Dec 02
Not super into cartography? Add some lasers into the mix and see what happens. This video features a laser digging into some metal to create a map of Atlanta, Georgia and it’s mesmerizing to watch it come into being before your eyes. More »
Nov 29
Google Maps comes to Nunavut, lets you Street View your way to an Arctic Char fishing hole
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Think it’s cold in Chicago? You’ve probably never wintered in Nunavut, Canada’s northernmost territory. This past August (long before the temperature in Cambridge Bay hit negative double digits), Google explorers ventured above the Arctic circle to bring the mapping giant’s Street View tech to the village of 1,500, complete with a walk down Omingmak Street and a peek around the Youth Recreation Complex (which, fittingly, houses an ice hockey rink). You can even stroll past Our Lady of the Arctic Catholic Church or toss a few darts at Ikaluktutiak Elks Lodge No. 593. So, what are you still doing hanging around here? Hit up our source link below to grab your lil’ slice of ice before the thermometer hits 0 this spring.
Filed under: GPS, Internet, Google
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Google Maps, Google Blog
Nov 28
If Amazon has its way, Google Maps on your Kindle Fire won’t be the default option for much longer. Back in September, the online retail giant introduced a beta version of its Amazon Maps API to see if it could go the Apple route by fleshing out its own maps platform. Now it’s ready to take the API out of beta after several months of testing and a lot of developer interest — Hipmunk, Evernote, Trulia and Zillow have already integrated it into their Kindle Fire apps. The API currently features interactive maps and customized overlays, and is now a part of the Amazon Mobile App SDK. It’s early days yet for the mapping service and we’re sure it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the one from Mountain View, but this does mean a further step toward differentiation from the Big Goog. Let’s just hope this turns out better than iOS6 Maps and no one comes to regret it.
Filed under: Amazon
Nov 28
The Best Navigation App for iOS
Posted in: Today's Chili
When your iPhone comes preloaded with multiple types of maps, you might wonder why you’d ever need a dedicated navigation app. Yet there they are in the App Store, at astronomical prices, like a digital clone of the GPS unit your dad had suction-cupped to his windshield. More »
Nov 27
This week Bloomberg is reporting that they’ve got a source assuring them that Apple’s own Richard Williamson was pushed out this week amid a Maps team shakeup. This change of the guard was spoken of by an anonymous source close to the dealings who said Senior Vice President Eddy Cue was responsible for the push. While we’ve not yet been able to confirm 100% that this move was made in Apple – or if will ever be made official if it is true, we can take this from the situation one way or the other: readers want to know what Apple is doing with their in-house Maps app.
Also reported today was a note that Cue was continuing to work with the maps company that’s responsible for much of the inner workings of the GPS information in Apple’s current Maps app, TomTom NV. Cue previously took over the now-defunct MobileMe program at Apple and is also reportedly working with Apple to improve the Apple TV ecosystem.
Recently there’s also been word that the Apple Maps system as well as the iPhone superstar Siri will be moving forward to the OS X desktop environment. This move would have a MapKit framework pushed to developers so that they might embed the workings of it into their everyday mapping apps from top to bottom. Siri similarly would be expanded to all manner of cross-platform apps and apps that would be greatly improved by talk.
Meanwhile the iPhone 5 has been reported to be the hottest selling phone in the USA over a period of 12 weeks leading up to October 28th, this according to analyst group Kantar. Chevrolet continues to show their support for Apple with next-generation MyLink with Siri in their next-generation vehicles, and the iPhone 5 is replacing BlackBerry left and right.
Apple’s Richard Williamson reportedly ousted in Maps switch-up is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Nov 27
This is so totally epic. Go to QSView.com and start typing in an address, place name, or location. The site will automagically go to the address it predicts you’re thinking of, complete with Google Street View images. Amazing, right? More »
Nov 27
Apple’s Eddy Cue reportedly fires Richard Williamson, who oversaw the iOS 6 Maps team
Posted in: Today's Chili 
We aren’t apt to ever hear this in official fashion, but Bloomberg has it on good authority that Apple’s newly-promoted Eddy Cue has just fired the guy who was unfortunately leading the Maps team at the time of iOS 6’s release. If you’ll recall, Cue was placed in charge of both Siri and Maps during an executive shakeup back in October, and it seems that he’s clearing the runway in order to make things better in the months to come. The report also mentions that Cue is “seeking advice from outside mapping-technology experts and prodding digital maps provider TomTom to fix landmark and navigation data it shares with Apple.” It’s assumed that the goal here is to install a new leadership team within the Maps group, but it’s unclear if it’ll happen prior to Google’s own standalone iOS app becoming available. For those curious as to why such a drastic move had to be made, head over to Apple’s Cupertino campus and use iOS 6’s Maps app to search for “convenience store.” Evidently, the closest one is some 1.5 hours north in San Francisco. True story.
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: Bloomberg
Nov 27
Were Yakov Smirnoff here, he’d probably try and crowbar in an “In Soviet Russia, cities Google you!” gag, but we’re above such mischief. As such, we’ll just let you know that Mountain View’s Russian branch has added detailed mapping information for 45 new cities, including Vladivostok, Donetsk and Sochi, the home of the 2014 Winter Games. We’d suggest downloading the mapping data for the whole bunch while over your 3G connection and see if you don’t win a prize, after all, it’s happened before.
Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Internet, Google
Source: Google Russia (Translated)
Nov 23
Nokia Transport just received an update, adding segmented route maps and more specific directions for those crucial moments when you need to know precisely what to do. This comes in addition to a redesign that updated the interface for a more intuitive, easy-to-take-in experience. The update is for Windows Phone 7 and 8, as well as Symbian.
Windows Phone 7 and 8 users get the most feature changes, gaining a segmented map that offers a more detailed image of a route. There’s a plan-ahead feature, allowing users to view routes and select route plans by entering a future travel date and destination. Users can toggle distances between miles and kilometers, depending on preference, and can view departure times by seeing how much time is left or the exact time something is scheduled to leave. In addition, users can easily pull up route history, or delete history if you need to keep your journeys private.
Symbian users get a different kind of update, with an overall improved user experience and search function. In addition, there’s the new ability to get over-the-air coverage updates, removing the need to download a fresh app whenever an area extension is pushed out. The new app is in beta, and is available via Nokia Beta Labs.
Nokia Transport presently covers over 550 cities and 53 countries, and, according to the company, “is constantly growing.” You can find out if the mapping/navigation platform covers an area you’re interested in by visiting Nokia’s comprehensive coverage page on its website. The company is actively soliciting feedback on the updates, so if you have an opinion to voice, head over to the company’s @heremaps Twitter feed.
[via Nokia]
Nokia Transport updated for Windows Phone 7 and 8 and Symbian is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Nov 22
How Did This Tiny South Pacific Island Disappear? (Hint: It Never Really Existed)
Posted in: Today's Chili
It shows up on Google Maps, coastal databases, and marine charts, but when scientists from the University of Sydney went to visit Sandy Island, it was no where to be found. Did the island, supposedly located between Australia and New Caledonia, suddenly disappear like a confusing LOST plot twist? More »
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