Google tipped us off early this morning, aside from the leaks we saw previously, that Google Maps might be getting some love at this year’s I/O.  A preview build of the new Maps was shown on iOS and Android. It featured a new slimmed down look with a search bar that took you into a revamped reviews section that has a 5 star scale instead of the previous 4. Google Offers was also worked into this same space to make finding food and deals easy. 

A whole new tablet-based Maps application was shown off as well with the emphasis on “exploring” the world around you. Ratings of restaurants, places of interest and other things are tightly integrated into this new Maps for mobile. We didn’t get a specific release date, but it was said to be coming to Android and iOS “this summer.”

Google Maps for Mobile Gets Reworked, Coming to Android and iOS “This Summer” is a post from: Droid Life

Starting today, Google Map’s users in certain cities can check real-time public transit information. So far, only riders in New York City, Salt Lake City, and Washington D.C. get to see live service updates for their respective subways/transit systems, but more will come.

With this addition, there are no more excuses why you missed that bus or train. Go check it out.

Play Link

Via: Google Lat

Google Maps Adds Live Transit Info For Certain U.S. Cities is a post from: Droid Life

After yesterday’s big news that Andy Rubin was stepping down from the Android team, it seemed that things were changing internally at Google. Today, more switches have been made by Larry Page, who announced that the Mapping and Commerce divisions are no longer working together under one person. Senior VP Jeff Huber is stepping down from his position overseeing the two divisions, which will then merge with other Google entities.

Maps is going to work with the Search division, while commerce is heading for a union with the marketing people. The moves make sense, considering search and maps go well together and what is advertising for other than making money? Jeff Huber’s new position will be moving over to work at Google X, Google’s top-secret lab division.

Big stuff going down in Mountain View this week.

Via: BGR

Google Continues Internal Shake Ups, Mapping and Commerce Division Split Up is a post from: Droid Life

Today, you can take a VIP stroll through the halls of the Indianapolis Colts stadium. With a full 360 degree view from the 50 yard line to inside the locker room, this is a great new feature for Google’s Street View application.

Now what I want to see is this happen for every major sports team in America. Get on it, Google.

Via: Google Lat Long
Cheers Chuck!

Google Maps Gives Us a Look Inside Indianapolis Colts Stadium is a post from: Droid Life

During the early parts of 2012, Google Maps was doing great. It led the top ten pack of monthly unique visitors against some stiff competition, mostly themselves, but there was still Facebook, Pandora, and Yahoo! Messenger (somehow). Out of the top ten most used apps in 2012 on iOS and Android, Google owns five of them, which is pretty impressive to say the least. 

Now what makes any of this interesting is that like I mentioned, things went South for Google Maps about the same time the iPhone 5 was released. With the launch of Apple’s new flagship, they dropped Google Maps in favor of their proprietary Maps app, which dropped Google down to second in terms of usage. Since being reinstated on iTunes, they still have not been able to come back, but in time they should have no problem doing so with download of Google Maps on iTunes through the roof.

What is even more funny is that with the Facebook app for Android being super buggy and us hearing usually nothing but complaints about it, that people continue to use the official app instead of alternatives. I don’t seem to have nearly half of the issues that others report, but we can all agree that the Facebook has come quite a long ways since what it used to be.

Via: comScore

Facebook Beats Out Google Maps as 2012′s Most Used App Thanks to iPhone 5 is a post from: Droid Life

As an Android fan, I know I’ve looked at some car navigation systems before and thought “Google Maps does this so much better.” Today’s news sounds like a few car manufacturers felt the same way. Hyundai and Kia have partnered with Google so that their UVO voice system now works with Google Search, Maps and Places APIs to find you all sorts of cool stuff while you’re driving from place to place.

Those two companies join the likes of Audi, Mercedes and Tesla as manufacturers who all include the suite of Google apps in their vehicles. Google Maps is one of the most detailed databases and putting that in dashboards of cars is infinitely useful. Let’s hope that more companies catch onto this down the road.

Via: Google

Google Teaming Up With Kia and Other Car Makers to Bring Google Maps to Vehicles is a post from: Droid Life

This afternoon, Google has pushed an updated version of Maps to Google Play. It currently offers nothing extra except for a few bug fixes, but hey, we’ll take it. Don’t forget to be thankful for your Maps app, people.

Play Link

Cheers Adam!

Google Maps Updated With Bug Fixes is a post from: Droid Life

According to Australian law enforcement personnel, a flaw discovered in Apple’s Maps application could prove deadly for motorists if action is not taken. Pictured above is the city of Mildura, although that is not where the city is actually located. Apple has placed the town some 40 miles in the Outback, an environment that if not prepared for or you happen to become stranded in, offers very little in terms of road side service.

Unfortunately, a few Maps users have already found themselves in this situation, needing to be rescued by emergency crews and were found with zero water supply. 

Some of the motorists located by police have been stranded for up to 24 hours without food or water and have walked long distances through dangerous terrain to get phone reception.

Police have contacted Apple in relation to the issue and hope the matter is rectified promptly to ensure the safety of motorists travelling to Mildura. Anyone travelling to Mildura or other locations within Victoria should rely on other forms of mapping until this matter is rectified.

We like poking fun at Maps due to its laughable launch, but let us not forget Google’s failed launch of the Nexus Q. Although, I don’t recall the Q being blamed for anyone getting stranded in 114 degree weather with no food or water. Maybe that’s something we’ll get at this year’s I/O?

Via: CNN

Cheers Jason, Kurt, Poya, and Nicholas!

Australian Police: Using Apple Maps Could Be Fatal is a post from: Droid Life

Today, Google released an updated Google Maps API, allowing developers to take advantage of the insanely advanced Maps software that Google has slaved over for years. With new access to vector-based imagery, gesture features such as tilt/zoom, and Map layers (traffic, terrain, satellite), apps that use Google Maps just got a whole lot more exciting to use.

I myself don’t develop, but Google sure does like to make it look easy.

Via: Google Lat

Google Updates Maps API, Allows App Developers to Completely Utilize Software is a post from: Droid Life

TomTom has finally arrived for Android. Although, I can think of one platform that might benefit from it much more than we can. All joking aside, TomTom is one of the more well-known names in navigation and the application brings 3.7GB of maps and route data straight to your Android device. It doesn’t get much more intense than this. 

TomTom allows you to look up directions and routes without a mobile signal (don’t forget Google Maps allows for offline maps), lets you add many different advanced features to your routes such as stops and eco-routes, and a whole lot more. Still, is $50 worth it? In addition, we have noticed there are some compatibility issues with this first release. According to TomTom, your device must meet very specific resolution standards to allow for the app. Requirements are as follows:

To clarify the specific requirement are these: – Android OS: 2.2 or higher – Screen resolution: 800×480 or 854×480 We are committed to supporting higher resolutions on an ongoing basis. – Storage: 215 MB – 3,7 GB of free space required, depending on the app and the associated map. – App supports Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) & Jellybean (4.1)

Next update should be out soon.

Will you be picking up TomTom?

Play Link ($49.99)

TomTom Does the Robot Indeed:

Click here to view the embedded video.

TomTom Debuts for Android, $50 and Good Luck Finding a Device It’s Compatible With is a post from: Droid Life

In a somewhat surprising turn of events this morning, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook posted a letter to their customers to address the Maps situation in iOS6. As you all know, the Maps app that Apple has created is, to put it nicely, atrocious. Turn-by-turn directions lead people to opposite sides of town from their actual destination, entire cities are missing, data is appearing that changed decades ago, businesses are showing as being located in bodies of water, etc. It’s a mess. In fact, it’s such a mess, that we couldn’t help but poke a little fun at the entire fiasco.

In Cook’s letter, he admits that Apple “fell short” on their commitment to release a Maps app that lives up to their “world-class” standards. He actually went as far as to suggest alternatives while they work “non-stop” until maps lives up to those high standards. And yep, Google Maps mobile browser version even came up.

I can’t help but think, “Wow, Apple admitting wrong? When was the last time this happened?”

And you’ll notice that he offers no time frame for a quality Maps app. Basically, Apple fans, you better cozy up to Waze, Bing, or MapQuest, because it’s going to be a while. 

To our customers,

At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.

We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up.

There are already more than 100 million iOS devices using the new Apple Maps, with more and more joining us every day. In just over a week, iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations. The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you.

While we’re improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app.

Everything we do at Apple is aimed at making our products the best in the world. We know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard.

Tim Cook
Apple’s CEO

Via:  Apple

Apple’s Tim Cook Apologizes for Maps Debacle, Says App “Fell Short” is a post from: Droid Life

In a recent outing, Google’s Eric Schmidt made one thing very clear – Google has no Maps application in the works for iOS devices. According to Schmidt, the decision was entirely Apple’s and he still feels that they should have stuck with Google’s app. Both Google and Apple were in constant communication on the matter, but in the long run, Apple decided to go with a homegrown alternative instead. 

We think it would have been better if they had kept ours. But what do I know? What were we going to do, force them not to change their mind? It’s their call.

Schmidt went on to clarify that Google did want them as a partner, but with the tensions between the two companies at an all time high, it just wasn’t meant to be.

While in Japan to announce the availability of the Nexus 7, Schmidt took a moment to show off some of the more unique features of their Maps application. By moving the tablet around, instead of using your fingers, you get the sense of “looking around” and he quickly added, “Take that Apple.” Of course, he said it jokingly.

Via: Reuters

Cheers Craig!

iPhone Owners Waiting on Google Maps App, the Wait is Over – It’s Not Coming is a post from: Droid Life

Android friends and family, tomorrow is a big day. It’s time to start preparing. In case you didn’t realize it yet, September 21 is the day that millions of new phone owners across the globe will have trouble finding their way to work, to the nearest gas station, to their lunch or dinner reservation, and as you can see in the picture above, surviving through take-off at their local airport. Tomorrow, is iPhone 5 launch day. 

When doors open at your city’s Apple store in the morning and UPS drivers take to the streets with shipments of iPhone 5s, the number of confused and lost pedestrians, transit riders, bikers and car drivers will have increased by some 2 million people. So when I say that the Android crew needs to prepare, I’m suggesting that you put a shortcut to your Google Maps app on your home screen or quick launch bar.

Think of tomorrow (and for the foreseeable future) as an opportunity to help out a foe in need. After all, your Google Maps app with turn-by-turn navigation is free, so why not share it with those less fortunate smartphone owners. They may need confirmation that when traveling over the Hoover Dam, that they will succeed in crossing it.

They may need to ask for your help in telling the difference between the next Burger King or monastery or public building.

They may need to see underneath those clouds.

They may be confused as to why the Cayman Islands no longer have roads.

Is that a beacon from God?

And finally, those new iPhone 5 owners are going want to know if it’s OK for them to drive their car into a body of water and onto that new set of streets.

So again, keep your Google Maps app handy. There are going to be a lot of iPhone 5 owners wandering around bodies of water trying to find Chinese restaurants, avoiding interstates and bridges, wondering why that building that was constructed 10 years ago is now under construction, why their home town doesn’t exist, and showing up to transit stops that closed years ago, that are going to need your help.

To follow along in the never-ending fun that is Apple’s new Maps app for iOS 6, follow this Tumblr.

Android Friends, Be Kind to All of the New iPhone 5 Users Tomorrow – They May be Lost and in Need of a Maps App is a post from: Droid Life

A Google Maps update will be arriving shortly on your Android device. Once updated, your location searches from your PC browser will sync seamlessly with your mobile device at a faster pace, so that you can find info you’ve searched for in the past or even moments ago. All you have to do is sign into Google Maps and make sure your web history is enabled to get these new search and directions histories. 

To see more history with this new feature set, you can go into the “Search” or “Directions” tab under My Places. Under these sections, previous places and businesses that you searched for will show up as suggestions to save you time and energy.

For those not on Google Now, you can also set “Home” and “Work” locations so that you can quickly find directions from whichever dark alley you have wandered down. I mention Google Now because it suggests directions to work or home automatically, but this should make the feature essentially available to everyone.

Update:  The update is live in the Play store! They also tossed in a cool new single-handed zoom. Double tap with a finger, hold and drag your finger.

Via:  Google Lat Long (It’s live now!)

Google Maps Update Includes Better Search Syncing From Browser to Phone (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

An addition to Google Maps this morning should have all New Yorkers who take public transit very excited. Google has had transit times for local subways and buses for a while now, but they also know that sometimes those vehicles don’t arrive exactly on-time. To help with this, they have added subway alerts and delays to Maps.

The Android app and web version of Maps will now alert you if any of NY’s subways are experiencing delays from maintenance or anything like that. If you are using navigation, Google will include these alerts and automatically re-routes to get you to where you are going. Maps may arguably be Google’s best app and it seems to only get better and better.

What else do you want to see in Google Maps that they haven’t added already?

Via: Google

Google Maps Adds New York Subway Alerts and Delays, Never Be Late Again is a post from: Droid Life