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Tracking your iPhone without a MobileMe account? It´s possible now!

I've been waiting for Google Latitude to work on the iPhone for a couple of years. This is great news.... Personally I could care less about the app with regards to stolen iPhones. What I think is cool is that my Mom could follow me around from Canada and see where I am in Japan just for kicks.

I would turn it off when I hit the love hotels though.

Are the any dedicated tracking apps out there that I can use for GPS like tracking. Technically it's IP location tracking which these days is virtually as accurate as GPS. Close enough unless you're some kind of spy or something.
 
ajnicho said:
No but I think everyone else is just out to bash it. It's $2 and a hell of a lot cheaper than Mobileme.

Also, someone nicking an iphone is going to have a small pin on them to remove the simcard, aren't they?

The likelyhood is that they'll take it home to remove the simcard, after which they'll turn it back on. Not everyone will know how to wipe it clean so may just stick their own simcard in and quite possibly then update it's location.

I think it's a pretty neat app, i'll try it out.
Click to expand...

Cool! Let us know here in the forum what you think of it :)
 
You're not the developer but you do have a connection to the app/developer in some capacity, what is that? I feel you should disclose any connection as a matter of principal.

I like the idea of this app yet see it being used more for snooping on significant other rather than theft. $2.00 is easy enough to throw away if the app ends up sucking down battery life or is just crap in general.

If developers really stood by their app they would offer a money back/partial money back guarantee, that would really show they believe in it and offer much more security to the buyer. IF it does end up being crap (any app), thousands of people would of bought it before it's really figured out so lots of money in said developers pocket and lots of unhappy buyers.

What kind of data does this app share with google and what is google doing with said information. I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to latitude so this information would be nice to know.... is this information available via web or in the app itself?
 
101AirAssault said:
You're not the developer but you do have a connection to the app/developer in some capacity, what is that? I feel you should disclose any connection as a matter of principal.

I like the idea of this app yet see it being used more for snooping on significant other rather than theft. $2.00 is easy enough to throw away if the app ends up sucking down battery life or is just crap in general.

If developers really stood by their app they would offer a money back/partial money back guarantee, that would really show they believe in it and offer much more security to the buyer. IF it does end up being crap (any app), thousands of people would of bought it before it's really figured out so lots of money in said developers pocket and lots of unhappy buyers.

What kind of data does this app share with google and what is google doing with said information. I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to latitude so this information would be nice to know.... is this information available via web or in the app itself?
Click to expand...

I am not connected to the dev in any way. I just think it´s a cool app, that´s all.

If you have any questions regarding your privacy, why not hit the developer yourself? I´ve posted his website here.

And you can always create a fake google account with fake info just for this. So i don´t see the problem.
 
101AirAssault said:
You're not the developer but you do have a connection to the app/developer in some capacity, what is that? I feel you should disclose any connection as a matter of principal.

I like the idea of this app yet see it being used more for snooping on significant other rather than theft. $2.00 is easy enough to throw away if the app ends up sucking down battery life or is just crap in general.

If developers really stood by their app they would offer a money back/partial money back guarantee, that would really show they believe in it and offer much more security to the buyer. IF it does end up being crap (any app), thousands of people would of bought it before it's really figured out so lots of money in said developers pocket and lots of unhappy buyers.

What kind of data does this app share with google and what is google doing with said information. I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to latitude so this information would be nice to know.... is this information available via web or in the app itself?
Click to expand...

It uses the cell tower tracking so would only provide an update to location if it switches cell towers. You can turn this option off and have a permanent GPS location update if you so wish, but at the expense of your battery.

I've had it active now (using cell towers) for over 30 mins so will let you know how well it fairs throughout the day. I've only dropped about 2% so far but I've been using my phone during this time.
 
charleshamilton said:
I am not connected to the dev in any way. I just think it´s a cool app, that´s all.

If you have any questions regarding your privacy, why not hit the developer yourself? I´ve posted his website here.

And you can always create a fake google account with fake info just for this. So i don´t see the problem.
Click to expand...

Fonehome in iTunes seems to be better or the same.
 
charleshamilton said:
I am not connected to the dev in any way. I just think it´s a cool app, that´s all.
If you have any questions regarding your privacy, why not hit the developer yourself? I´ve posted his website here.
And you can always create a fake google account with fake info just for this. So i don´t see the problem.
Click to expand...

For someone with no connection you sure are pushing/defending this app awful hard. Sorry but I don't see average joe app purchaser doing this. I really like Homerun battle 3d but I'm certainly not making threads about it and pushing/defending the app.

I'll take you at your word but just seems a bit odd.

ajnicho said:
It uses the cell tower tracking so would only provide an update to location if it switches cell towers. You can turn this option off and have a permanent GPS location update if you so wish, but at the expense of your battery.
I've had it active now (using cell towers) for over 30 mins so will let you know how well it fairs throughout the day. I've only dropped about 2% so far but I've been using my phone during this time.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the heads up, I'll keep an eye out for your updates.

Mike84 said:
Fonehome in iTunes seems to be better or the same.
Click to expand...
http://appshopper.com/utilities/fonehome
Seems like another nice option 4/5 stars (34 ratings)
 
101AirAssault said:
For someone with no connection you sure are pushing/defending this app awful hard. Sorry but I don't see average joe app purchaser doing this. I really like Homerun battle 3d but I'm certainly not making threads about it and pushing/defending the app.

I'll take you at your word but just seems a bit odd.


Thanks for the heads up, I'll keep an eye out for your updates.


http://appshopper.com/utilities/fonehome
Seems like another nice option 4/5 stars (34 ratings)
Click to expand...


Yeah looks good, I like the push notification feature however I prefer the goolge latitude service, allowing my friends and family to see me – when I want them to, obviously.
 
I just want to update all of you that I purchased fonehome since yesterday, and it has worked really well. The battery drainage is literally non-existent and you do not need to have the app opened for it to work. At first I thought there was something wrong with it since it was not updating (time wise) all the time. So, I sent back feedback to fonehome and they responded immediately informing me that the app, open or not, reports the location whenever the phone is moved a considerable amount of distance from the previous location. So, I continued to test it and it does actually work.
 
I read some of the issues people have with this app.... (eg. Thief pulling out the SIM, powering down the phone etc)

Aren't those the same downfalls MobileMe faces?? Or are those issues by passed by MobileMe?
 
Phone getting stolen: not that likely. Never had it happen.

Phone getting left behind somewhere, sooner or later: really, really, REALLY likely. Happens more than I'm comfortable admitting in front of you lot. Nothing personal. :D

Amusement value for reviewing your own travels now and again: worth $2. I've paid a lot more for apps that do a lot less.

Thanks!
 
bigred7078 said:
who says you need to be 200lbs to have a gun that he could use to shoot you in the freaking face :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

So every thief has a gun?

I´m sorry, but if i know where my iphone is, i´m going to the place where it is. Or at least update the authorities.
 
You guys need to read the Thread about the guy who recovered his stolen iPad thanks to the "Find my iPhone" app.

So, it did work out for one person at least!
 
I was using Cerebro on my jailbroken 3G, but now that I've upgraded to an iP4 and have no idea when we'll see a jailbreak, I've decided to give "trackmyphone" a try.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/trackmyphone/id368149172?mt=8

The dev put a post here on MR and it certainly has a nice feature set, with some interesting ones coming in the version he just submitted to the app store.

In addition to the features already present, the dev said he's added in the following features:
ability to passcode lock the app
incorrect passcode will take a picture w/ the iPhone 4's front camera


Combine those with the ability to activate the app by sending a push notification, and I think we may have a real winner here.

Note: I don't have any connection with the developer, I just saw the post on MR and then I saw this one and thought I'd share some input.
 
charleshamilton said:
So every thief has a gun?

I´m sorry, but if i know where my iphone is, i´m going to the place where it is. Or at least update the authorities.
Click to expand...

you are very naive. I would rather assume someone has a gun or weapon than trying to be a tough guy asking for my phone back. People do crazy ****.
 
This is why I pay for insurance. If my phone gets stolen, I file a police report, log onto Exchange and MobileMe to queue up a remote wipe, after the wipe goes through, call AT&T to disable the SIM card (which most likely would be disabled because of the PIN set on it), and file an insurance claim.

I live in Texas where some gun ranges have single's nights. I'm not going to risk my life by confronting a would-be thief at his house about a ripped off phone.
 
TheNewDude said:
I read some of the issues people have with this app.... (eg. Thief pulling out the SIM, powering down the phone etc)

Aren't those the same downfalls MobileMe faces?? Or are those issues by passed by MobileMe?
Click to expand...

i would like to know this as well. aside from being able to remote wipe (which i'd really like to do but i don't need a mobileme acct for any other reason and therefor its not worth the money to me) what are the differences as far as these limitations go?
 
Just an update for those concerned about battery llife, my phone is currently running at 41% battery and i have being using my phone as well.
 
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