Google releases 'Field Trip' app, a location-aware guidebook

http://www.fieldtripper.com/

by denzil_correa • 14 years ago

46 46 14 years ago

fieldtripper.com

hahainternet• 14 years ago

> This item cannot be installed in your device's country.

I'm sure I'll enjoy it in a few years.

netfeed• 14 years ago

same here, really annoying

davewasthere• 14 years ago

Fuck this country-limited shit... honestly!

Uhhrrr• 14 years ago

This will be neat together with Project Glass.

fumar2• 14 years ago

I've had for a couple of hours. Its a nice looking app. I found a couple interesting spots while walking around Chicago. It does not look like a "Google" app. I imagine its one of the first apps to use the Google Now API.

Edit: It was created by Niantic Labs. http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/27/googles-niantic-labs-laun...

denzil_correa• 14 years ago

I think so too. There is definitely some Google Now at play in this app.

bluetidepro• 14 years ago

This looks neat. I hope they can get that iPhone version out soon!

mathieuh• 14 years ago

US only.

iamdann2• 14 years ago

I'm still a little confused about the actual product. Does it use GPS data to show information about surrounding landmarks? Or something else/more?

fumar2• 14 years ago

Like Google Now it uses your location to display a variety to things; Some are historical landmarks others are upcoming concerts or movie locations. You choose in what frequency the app notifies you. For example, I was walking from work to home and Field Trip notified me of where a scene for Oceans 11 was shot.

iamdann2• 14 years ago

Oh, that's really cool. Thanks

waterlesscloud4• 14 years ago

It's a mixed bag for me. I live in Los Angeles next to a movie studio. There's a ton of cards for right here at my home. Some are cool stuff, some are generic tourist guide info for tourist food and tourist shops, a bazillion movie locations, and some (the ones I'm most skeptical about) are celebrity news. I don't care where some celeb was seen yesterday, and I wouldn't care much even if I didn't live here.

mikeevans• 14 years ago

It says it's by NianticLabs@Google. Any more information about what The Niantic Project is? Their website doesn't say much: http://www.nianticproject.com/

elq• 14 years ago

AFAIK Niantic is a internal google "startup", from what I've heard their real product/project (that I haven't seen) will be released soon-ish.

wicknicks• 14 years ago

Here is their twitter account: https://twitter.com/nianticproject

waterlesscloud4• 14 years ago

Origin of the name for the curious - "Niantic was a whaleship that brought fortune-seekers to Yerba Buena later renamed San Francisco during the California Gold Rush of 1849." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niantic_(whaling_vessel)

parfamz• 14 years ago

http://www.nokia.com/in-en/citylens/

jcoder• 14 years ago

Of all the companies to require flash to view their video...

awolf4• 14 years ago

Yikes. I've been working on an iOS based competitor for the past three months. My concept is a bit different. I'm using photo data from public sharing sites and clustering geotag locations to determine scenic or popular points of interest. Users can then create custom walking tours to one or more of these locations.

I've only got a few days left of development, so I'll probably get it out before Niantic/Google's iOS launch. The good news is that Field Trip seems fairly well received so far so there's a demand for this type of thing.

waterlesscloud4• 14 years ago

There's tons of room in this space. This version seems to be general interest, but there's plenty of specialized versions that will come along as well. Be a specialized version.

eranation• 14 years ago

I rather be in a business that has a few competitors but lot's of market than in a business that has no competitors, and no market...

martythemaniak• 14 years ago

Don't get discouraged - look at it as validation of your idea. Not everything Google does turns to gold and there may be plenty of opportunity in doing something vaguely similar, but different.

So, launch, listen to your users and iterate! Good luck.

vailripper• 14 years ago

That was one of the best product videos I've seen. Engaging, with enough hints to what it does to make you want to download it.

wukkuan• 14 years ago

Interesting. I thought the opposite. I watched it before I saw any information about what it was, and had no idea what it was supposed to be about in the end. I just needed a little more context at the beginning, and I think it would have been quite clear.

mtgx• 14 years ago

Same here. Plus, I'm not a big fan of the "creative" ads that don't talk about the product or say nothing about what it's supposed to do. Sure, it's a pretty ad, but ads are expensive, and air time is expensive, too(well on TV), so viewers need to realize immediately what it's about.

yitchelle• 14 years ago

I have to say the video left me more confuse about what it does. The name gives it very little context, and the video does not provide any additional information. A bit too abstract for me.

diminoten• 14 years ago

I'd have to agree with this. It's a beautiful video, but from an advertising standpoint it provides literally nothing. I know absolutely nothing more about the product than I did before I watched the video.

windle2• 14 years ago

Love how there was obviously no testing of the site on Firefox, as clicking the video pause or volume buttons hides the entire video. Pause/volume works fine on Chrome/Safari of course.

itsouk• 14 years ago

what os/firefox/flash version are you using?

windle2• 14 years ago

I tried it in FF Nightly and FF release. Using the latest Flash as far as I know.

knerd1• 14 years ago

Can't wait to try it out.

I do wish google would be a tad less serious with their advertising. These overly earnest, schmaltzy ads are getting old.

jimmywanger• 14 years ago

Hey all.

This app is _really_ cool. I've found out a lot of stuff in my neighborhood (just a little south of SF) that I didn't know existed.

The website is here: http://www.fieldtripper.com/

There's even a launch party on Saturday (9/29) - http://www.fieldtripday.com

I'm a member of the team which has launched this product - any questions, and I'll let you know to the best of my knowledge and ability to answer.

Hope to see you in two days!

hodder• 14 years ago

It looks like they can really put the Frommer's acquisition to use in this.

carterschonwald• 14 years ago

youtube link to video in case anyone else has trouble getting it to play on chrome http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=z...

Google releases 'Field Trip' app, a location-aware guidebook

Related Stories