How does "nearby" work on Tweetie 2 (and other Twitter iPhone apps)?

[JW008]

I've been trying to figure out how "nearby" works on Tweetie 2. Is it that geolocation has been enabled by Twitter for some, but not for all? Or is it some setting that I have to enable on Tweetie and/or Twitter?

It's an incredible feature that I've noticed is working for quite a few people, but not for myself and for a neighbor who has tested it out, too.

Any insight?

 

[ntrigue]

I think Tweetie 2's implementation is really elegant.

Here is information about the API...

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/08/20/twitter-can-now-know-where-you-tweet/

"Folks will need to activate this new feature by choice because it will be off by default and the exact location data won't be stored for an extended period of time. However, if people do opt-in to sharing location on a tweet-by-tweet basis, compelling context will be added to each burst of information."

http://blog.twitter.com/2009/08/location-location-location.html

 

[kenypowa]

I've been trying to figure out how "nearby" works on Tweetie 2. Is it that geolocation has been enabled by Twitter for some, but not for all? Or is it some setting that I have to enable on Tweetie and/or Twitter?

It's an incredible feature that I've noticed is working for quite a few people, but not for myself and for a neighbor who has tested it out, too.

Any insight?

I am curious as well.

The links provided are background information of the API, but there's no instructions on how to enable this.

 

[The General]

tap the character count, hit geotag

 

[JW008]

tap the character count, hit geotag

Not that I don't believe you, but it just seems like there too many people in my area whose tweets are geotagged to 1)using Tweetie (and other geoenabled Twitter apps) and 2)hitting the "geotag" button every single time. Plus, when I click the geotag button in Tweetie, it puts a link into the tweet as to my current location. The "nearby" tweets in my area don't have that.

Another interesting thing I've found is that some people actually have the lat/long as their location in their Twitter profile. Mine simply says "Tallahassee." (as that's what I typed in when I joined Twitter).

Here's an example of someone I found in my area who's using an iPhone and has the location enabled in their profile.

Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[TheMBC]

Yes, most Twitter apps would do one of two things when you clicked the geo-tag button: Add a link to a Google map with a pin of where you are or update your location in your Twitter profile with your lat/long. However, with the new Twitter API (whenever it's released) your specific tweet will be geo-tagged and will not be taking up character space, so no link, it'll be "embedded" so to speak in the actual tweet.

As far as I know, Tweetie is fully coded to support the new API as soon as its functionality is released.

Unless of course you're talking about nearby search...?

(Quick note, if you didn't want us to know your Twitter username it's still up on the top)

 

[JW008]

(Quick note, if you didn't want us to know your Twitter username it's still up on the top)

Yeah, I noticed that earlier. It's not my Twitter name, it's someone's who I found "nearby" and used as an example of someone with the long/lat in their name. I was going to go back and delete it, but I figured if they're broadcasting it on Twitter, it should be OK on MacRumors, right?

However, with the new Twitter API (whenever it's released) your specific tweet will be geo-tagged and will not be taking up character space, so no link, it'll be "embedded" so to speak in the actual tweet.

This is how I thought it would work, but I can't figure out how people are already "embedding" it in there, when the API hasn't been released. Any ideas?

 

[TheMBC]

Well, I believe Twitter has this function enabled for a small percentage of its users, like the new RT function. However, I'm pretty sure you're talking about nearby search, which is very different. Nearby search looks for profiles that have long/lat in their location input field and displays them on the map. The long/lat on your profile location field can be enabled by opening another Twitter app, like Echofon, write a new tweet, click the little geo-tag button, then you'll be presented with "Updated Profile Location" or "Insert Google Maps Link," choose the former and send out a tweet. At least it should work.

 

[bozzykid]

Right now, all you are seeing on a nearby search is what people set in their profile for the location. Once Twitter enables the location api, Tweetie (and any other apps that support it), will be able to show you where the tweet occured from. I believe it will be a small icon on the tweet and a small google map image on the tweet screen in Tweetie. I'm not sure how this will affect the nearby search (I assume it will also then search for Tweets near your location as well as profile locations).

 

[JW008]

The long/lat on your profile location field can be enabled by opening another Twitter app, like Echofon, write a new tweet, click the little geo-tag button, then you'll be presented with "Updated Profile Location" or "Insert Google Maps Link," choose the former and send out a tweet.

I downloaded the free version of Echofon and it did work this way. My Twitter profile now has a "iPhone: <long/lat>" as my current location. This is an interesting method of supporting geotagging. I wonder why Tweetie 2 doesn't have the option? Waiting for the "official" implementation from Twitter?

Right now, all you are seeing on a nearby search is what people set in their profile for the location. Once Twitter enables the location api, Tweetie (and any other apps that support it), will be able to show you where the tweet occured from. I believe it will be a small icon on the tweet and a small google map image on the tweet screen in Tweetie. I'm not sure how this will affect the nearby search (I assume it will also then search for Tweets near your location as well as profile locations).

This sounds like an excellent way to implement it. I've gone through the Twitter Blog and saw that it's being implemented "soon." Has there been any rumblings as to a more exact date than "soon?"

 

[TheMBC]

No, sorry, "soon" is what Twitter has told us.

 

[Maverickster]

I downloaded the free version of Echofon and it did work this way. My Twitter profile now has a "iPhone: <long/lat>" as my current location. This is an interesting method of supporting geotagging. I wonder why Tweetie 2 doesn't have the option? Waiting for the "official" implementation from Twitter?

This is exactly how Tweetie 1 did it. Since Loren disabeled it in Tweetie 2 and instead you can just add a link, I think that reflects some confidence on his part that the geotag API will be rolled out soon thereby making this a moot point.