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OS X 10.9 rumored to include tabbed Finder, Siri, Maps, and more

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Rumors, Software

OS X 10.9 features

Apple is set to show off OS X 10.9 at WWDC 2013 (which sold out in less than two minutes this year) and the current rumors point to the inclusion of a tabbed Finder and iOS-style multitasking that will allow background apps to pause, freeing system resources up for the apps you are using at the time. Additionally, the Mission Control complaint that users with multiple monitors have been complaining about since the release of OS X 10.7 Lion will finally be addressed--if you have multiple monitors, you'll be able to have a space open on each one.

Other rumor mill nuggets point to both Siri and Apple Maps making their OS X debuts as well. We'll know more on June 10 when WWDC kicks off!

Read More | 9to5Mac

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Google Maps for iPhone 1.1 update brings contact integration, points of interest

Google Maps for iPhone 1.1

Google has released an update for Google Maps for iPhone, adding new search icons to make it easier and faster to find points of interest, as well as integration with your Google Contacts, which makes it easier to find friends. The search icons include things like restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and other typical POIs. The way the contacts work is, if you have your friends address saved, then you can search for their name and have their address pop up on the map--it isn't meant to find your friends by location in real-time. You can download Google Maps for iPhone 1.1 now in the App Store.

Read More | Google Maps for iPhone

Google Maps now available for iPhone

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Navigation, New Apps, Google, Free Apps

Google Maps app for iOS (2)    Google Maps app for iOS

Google has finally reincarnated its map offering and is free of charge in Apple's App store for your consumption. The app promises features that the fabled old stock maps didn't offer like voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation. It has been said by AllThingsD that Apple chose to do its own mapping solution because Google wouldn't offer that specific feature for iOS. My initial impression of the app is that it is visually appealing, and we are glad to see that Street View is present, along with public transit info. The most important thing is that the new Google Maps is vector-based, so navigating the map should be buttery smooth. Google reps have admitted that it's even better than maps for Android. Here's the run down of the features in the Google Maps reboot:

Read More | Google Maps for iOS

Is this the new Google Maps app for iOS 6?

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Google, Rumors, Software

Google Maps for iOS 6

iOS developer Ben Guild has received alleged information on a Google Maps app for iOS 6 that is currently in alpha testing; including the classic blurry cam pics. The much desired Google Maps app is fast, vector-based, supports two-finger rotation to any angle, and is iPhone 5 ready. Unfortunately, there's no ETA of when it will arrive at the App Store. Of course, arrival time is not as important as making sure the app is tested and fully baked for consumers before launching. When all is said and done, Google Maps should be a free download for users.

Click to continue reading Is this the new Google Maps app for iOS 6?

Read More | Ben Guild

Google Street View comes to iOS web app

Posted by Ponzi Black Categories: Apple, Google, Internet

Google Street View

iOS 6 and iPhone 5 users now have a popular Google Maps feature available to them again--Street View. Google Street View is available in the Google Maps web app in Mobile Safari, as well as in the Chrome app. Users can save the web app to their Home screen for quick access to Google Maps. Not as elegant as a native app, but definitely usable.


Yelp check-ins coming to iOS 6 Maps

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Rumors, Software

Yelp check-in ios 6 maps

It looks like Apple has even more in store for its mapping solution that'll make its debut in iOS 6 this fall. According to a Bloomberg report, iPhone users will be able to use Maps directly to check in to the local spots that they're visiting courtesy of Yelp's check-in service. Of course, this leaves us a bit confuses, as almost no one uses Yelp check-ins when compared to Foursquare or Facebook, but we're guessing that Apple doesn't wanna get too reliant on any one company for iOS features. Still, in this case, we think Yelp is a bit of a disappointment for system-level iOS 6 check-ins.

Read More | Bloomberg

Meet the new Google Maps: 3D, offline maps, more StreetView

Google Maps 3d

Google has announced a few nice updates to Google Maps that will be rolling out soon. For starters, expect offline maps to come to mobile Android and iOS devices. You'll be able to look up a map area in advance and select it to be made available offline. Maps will then indicate how much space it will take up on your device, and will download the content with your approval.

The second major feature is greatly-improved 3D maps. Thanks to planes shooting images at a 45 degree angle and from directly above, Google used stereophotogrammetry to combine the images to create 3D scenes. Google was able to demo this on an internal version of Google Earth for iPad, showing off the city of San Francisco in 3D.

Click to continue reading Meet the new Google Maps: 3D, offline maps, more StreetView


iOS 6 Maps app preview

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Google, Software

iOS 6 Maps

As previously reported, Apple is set to replace Google Maps in iOS 6 with an in-house solution that's the result of the company acquiring mapping companies like C3 Technologies, Poly9, and Placebase. Today, we see leaked screenshots from a BGR "trusted source" that shows off a bit more of what we can expect.

The screenshots show that the new 3D mode is certainly in the works in build 10A314 of iOS 6. Again, this is a total replacement for Google Maps, allowing Apple to provide the exact Maps experience that it want to provide on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. We expect to get a full preview of iOS 6 at WWDC next month.


TeleNav shows off HTML5-powered GPS app

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: GPS, Internet, Software

telenav html5 gps

TeleNav, the GPS software company, has unveiled a browser-based HTML5 app that will deliver voice-enabled, turn-by-turn GPS navigation on almost any mobile device—and that other sites can call up with a single line of code.

The concept behind the app is similar to that of Amazon Kindle Cloud Reader: You input the URL and then run TeleNav from within a browser, without installing a native app first. An added benefit: TeleNav can continuously update the service over time whenever it wants, without inconveniencing consumers with periodic software updates.

In an e-mail to us, Mary Beth Lowell, TeleNav's associate director of public relations, confirmed that the HTML5-based app will tap into each device's GPS chip. The combination puts it several leagues ahead of Google Maps, which provides directions without voice prompts, meaning you can also use it in a car while behind the wheel, since you don't have to look at the screen for the next step.

"For example, if I'm in a travel app and I'm looking at my hotel address, I could click on the address and get full voice-guided TBT [turn-by-turn] directions to the hotel," Lowell said. "I wouldn't need to be a TeleNav customer or even download an app."

Click to continue reading TeleNav shows off HTML5-powered GPS app


Okay, what’s up with Apple creating its own traffic database?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Editorial, GPS

Apple traffic database

Buried in Apple's statement on how the iPhone tracks a user's location data, the company admitted it was collecting anonymous location information to create a "crowd-sourced traffic database" that will be part of a future "improved traffic service."

The thing is, there's already a traffic service on the iPhone, provided by Google. If a user launches the Maps app and selects "Show Traffic," the map overlays colors on roads that show traffic congestion. Google gets the traffic data by—surprise!—crowd-sourcing it, aggregating information from Google Maps users who have approved the app for location services on their mobile devices.

Apple's statement reveals that the company is working on its own version of such a service. Whether that service will be something that Apple will use to improve traffic in Google Maps, or if Apple will launch a competing maps app, or something else entirely isn't known. Apple didn't respond to multiple requests for comment on the topic.

Click to continue reading Okay, what’s up with Apple creating its own traffic database?


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