For those who have been waiting, and those who had no idea it was coming to this, we are proud to announce our first stab at a Platial client for the iPhone.
The angle we took for this app is a little different than Platial's main role on the web. With Nearby, we challenged ourselves to really keep it simple, and local. We have restricted all the queries to only care about your actual physical location. Hopefully this means a simpler interface, and a more directed experience. We still have many issues to work through, both on the performance and the data sides, but we hope it's stable and fun enough to use on a daily basis as it is. It's never been so easy to capture your life on a map!
The main features that really help it stand out from the crowd are:
- No registration required, even for adding and saving your favorite spots
- Access to the incredible world of hand made Collections from Platial's existing member base
- The optional ability to merge the device with a Platial account, giving you a powerful publishing tool in your pocket
So, if you have the new iPhone operating system (a free update in iTunes) with App Store, install Nearby, give it a spin, and let us know what it still needs.
Platial Launches NEARBY For iPhone™
Tap into millions of location-based notes, pictures, and stories from people nearby and watch the streetscape change block by block
PORTLAND, OR--(July 22, 2008) - Platial Inc. today announced that it has extended its social mapping services to the iPhone and iPod touch, with the launch of Nearby. Platial, which acquired Frappr in October, is the leader in social mapping with millions of users and 150MM user-generated location-based information points including photos, videos, reviews, stories, and people.
Platial Nearby lets you see more of the world around you. Tap into millions of location-based notes, pictures, and stories from people nearby and watch the streetscape change block by block. You may find architecture, street art, parks, restaurant reviews, and historic photos all on your own corner. Imagine everywhere you go, seeing and hearing the hidden world around you... Suddenly there is so much more nearby.
"This reinforces our mission to create the Peoples Atlas. For two years we've been collecting information about all kinds of places that are meaningful to people; user-generated content that goes beyond commercial listings and into architecture, activism, street art, playgrounds, local history--things you cant find anywhere else. We still have a long way to go, but we're closer now with Platial for iPhone." Di-Ann Eisnor, CEO of Platial.
FEATURES:
1. Quick view of popular places around your current location
2. Search or browse millions of Platial geobits--from arts and culture to activism to history to food to recreation and beyond
3. Be guided by other people's collections and featured maps
4. Add your own stories, places, and photos to the map
5. No registration required
6. Platial users can easily synch their phone to their accounts for adding and displaying their web places
The location-aware native application is available on the Apple® App Store for iPhone and iPod touch and will deeply support Platial's aim of helping people discover Who's Nearby and What's Nearby.
Posted by: deisnor | July 22, 2008 at 01:58 PM
If you want to merge your iPhone with your Platial account, you have to click on the little "i" to get into settings.
Posted by: Tracy Rolling | July 22, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Hey guys, amazing application!
I was just curious, did you have to jump through any licensing hoops to be able to pull individual Virtual Earth tiles in your app? I'm looking to develop an app that incorporates a map and reading all the licensing terms on the various mapping solutions, I'm confused about if they allow accessing the tile server without a paid license.
Posted by: matt | July 22, 2008 at 07:10 PM