Google Stealth Launching Latitude Leaderboards

Warning about Google latitude

If you activate the app on your mobile device it will remain active and continue to send signals about your location even if you turn off the app. To disable being tracked you have to go into the app's settings and turn it off manually before turning off the app itself, simply exiting the app doesn't work.

I'm not sure how Google expects that their privacy policy can be valid if the app is turned off but the effects continue.

Looking at the limited response to this shows how completely useless an idea this is.

This is a geek feature that will die a death before it gets started.

Just like foursquare which is something some people use that has no valid use going forward at all.

I hope Google continues to chase rubbish as then they will take their eye of commercial stuff which is where I fancy myself!

Wow! Don't talk smack about Foursquare. My wife is the mayor of 21 things including: a mailbox, a highway bridge, the dead end street that we live on, and even the water cooler in our office. It also provides the criminal element with a signal that we're not home - come and get it. It has perfectly valid use. LOL.

Honestly, can Google even invent anymore. They've become M$. They've ripped off Foursquare and are tracking cell phone movement. What a shame.

I'm not sure how Google expects that their privacy policy can be valid if the app is turned off but the effects continue.

Well... I am also not sure about privacy policy... but these types of programs are technically called as TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) and non-technically called as VIRUS.

check-ins suck 0_X

I actually like FourSquare. It allows me to see where my friends are and there are a lot of locations around me that offer free sides or a discount when you check-in.

A lot more fun than Facebook or Google+, in my opinion.

I have no problem with Foursquare as "fun" - but really a "platform" or something more important is nonsense.

World of Warcraft is a bit of fun too and has a "platform" - but it is of no use whatsoever as a tool for business. Just like Foursquare.

If you look at the selling amounts for price comparison sites over the past 5 years (e.g. Ciao $500 million) and their massive devaluation since ($100 million) then you get the idea - and these are sites that are only commercial and they still have so much less value.