Hasta La Gadget!

Google has hurriedly updated Google Maps for Android after vocal user complaints about how offline mapping support was buried in the newest version, as well as giving confused Latitude users help on figuring out where the location-sharing service has gone. The new Google Maps, v7 for Android, arrived yesterday complete with more in-depth traffic information and a dedicated tablet UI. However, Google also changed how offline mapping was handled, with a new and cryptic way to activate it. Now, in response to a day’s feedback, Google has changed it again.

Originally, Google Maps could cache a section of the map through an option in the settings, meaning that users could still look through that portion even if they lacked a data connection. Google Maps v7 for Android still supported that functionality, but it was newly triggered by typing “OK Maps” into the search bar.

“We know some of you are missing an easy way to access maps offline” Google said today of the changes. “That’s why our engineering team has been working around the clock to add a “Make this map area available offline” card below the search box for easier access.”

As in the image above, the new method puts an easily accessed option for caching mapping data underneath the search box. It’s still possible to cache using the “OK Maps” command as well, however.

Meanwhile, Latitude – which will be axed on August 9, Google has said – is getting some extra clarity, with a new “Where’s Latitude?” link added to the app. That will lead to a help page, and guide users to alternative services, such as the check-in support in the Google+ app.

Google says the new additions will begin rolling out today, so you might not see the new offline mapping button immediately.

Google Maps offline mapping gets dedicated button after outcry is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Just in time for the summer concert season, Spotify’s launching a StubHub app to give fans of sweaty, cramped music venues (indoor and out) quick ticket access. Starting today, Spotify users in the US and UK will be able to access the free app using App Finder to search upcoming concert schedules by location and purchase tickets through provided StubHub links. It’s pretty basic stuff, but if you’re the impulsive type, this mini-app could be the best thing for your social life and the worst for your wallet.

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Apple’s App Store is infested with “Zombie apps” that are rarely downloaded and do little more than bolster the overall number of titles, researchers claim, with an estimated two-thirds of the total available being barely used. The download store celebrated its fifth birthday this week with a selection of high-profile freebies, but according to Adeven figures seen by the BBC, many of the titles in the store get little to no attention from users themselves. Updated after the cut.

Adeven, a mobile marketing tracking service, describes those unseen apps as zombies: software that never appears in Apple’s master list of most-downloaded apps across the world, which encompasses more than 300,000 titles. “579,001 apps out of a total of 888,856 apps in our database are zombies” the company claims.

However, Apple itself has been buoyant about how much attention even less popular apps get in the store. Speaking at WWDC, CEO Tim Cook claimed that 90-percent of all apps are downloaded at least once each month; total downloads have exceeded 50bn.

The tracking analysis firm says that the discrepancy in claims is down to what information Apple actually makes public. “We can’t say exactly how many downloads they have – Apple doesn’t reveal this – but it is very small” Adeven argues.

It’s not the first time the App Store has been criticized for focusing on total numbers and ignoring quality in the process. Back in 2009, another research company criticized Apple for not dealing with so-called “bulk apps”, where a basic template is injected with different sets of data, such as for travel guides and local search apps.

Still, you could argue that the real result is how much money the App Store makes. According to Apple’s latest figures, it has paid out $10bn to developers in the past five years, half of that in the last twelve months alone.

Update: PC Mag throws some cold water on the study, pointing out that Adeven has a vested interest in promoting the idea of “invisible” apps since it offers a service to promote titles for developers, and arguing that the so-called “zombies” are in reality the long-tail of software. That could mean bad or unloved apps, or it could mean particularly niche titles that are only really intended to appeal to a small subset of users.

App Store Zombie-infested claims research firm [Updated] is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

On May 7, we saw a leak showing the Google Maps redesign, with Google showing it off officially a little over a week later. That update has since been rolled out for desktop to those in the beta, and is now being pushed to those running Android 4.0.3 and higher. Thus far the Google Play store has been updated with the new change log, but it might be a bit before you see the actual update come your way.

Says the change log on Google Play, the update is “gradually” rolling out to Android 4.0.3 and higher over the next few weeks, while those who are running older versions of the mobile operating system will need to head over to Google to find out what versions their device will run. Google points users to a link on Google Play, but it currently leads to a 404.

The updated Maps features “enhanced navigation,” which encompasses dynamic rerouting, incident reports on situations in your area, and live updates on traffic. In addition, the exploration options have also been updated with this app, including a changed up means of browsing for locations, as well as discovery new places in various categories.

The new experiences feature is specific to tablets, allowing users to explore inside certain buildings. There’s also the 360-degree Street View, the ability to garner tailored recommendations, pull up past searches, save your favorite locations, and more. Google advises that not all features are available in certain countries, however.

According to those who have already nabbed the new version, there have been some changes that not everyone is happy with, among them being the elimination of offline maps and Latitude. Some are reporting that they can’t access their saved notes and maps after updating, as well, while others are having trouble locating offline options.

SOURCE: Google Maps

Google Maps update starts rolling out for Android 4.0.3 and higher is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Instagram is wildly popular, but has notably lacked a few features that users have been asking for. Today, the company updated its app for iOS, adding a couple of those much-requested features, perhaps the best being the addition of landscape mode, allowing users to flip their smartphone in a horizontal orientation when desired.

The new support for landscape mode works for both recording videos and taking images, being more relevant to the former, the launch of which had produced a fair bit of criticism and issues related to the lack of horizontal orientation support. As The Next Web notes, this feature had originally been intended to launch with it, but there was a problem with the recorded videos not being flipped along with the changed orientation.

Beyond that, the second biggest change with this update is the Cinema stabilization feature being added for the front-facing camera, which we noted above. This feature aims to reduce the shakiness and wobbles that are so common with videos taken with a smartphone. As such, those who record videos of themselves the camera on the front of their phone will benefit from the feature.

The video feature for Instagram was announced on June 20 at a Facebook product event, among some other features. The feature allows for 15-seconds of video recording, and offers 15 filters that can be applied in the same way effects are added to photographs. The change log doesn’t specify what the other changes are, aside from “many other improvements and bug fixes.” As such, iOS users might notice some other niggling issues they’ve had being corrected after updating.

The app is available now for iOS users over at the App Store, weighing in at 14.5MB in size and being pegged at version 4.0.2. Users will need to be running iOS 5.0 or later. There’s no word on when Android users will also see the feature roll out, but hopefully we won’t have to wait too long. Stay tuned, and we’ll keep you updated!

SOURCE: The Next Web

Instagram for iOS app updated with landscape mode and more is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.