Google Maps Android app update gentrifies Places, Live Events forces Twitter out
Android’s Google Maps has been given an extra nudge, reaching the dizzying heights of five-point-twelve-point-oh. So what’s changed? Well, for starters, the ability to post to Twitter has been nixed from the Places pages, replaced by the natty ability to see what’s going on in places nearby. Giving it a try in London, it’s got a pretty broad remit, and covers live music, plays and even museum exhibitions. The feature is currently limited to the British capital, Paris, Zurich, New York and San Francisco, but then, they’re the centers of the universe, right? You can pick up the 6MB update — and some culture — at the source link below.
[Image from Losevsky Pavel, Lepas /Shutterstock]
Google Maps Android app update gentrifies Places, Live Events forces Twitter out originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google Maps 5.5 for Android cops more Latitude, tweaks Places and transit pages
Last month we asked for a “funny pages” display in Google’s next release of Maps that shows a thick dotted line depicting where we’ve traveled, but it appears the folks at El Goog had a different agenda in mind for version 5.5. This time around, we see a few redesigns as well as some streamlined Latitude features. First, check-ins and ratings have now been added to the Places page, giving you one extra point of access; you also now have the option of changing your home or work address within your Latitude Location History, in case you ever move or just like to roam from place to place. Last but not least, Google Maps 5.5 for Android also offers reorganized transit station pages that now list off upcoming departures, transit lines serving that particular station, and links to other stops nearby. Though not a substantial upgrade from previous versions, it’s still impressive that Google pushed it out less than a month after 5.4. The new update is available as a free download in the Android Market.
Google Maps 5.5 for Android cops more Latitude, tweaks Places and transit pages originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 May 2011 16:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Google Earth gets optimized for Honeycomb tablets, interior photos hit Google Maps next week
Google Earth gets optimized for Honeycomb tablets, interior photos hit Google Maps next week originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 18:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google Latitude, now with 100 percent more check-in deals
A couple of months back, Google brought check-ins to Latitude, its location-sharing service, through Google Maps 5.1 for Android. Naturally, iPhone users only recently received the same functionality, but some would argue they should be grateful to be included at all. (Kidding. Sort of.) Now, Latitude’s inching closer to direct competition with Foursquare and Groupon by offering check-in deals at retailers like RadioShack, American Eagle, Quiznos, and Finish Line. Google is currently namechecking over a dozen nationwide partners, and that list will surely grow as the bandwagon approaches Mach 5. Curious as to how this all works? Check in at RadioShack, for example, and you might receive ten percent off an in-store purchase. Offers are tied to check-in frequency, building on Latitude’s three-tiered status system; higher status means better deals. If you’d rather peek nearby offers before you decide to leave the house, head to Google’s official check in page in the source link below.
Google Latitude, now with 100 percent more check-in deals originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google brings check-ins to Google Latitude on iPhone, 30 languages to Places
Unsurprisingly, El Goog gifted the Android versions of Latitude and Places with these updates a few weeks back, but now the iOS loyalists are being brought into a similar circle. The search giant has just added check-ins to the iOS version of Google Latitude, with any iDevice using iOS 4 or higher being deemed compatible. In related news, the Applefied build of Google Places is now available in 30 languages, and there’s an added ‘Saved Places’ feature for keeping tabs on your favorite spots. You can check your phone for updates, or if you haven’t dug in yet, have a poke around in the App Store.
Google brings check-ins to Google Latitude on iPhone, 30 languages to Places originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Meet Google Hotpots — (Local hot spots, only missing a letter)
Tucked into Google’s official blog post on the most recent update to Google Maps is a little bit about Google Hotpots. No, we didn’t misspell that. Head to google.com/hotpot and you can rate local places — restaurants and the like — from the safety and comfort of your Web browser. And they go with your on your smarpthone, too.
There’s a five-star rating system and smiley-face/frowny-face options on food, service, atmosphere and value. Next step: Check-ins. (By the way: If you’re even in Pensacola, don’t miss McGuire’s.) [Google Lat-Long blog]
Meet Google Hotpots — (Local hot spots, only missing a letter) posted originally by Android Central
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Facebook for Android update in the Market now, get your Places on!
The update to the Android Facebook app that CEO Mark Zuckerberg detailed this morning is now live in the Android Market. New features include:
- Groups – Share posts with small groups of friends.
- Places – Share where you are with your friends, see where friends are, and discover places nearby.
- Improved notifications – view comments and updates within the app.
Update in the Android Market, or hit up the download links after the break.
Posted originally at Android Central
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How to keep your friends from checking you in on Facebook
Facebook tonight announced its "Places" feature, wherein it allows you to directly "check in" at any location, without the use of a third-party app to do so. And that’s fine. And it also lets your friends check in for you, which is not so fine. The good news is that the first time someone does this, you’ll get an e-mail asking if it’s OK and if you want to allow people to check you in in the future. It’s currently available in the updated iOS app, say our pals at TiPb, and at touch.facebook.com if your browser supports HTML5 and geolocation — two things Google’s made a big deal of in its mobile browser technology – and it’s safe to assume it’ll be coming to the Android Facebook app at some point.
Me? I’m not taking any chances. (And, quite frankly, if you’re in the same place as me, you’re incriminating yourself just as much.) You can disable that "feature" now by going into your privacy settings. Hit the "customize" link, scroll down to the "things other share" section, and disable the "Friends can check me into places" feature."
Last time my friends checked me into somewhere, I woke up in a padded room with a single light bulb and a bunch of ink blots. Never again, folks. Never again. [Facebook]
Posted originally at Android Central
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Google Maps makes finding ‘places’ even easier
Google Maps just served notice to every other location-based business app out there with the introduction of "Places." A tie-in with Google Maps, it makes it super easy to find any kind of, well, place. It’s location-based, so it knows where you are, it’s fast, and pretty soon it’s going to know what you want before you do. Here’s Places in Google’s own words:
Search for several convenient types of places with the default categories or add your own for your most frequent searches. You can also use the search bar at the top to type or speak any query. I tend to use the “coffee” search a lot, but I’ve also looked for “gas stations” on the road, “ice cream shops” in my neighborhood, and even specific places like “Chelsea Market” on a recent trip to New York.
Also added are more details of the individual businesses, such as parking, prices and menu items. And it’s only a matter of time before Google adds some sort of check-in service, right? [Google Mobile Blog]
Posted originally at Android Central
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