This week Google has released the app version of their device location service, this working with your machine’s opt-in ability to be tracked (by you). What users will be doing with the Android Device Manager app is locating their full collection of Android devices, should they ever need to, using their device’s GPS and Wi-fi […]
Qualcomm has launched Gimbal, its take on Apple’s iBeacon, a system of context-aware proximity beacons intended for shopping, social networking, mobile services, and more. Using small, battery powered Bluetooth dongles which create localized hotspots to interact with iOS and – eventually – Android devices, Qualcomm says Gimbal can push product information, sports team details, topical […]
It doesn’t matter if you’re a parent or a pet owner, one of the things that both groups want to do is keep track of their kids and their pet. A company called Wonder Technology Solutions has launched a new product called the Trax: GPS Tracker for Children & Pets. The smart device works in […]
Google Keep, the note-taking service launched to rival Evernote back in March, has been updated with notifications and Google Now integration, aiming to pull out relevant notes rather than wait for users to dig through them. The reminders system works both on time, as per a regular alarm, but also on location, meaning that the […]
If you’re carrying a smartphone or driving a modern car, you’re a potential probe, and Nokia would love to unlock your location for its HERE Maps services. The company already has its own gathering programs in place yet, for all its gigabytes of daily data, Nokia’s HERE 3D mapping car is only one part of […]
Google may give away software like Google Maps for iOS and Android free, but it has to make its money somewhere, and so the company announced today that the location apps will now support AdWords advertising. The updated app for iPhone, iPad, and Android now injects localized adverts at the bottom of the screen, based […]
Google has launched Google City Experts, a new program aiming to take on Yelp and other local review sites by promising perks and praise for those regularly writing up their experiences at restaurants, theaters, and other locations around select cities. The scheme, which ties together Google Maps and Google+, promises “Local Insiders” access to an […]
Google’s answer to competing smart mobile brands’ device location services has arisen in the form of “Android Device Manager.” This system will allow you to remotely locate you device – directly ping-able with Google Maps. It also lets you set the device’s Ringer off so you can find the machine easily or wipe the device […]
Google is experimenting with a “hyper-local news card” for Google Now that flags up location-specific information, such as nearby store promotions, social activities, or breaking news. The new card, currently in internal testing as Google works on the overall “Explore” experience, was confirmed by VP of search and assist at the company, Johanna Wright. Speaking
Google has revealed new Android and iPhone apps for Zagat, along with a redesigned website, hoping to address critics’ complaints that it has left the restaurant review service to stagnate since acquiring it in late 2011. The new apps now have restaurant news and videos integrated, and Google has dropped the registration and fees, making the ratings accessible to all.
Zagat now offers curated lists for locations, to help cut through the surfeit of choice and break down selections like the spiciest restaurants in New York City, the best San Francisco restaurants to try when everyone else is out of town, and the places to pick when you’re dining on an expense account in London’s Canary Wharf. They’re linked into Google’s existing search and map browsing, of course.
So far, nine cities – Austin, Boston, Chigaco, LA, NYC, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. in the US, and London in Europe – are supported with the new content. However, Google says it expects to expand to fifty locations worldwide.
Google “New Zagat” overview:
That will eventually include not only restaurants and nightlife, but hotels, recommended shops, and other points of interest. In the meantime, though, you may find that a city previously supported is now no longer included; Google says it will “soon make our existing ratings and reviews” available on the main site.
The new features and apps are a much-anticipated change to Zagat, which has been generally under-capitalized on since Google acquired it in October 2011. Then, the $151m deal was described as a way for the search company to bolster its review portfolio, though beyond Google+ Local integration there was little sign of product development.
Now, you’ll need a Google+ account to access the updated functionality, but there’s no subscription fee. Meanwhile, Google+ Local is being axed on August 7, meaning the dedicated Zagat app will be pushed to the fore.
Zagat rebooted as Google drops fees and revamps apps is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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