Hi fellow HNers, I'm releasing to the public my first iPhone app today. I'm right here to answer any of your questions!<p>I'm giving out a few promo codes, send me an email at adrien@tehula.com, the first 5 will get the app for free.
this is interesting. I've been developping something <i>very</i> similar just for the last couple days. there seems to be some kind of a rush in that direction lately, with the widespread implementation of browsers geolocation api.<p>my version: <a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4248056" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4248056</a>
is the location accurate? ive seen other apps like this but it was always not accurate. i believe it's because the link opens up a browser, which uses html5 geolocate that doesn't really use GPS but surrounding wifis?
Here's what you have to sell users on: Is it worth paying 99 cents to install a new app (that fits somewhere in their app list) just to get someone's location? How often when you text someone do you need their location, and is it enough to create the habit of using this?<p>Keep in mind that many location-based questions don't require geocoding. Like, we've agreed to meet at Joe's Bar and I want to know if they're there or still eating dinner at the restaurant...I don't need to see it on a map.<p>Moreover, the user receiving this message will have to trust this new site they've never heard about. some users will click through but there will be plenty of users who have been twitter-phished and be inherently distrustful. The sender can put in more effort into the message, i.e. "Hey, this is Jon, I'm using this app to geolocate you so just click through" but by then, you've lost a bit of the convenience factor.