Update Your Location Automatically on Android
A recurring theme of WhereCamp was the shortcomings of entering location information. Shouldn’t the device just do it for you?
Despite the obvious coolness of the iPhone, the restrictive development environment makes it impossible to have an app running in the background. Not so on Android, the open handset supported by Google.
WhereCamper Don Park created a prototype of an Android app that reports location automatically, which he calls IceCondor. On a frequent interval the app pings a server. Unless the phone is powered off, you can always have access to your location.
Yes, many are wary of making their own location available at all times. It’s an issue we’ll grapple with in the near future, as it’s becoming a reality. The purpose of IceCondor is to show how people can access their own location, so they can have the option to share it or not, and with whom.
It’s little more than a proof of concept, though at this point it’s well beyond what’s possible with the iPhone. Android may be clumsy, but even pushing the limits awkwardly is better than being completely locked out.
