All Entries Tagged With: "directions"

Google Updates Google Maps for Android to Version 4.4

Google announced today on the Official Google Mobile Blog the introduction of version 4.4 of Google Maps for Android. The company has been updated the Google Maps app for Android at least once a month for the past six months. Just last month, the application was updated version 4.3 to include public transit schedules, restaurant ratings, and a better way to add friends on Latitude.

Well, today, the new update introduces a new “Places” icon to help users easily and quickly find establishments such as restaurants, coffee shops, movie theaters, gas stations, or any other type of local business around them. Users can both browser or search places. A new updated Places Pages offers users several new details about a certain establishment such as prices, parking, and even menu links in addition to the existing photos and reviews. Additionally, users will be informed of a business’ opening hours, compass directions, and distance.

Google Maps for BlackBerry Updated to Version 4.2

Google announced recently on its Official Google Mobile Blog that Google Maps for BlackBerry has been updated to version 4.2, which brings quite a few new features that many users will definitely enjoy. For instance, the most notable feature is the introduction of biking directions. Additionally, Google is making available the “Bicycling layer,” which shows on the map dedicated bike-only trails in dark green, roads with bike lanes in light green, or roads that are good for biking but lack a dedicated lane in dashed green — just as in the desktop version and Android version of Google Maps.

The Mountain View-based search giant also announced that BlackBerry users now have the ability to search and share content on Google Maps. For example — when searching for a restaurant, a new revamped list of results with photos and ratings will appear. Once one of the results is selected, users will get a new page with detailed contact information and reviews about the establishment in addition to buttons for directions, calling, et cetera.

Woman Sues Google After Getting Ran Over While Following Maps Directions

Park City, Utah resident Lauren Rosenberg has filed a lawsuit with a U.S. District Court in Utah against Mountain View-based Google after she was ran over in a highway while following walking directions from Google Maps on her BlackBerry smartphone. Rosenberg claims that the directions by Google led her to a busy highway with no sidewalks, where she was hit by a car on January 19, 2009. According to the lawsuit, Rosenberg is suing both Google and Patrick Harwood — the driver who struck her — for damages that exceed $100,000.

The lawsuit claims that Google did not warn Rosenberg about the lack of sideways on the street where she got hit. I don’t know about you, but every time I’ve used Google Maps to get walking directions, the first thing I see is a little warning box on top of the directions stating the following message:

Google Introduces Biking Directions, Sharing, and Navigation Shortcut to Maps for Android

Google announced yesterday on its Official Google Mobile Blog the introduction of version 4.2 of Google Maps for Android. The update brings quite a few new features that Android-based smartphones owners will surely enjoy. For instance, users are now able to share their location, get biking directions, and even access turn-by-turn navigation from the home screen.

• Bicycle Directions — A feature that up until now has been available on the desktop version of Maps. The new “Biking Directions” feature on the Android version will easily let you find bicycle-optimized lanes and roads by just tapping the bike icon. The service will show dedicated bike-only trails in dark green, roads with bike lanes in light green, or roads that lack a dedicated lane but are still bike-friendly in dashed green. 

Nokia Offers Free Turn-by-Turn Navigation on Its Smartphones Worldwide

Following Google’s steps [or "directions"], Nokia is now offering free turn-by-turn navigation on more than 20 million of its compatible smartphones worldwide. A move that is definitely going to put some pressure and even hurt veteran GPS navigation companies such as TomTom and Garmin, the latter which recently launched a new $29.99 aerial imagery service.

The Nokia navigation service is powered by Ovi Maps. Unlike the Google Navigation App for Android, the Nokia navigation service offers turn-by-turn directions and detailed maps for over 70 countries worldwide and 46 different languages.

For more information or to download Nokia Ovi Maps Navigation for free, visit maps.nokia.com. Let us know what you think of it.

[ via Engadget ]

Rumor Alert: Free Google Navigation App in The Works?

According to Forbes, various navigation service companies suspect [and fear] that a free voice-guided, real-time, turn-by-turn navigation app by Google is in the works. These companies believe ad-support would make it possible for the application to be free. Google has a lot of experience in that department, since it already put ads on the iPhone map application, which it helped build.