There's an app for almost anything these days, many of which share details of our lives with others. But what do those shares actually accomplish? PlaceUs is a free groundbreaking new app that aims to simplify everyday communications, but with a stronger, more meaningful connection. My family has been using the PlaceUs app for the last month or so as part of a sponsored post campaign and today I'm sharing our findings with you! Created by Sam Liang, Google's lead location platform architect, the PlaceUs app was designed for busy on-the-go families as well as couples and close friends. The idea behind PlaceUs isn't tracking, it's about sharing important information with the people that you love and trust. The goal of PlaceUs is to help you build stronger relationships by enabling you to better work with and understand those closest to you.
How The PlaceUs App Works
The PlaceUs app was created by Alohar Mobile and is available for free download for iPhone or Android smartphones. You simply download the app and send an invitation for your friends and family to download the app through your phone's contact list. PlaceUs app uses two core technologies: efficient persistent sensing and automatic place detection. Once you install the app and confirm your "connections" with friends and family, the app does the work for you!
PlaceUs is unlike your typical location-determining apps because with PlaceUs, there's no need to "check in," as it automatically detects and updates each place visited by you and your connections. This includes time in, time out, place name, and location, so long as your connection has their location services on their phone enabled. Unlike some location-based software, I was surprised to find that PlaceUs actually shows the exact address of the user, so there's no guessing involved! You can also assign a name to addresses if they're not recognized locations (such as a store, school, park, etc). For instance, I assigned my home address as HOME.
You can also get real-time location updates when a loved one or friend is enroute and also when they'll arrive. This would be especially helpful during the Holidays to make sure you have everything in place when guests are visiting. Maybe your connection is due home after a long trip or had their first day at a new job, show them your affection by tapping the "heart"symbol in the timeline. You can "love" arrivals and departures as well as any visit. When your Holiday guests head home, tap the heart symbol to show them you're glad they made it safely.
You can always check the Timeline to see where your connections have been but you're able to find your connections via GPS and see where they are on a private map. I especially love this ability for family vacations and road trips - instead of constantly calling or texting to check and see where someone is making it, you can simply check the app and keep up with their progress. Now that Angeline's best friend is driving, I find this especially helpful in easing my mind while they're out together - I am sure that all parents know how terrifying it can be to let their child go out with a newly licensed driver behind the wheel!
The technology behind PlaceUS uses pattern recognition and actually learns as you use it. It can determine which places are home, work, and other frequent stopping places. User feedback also improves the platform, resulting in a more accurate detection. Some of the cool techy stuff: Automatic Place Detection is made possible by sensors on the mobile device which assist in identifying location, motion, network timing data and, when required, global positioning systems (GPS). Pretty cool, right?
PlaceUs App Key Features
Automatically sends push notifications when a connection arrives at or departs any place, including home and work
Automatically detects and remembers the places you visit - including place name and address, date and duration
Our On-the-Go feature provides real-time location updates for when a connection is in transit
Save and view your Favorites
Automatically ranks the Top 10 places you visit the most
Easily control who sees your activities with Privacy Mode settings
Runs in the background and is optimized for battery efficiency
But Can I Have Any Privacy with the PlaceUs App?
When you're on a shopping mission for the perfect gift, on your surprise to surprise someone with an impromptu lunch date, or if you just need to have a little time to yourself, PlaceUs easily allows you to control which activities are shared.
You're always in charge of what you share, with whom, and when.
PlaceUs is great for making sure your kids get to school, work, or a friend's house as well as keeping up with those you love! Download the free PlaceUs app for iPhone or Android smartphones before the holiday rush begins!
Be sure to follow @PlaceUsApp on Twitter and Facebook.
Robin (Masshole Mommy)
That sounds like a really neat app! I will have to download it!
Billie Rowell
That sounds like an app I could use.
Krystal
This is great! This would be excellent for parents with teens. You'll always know where your kids are.
Catherine S
This sounds like a great app. It would be perfect to help keep track of my teenage son.
Liz Mays
It's great that it's updated automatically. Any family or close group of friends could use this.
Debbie Denny
Sounds interesting. I may check it out.
Aimee Smith
I have this app and I love it! It is so nice to know what is going on with everyone!
Jeanine
Oh this is an app for me! I will have to check it out for sure!
Kecia
My first thought was how great this would be for parents! I'm sure my mom would have loved the PlaceUs app when everyone was still living at home. She'd go crazy when she tried to find us and one of us didn't answer our phones.
Chasing Joy
I could see parents of busy teens using this app. Also teens would like being able to keep up with their friends.
kristin
Not sure how i feel about this app. Ill have to look into some more.
Kiwi
Im not gonna lie I am not too found of Location Spp Services seems like an invasion of privacy...but I can see the benefits. I wouldn't use it as a check in thing for leisure, if I had children I would definitely use this to track them when they are away! That would be perfect for kids!
Debbie L.
Interesting app = I will definitely be checking it out. Looks like a app I will really use.
Kathleen
This could be a really cool app to use if you were on vacation with a large group or if your older children were exploring an area on their own, but you wanted to keep track of them.
Tracey
This is an awesome app! Definitely one I could use in my life!
Ann Bacciaglia
This is a really interesting app. It would be great to keep tabs on my teenagers.
Amber Conaway
This sounds like a really great app. My sisters family I thought used something like this I will have to share this with her!
Christie
This is a great way for families to connect and interact while traveling. My parents would love this!
Chrystal @ YUM eating
This sounds like a really cool app. It might be useful for kiddo when she is old enough to have a cell phone, and maybe driving. But, I would rather not know where my husband is every minute of the day or him checking up on me. That just seems to invade the trust and privacy a bit.
Amy @ Marvelous Mommy
I love the real-time location updates! I need this app to track my hubby!
Donna
Our son is almost 12 and we no where he's at, at all times right now, but we still use the gps location on our iPhones to know for sure. 🙂 I'll check this app out, sounds very useful!
Onica {MommyFactor}
What an interesting app with cool features. I like the thought of being able to make sure my child gets to school or a friends house safely.
melisasource
Wow this app sounds really great! I'm going to check it out!
Camesha
Sounds like a really useful app. I like that it updates automatically. Nice!