WebProNews

Tag: maps

  • If You Miss Google Maps On iOS, Bing Thinks You Should Use Bing Maps

    Google Maps and its disappearance from iOS have been in the news a lot over the past week or so, and lots of other companies are stepping up pointing to their own maps offerings. Microsoft is the latest, and is now going around reminding people that they can use Bing Maps from the Bing app on iOS 6.

    “With all the recent chatter about mobile apps, particularly mapping in iOS 6, a lot of people are wondering which apps given them both the essential tools they need and a great experience,” a spokesperson for Bing tells WebProNews. “Well, Bing has them covered and now is a great time to download the Bing App for iPhone.”

    “The Bing App, which is free and iOS 6 compatible, helps people easily find what they need – whether it’s using voice activated search to find maps and driving directions or Bing Vision to scan and find that great bottle of wine that was shared with friends,” he adds. “Just wanted to offer a reminder that a great mapping and search option exists for iPhone users, and they don’t have to wait for it.”

    The company also put out a blog post to the same effect, though they didn’t talk about maps too much in it, other than to mention that you can “get walking, transit, and driving directions with current traffic conditions and maps,” and to show a picture of Bing Maps on an iPhone.

    Bing Maps on iPhone

    It’s worth noting that iOS users can still access Google Maps from the web via their mobile devices. There’s just not an app currently available (though it sounds like that will change within the next couple months or so).

    In other Google Maps news, the company introduced some pretty breathtaking under water “Street View” imagery today.

  • Steve Wozniak Thinks iOS 6 Maps Aren’t That Bad

    The iPhone 5 came out last week, and it brought with it a new Maps app that nobody likes. Many people are comparing it to the antennae problems in the iPhone 4. While Apple is scrambling to fix it, company co-founder Steve Wozniak has finally given his thoughts on the issue.

    ZDNet reports that Wozniak was speaking at an event for Fusion-io, of which he is the chief scientist. He has been playing around with the iPhone 5 since launch as he was first in line at the phone’s launch in Australia. So, he should know what he’s talking about when addressing the problems facing Apple’s new Maps app.

    The Apple co-founder said that he was “disappointed” with the Maps app because he couldn’t get to where he wanted to go by voice. He noted that he loved the voice navigation that’s available in Android phones because “they always get it and are based on a better database.”

    Wozniak is well versed in the many phones of the world. He’s always willing to give his honest opinions on the strengths and weaknesses in iOS, Android and Windows Phone. So when he talks about Apple’s iOS, you can expect his answers to be honest opinions.

    To that end, he says that he’s not so sure the problems plaguing the Maps app “are that severe.” He says that “there are a lot of complaints about one little thing people spot, but it’s not that hard to deal with in life.” He’s worried about the app, but he’s not worried since there are dozens of other navigations apps for iOS 6 already available. Unfortunately, Google Maps is not one of them… yet.

  • Google Maps Goes Indoors In France

    Google announced that it is expanding its indoor maps feature to France. Google has included over 50 French venues in the offering.

    “Now, even if you’re visiting one of these large, well-trafficked places for the first time, you can navigate your way around like a pro,” says Google Maps Product Manager Cedric Dupont in a blog post. “And with the accurate My Location feature that works indoors, you can easily figure out if you’re close to the shop you’re looking for, the escalator that will get you to the right gate, or even the nearest ATM or restroom.”

    Locations with indoor maps include shopping malls, retailers, airports and museums. The maps can be accessed via Google Maps for Android.

    “We even partnered with super markets such as Carrefour so that you can look for items like the ‘dairy’ aisle and figure out the fastest way to the milk products to save time when shopping,” notes Dupont.

    You can see a full list of locations here.

  • Google Maps Seen Running on iOS 6 iPhone

    Ever since the release of iOS 6, users have been complaining about the quality of the new Maps app. Apple decided that they could make a maps app just as good (or better) than Google, and replaced Google Maps with their own software. Unfortunately, iPhone users have now seen that the maps provided by Apple are plagued with distorted satellite photos, incorrect locations, and poor turn-by-turn navigation. While up-to-date iPhone users can look forward to being lost, one hacker has taken it upon himself to bring back the perfectly usable Google Maps the iPhone had up until last week.

    Ryan Petrich, a self-proclaimed iOS hacker/engineer, has managed to get the old Google Maps from iOS 5.1 running on an iPhone that has been updated to iOS 6. You can see the hack in the video below, but you can’t get hold of it just yet. Petrich says the software is still too “crashy” to release it to the public, but that it mostly works. When the development is complete, users who have jailbroken their devices can expect the return of Google Maps to the iPhone.

    So, at least there is one person working on fixing the terrible Maps situation. Actually, there are quite a few people working on the problem, but Petrich’s solution is the only one yet seen. Apple is going on a hiring spree for software engineers to improve the maps app, though they will have to hire thousands of employees to match Google’s map software quality. The 7,100-strong Google Maps team is currently rushing to create a stand-alone version of Google Maps for the iPhone before Christmas.

    (via BGR)

  • Apple Is Reportedly Recruiting People From Google Maps

    While a few have stuck up for the product, there seems to be a general consensus that Apple Maps is bad. Apple dropped Google Maps with its latest iOS update, opting to go with its own product (which actually draws from TomTom and a variety of other offerings).

    While the move does make some amount of competitive sense for Apple as the company’s relationship with Google grows increasingly cold, a lot of iOS users are simply unhappy. A standalone Google Maps app from Google itself is expected soon, but Apple’s product will remain the default experience, and possibly get a lot of people lost. Here’s a Tumblr looking at some of the known problems with the product.

    That, by the way, was shared by one of the original Google Mobile Maps designers on Google+ yesterday:

    Fred Gilbert

    Fred Gilbert17 hours ago

    As one of the original designers of Google Mobile Maps I remember how difficult it was working with Apple. But this just blows my mind.

    The Amazing iOS 6 Maps
    The Apple iOS 6 Maps are amazing. Not. 11    4 Powered by socialditto

    I wonder if Apple has tried to hire him yet. A report from TechCrunch, citing “a source with connections on both teams,” says Apple is “aggressively” recruiting ex-Google Maps staff. Darrell Etherington reports:

    My source — a contractor who worked on Google Maps as part of a massive undertaking to integrate Street View and newly licensed third-party data to improve European coverage, as well as develop the platform’s turn-by-turn navigation — says that when attention turned to indoor mapping, things started to become less interesting and a lot of staff began looking around for other opportunities. That turned out to be good timing for Cupertino.

    Apple sold over 5 million iPhone 5s in the device’s first weekend of availability, and the iOS 6 update spans not only that, but the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod Touch (4th and 5th generation), iPad 2 and New iPad.

  • iOS 6 Maps Got You Down? Foursquare Says They Have “The Perfect Map”

    Although iOS 6 is overwhelmingly popular (Apple announced 100 million upgrades already), one aspect of Apple’s new mobile operating system is leaving a lot to be desired.

    Apple ditched Google Maps for their own iOS 6 Maps project, and the results have been…oy vey. From the first day that iOS 6 was available to download, users have been complaining about the new Apple maps app. Missing landmarks, misplaced landmarks, and altered landscapes are just a few of the problems hounding iOS 6 maps. And apparently, the maps have a tendency to lead users off cliffs and such.

    In all, iOS 6 maps are probably not what users or Apple envisioned. Location based check-in app Foursquare is using the Apple maps hate to promote their own maps product.

    In a “hey, Apple maps suck – use us”-themed blog post, Foursquare describes why the maps function within their app is “the perfect map.”

    “We don’t give one-size-fits-all results; we make the smartest, most personalized recommendations possible. That means we do things like show you a local coffee shop that 3 of your friends have been to before we show you a national chain, give you an array of excellent hot dog choices when you first arrive in Chicago, and help you figure out where to get dessert after you’ve checked in at dinner,” they say.

    Foursquare recently updated their app to expand on the “explore” tab, which allows users to find locations based on loads of their own check-in data, and data from friends. If you are a person who used the native iOS map app when searching for specific locations, Foursquare thinks you should jump on over to their ship.

    As a bonus, Foursquare says that their map experience boasts useful information about any location you search, including hours, menus, photos, and most importantly – tips.

    Earlier this year, Foursquare ditched Google Maps as well, opting to join to OpenStreetMap movement.

  • Look At All This Stuff Google Maps Has Launched Since Apple Dropped It

    At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June, the company revealed iOS 6, which replaces Google Maps in the operating system with Apple’s own product. This week, iOS device users got “treated” to Apple’s new product. Suffice it to say, there’s been a bit of complaining. Many users want Google Maps back.

    We thought it might be fun to take a look at what Google has announced for Google Maps since Apple’s official announcement that it would be Google Mapsless. Google has been busy. Following is a series of announcements from the Google Maps Google+ page dating back to June 11 when Apple’s event kicked off (and this isn’t even all of the Maps-related announcements).

    Google Maps

    Google Maps101 days ago

    A new batch of satellite images for Google Maps and Google Earth!

    Google Earth originally shared:
    We just published a fresh batch of high-resolution aerial and satellite imagery in Google Earth and +Google Maps. Visit the Lat Long blog for a full list of updated countries: http://goo.gl/efEXp.

    One highlight to note is this updated view of Donbass Arena in Donetsk, Ukraine, home of the Group D opener of the #EURO2012 Football Championship earlier today.

    Happy exploring!191    26 Powered by socialditto

    Google Maps

    Google Maps94 days ago

    We're now eight steps closer to mapping the world with Google Map Maker!  http://goo.gl/w4QKN

    At the heart of Google Map Maker are citizen cartographers helping to build the most accurate maps of their communities – ones that reflect the identity, culture and pride of regions across the globe. Today, Map Maker is expanding to the following countries, enabling people who know and live in these locations to share their local expertise: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.

    From the moment you make your first edit in Map Maker, know that you are joining an ever-growing community of passionate mappers as they make online maps of our world more detailed and useful. Get involved by introducing yourself to fellow mappers or find an event near you: mapyourworldcommunity

    We happily welcome mappers in each of these new countries. Google Map Maker is available in more than 190 countries and territories, and as we forge ahead with continued expansion over the coming months, stay tuned for additional country launch announcements!

    Thanks and happy mapping!

    A golf course in Oslo, Norway comes to life with Google Map Maker

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps93 days ago

    It goes without saying that commuting is a day-to-day routine for people all over the world, so we’re excited to announce that we’ve recently launched traffic coverage in regions of 7 new countries to help you plan your commutes! Welcome Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Mexico, Peru, Romania and South Africa!

    We’ve also improved and expanded our coverage in 19 other countries and regions including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and the UK.

    For more information check out the Lat Long blog: http://goo.gl/H1hDk

    Here’s a quick glance at our traffic coverage around the globe:http://goo.gl/maps/GK0J

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps91 days ago

    Google Maps Coordinate is a great new Enterprise product that lets you organize teams in the field!

    Google Enterprise originally shared:
    Organize teams on the move with Google Maps Coordinate

    Today, we’re making it easier for your business to efficiently organize teams in the field with Google Maps Coordinate, a tool that gives businesses real-time visibility into their teams’ movement and assignments with just a couple of clicks and a smartphone.

    Team members in the field download the mobile app to their phone and then can:
    – Share real-time location. Google Maps Coordinate is built upon all of Google’s mapping and geolocation infrastructure so the app will send an accurate location…even if you’re indoors.
    – Receive instant alerts. Mobile teams are instantly notified when a new job is assigned to them.

    Meanwhile, employees at headquarters can:
    – Manage jobs. Easily create jobs, precisely locate the job with autocomplete and custom locations, and assign the job to the nearest team member.  
    – View past jobs and locations. Easily visualize the locations of jobs and teams, including current and past jobs.  Businesses can assess where they should be assigning or hiring more workers and how to optimally place their teams.

    Learn more about Google Maps Coordinate at http://maps.google.com/coordinate.
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    Google Maps

    Google Maps85 days ago

    Take Google Maps for Android with you anywhere you go, no data connection required! You can even find and orient yourself by using GPS and compass mode. Read more about offline maps on the Lat Long Blog: http://goo.gl/67QNq 
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    Google Maps

    Google Maps83 days ago

    It’s time for another round of 45° imagery updates — adding coverage in 29 US cities and 5 international locations. 

    Visit the Lat Long blog for a full list of cities: http://goo.gl/UvC7I 

    Check out the Aragonese Castle in Reggio Calabria, Italy:http://goo.gl/maps/W3yN

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps80 days ago

    Feeling lost indoors in London? Use your Android device to now get indoor Google Maps in over 40 select UK locations from King's Cross Train Station, British Museum, Harrods and even the Barbican Centre in London. Read more on Lat Long: http://goo.gl/bGh4b

    Or visit maps.google.co.uk/starthere 

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps73 days ago

    Use Google Maps to navigate your way around a museum exhibit!

    Google originally shared:
    We've added more than 20 U.S. museums to our growing collection of indoor maps. Locate the great whale hanging in the Museum of National History in New York, or find your way to a Picasso in the de Young in San Francisco. Across the country, plan your route from exhibit to exhibit and explore great museums with any Android device.

    Indoor Google Maps help you make your way through museums
    In the past, navigating through museums could be an art form in and of itself. But Google Maps for Android has got wayfinding inside your favorite museums down to a science. With indoor maps and walki… 105    7 Powered by socialditto

    Google Maps

    Google Maps72 days ago

    Attention bikers — Starting today, we’ve added extensive biking data to Google Maps for Austria, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In many of these countries we are also enabling biking directions in beta mode.

    For more details visit the Lat Long blog: http://goo.gl/p3hCG

    Bike paths in the Netherlands

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps72 days ago

    Earlier today we announced that biking data and directions were added to many countries in Europe and Australia (http://goo.gl/p3hCG). To add to the excitement, we’re happy to announce the launch of walking directions in 44 African countries! To learn more, visit the Lat Long blog: http://goo.gl/b5qsA

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps71 days ago

    Visit a National Park or two on your lunch break!

    Google originally shared:
    Take a (virtual) trip through some of California’s most breathtaking national parks. We’ve added Yosemite, Redwood, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks to Street View. Make John Muir proud and check it out at http://goo.gl/jHYU0.130    12 Powered by socialditto

    Google Maps

    Google Maps66 days ago

    You can now visit the South Pole with Street View as part of our World Wonders project. Take a look at past explorers footsteps including Sir Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon's huts and hopefully it can inspire you take some journeys of your own. 

    Google originally shared:
    In 1913, a trip to Antarctica was advertised with the following: "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success." Now, nearly 100 years later, you can take the same journey wearing shorts & a t-shirt, from the comfort of your browser. We've added new panoramic imagery of historic Antarctic locations (inside and out) to our World Wonders Project site (www.google.com/worldwonders). Learn more on our blog: goo.gl/XgVhy and in the video below.
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    Google Maps

    Google Maps64 days ago

    Check out our new and updated maps in parts of Europe, Africa and Asia!

    Google originally shared:
    Today, we’re launching updates to +Google Maps for Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lesotho, Macau, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore and Vatican City. These new maps are more detailed, with better information for things like parks, coastlines and bodies of water; more accurate names and locations for major points of interest; and more clearly-labeled ferry routes—plus some other improvements. 

    More detailed maps in parts of Europe, Africa and Asia
    Whether you're travelling abroad or exploring your own city, the maps you carry with you should be comprehensive, accurate and easy to use. We're constantly making improvements to Google Maps to help … 96    24 Powered by socialditto

    Google Maps

    Google Maps56 days ago

    We’ve recently made it much easier and faster for you to start your journey on Google Maps from your current location. Now, when you visit Google Maps you’ll be automatically zoomed into your city as the starting point for your search. You can dive right in and discover the local businesses, restaurants and attractions near you, without having to manually enter your location.

    For more information, visit the Lat Long blog: http://goo.gl/uhEvS

    Location information displayed on left with option to correct it.

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps55 days ago

    We’re always working to build the most comprehensive and accurate view of the world — courtesy of the +Google Earth and Maps teams, we have exciting new updates to both our high resolution aerial and satellite imagery and our 45° imagery. Updates available for over 70 countries/regions! Visit the Lat Long blog for the complete list of updated places: http://goo.gl/8dXfT

    Here’s The Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, Illinois, viewed in new 45º imagery. http://goo.gl/maps/TciG

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps52 days ago

    We now have Street View imagery of the Olympic Park in London. Here is a view of the Olympic Stadium: http://goo.gl/maps/G2EZ5

    More to come with #streetview !

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps52 days ago

    Back in 2008 we added public transit directions for subway, bus, commuter rail, and ferry services in the New York City metro area.  Starting today, we’re also including planned service alerts in step-by-step transit directions for the city’s subway system. And when you click on any of the 468 stations labeled on Google Maps, you’ll see whether any planned service changes might affect your trip.  If you’re a frequent traveler on the subways of New York, please be sure to let us know what you think.  Read more on the Google Lat Long Blog: http://goo.gl/fNPXQ

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps51 days ago

    G’day mappers — at last it’s time to share the treasures of the Great Southern Land. Today,Google Map Maker opens its maps to Australia, so you can add your local knowledge to Google Maps for all the world to see.

    Google Map Maker warmly welcomes the people of Australia to the team of citizen cartographers from 200 countries and regions across the globe as they continue to build the world map. To learn more, subscribe to the Map Maker YouTube Channel, and get started mapping today!

    http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2012/07/calling-all-aussie-mappers-google-map.html

    Google Lat Long: Calling all Aussie Mappers! Google Map Maker is now available in Australia
    Help share Australia's natural gems with tourists and locals alike by drawing the hiking trails through the Eucalypt forests of Tasmania or adding all the campsites surrounding Uluru-Kata Tjuta Nation… 142    28 Powered by socialditto

    Google Maps

    Google Maps50 days ago

    A collaboration between NASA and Google has made way to the largest special collection of Street View imagery to date — 6,000 panoramic views of the Kennedy Space Center. Help us celebrate the Space Center’s 50th birthday by taking a virtual tour through the famous gateway to space: http://goo.gl/maps/hFqTX. Read the full story on the Google Lat Long blog: http://goo.gl/2qCPu
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    Google Maps

    Google Maps44 days ago

    Many of you currently use traffic information in Google Maps to plan out your trips and save you time. Today, we’re excited to announce that we’re expanding our traffic coverage to include more than 130 smaller cities across the United States as well as the capitals of Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama. Learn more on the Lat Long blog: http://goo.gl/g9xzA

    You can check traffic conditions on your Android device and web browser

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps44 days ago

    Today, Google Map Maker has become available in Ukraine and Poland, joining 200 other countries and regions, and bringing us two steps closer to building the most comprehensive world map possible. From the peaks of Ukraine’s Hoverla mountains to Poland’s cheerful Baltic coastline, you can now contribute your local knowledge to help create a more complete and accurate map of Europe for the world to see. 

    We welcome both residents and folks who are familiar with Poland and Ukraine to the team of citizen cartographers across the globe who are continuing to build the map of the world. Learn more here: http://goo.gl/EsDq0

    Thanks, and happy mapping!

    The area around the Olympic Stadium in Wroclaw comes to life in Google Maps.

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps38 days ago

    Nearly 7 years after the disaster of Hurricane Katrina, the people of New Orleans are building up their city stronger than ever. We’re excited to help share the progress the city has had in our newest addition to Street View!  Among other things, you’ll see major investments made to playgrounds, community centers, roads, and parks, like historic Congo Square in Armstrong Park (http://goo.gl/maps/3Yc64) — the "birthplace of jazz”. Check out the Lat Long article by Mayor Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans for more information: http://goo.gl/UVnYH

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps36 days ago

    +Google Maps  now has schedules for more than one million public transit stops worldwide in nearly 500 cities. Update to the latest version of Google Maps for Android http://goo.gl/fjwt1 and see some of the changes we’ve done to the Transit Lines layer.  For more information visit the lat long blog.

    Have you ever used transit directions? 

    Google Lat Long: Google Maps now has schedules for more than one million public transit stops worldwide
    Since 2005, we've collaborated with hundreds of transit authorities around the world to make a comprehensive resource for millions of riders to find out which bus, train, subway or tram can take them … 288    68 Powered by socialditto

    Google Maps

    Google Maps35 days ago

    Over the last few months, we’ve taken you everywhere from the Amazon to Antarctica, and we’re continuing to add imagery of even more places around the globe. Beginning this week, you can dive even deeper into Latin America with new Street View imagery of Brazil and Mexico. Go ahead, visit Chichen Itza! (http://goo.gl/maps/gnR4x) Check out the Lat Long blog for more information: http://goo.gl/TXqpe

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps30 days ago

    Building a more comprehensive, accurate and usable map for local cyclists in Detroit, Michigan is just one part of Map Maker Todd Scott’s mission. From the smallest town to a rapidly evolving city like Detroit, maps reflect the heart of a community. Whether you’re improving directions, adding local businesses or mapping an entire area from scratch, your local expertise will help make life easier for not only you, but all Google Maps users. As Todd says, “It goes beyond map making. It’s a way to take back your neighborhood.” 

    You can learn more about Todd's inspiring Map Maker story here: http://goo.gl/y5y8z. How are you helping to map your world? It's time to share your story.
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    Google Maps

    Google Maps29 days ago

    We’re putting on our parkas and heading north to Cambridge Bay in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut in Canada’s Arctic. Millenniums worth of stories in this region are hidden by an intricate lacework of tundra, waterways and breaking ice. Today, we’re setting out on an ambitious mission to tell some of those stories and to build the most comprehensive map of the region to date. By empowering the Cambridge Bay community, we’ll be able to share the spectacular beauty and rich culture of Canada’s Arctic. Get the full story on the Lat Long Blog: http://goo.gl/NQbQ9

    Google Lat Long: Google Maps heads north…way north
    Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 6:00 PM. Search for [cambridge bay] on Google Maps and you'll fly to a tiny hamlet located deep in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut in Canada's Arctic, surrounded by an in… 158    9 Powered by socialditto

    Google Maps

    Google Maps22 days ago

    Time to strap on your helmets — we’re adding turn-by-turn, voice-guided biking navigation to Google Maps Navigation (beta) in every country with biking directions. In 2010 we launched biking directions on your desktop for the US and Canada, today we have over half a gigameter of biking navigation in 12 countries across the globe. Read more on the Lat Long Blog: http://goo.gl/u6Gpx and get the update from Google Play: http://goo.gl/r6MIS.

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps22 days ago

    Hello mappers,

    We’ve got some exciting news. You can now map with your friends on Google+! With a few simple steps you can share from Map Maker to your Google+ circles, and build your ever-growing Map Maker community in the process.

    Anything you share from Map Maker will appear on your Google+ profile to the circles and individuals with whom you’ve shared the post. People in your circles can comment on your post, and from there you can continue on your way to creating comprehensive maps of the places you care about most!

    To learn more about how to share Map Maker edits on Google+, go here: http://goo.gl/4TxGf

    Thanks, and happy mapping!

    Sharing in Map Maker – Map Maker Help
    Share your Map Maker hobby with your Google+ circles. By sharing your map edits and reviews with people connected to you on Google+ who may be regional experts or know about a particular area, you can… 316    25 Powered by socialditto

    Google Maps

    Google Maps16 days ago

    Today, we’re making Google Maps even better with new voice guided, turn-by-turn directions with traffic conditions in India, biking directions and Map Maker in New Zealand, and new Street View imagery of university campuses around the world. These improvements are part of our ongoing effort to build the best map we can — one that’s comprehensive, accurate and easy for you to use.  

    Learn more about these and other exciting Google Maps updates here: http://goo.gl/u9D4z

    Help Google Maps go everywhere!   http://youtu.be/UrS9AVPUMFQ
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    Google Maps

    Google Maps14 days ago

    Today, we’re excited to announce our latest round of imagery updates, making our maps even more accurate and comprehensive. Look out for new aerial, satellite and 45º imagery for many regions across the globe, from Mecca to Allentown. Some images are only available in Google Earth for the moment. Visit the Lat Long blog for a complete list of updated areas: goo.gl/kHKUC

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps6 days ago

    As one of our most beloved features, we’re excited to announce our recent Google Maps Navigation (Beta) launch for a suite of new countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and UAE. 

    http://www.google.com/mobile/maps

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps1 day ago

    We’re excited to announce the latest release of Google Maps for Android! http://goo.gl/9ljjy With some improvements to better sync your maps experience across all of your devices, it’s now faster and easier for you to get the information you’ve searched for on your browser, right on your Android phone. Less tapping, fewer typos! Find out more: http://goo.gl/wcXo9

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    Google Maps

    Google Maps1 day ago

    Today, Google Maps is expanding its offering of live road traffic in three new cities: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (goo.gl/maps/AINXH); Kuwait City, Kuwait (goo.gl/maps/hrrEn) and Guayaquil, Ecuador (goo.gl/maps/QPCwJ). We’ve also improved live traffic information to include more roads and highways in 15 regions where this popular feature of Google Maps is already available: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Sweden, the U.K., and the U.S. We hope this more accurate picture of traffic conditions will help you avoid getting stuck in traffic jams and more easily get you where you want to go. Visit the Lat Long blog for more info: http://goo.gl/wfSjj

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    And again, that’s not even everything.

    More Google Maps coverage here.

  • Regardless Of iOS, Google Maps Is Having Some Issues Of Its Own

    Regardless Of iOS, Google Maps Is Having Some Issues Of Its Own

    iPhone users may be missing Google Maps (and having their own issues with Apple Maps), but some businesses are having some issues of their own with Google Maps.

    Barry Schwartz at Search Engine Roundtable points to a Google Places Help forum thread, where users are complaining about missing business information, though Google has addressed the issues.

    Google’s Jade Wang says, “Seeing some reports of phone numbers, websites, or descriptions missing. The team’s looking into it. This would have happened within the past 5 days or so. You can post your examples below. I’ll come back with an update when I’ve got one.”

    Some are indeed posting examples. One person says some of their website links are missing, and that some are incorrect. Another says their site is displaying in the backend dashboard, but not on the front end. Another person says they’re having the same problem.

    Another says their phone number and address have suddenly disappeared, adding, “This really effects me being a taxi company as there is no longer a number available for people to ring.”

    As of the time of this writing, Wang has not “come back with an update”.

    Wang did announce a couple of new features for Google+ Local yesterday, including favorite stars on the desktop system, and a ratings adjustment on mobile.

    On a semi-related note (and in light of all of the issues people are finding with Apple’s Maps), Google shared this on Google+:

    Google Maps

    Google Maps15 hours ago

    See something that needs updating in Google Maps? There are two tools you can easily use to fix the map for millions to benefit. Depending on your country, you can use the “Report a problem” tool to let us know something needs to be updated, or you can directly edit the Map in Map Maker! mapmaker.google.com#gmapstip  
    325    78 Powered by socialditto

  • When Will iOS Get Google Maps Back?

    When Will iOS Get Google Maps Back?

    As many iPhone users are just now finding out, iOS 6 has replaced Google Maps with Apple’s own maps product. Many of these users are unhappy, and don’t have a lot of great things to say about Apple’s Maps.

    In fact, Apple Maps is taking quite the beating in the press and the Blogosphere (though it doesn’t look like it’s done much to keep people from getting the iPhone 5, which officially came out today in some countries). People want their Google Maps back. It looks like they’ll likely get it at some point, but there is some question.

    TechCrunch is reporting that the Google Maps team is “doubling down on staff, lining up the team and and resources to have a standalone iOS app in the App Store ‘before Christmas.’”

    Search Engine Land provides a statement from Apple, saying, “Customers around the world are upgrading to iOS 6 with over 200 new features including Apple Maps, our first map service. We are excited to offer this service with innovative new features like Flyover, turn-by-turn navigation, and Siri integration. We launched this new map service knowing it is a major initiative and that we are just getting started with it. Maps is a cloud-based solution and the more people use it, the better it will get. We’re also working with developers to integrate some of the amazing transit apps in the app store into iOS 6 Maps. We appreciate all of the customer feedback and are working hard to make the customer experience even better.”

    There has been some talk that Google already submitted an app to Apple, but that it has not been approved. 9to5Mac writes:

    Separately, we’ve heard Google has been building separate versions of a iOS GoogleMaps.app for quite a while that goes back years. Additionally, we’ve learned an updated iOS 6 version of the Google Maps.app has been submitted to Apple. It is awaiting approval, however, and that could take some time. It took a year for Apple to approve Google Voice, for instance, and Apple could technically likewise claim Google Maps “duplicates a native service” even though there are quite a few mapping apps already in the App Store (like Google Earth). Last month, it looked as if Apple were putting an update to Google Voice that featured Siri-like functionality through purgatory.

    Update: Jim Dalrymple says “nope”. While this is clearly from Apple, it is a matter of semantics. Google has the app ready and Apple has seen it.

    Meanwhile, people are complaining about Apple Maps, and Google is improving its Android app (and service in general).

  • iOS 6 Maps Are Getting A Lot Of Negative Feedback

    When Apple introduced iOS 6, it revealed that it would be going with its own Maps product (which is really a combination of numerous other mapping products) rather than Google Maps. iOS 6 hit iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches this week, and now users are really starting to understand what this means for their map needs.

    While some do appear to like the switch, there is a tremendous amount of user backlash and reports of issues with Apple’s new Maps.

    Gizmodo’s Kyle Wagner writes, “The move from Google Maps to Apple’s homespun cartography in iOS 6 has been a sticking point for people, largely because it’s the turd in a very ornate punch bowl.”

    Australian Business Traveller ‘s John Walton says, “Business travellers who rely heavily on the Maps app of their iPhone or iPad will find Apple’s new iOS 6 Maps is more like a dead end.” (via Forbes)

    There’s even a Tumblr for Apple Maps fails.

    Talk about the Maps is all over Twitter. Some actually don’t want to upgrade to iOS 6 because of the Maps.

    Here’s what some people are saying on Twitter:

    It does appear that Google will likely release a Google Maps app for iOS, so users can get it back. 9to5 Mac shares a Bloomberg video of Google UK Marketing Director Dan Cobley saying users can “use Google Maps by downloading them or going to the Google Maps website.”

    The “downloading” comment is odd, considering the app is so far non-existent, but could be a hint that one will soon launch.

    Search Engine Land shares another statement from Google, saying, “We believe Google Maps are the most comprehensive, accurate and easy-to-use maps in the world. Our goal is to make Google Maps available to everyone who wants to use it, regardless of device, browser, or operating system.”

    Google did release an update for Google Maps on Android this week. The company also expanded its Live Traffic info for Google Maps.

  • Google Maps Gets Updated On Android, While Disappearing From iOS In iOS 6

    Now that Apple has launched iOS 6, Google Maps is officially off of the iPhone Maps experience. Meanwhile, Google has launched an update for Google Maps for Android adding better sync across devices.

    “Just make sure you’re signed in to Google Maps and your web history is enabled to get a number of new benefits including search and directions history,” says Google Maps software engineer Keiji Maekawa in a blog post (which appears to have been at least temporarily pulled). “When you start to type a place or directions into the search box on your Android device, you’ll see suggestions for directions and locations that you’ve previously searched for – making it easier to quickly find directions on the go.”

    “You can also see your mapping search history, as well as your directions history, on your Android phone by going to the ‘Search’ or ‘Directions’ tab under My Places,” says Maekawa. “This way, places and businesses you have already searched for will show up in your suggestions to save you time when you’re out and about.”

    You can still access pre-specified locations, like “home” or “work” by typing “home” or “work” from your Android device.

  • Amazon Takes Competition With Google Up A Notch

    A few months back, Amazon acquired 3D-mapping startup UpNext, signaling its plans to enter mapping territory, and now Amazon is encouraging those developing apps for its new Kindle Fire devices to move away from Google Maps and go full on Amazon.

    When Amazon announced the Kindle Fire HD, it also made the Amazon Maps API available to developers.

    “The Amazon Maps API makes it easy for you to integrate mapping functionality into apps that run on the all-new Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD,” says Amazon in a blog post. “These new devices will also support location-based services through the android.location API.”

    “The Amazon Maps API provides a simple migration path for developers who are already using the native Google Maps API on Android,” Amazon adds.

    With Amazon’s Maps API, developers can embed an interactive map view in their apps for customers to pan and zoom. They can optionally display users’ location and switch between standard maps and satellite view. They can also display locations of businesses, landmarks and other points of interest with customized markers and pins.

    The API is currently in beta.

    Amazon has also been said to be working with Nokia on maps (h/t: TNW).

    Here’s an UpNext Maps demo on an iPhone:

    Amazon and Google are establishing themselves as direct competitors more and more, and this is just the latest move in the competitive chess game. It also follows a report from The New York Times indicating that more people are beginning product searches on Amazon and less are beginning them on Google.

    In other words, Amazon is taking searches away from Google. What kind of effect will the Maps API move have on Amazon device users? That remains to be seen, but it can’t be good for Google, aside from helping the company’s argument against those calling it a monopoly.

    This is just in the search realm, and is not even taking into consideration other areas where these two companies compete, like web services and even browsers now (Amazon’s Silk browser got an upgrade with the new Kindle Fire devices).

    Obviously Amazon and Google are also both competing with Apple. Apple, as you probably know, recently dropped Google Maps from iOS devices, in favor of its own Maps offering, and it appears that even that is having a more widespread effect than originally thought. TechCrunch is reporting today that Russian Google competitor Yandex is now powering Apple’s iOS 6 mapping service in Russia, with a bigger deal apparently on the horizon for Yandex to become the default search on the mobile version of Apple’s Safari browser.

    Something else to think about – Apple and Facebook seem to be cozying up a bit lately, and Facebook has admitted plans to enter the search game, while at the same time dismissing the idea of offering its own hardware. Just saying.

  • Check Out This Infographic From Google Maps Showing The Most Searched Spots Of The Summer

    Google has released a new infographic showing the most popular summer searches in Google Maps for different countries in the Northern Hemisphere.

    “North Americans sought out the best local beaches to help cool off from the summer heat. In comparison, many more people from Spain, Italy and France searched for community swimming pools. In cooler areas of the U.K. the rising Google Maps searches included many indoor activities such as squash, bars and going to the gym,” says Google Maps Sr. Product Manager Manik Gupta. “And, as expected, travel was a clear choice for the summer, as indicated by a surge in searches for lodging in almost every region.”

    “Many popular destination searches were located outdoors,” Gupta adds. “National parks and Hawaiian islands were the most popular searches in the U.S., while local parks, zoos, gardens and playgrounds topped Canada’s and Europe’s list. Major landmarks such as the Empire State Building in New York City, Niagara Falls in Canada, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Taj Mahal in India also topped the list of often-searched places in Google Maps. And of course, with the Summer Games drawing in international audiences, Wembley Stadium and the Olympic Stadium were two of the most searched for locations throughout the U.K. this summer.

    Google Maps Infographic

    Google has also added a significant amount of new imagery to Google Maps over the course of the summer. Just last week, the company released a ton of new high-res aerial, satellite and 45 degree imagery.

    More Google Maps coverage here.

  • Google Tells You How To Find Cool Maps

    Google Tells You How To Find Cool Maps

    Google has uploaded a Google Developers hangout from Sydney about maps. Googlers Paul and Chris talk ab out their favorite maps, why they like them, and how to find cool maps.

    It’s about a half hour long (which isn’t too long for a Google video), but if you don’t feel like watching the whole thing, you can check out the video page, and it tells you at what times throughout the video they talk about different things.

  • Bing Now Has Pretty High-Res Aerial Imagery For The Entire U.S.

    Today, Bing announced the completion of the U.S. portion of what it says is its largest aerial imagery endeavor, and its most ambitious mapping effort to date – the Global Ortho Project.

    “In two years, the Bing Maps Imagery team has collected every square inch of the continental US and Western Europe at 30cm resolution (1ft = 1 pixel),” a Bing spokesperson tells WebProNews. “This endeavor sets a new standard in aerial map imagery.”

    “To give you an idea of the amount of imagery the team has taken, at 30cm per pixel, you could line up all the Global Ortho pixels end-to-end to reach around the earth 994 times, to the moon 104 times and to Venus with an extra seven trillion pixels to spare,” he adds.

    Here are a couple of examples:

    Pueblo Bonito ruins at Chaco Culture National Historical Park

    Chaco

    Cape Canaveral, FL

    Cape Canaveral

    “There is higher resolution imagery of some certain areas available, but there is no continent-wide mosaic at this high of a resolution,” Bing’s Charlie Peterson said in a blog post. “What GO brings you is an amazing view into familiar places (like your own home) and remote corners of the United States.”

    To commemorate the completion of the project in the U.S., Bing sent its team on another mission to capture imagery of a giant Bing logo it had painted on the roof of a nearby parking garage. Once it’s ready, the image will be visible among the imagery.

    Bing logo in parking lot

  • Facebook Looking at Navigation App Waze [Report]

    Is Facebook looking to get into the crowdsourced traffic information game? According to Israeli business publication Globes, Facebook is eyeing navigation app Waze.

    According to Globes, the two companies have already had discussions – as Facebook execs apparently visited Waze offices in Israel. “The purpose of the talks is not known, but the two companies are reportedly headed for collaboration, possibly involving the use of Waze’s application via Facebook. Alternatively, Facebook may acquire Waze,” they say.

    Waze is originally an Israeli startup, although they do operate a main office in Palo Alto, California.

    Although Waze provides GPS services and free turn-by-turn navigation, one of its most interesting uses is as a giant traffic crowdsourcing platform. People can report accidents, traffic issues, speed traps, and much more. The app is constantly morphing, as it reacts to information gathered from drivers using the service. It’s a truly community-oriented GPS application.

    So, one could see Facebook and Waze working well together, considering the nearly 1 billion Facebook users who could add to Waze’s crowdsourced traffic data.

    This is not the only Israeli company that has (reportedly) attracted Facebook’s attention. Earlier this year, the company acquired Tel-Aviv-based facial recognition software company Face.com.

    [via Forbes]

  • Google Takes Street View To New Northern Extreme

    Google announced that it is setting out on a new mapping mission, sending its Street View team up the furthest north in Canada it has ever gone, in order to map out Cambridge Bay in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut in Canada’s Arctic. In fact, it’s the Street View team’s first visit to Nunavut altogether.

    It’s a location “surrounded by an intricate lacework of tundra, waterways and breaking ice,” as Google puts it. “High above the Arctic circle, it’s a place reachable only by plane or boat. Zoom in on the map, and this isolated village of 1,500 people appears as only a handful of streets, with names like Omingmak (‘musk ox’) Street and Tigiganiak (“fox”) Road,” Google says.

    Cambridge Bay

    Check out some of these photos Google has on Panoramio for the area:

    Cambridge Bay
    Image credit: R. Halim

    Cambridge Bay
    Image credit: Timothy K.

    Cambridge Bay
    Image credit: Timothy K.

    Google is sending the Street View trike (pictured at the top), which it uses to photograph business interiors, but Google is relying on some help from the locals.

    “We first met Chris, who works for the nonprofit Nunavut Tunngavik, last September at our Google Earth Outreach workshop in Vancouver, where he learned how to edit Google Maps data using Google Map Maker,” writes Karin Tuxen-Bettman of the Google Earth Outreach team on the Official Google Blog. “Today [Wednesday] Chris played host to a community Map Up event in Cambridge Bay, where village elders, local mapping experts and teenagers from the nearby high school gathered around a dozen Chromebooks and used Map Maker to add new roads, rivers and lakes to the Google Map of Cambridge Bay and Canada’s North. But they didn’t stop there. Using both English and Inuktitut, one of Nunavut’s official languages, they added the hospital, daycare, a nine-hole golf course, a territorial park and, finally, the remnants of an ancient Dorset stone longhouse which pre-dates Inuit culture.”

    Google will train Chris and others in the community to use some of its equipment, so they can travel to other places in the area, and help Google map the Canadian Arctic.

  • Google Earth Scout Thinks She’s Found Lost Egyptian Pyramids

    People uncover weird stuff all the time using Google Earth satellite imagery – alien structures, crop circles, the lost city of Atlantis, and structures that resemble giant male members, just to name a few. But now, a satellite archaeology researcher thinks that she’s uncovered a couple of never-before-recognized Egyptian pyramids.

    UNC Charlotte alum and decade-long studier of satellite imagery Angela Micol first discovered the two distinct sites, which are located about 90 miles apart.

    The first site features a four-sided “truncated pyramidal shape” that Micol says is about 140 feet wide. If you zoom out on it, you see that it’s actually part of a larger series of unidentified mounds that are all rather similar in structure. Micol says that they are similar to the alignment of the Giza Plateau pyramids.

    The second site (seen at the lead) has a much bigger, triangular-shaped mound of about 600 feet. Surrounding that are more plateaus of 250 feet and 100 feet widths, respectively.

    “The images speak for themselves. It’s very obvious what the sites may contain but field research is needed to verify they are, in fact, pyramids and evidence should be gathered to determine their origins. It is my hunch there is much more to these sites and with the use of Infrared imagery, we can see the extent of the proposed complexes in greater detail,” says Micol.

    The structures, which come from Northern Egypt, have been verified as officially undiscovered by Egyptologist Nabil Selim. Selim has discovered pyramids of his own, Sinki at Abydos for example.

    “My dream is to work with archaeologists to release sites that I have identified over the past ten years of research. This research is the frontier of discovery and it’s just beginning to advance views of our ancient past,” says Micol.

    [Google Earth Anomalies via Discovery News]

  • Here Are The U.S. Airports With The Most Influence In A Pandemic

    Ok, this is cool. And also rather frightening, as I just caught Contagion on HBO the other night. Researchers at MIT’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering took a good look at the first few days of a contagious disease outbreak and determined which U.S. airports would be the biggest influencers in its spread.

    They looked at the top 40 largest airports in the country, and found that traffic isn’t necessarily the only indicator of how much an airport would be to blame.

    Unlike existing models, the new MIT model incorporates variations in travel patterns among individuals, the geographic locations of airports, the disparity in interactions among airports, and waiting times at individual airports to create a tool that could be used to predict where and how fast a disease might spread.

    “The results from our model are very different from those of a conventional model that relies on the random diffusion of travelers … [and] similar to the advective flow of fluids,” says researcher Christos Nicolaides. “The advective transport process relies on distinctive properties of the substance that’s moving, as opposed to diffusion, which assumes a random flow. If you include diffusion only in the model, the biggest airport hubs in terms of traffic would be the most influential spreaders of disease. But that’s not accurate.”

    Here’s what they mean: Although Honolulu’ airport is only about 1/3 as large as New York’s Kennedy International (in terms of traffic), it’s positioning in the “air transportation network” and its connection to many distant well-connected hubs makes it almost as influential in the spread of our unknown contagion.

    Here are the final rankings in terms of most influential in the spread of disease:

    1. Kennedy International (New York)
    2. Los Angeles
    3. Honolulu
    4. San Francisco
    5. Newark
    6. Chicago (O’Hare)
    7. Washington (Dulles)
    8. Hartsfield-Jackson International (Atlanta)

    Hartsfield-Jackson ranked only 8th in terms of influence, although it serves the most flights out of any airport in consideration.

    [via The Verge]

  • Google Updates Maps In Countries Across Europe, Asia, and Africa

    Today, Google has announced updates to maps in nearly a dozen countries in three continents. The updates provide more overall detail, new additions like 3D buildings, and updates to existing features like ferry routes.

    Here are the countries that received the updated maps:

    Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lesotho, Macau, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore and Vatican City.

    First up for these countries is more details. This means upgrades to coastline and body of water detail. Also, Google has labeled more important points like airports, schools, and public areas.

    One of the more interesting improvements is to ferry routes, for example near Naples:

    Google maps ferry routes portugal

    From the Google Lat Long blog:

    We’ve also added better and more clearly labelled ferry routes in many places, such as the area below surrounding Naples, Italy. Traveling by ferry is one of my favorite ways to explore a city—I love looking back from the water at the cityscapes—and this improvement will help you find the ferry routes you need to do the same. You can even use Google Maps to get transit-based directions for ferries. We take into account ferry timetables to route you over water just easily as you might follow our driving directions over land.

    Finally, Google added more multilingual support for road names and changed the look of highways and local roads to make them more distinguishable from one another.

  • Google Updates My Tracks App With New UI & Features

    A few years ago, Google released the My Tracks app that allowed Android users to keep tabs on their outdoor travels using GPS. Users can not only keep detailed records of their travels, but they can create visualizations of their courses, access stats, and share it all via social networks, Google Maps, and Google Docs.

    Today, Google has announced an update to the app. Version 2.0 sports a brand new design, new features, and some improvements to existing features.

    From the Google Lat Long blog:

    My Tracks 2.0 comes with a variety of new features, including:

    • The ability to play back your tour directly on Google Earth for Android
    • Aggregation of statistics over time to show trends in your performance
    • Simpler, faster user interface
    • Improved charts and stats tables that are easier to read

    My Tracks also syncs with certain biometric tools, including the Zephyr HxM Bluetooth heart rate monitor, the Polar WearLink Bluetooth heart rate monitor, and the ANT+ heart rate and speed distance monitors.

    You can download the new version today on Google Play.