Latest news with #locationsharing
Fast Company
5 days ago
- Fast Company
Instagram launches Map feature. It looks a lot like Snap Map
TECH The new opt-in tool lets users see friends' real-time locations, explore creator-recommended spots, and leave notes on a shared map. [Image: Alexander Shatov /Unsplash] BY Listen to this Article More info 0:00 / 2:09 Location sharing among friends, family, and significant others has quietly become the norm in recent years. Now Instagram is looking for a piece of the action with the launch of Map, a new opt-in feature that lets users share their whereabouts, similar to Snapchat's Snap Map or Apple's Find My. Starting on Wednesday, the feature will be available to users in the U.S. Tapping the 'Map' circle on the Messages tab reveals an interactive map showing which friends are nearby and any location-based content they're posting. 'People have always come to Instagram to share what they're up to and where they are,' the company wrote in a blog post. 'Now, with reposts, the map, and the 'Friends' tab in Reels, it's easier for you and your friends to stay in touch through the content you're enjoying on Instagram.' In addition to being a convenient way to link up with friends, the new feature also allows users to explore local hotspots that creators have shared or engaged with. If a friend shares a story from a nearby music festival, it will show up on the map. And if an influencer recommends a new coffee shop, you'll be able to see exactly where it is. While location sharing has become a common tool for keeping track of loved ones or checking up on your friends, Instagram's Map offers robust controls to ensure the feature is not abused. Location sharing is off by default, and users' locations only update when they open the app. You choose who you share your location with and can opt not to share your location in specific places or with specific people. Even if you're not sharing your own location, you can still use Map to explore public posts and tagged spots. Users can also leave 'Notes' on the map for friends to see. The update reflects a broader trend of social apps becoming more rooted in real-world connection. After coming for Snapchat's Stories back in 2016, Instagram is again attempting to steal Snap Map's thunder, a feature that recently surpassed 400 million monthly active users and remains one of Snapchat's core engagement drivers. Alongside Map, Instagram is also rolling out reposts and expanding its 'Friends' tab in Reels globally. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Privacy Policy
Tahawul Tech
28-07-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
T-Mobile's U.S satellite service makes a nationwide debut
After six months of beta testing T-Mobile US' direct-to-device (D2D) satellite service provisioned by Starlink birds is making its nationwide debut. The T-Satellite service, which currently supports text messaging and location sharing, is also available to AT&T and Verizon customers with unlocked phones and eSIM cards. The service is available free for subscribers of T-Mobile's Experience Beyond or Go5G Next plans. For those without premium plans, it is being offered for $10 per month for a limited time before increasing to $15 per month. AT&T and Verizon customers can access connectivity for $10 a month. 'The key question is how many people will actually pay,' Tim Farrar, an analyst at TMF Associates, told Mobile World Live. 'Most users will presumably get it for free.' On its Q2 earnings call, T-Mobile CEO Mike Seivert stated 'people have been choosing our higher end rate plans anticipating this launch'. 'This is speculation at this point, but I think it's going to be really a popular catalyst to bring people into that deeper relationship with T-Mobile,' he said of T-Satellite. Starlink's more than 650 birds cover the continental US, Hawaii, parts of southern Alaska and Puerto Rico. The mobile operator is working on offering satellite connectivity abroad and in international waters. T-Mobile's support page states the service currently can send picture on 'most' Android phones. T-Satellite works on more than 60 phones, including iPhone 13 and up, Google Pixel 9 as well as Samsung Galaxy 21 and newer devices. Jon Freier, president of T-Mobile's Consumer Group, stated in a blog nearly two million people tried T-Satellite during the beta, with up to 30,000 daily users. During the recent floods in the US state of Texas, Freier said 93,700 people connected to T-Satellite, sending 287,000 SMS messages. It also delivered 125 wireless emergency alerts. Source: Mobile World Live Image Credit: T-Mobile
Android Authority
22-05-2025
- Android Authority
'Find My Device' on your Android phone is now called 'Find Hub' as Google rolls out update
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google has officially switched the Find My Device app to Find Hub. The service has been renamed across the Play Store, your phones, and the web. The new Find Hub app also includes a few changes that help separate device-finding and location settings. Google has officially begun rolling out the Find My Device rebranding update announced last week during The Android Show. The app is now called Find Hub, and users will notice the new name on their home screens, replacing the previous 'Find Device' label. The rebranding reflects broader functionality Google introduced recently, allowing users to locate people in addition to their devices. Previously, this people-finding feature was marked as 'Beta,' but that label has been removed with the Find Hub update, indicating a more stable, public release. Inside the updated app, heading to Settings reveals two options: 'Find Hub' and 'Google Location Sharing.' The Find Hub option links to the original Find My Device settings, where users can configure Remote Lock, offline finding, and access the web version, which has also been renamed Find Hub. Meanwhile, the Google Location Sharing option lets users manage location settings once they've shared their location from a Google app or service. Apart from the rebranding, Find Hub is undergoing further improvements. As Google previously confirmed, it will soon support satellite connectivity and ultra-wideband (UWB) tracking, expanding its capabilities for more precise and reliable location tracking.
