Whether you’re just trying to find a way to that restaurant you keep hearing about, or you want to hunt down bank robbers at large for some (ill-advised!) vigilante justice, Google Maps has got you covered. At least, now that the FBI whipped up its own robber-tracking map, complete with all your local miscreants. More »
In a world post-GPS, we know many of you absolutely trust your guidance systems whether it be dedicated GPS devices or Google Maps, but if we learned anything from GPS misguidance reports in Australia, it’s that you shouldn’t trust your GPS completely, especially if you’re driving over 900 miles due to an error.
According to a story in El Mundo, a 67-year-old woman drove for over two days accumulating 900 miles driven in the wrong direction due to the combination of her GPS providing and error in its navigation and her own inability to realize she was really only 90 miles away from her destination.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Climate-Controlled Airline Seats On Their Way, Google Maps for Android adds biking navigation, 
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
It seems that Google has finally decided to allow its mapping service to work on Windows Phone. If you can recall last week, a few Windows Phone users reported that Google Maps wasn’t working on their Windows Phone device via Internet Explorer. Google responded saying that it never supported Google Maps on the browser because IE is not a WebKit browser. Albeit Google’s reason sounded fair enough, others speculate that it was more like a friendly fire.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nokia Sold 14 Million Smartphones In Q4 Last Year, Sony Xperia Z For Europe Could Arrive As Early As February 18,
After Google Maps disappeared from Windows Phone, Google announced it was working hard to solve the problem. Now Maps is back, so WinPho users can find their way with Google once more. More »
Yesterday, we reported that Google was redirecting Windows Phone users who tried to access maps.google.com to Search instead. Google has offered an explanation, stating that the redirect was in place because Internet Explorer mobile on Windows Phones provided a lackluster experience. In light of improvements with the browser, however, Google says that it is now in the process of taking down the redirect.
News of the Maps redirect surfaced shortly after the FTC’s long probe into the company’s alleged harmful practices came to an end with Google receiving a mere wrist slapping. Speculation abounded that this was a move on Google’s part to harm its competition, something fueled by the recent claim by Microsoft‘s Vice President David Heiner that Google is deliberately harming Windows Phone. Another issue fueling speculation was that users could still access Maps via maps.google.co.uk.
Google says that the redirect was only a product decision, not a malicious attempt on its end to backhand its competition. The company then went on to state that Google Maps was designed for WebKit and that because Internet Explorer mobile used a different rendering engine, it could not access Maps. Many pointed out that the explanation didn’t make complete sense, given that the desktop version of IE 10 can access Maps fine. Google then went on to clarify, offering this statement to The Next Web:
“We periodically test Google Maps compatibility with mobile browsers to make sure we deliver the best experience for those users. In our last test, IE mobile still did not offer a good maps experience with no ability to pan or zoom and perform basic map functionality. As a result, we chose to continue to redirect IE mobile users to Google.com where they could at least make local searches. The Firefox mobile browser did offer a somewhat better user experience and that’s why there is no redirect for those users.”
[via TNW]
Google working on removing Maps redirect for Windows Phone is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
After a bit of craziness yesterday when the mobile version of Google Maps stopped working on Windows Phone 8, Google has clarified/changed its story. According to reports by The Next Web, Google Maps mobile is coming back after all. More »
There was a report earlier today that a few Windows Phone users were banned by Google from using the web version of its Google Maps app. And from what we are hearing, the issue seems to be affecting a wide number Windows Phone devices. The report originated from one of the forums of fellow tech site The Verge, and Google caught wind of it immediately. Google was quick to respond, and issued a statement to saying, “The mobile web version of Google Maps is optimized for WebKit browsers such as Chrome and Safari. However, since Internet Explorer is not a WebKit browser, Windows Phone devices are not able to access Google Maps for the mobile web.” (more…)
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Google has been getting on a lot of people’s bad sides lately, and it doesn’t look like the company will be reversing that trend any time soon. Shortly after Microsoft posted a lengthy blog post bashing the company and claiming that it is deliberately harming Windows Phone, it has surfaced that Windows Phone users who attempt to access “maps.google.com” are redirected to Google’s search page instead.
It doesn’t matter if users have the handset in desktop mode, the same redirect is in place. For now at least, Windows Phone users can still access maps by going to “maps.google.co.uk”, however, presumabely due to the scrutiny that Google is under in Europe. The block is in effect for both Windows Phone 7.5 and 8.
This comes after claims by Microsoft’s Vice President Dave Heiner who, on Wednesday, stated in a blog post that “just last month we [at Microsoft] learned from YouTube that senior executives at Google told them not to enable a first-class YouTube experience on Windows Phones.” The piece goes on to state that Google is deliberately taking steps to harm its competition while expressing disapproval with the FTC’s lax response.
The FTC’s antitrust investigations was wrapped up after months with a promise on Google’s part to change some of its ways. As it seems, some of those changed ways include blocking its competitor’s customers from accessing its online mapping service. Do you have a Windows Phone? Let us know in the comments if you can access Maps.
[via WMPoweruser]
Google won’t let Windows Phone users access Maps is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Earlier today, Kia Motors and Google announced a partnership that would bring Google Maps to new car models. However, Hyundai has also made a deal with the search giant to bring Google Maps integration to their own vehicles as well, including some pretty awesome features, like Send To Car and voice search.
Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics platform currently offers a variety of features that make driving more convenient and information-packed, but the addition of the Google Maps and Places API should make the experience even more feature-filled. One of the coolest features is Send to Car, where users can look up a map on their computers, and then send it to their car’s navigation system.
Users can also voice search for a point of interest, as well as any other local search from the system. This will no doubt be a huge convenience for travelers, who now won’t have to fiddle with buttons on the navigation system, and simply just speak out directions or search for locations using just their voice.
Hyundai will demo the new technology and the Google Maps integration at CES next week. We’re guessing Hyundai will start implementing the new technology in 2014 models, but the company hasn’t yet announced what cars will receive the integration.
Hyundai to bring Google Maps integration to upcoming car models is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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