At today's Google I/O keynote, Google has demonstrated a revamped Maps app for iOS and Android. In the coming months, Android users will see an upgrade, bringing the Maps for iOS user interface and features. Additionally, a long-awaited iPad version of the utility will be made available for the iPad.
Google has updated its Google Play app store, just before the first day of the company's developer event, Google I/O. A new sign-up page for Google Maps also briefly appeared online before an expected reveal at the conference, which gave more information about the search giant's plans for its navigational product.
Google may be updating the Maps user interface in the future. Screenshots of the alleged interface upgrade shows a page where the sidebar, usually used for location searches and more information on routes and places, has been removed in favor of Google Now-inspired index cards on top of a full-screen map.
Google has added Street View coverage to areas of Hungary and Lesotho. Users of Google Maps can now explore the countries in Europe and Africa, making the total count of countries covered by Street View now 50. A Google blog claimed it as the largest single update of Street View imagery, which includes updates for nearly 350,000 miles of roads across 14 countries.
Google would like Apple to return to Google Maps in a future version of iOS, chairman Eric Schmidt said today at an AllThingsD conference. "We would still really like them to use our maps," said Schmidt. "It would be easy for them to take the app in the store and put it as their basic one." The executive declined to comment on why Apple went with a proprietary system instead of continuing to use Google code and data, or whether the two companies are in talks.
Google has added the United Kingdom to the list of countries able to contribute improvements to its mapping data. Enabled in North Korea earlier this year, Google Map Maker allows users to submit adjustments to the main Google Maps database, including new roads not picked up from Street View cars, changes in coastlines, and areas not usually covered by Google's normal cartography efforts. The changes are then periodically reviewed and rolled into Google Maps itself.
Google has updated Street View to include a number of locations found on mountains. Areas of Aconcagua in South America, Mount Elbrus in Europe, Kilimanjaro in Africa, and Everest Base Camp in Asia have been included, allowing visitors of the Google Maps service to explore four of the peaks from the group known as the Seven Summits.
A German court has revealed it is inclined to ban Google Maps in the country, as part of ongoing patent litigation. Judge Dr Matthias Zigann of the Munich I Regional Court told Google and Motorola Mobility that it is currently looking at holding them liable for infringing a Microsoft patent, as the patent covers a “big idea” and deserves a "construction commensurate with said big idea."
Google has pushed out an update to the iOS version of Google Maps, v1.1. The update mainly adds hooks for Google Contacts; by signing in with a Google account, a person can now see a contact's address show up after typing in their name. Also new, though, is the ability to search for local points of interest according to category, such as bars or gas stations.
On Thursday, Google revealed version 1.1 of its Google Maps SDK for iOS, offering hooks for developers to tap into new features they can offer in their own apps by connecting any mapping functions to Google Maps. In addition to the revised SDK, Google also changed the requirements -- now letting any developer use the kit immediately rather than having to register first. The new SDK brings ground overlays, viewing gesture controls and polylines for complex pathing.
Google is looking towards accelerating its crowdsourcing cartography efforts by offering prizes to participants in India. The Mapathon 2013 event from February 12th to March 25th will provide gifts, including devices and Google-branded merchandise, to the top 1000 users of Google Map Maker in India.
Google has updated its Maps to include detailed road and landscape information for North Korea, something not offered before by the service. Previously showing just the coastline, rivers and the location of Pyongyang, the new additions are the culmination of years of work by residents of the secretive country using Google Map Maker.
Kia Motors and Google announced today a partnership that will see the search giant providing content and search-based APIs for the next generation of Kia's UVO eServices telematics system. The Kia 2014 Kia Sorento CUV, available in the first quarter of 2013, will be the first to implement these new APIs, which will allow for the integration of Google Maps and Google Places into the driving experience.
[Update: Chitika study contradicts MoPub, says increase due to China debut] Google Maps recent arrival on iOS 6 may have led to a significant number of users upgrading to that version of iOS. This according to ad network MoPub, which saw iOS 6 adoption jump 29 percent in the five days following the release of the new version of Google Maps. A later study by rival Chitika reported that in fact, US increase in iOS 6 adoption rates were basically flat, and credited the bump to the iPhone 5's debut in China, where it sold more than two million units in its first weekend.
Google Maps for iOS -- released last week -- managed to exceed over 10 million downloads in less than 48 hours, says Google Jeff Huber. The app is known to have become popular extremely quickly, reaching the top free spot on the App Store in just seven hours. Until now, though, Google had not provided any detailed data.
[Updated to reflect actual release information] Just after 11PM Eastern Standard Time, Google unexpectedly released an Apple-approved iOS implementation of Google Maps to the App Store. The new app reinstates Google Maps to the latest version of Apple's mobile OS, purged in the migration to iOS 6. Google's new Maps application (free) implements Google local search, voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation, public transit directions, and Street View. Though many will view the release as a concession by Apple, it may in fact be a small victory for the company.
A second area in Australia is having difficulties with Internet map services, this time courtesy of Google Maps. Police in Colac, west of Melbourne, say problems with Google Maps are endangering motorists along the Great Ocean Road and in the southern Otways. Sergeant Nick Buenen says trucks, buses, and tourist vehicles are being directed down Wild Dog Road, which is a one-way dirt road, not built for heavy traffic. Local department of public works VicRoads has denied responsibility, and Google has not commented on the matter, nor fixed the issue.
Samsung has taken aim at Apple's most recent maps app mishap, poking fun at the recent bulletin issued by police in Victoria, Australia, warning people away from relying solely on the Maps app in iOS 6 when navigating. A new ad installation on display on George Street in Sydney has a lost-looking four-wheel drive and camping equipment parked on a sidewalk, as well as a sign saying "Oops." The ad then goes on to tout the mapping abilities of Samsung's flagship Galaxy S III smartphone, which relies on Google Maps.
Google today announced new additions to the API for Google Maps, bringing new information layers, as well as improved integration with Google Play services. The new Maps API is compatible with devices running Android 2.2 and up, and it brings better user interface designs for Android tablets, shoring up Google's offerings in a device sector in which it is trying to grow its market share.
The Google Maps team has been hard at work, earlier this week announcing the release of a beta app that will allow navigation in Mexico. The app is available to download on Google Play (free) and supports devices running on Android 2.2 and newer. Like for other regions, the app will provide directions, maps, local information, and traffic updates in real time.
Google has made a pair of significant tweaks to its online services. Gmail, notably, now allows users to attach up to 10GB to an email via Google Drive, versus the 25MB the service normally allows. This has some limitations however; people must, for instance, opt into the new Compose function, and recipients with dedicated email clients won't automatically have access to a locally-stored file. In effect Gmail is simply generating links to Google Drive, though this does ensure that recipients have the latest version of an item.
Sources inside Google say they are "not optimistic" about the prospect of a Google Maps app being approved by Apple, The Guardian reports. An app is said to be in development and on track for completion by the end of the year, but the sources claim that plans will only move ahead in "the unlikely event" that Apple gives a Google Maps app a greenlight.
Google has launched its biggest ever update for Street View for Google Maps. The new update doubles the number of special collections and gives a refreshed, updated view of over 250,000 miles of road around the globe. Street View coverage has also been extended in countries including, the U.S, Macau, Singapore, Sweden,T hailand, Taiwan, Italy, Great Britain, Denmark, Norway and Canada.
Google Street View for Google Maps web app is now live, following reports that the company was going to bring it to its web app. It added the functionality following the debut of Apple’s controversial new Maps app for iOS 6 with many users either lamenting the loss of Street View, or looking for a more reliable mapping solution. Users trying to use the Google Maps web app in the same way as they would a native solution will be prompted to add it to their iOS device homescreen when navigating to the site for the first time.
On Thursday, Google will announce the addition of Street View to the iOS web app for Google Maps, says the Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg. The claim is included as a part of Mossberg's comparison of Apple's Maps app versus the one Google builds into Android. Regarding the Google Maps web app, Mossberg says that he tested the new technology using sample links sent by Google, and that they "worked well," allowing him to pan around environments with his finger.
Google has updated both Google Maps and Google Earth to add new high-resolution aerial and satellite imagery. The additions were announced today in a post on the Google Lat Long blog. In addition to more aerial and satellite imagery, Google has added 45º imagery for 51 cities in the United States and around the world. The imagery update has not yet been added to Google's Android Maps app.
An advertisement for a Motorola smartphone showing Google Maps as better than Apple's Maps app came under criticism itself today. The ad, promoting the Droid Razr M compared both versions of the Maps app, with the Razr M appearing to have found a fictitious location correctly while the iPhone 5 seemed to complete the same task with the wrong result -- with the only problem being that the address doesn't actually exist.
While users wait for cartological improvements in Apple's new Maps service, they can still use all -- and then some -- of the functionality of the "old" Google-based Maps app by simply employing an iOS technology: visit the Google Maps website and add it as a "web app" to the home screen. David Pogue, a columnist for The New York Times, reports that Google plans to add Street View technology in two weeks' time. Apple has issued a statement noting that its own Maps is a first release and that it will improve, but is also scrambling to correct outdated maps and other errors.
The split between Apple and Google over iOS 6's Maps app can be traced back to a dispute over voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation, say sources for AllThingsD. While turn-by-turn has long been core to the Android version of Maps, the feature was missing from iOS until this month, in part because it wasn't included with the deal that originally brought Google Maps to the iPhone. Apple is said to have wanted the feature very badly, and pushed Google to supply data.
Apple abandoned its contract for Google Maps with over one year left when it decided to switch to new mapping technology for iOS 6, according to sources for The Verge. The decision is specifically said to have been made shortly before June's Worldwide Developers Conference. Because of this Google is said to have been unprepared, and despite recent suggestions to the contrary, it may not have a standalone iOS app ready for several months. The sources' claims elaborate on recent statements by Google chairman Eric Schmidt.
Google Chairman Eric Schmidt has told a small group of reporters in Japan that Google has not yet submitted a stand-alone version of its Google Maps app for iOS, reports Reuters. Schmidt was speaking at the Japanese launch event for the Nexus 7 tablet, where Google also took the opportunity to show off a flashy new gyroscope-enabled map feature for its Google Maps app for Android, rubbing further salt into the wounds of iPhone fans. On the matter of an eagerly awaited revamped Google Maps app for iOS, Schmidt told the reporters “We have not done anything yet.”
Apple is actively recruiting people with Google Maps experience to work on the iOS 6 Maps app, a source says. The person reportedly has connections with both teams, and goes into detail, noting that Apple is specifically targeting people who are/were working on contract with Google, rather than permanently. "Many" of the prospective hires are said to be eager to join Apple, since Google Maps generally only requires minor updates while iOS 6 Maps is a new product.
After months of persistent rumors and Apple's high-profile unveiling, the iPhone 5 has finally arrived on the market. The sixth-generation device is billed as "the biggest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone," and its transition to a four-inch display arguably represents the most significant change to the overall design. In our full review, we attempt to determine if the new iPhone deserves to be crowned king of all smartphones.
Apple's decision to go with its own mapping solution for iOS 6 has turned into something of an embarrassment, even as the company's iPhone 5 racks up phenomenal sales. What began with some scattered reports of shortcomings in iOS 6's maps has turned into a veritable deluge of criticism and complaints, with major media outlets, some vocal users, and others calling the Cupertino company to task for its flawed and at times incomplete maps. Meanwhile sources tell Electronista that Google's iOS 6 Maps app has already been submitted, and that its approval is entirely in Apple's hands.
The Google Maps for Andriod app got an update today, bringing a number of functionality changes as well as added search capabilities. The update was announced in a post on the Google Lat Long blog today. The new features will allow Android users to more easily use Google Maps while moving between devices.
The Google Maps for Android app will receive an update giving it access to schedule information for more than one million public transit stops worldwide. The update was announced in a post on Googles Lat Long Blog. The update to version 6.10 is available in the Google Play Store for free, though compatibility may depend on device type.
Google has now brought the live traffic feature to its maps of a number of new cities. A post on the Lat Long Blog today revealed that the traffic feature is coming to more than 130 smaller cities in the US and to several Latin American capitals. The feature gives users live updates on traffic congestion along roads, as well as estimated transit times.
Google has added a tour of the Kennedy Space Center to its Google Maps Street View Gallery collection. NASA worked with Google to show off the US launch site as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, for which the search giant has created its largest special collection of Street View imagery to date, creating approximately 6,000 panoramic views of the complex.
Google has put out some enhancements to its Google Maps API. Two years ago, it launched Styled Maps, which allowed developers to change the visuals of an API-called map to match the site or app it is being used on. The new updates, according to the Google Geo Developers blog, allow for further customization of maps, and also introduces an updated Styled Maps Wizard to show off its new capabilities.
Apple’s rumored new Maps app that could be set to displace Google’s default Maps app on iOS 6 is not expected to materially affect Google, according to Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster. According to Munster, even if Apple replaces Google Maps as the default mapping application on iOS devices, Google will simply add it to the App Store for users to download separately. According to Munster’s calculations, iOS users already contribute about 2 percent of Google’s total revenue and the looming maps battle won’t change this.
Google today revealed an array of new features and improvements for Google Maps. In addition to the recently announced offline maps for Android, an update on the Official Google Blog brings news that Google Maps' Street View will add views of areas inaccessible from the road. Google is also expanding its user-editable Map Maker feature and rolling out 3D models of major metropolitan areas in Google Earth.
The Wall Street Journal is backing up reports of Apple transitioning to a Google-less iOS Maps app. The paper cites "current and former Apple employees," who say that the app will arrive later this year. One source says that Apple could preview the new app at WWDC, which begins June 11th. There the company is widely expected to show off iOS 6, with which any version of Maps would have to be deeply integrated.
Google is sending out invites to a San Francisco event scheduled for next week focused on Google Maps. The invite, which shows Google's signature map pinpoint looming over the San Francisco coastline, promises invitees that the event will reveal "the next dimension of Google Maps" and suggests the possibility of new features.
iOS 6 will make a long-rumored move and drop Google Maps entirely in a new Maps app, claim sources for 9to5Mac. While the app itself has long been Apple's own creation, it has always relied on data and technology from Google. The updated Maps is said to be fairly similar to the one based on Google, but "cleaner, faster, and [a] more reliable experience." In place of the old backend, Apple will rely on technology acquired in buyouts of Placebase, C3 Technologies, and Poly9.
Google Maps for Android (Free, Google Play) has been updated today with a few small changes, repositioning the existing scale bar and zoom buttons while adding elevation data to the Labs features.
Google took advantage of its 3D acceleration tricks Wednesday to introduce Google Maps 3D photo tours. The technique uses the optional MapsGL mode, which uses WebGL to get a speed boost, to steer viewers through a 3D photo scene. The technology stitches together publicly available Panoramio and Picasa photos, using Google's own 3D depth calculations and transitions to get the added dimensions.
Google has released a new tool to help vendors who have uploaded floor plans of their indoor venues to Google Maps show customers their current location on their smartphones with greater accuracy. The Google Maps Floor Plan Marker app collects positioning data from multiple sources (free, (Google Play). Visitors to the venue who are running Google's My Location feature on their Android phone are then provided with a "blue dot" icon to show their precise position, even indicating which floor they are on. The marker app is currently available in English in the US.
Google Maps on Monday answered a frequent call to widen the coverage of its typical traffic layer. Previously limited to highways and other main routes, it now includes "arterial" roads, or larger main streets often connected to or otherwise near the highways. Google Maps Android users can still voluntarily contribute periodic location updates to help improve the data themselves.
A controversial iOS app has promptly been pulled and blocked over major legal and privacy concerns. Girls Around Me (App Store, no longer active) had advertised itself as using Foursquare check-ins and a Facebook sign-in to find nearby women who had recently checked in with publicly visible Facebook profiles. The app not only showed how to find them on Google Maps but encouraged the presumably male users to message and otherwise get in touch with these girls without their knowledge or consent.
While Electronista and MacNN intend to keep April Fools' reporting to a minimum, Google has offered a rarity by making one of the first gags for the year and also making it truly interactive and accessible. A one-off Quest mode in Google Maps turns the navigation tool into its "NES" version. Most features continue to work, but it now has a Legend of Zelda-style overhead map and renders Street View in an 8-bit color palette like the now 27-year-old Nintendo console.
