz 14y ago

http://www.nokia.com/in-en/citylens/ http://www.nokia.com/in-en/citylens/

jcoder 14y ago

Of all the companies to require flash to view their video...

awolf 14y ago

Yikes. I've been working on an iOS based competitor for the past three months. My concept is a bit different. I'm using photo data from public sharing sites and clustering geotag locations to determine scenic or popular points of interest. Users can then create custom walking tours to one or more of these locations. I've only got a few days left of development, so I'll probably get it out before Niantic/Google's iOS launch. The good news is that Field Trip seems fairly well received so far so there's a demand for this type of thing.

waterlesscloud 14y ago
There's tons of room in this space. This version seems to be general interest, but there's plenty of specialized versions that will come along as well. Be a specialized version.
eranation 14y ago
I rather be in a business that has a few competitors but lot's of market than in a business that has no competitors, and no market...
martythemaniak 14y ago
Don't get discouraged - look at it as validation of your idea. Not everything Google does turns to gold and there may be plenty of opportunity in doing something vaguely similar, but different. So, launch, listen to your users and iterate! Good luck.

vailripper 14y ago

That was one of the best product videos I've seen. Engaging, with enough hints to what it does to make you want to download it.

wukkuan 14y ago
Interesting. I thought the opposite. I watched it before I saw any information about what it was, and had no idea what it was supposed to be about in the end. I just needed a little more context at the beginning, and I think it would have been quite clear.
- mtgx 14y ago
  Same here. Plus, I'm not a big fan of the "creative" ads that don't talk about the product or say nothing about what it's supposed to do. Sure, it's a pretty ad, but ads are expensive, and air time is expensive, too(well on TV), so viewers need to realize immediately what it's about.
yitchelle 14y ago
I have to say the video left me more confuse about what it does. The name gives it very little context, and the video does not provide any additional information. A bit too abstract for me.
- diminoten 14y ago
  I'd have to agree with this. It's a beautiful video, but from an advertising standpoint it provides literally nothing. I know absolutely nothing more about the product than I did before I watched the video.

windle 14y ago

Love how there was obviously no testing of the site on Firefox, as clicking the video pause or volume buttons hides the entire video. Pause/volume works fine on Chrome/Safari of course.

itsouk 14y ago
what os/firefox/flash version are you using?
- windle 14y ago
  I tried it in FF Nightly and FF release. Using the latest Flash as far as I know.

knerd1 14y ago

Can't wait to try it out. I do wish google would be a tad less serious with their advertising. These overly earnest, schmaltzy ads are getting old.

jimmywanger 14y ago

Hey all. This app is _really_ cool. I've found out a lot of stuff in my neighborhood (just a little south of SF) that I didn't know existed. The website is here: http://www.fieldtripper.com/ http://www.fieldtripper.com/ There's even a launch party on Saturday (9/29) - http://www.fieldtripday.com http://www.fieldtripday.com I'm a member of the team which has launched this product - any questions, and I'll let you know to the best of my knowledge and ability to answer. Hope to see you in two days!

hodder 14y ago

It looks like they can really put the Frommer's acquisition to use in this.

carterschonwald 14y ago

youtube link to video in case anyone else has trouble getting it to play on chrome http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zusjUjaiWJQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=z...