Hasta La Gadget!

Everyone was excited when Facebook introduced its own vanity URL option. Instead of seeing a long URL like “faceook.com/profile.php?id=145637253,” you could change it to “facebook.com/bob.smith,” for example. Twitter also lets you choose your URL, assuming no one else already has it. However, the new contender in the social networking game, Google+, does not let you choose a […]

Earlier this afternoon, Google pushed Maps v5.7 to the Android Market. The app’s Transit Navigation (beta) feature brings GPS stop-by-stop nav to public transit systems in over 400 cities around the world, helping you find the subway or bus stop, then letting you know exactly when to get off as you ride. There are obvious benefits to using this in a foreign city, where alert-enabled (English!) directions could potentially save you hours of frustration. We left our office to brave the daylight in NYC, walking a block to the nearest subway station en-route to Times Square. The app worked well up until we reached the bottom of the first staircase, where it lost cell reception and its GPS fix. Jump past the break to see how it fared above ground, and check out our hands-on video for a Google Maps-led adventure through New York City’s public transit system.

Continue reading Google Maps Transit Navigation beta for Android hands-on (video)

Google Maps Transit Navigation beta for Android hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Good news, jetsetters — those of you relying on Google Maps Navigation will now find it even harder to wean yourself off of it. Not like we’d ever recommend that, though. The navigators in Mountain View have just updated Google Maps for Android to v5.7, and while it’s just a point update in terms of numbers, there’s a healthy chunk of new material here. For starters, there’s the addition of added Transit Navigation (Beta), which brings GPS turn-by-turn (or in this case, stop-by-stop) navigation to public transit systems in 400+ cities worldwide. It’ll tap into your GPS module to determine your current location, and then alert you when it’s time to get off or make a transfer — downright invaluable in a place where you don’t speak the language. After starting your trip with Transit Navigation, you can switch to another app or holster your mobile altogether, as an alert will still pop up in the notification bar (as well as a vibration) when the next stop is coming up. Google doesn’t say specifically, but it sure sounds as if it caches things before you head into the tunnel, nixing that whole “underground service” problem.

Moving right along, users will also find improved directional services for driving / walking as well as a streamlined direction acquisition system within a Place page. There’s also a couple of new improvements in search suggestions, with the addition of category icons and auto-insertion of places you got directions to into Places. Finally, the addition of the Photo viewer for Place pages should help you better visualize what you’re about to walk (or drive, we guess) into. Head on down to the Market link below if you’re down to try something fresh, but make sure you’re rocking an Android 2.1+ device. Wouldn’t want to crush your dreams, G1 owners.

Update: Android Central spotted a huge, huge inclusion to this build: the ability to download maps for offline usage. Check out a video just after the break.

Continue reading Google Maps 5.7 for Android brings Transit Navigation beta, updated access to directions

Google Maps 5.7 for Android brings Transit Navigation beta, updated access to directions originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The saga continues for Google’s voyeuristic mapping service, but this time Microsoft Streetside and Aol’s MapQuest 360 View may be the Bonnie to Street View’s Clyde. Transcenic, Inc. is suing the tech giants for acquiring the tools necessary to offer 3D mapping by less-than-legitimate means. The Louisiana-based company alleges that all named parties borrowed, without permission, a bit from a patent it owns on a 3D cartography technology that captures spatial reference images and uses a database to navigate them on command. Google has been in hot water for its maps before, but it no doubt hopes this legal tiff ends as well as its one for trespassing, where it only paid a pack of gum’s worth of damages. If you’re into reading all the current legalese, check out the source for the full complaint. Meanwhile, we’ll find out if Cousin Vinny’s on the case.

[Disclosure: Aol is the parent company of Engadget.]

Google, MapQuest, Microsoft and Aol sued for allegedly infringing 3D mapping patent originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 05:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google’s reportedly trying to put all of its product eggs into one self-branded basket. According to Mashable, two of its most popular services — Picasa and Blogger — may go under the branding knife and come out the other side looking like ‘Google Photos’ and ‘Google Blogs.’ With the exception of the latter’s planned UI overhaul, both services should function exactly the same. The move — alleged to take place within the next six weeks — would unify the search king’s user offerings ahead of the public launch of Google+. And if that social service’s rumored July 31st launch date pans out, we could be seeing this overhaul very soon. But don’t expect crown jewel YouTube to receive similar treatment, that site’s brand equity already sent its ugly step-sister — Google Video — to the grave.

Picasa, Blogger to get renamed: now with more Google? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 22:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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