A company that everyone trusts wholeheartedly with the troves of personal data you’ve turned over is reportedly developing an app that will further engender great faith and confidence from the public.
Just kidding, it’s Facebook. Facebook is doing another creepy thing because it is a day that ends in “y.” Read More
Enterprising pillheads hoping to snag a supply of Percs from the local Duane Reade might have an extra layer of security to contend with soon. The NYPD is asking pharmacies in the New York area to outfit fake pill bottles with GPS technology to help the force catch pill-popping thieves. Well, can’t say they’re not creative. Read More
As anyone who has used a map app recently will tell you, GPS location is still a pretty imperfect science. Sadly, we don’t think that will be any comfort to Wayne Dobson, a 59-year-old Las Vegas man who has fallen victim to a glitch with Sprint Wireless’s GPS technology. The problem has dispatched scores of people who lost their cell phones to his front door demanding he give them their phones back. Read More
When Google launched its new worldwide alternative reality game earlier this month, the web lit up with widespread questions. The game, called Ingress, allows users to move through the physical world with their Android devices, collecting pockets of energy in various locations that they can then use to complete virtual quests. It was an interesting idea, but on the surface appeared to not make any significant contributions to the company’s bottom line. Why would Google, which has $217.59 billion market cap, allocate time and resources to a free Android game?
Technology Review called it “augmented reality’s first killer app.” AllThingsD reported that because the game incorporates real stores and businesses into its plotline, it’s a natural next-level venue for advertisers–Zipcar, Jamba Juice and Chrome apparel have already all signs on to host ads on Ingress. Read More
Candy companies will go pretty far when it comes to Halloween time stunt advertising, but Swiss chocolatier Nestle has truly outdone itself this season. The York Press reports that the company has decided to embed a GPS device into the wrapper of some KitKat bars in a bizarre attempt to reward men for eating candy. Read More
Of all of Google’s bleeding edge projects and technologies–say cars that drive themselves or the Internet on your goddam face–there’s only one Marissa Mayer described as futuristic during a recent Q&A at the 92nd Street Y: Indoor positioning systems. Google has already implemented the technology, which lets you locate yourself inside a building, on Google Maps for Android at Macy’s flagship store (using the building’s floor plan and Wifi readings) and all the transit stations in Tokyo.
“Even though I helped build it,” Ms. Mayer told the crowd, “It’s like scifi!” Read More
