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Jul

Google Maps Adds Public Transport Support For London, Makes The Tube A Little Less Confusing For Tourists

Posted by John Thompson in Applications, News

'Ello, 'ello, 'ello! What 'ave we here? It looks like Google is finally embracing public transport in London, adding public transport directions to its Google Maps application on Android devices.

From today, users can now get directions within London using both bus routes and the Underground, too. Using your current location to determine the best route to take to your destination, the application will provide you with a series of instructions that mix walking with various other transportation options.

The release is certainly good timing for London, as it will host the 2012 Olympic games in just under a years time, so hopefully tourists will be able to find their way around the city with a little more ease thanks to the technology on offer.

Jul

Wikitude Drive US Is A Slick Looking Augmented Reality Navigation System That Rivals Google Maps, Retails For €9.99 ($14)

Posted by Abhiroop Basu in Applications, News

It is difficult to look twice at a navigation app when Google Maps and Navigation comes pre-installed on every Android device. Indeed it is even more difficult to pay for an alternative navigation app unless it offers a compelling feature. However, it appears that Wikitude (known for its popular Augmented Reality Browser) has hit upon a novel and useful feature that may just tempt users in the United States to cough up for a paid navigation app.

Wikitude Drive is the world's first mobile augmented reality navigation system which uses your device's camera to show you the road as you drive through it.

Jun

Real-Time Transit Schedule Updates Now On Google Maps For Android, Desktop, And Mobile

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Applications, News, Tips & Tutorials

Google announced a new update to Maps that would bring a much sought-after feature for those who use public transit in major cities: real-time updates that provide the whereabouts of busses. No longer will you have to hang out wondering when the bus is actually going to show up, because with the help of Maps, you'll have all of that info in the palm of your hand.

El Goog has teamed up with transit agencies to make this update happen, but there is one downside (for some people, anyway): it's only in four US cities as of right now. The lucky four are Boston, MA; Portland, OR; and San Diego and San Francisco, CA.

Apr

Race To The Top - Google Maps Is The First Android App To Ever Pass 50 Million Downloads

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, News

While Google Maps already made headlines today for omitting the changelog in the latest update, causing hundreds of 1-star comments, it does have a reason to celebrate, which overshadows this snafu by a long shot. The 50,000,000 installation mark, never before achieved by any app in the Market, has been reached, and by none other than Google Maps, making it the most downloaded Android application ever.

It's no surprise - the absolute brilliance of the Maps team helped create a product which wows first-time users, single-handedly lures them over to Android, and keeps innovating time and time again. Who needs a standalone GPS device when you've got Google Maps?

Apr

[Updated: Now With Changelog] Google Maps 5.3.1 Arrives Without A Changelog Or: How Google Maps Got More 1-Star Ratings In A Day Than Ever Before

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, News

When developers release updates to their apps without listing the changes, normally about half of the Market comments turn sour, especially considering Google added the changelog feature into the core of the Market a few months ago. When Google itself does it to one of the flagship products... let's just say things are not pretty.

Version 5.3.1 of Google Maps arrived a few hours ago without a single mention of any novelties or bug fixes. The result? Pages upon pages of 1-star reviews - in fact, there are so many of them that I gave up clicking after page 40.

So, kids, if you're thinking of releasing an update without telling the mob what's new, be prepared for the consequences, no matter how undeserved (especially if all these will end up being nothing more than bug fixes).

Feb

Sony Ericsson X8 And X10 Receiving Software Updates Now, Multitouch Finally Included (For The X10)

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Sony Ericsson, Xperia X10 (es209ra), Xperia X8 (Shakira)

The impossible has happened: thanks to a new software update, the Xperia X10's Internet and Maps applications are finally multitouch-capable. And as if that weren't exciting enough for X10 owners, the update also introduces support for bi-directional languages (i.e. Arabic, Farsi, Thai, and Hebrew) - a nice addition, though definitely not as high up on most users' wish lists as a version of Android more recent than 2.1 (or 1.6, if you're using AT&T's edition of the device).

And here's where things get interesting for X8 users - you guys are also getting this update, albeit with multitouch stripped out. Hey - if it's any consolation, the new software will make your devices compatible with ANT+, which enables support for "things like heart rate monitors."

Rikard Skogberg from the official Sony Ericsson blog says the update is now available via PC Companion, while an OTA is currently rolling out to "most markets." It isn't yet clear whether AT&T X10 users are getting this update, but I certainly hope so - otherwise, Big Blue headquarters might soon be a little...

Feb

Google Maps Update To 5.1 Brings Check-In System Through Latitude

Posted by Nate Kimmey in Applications, News

The official Google Maps app has been updated again, this time with a major addition to Latitude - check-ins. Just as Hotpot seemed to be a Yelp-killer, Google must now have Foursquare in its sights, because Latitude's check-ins have a few major advantages over Foursquare and its competitors.

Latitude will notify you when it recognizes your location, giving you the option to check-in wherever you are. However, you can also set up automatic check-ins for only the places you want, an incredibly convenient feature that still covers any privacy concerns. Whether you check-in manually or automatically, you will be checked-out once you leave (another feature Foursquare users have been asking for).

Jan

Android + PacMan + Google Maps = PacMap

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Apps/Games, News, Videos

Last Updated: January 11th, 2011

Yesterday, we received an email tip about a new app called PacMap, which blends virtual/augmented reality, Google Maps, and... PacMan. Unsure of what to make or think of this potentially dangerous, but extremely original and interesting concept, I decided to test the waters last night by submitting the app to reddit. This morning, it was #1 in /r/android, which shows that thinking outside the box is always welcomed. Oh, and did I mention that PacMap is open source? Bravo, Stefan Wagner (that's PacMap's developer).

The goal of the game is described by the author himself as follows:

Your goal is to eat all the dots.

Dec

Google Maps v5 With 3D Maps And Offline Navigation Is Live In The Market - Download It Now

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, News

Google Maps 5, which we have been anxiously waiting for, mostly due to its 3D capabilities and offline map caching, has arrived! You can download the update in the Market by clicking the following QR code from your mobile phone or scanning it with Barcode Scanner:

Here are the new changes:

Explore the map in 3D. Two finger drag down/up to tilt; twist to rotate on supported devices.
Use compass mode to rotate the map to where you're facing. Center the map with My Location then tap again.
Improved map caching and offline Navigation rerouting if you lose your connection.

Dec

Watch Andy Rubin's Honeycomb Android Tablet Demo From D: Dive Into Mobile

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Google, Honeycomb 3.0/3.1/3.2, Motorola, News, Videos

Last night, Andy Rubin appeared at AllThingsD's D: Dive Into Mobile conference and, to everyone's surprise, demoed not a Gingerbread, but a Honeycomb Motorola tablet, which ran on a next generation dual-core processor. If you want to read more about the demo, head over to our report from yesterday; however, if you want to jump right into action and see the demo in all its glory, AllThingsD just posted a full 9-minute video of Andy's interview for everyone's enjoyment.

The new Google Maps, the absence of hardware buttons (which make it impossible to "hold it wrong"), and the very much refined Honeycomb interface are all there:

Source: AllThingsD