Check in with Google Latitude

We first introduced Google Latitude to help you stay in touch with your friends and family by making it easy to share where you are. For the 10 million people actively using Latitude each month, this where has been a location on a map. Starting today in Google Maps 5.1 for Android, you can also connect that location moncler dark blue angers fur hood quilted jacket to a real place by checking in there using Latitude.Connecting your location with placesYou can still use Latitude to automatically update and share your location, but check-ins let you add context to the locationlike captions to a photo. For example, I live in San Francisco but often travel around the world. Until today, sharing my location let friends and family know if I was across the globe or in their neighborhood. Now, check-ins let them see the cool restaurant Im trying in Taipei or join me for a latte at the cafe nearby. See where your friends are on a map and where theyre checking in.Not your typical check-insBecause you can use Latitude to automatically detect your location, weve added a few twists to checking in to make it really easy:Notifications: Turn on check-in notifications in Latitudes settings and get a notification to check in at a nearby place once you arrive. Never forget to check in again.Automatic check-ins: Choose to automatically check in at specific places you designate, and youll be checked in when youre there. You can talk to friends or finish moncler brown angers fur hood quilted jacket your bagel without fumbling with your phone.Check out: Once you leave, Latitude knows to automatically check you out of places so friends arent left guessing if youre still there.Explore your world one check-in at a timeLatitude is built right into Google Maps for Android so check-ins work across Latitude and Maps seamlessly. For example, check in at that new hamburger joint, and youll see its Place page with reviews to help you order. When friends check in at a place, you can go straight from their Latitude profile to its Place page to learn about it, fire up Google Maps Navigation (Beta) for turn-by-turn directions to them, and more.You can also check in at a favorite place to earn special status there; youll see if youve become a Regular, a VIP or a Guru on its Place page. Keep checking in to hold onto your status or reach the next level. Latitude check-ins are built right into Google Maps and Place pages.Of course, we thought carefully about how to make checking in to places quick and easy while giving you control over your privacy. Just like when sharing your location with Latitude, checking in is 100% opt-in, and you can choose to share any check-in with your friends on Latitude, publicly on the web and your Google profile, or just yourself. Learn more about checking in and managing your check-ins with Latitude in the Help Center. Coming later this week, youll also be able to see your complete history of check-ins using the optional History tab at google.com/latitude from your computer. Choose options for individual check-ins or turn on and off notifications in the Latitude settings.Start checking in by downloading the latest Google Maps from Android Market (on Android 1.6+; tap here if you're on your phone) and then joining Latitude from the main menu. You can moncler brown angers fur hood quilted jacket new check in everywhere Maps and Latitude are already available. If youre using the new Latitude app for iPhone, youll see your friends check-ins, and well update the app soon so you can check in too.Just the beginning...Checking in from Latitude is just one step in helping you connect the places you go with the people you care about. We believe in letting you use or share your location however you like, and were working on making location and check-ins useful in more placesacross Google and the web.Posted by Joe LaPenna, Software Engineer, Google Latitude Team