Question about Loopt

[essential]

I watched the WWDC keynote from home the other night, and think the App "Loopt" looks really cool. One main question though.

Since Apple has said they don't want any background apps running, does eveyone who shows up on the map when you run Loopt from your phone have to be actively running Loopt on their phone?

I wonder because, if I am downtown and check Loopt for any of my friends in the area, i'm only going to have Loopt open for like 20 seconds, enough time to look on the map in my area, and then probably close it. What are the odds that everyone is loading the program at the same time to see each other. This seems like one of those apps that almost requires being open all the time to function properly.

Anyone have any idea how it's going to work?

 

[lofight]

I watched the WWDC keynote from home the other night, and think the App "Loopt" looks really cool. One main question though.

Since Apple has said they don't want any background apps running, does eveyone who shows up on the map when you run Loopt from your phone have to be actively running Loopt on their phone?

I wonder because, if I am downtown and check Loopt for any of my friends in the area, i'm only going to have Loopt open for like 20 seconds, enough time to look on the map in my area, and then probably close it. What are the odds that everyone is loading the program at the same time to see each other. This seems like one of those apps that almost requires being open all the time to function properly.

Anyone have any idea how it's going to work?

I don't think so. Your phone sens out everything now and then, a signal too the cellular attenas about where you are.

 

[essential]

I don't think so. Your phone sens out everything now and then, a signal too the cellular attenas about where you are.

With that logic, I should be able to see people in my contact list through Loopt, even if they don't have Loopt, if it's working only on the cell signals being sent out.

Loopt is going to be one of the first Apps I get, and I'm going to have to find someone to test it with because I just can't see how it works unless the program is running. Some part of the program has to run all the time, because what if you have the program but don't want your location being shown? There has to be an option for that. If you can close it and still be located via cell signal from other Loopt users, that might be an issue for some.

Either way I guess it might be too early to guess. We'll see when it comes out.

 

[hollerz]

Check this out...

https://www.macrumors.com/2008/06/09/apple-previews-iphone-firmware-2-0-additional-sdk-notes/

In addition, Apple announced a method for developers to have their applications receive information while not in use. Apple had previously said that they would not allow background applications to run on the iPhone, to the widespread dismay of developers who need such functionality to server-side information. As a response, Apple has implemented a notification feature into the SDK which will allow applications to be alerted of server-side events (i.e. new IM received, new mail, etc) without having to run in the background and eat CPU cycles. This functionality is scheduled to be delivered in September, however it will be seeded to developers "soon."

Although that does just say recieve, nothing about sending!

 

[essential]

Check this out...

https://www.macrumors.com/2008/06/09/apple-previews-iphone-firmware-2-0-additional-sdk-notes/

Although that does just say recieve, nothing about sending!

Yea, I watched the whole Keynote the other day when Apple put it online. I like the whole Push system Apple is going to allow Developers to use. It seems perfect for email, IMs, and text messages. However, the concept of Loopt seems like it needs more than just a notification that someone on your contact list has opened Loopt. Durning the keynote, the guy from Loopt showed an example, and his example showed like 10-12 people showing on the map on his iPhone.

If any of the people that showed on his map were on iPhones, that means that'd all have to be currently using the App to be shown on his iPhone. In turn, the people with iPhones and Loopt that aren't online would receive a notification that one of their contacts had just signed on Loopt.

Either way, it seems to me that the people showing when you sign on have to be currently running the App, and with no background Apps allowed to run, how often are you and all your friends going to sign on within the same couple minutes? Or if you receive a notification that one of your contacts signed on Loopt, and you miss the notification at the moment it's sent, by the time you sign on the contact might have signed off Loopt and you have no information. Loopt just seems like the kind of App that needs to be running all the time to function the way it's being marketed.

Like I said, just interested in how it'll work. Maybe we can find several forum users, exchange information, and test it out to see how it works after it's all released.

 

[shiunn]

maybe Loopt will just show the location when you last launched the app?

 

[LooptMin]

clarification on how Loopt works

Hi,

I work at Loopt and want to clarify a bit how Loopt's location works for the iPhone. Once launched in the App Store, Loopt will initially not be able to provide background location updating (i.e. real-time updates). Your location will update when you start the Loopt app. On your friend list, you will see the locations of when your friends last launched their Loopt app.

On other devices, such as our BlackBerry models, background location updating is available.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to leave feedback on our customer service forum here: http://www.getsatisfaction.com/loopt, or e-mail us at iphone (at) loopt.com

Min

 

[CPosty]

recent update on loopt.

Question.... does anyone know how to add people on loopt off of the search?

All i see is message user or report them... i dont see an add button??...

let me know. thanks!