As part of its Google I/O developer conference today, Google is offering some updates on its Google Places API for iOS as well as future updates arriving for its Maps app.
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Stephen and I are off to Google I/O 2015 this week (the first time we’ve sent 2 people – for double the coverage!) but we wanted to preview what we we’re excited about this week. I’d run through the list of expectations but Chance already made 90% of the list when the sessions were launched. Go check it out. Here’s what I’ve been hearing…
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Earlier this week, users discovered an issue with Google Maps that centered around typing in a racial slur and being directed to The White House. This evening, Google has issued an apology on its official Maps blog. The company says that it is “deeply upset” by the issue and is currently in the process of fixing it.
Google Maps was updated to version 9.9 today, and with this incremental update comes an actual Google Maps app on Android Wear devices (surprise, surprise?), a translucent status bar (finally!), and more…
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Google’s Map Maker has been getting hit hard with spam over the last few months, with one of the most recent and widely publicized incidents involving an Android logo urinating on an Apple logo in the middle of Pakistan. Now, the company is telling users of the Map Maker website that the service will be temporarily shut down as of tomorrow, May 12th…
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You can’t browse through George R.R. Martin’s fictional continent of Westeros from the hit series Game of Thrones on Google Maps just yet, but you can now at least see what that might look like thanks to Reddit user salvag. Below you’ll find the beautiful Westeros map recreated by salvag, which is very nicely designed in the flavor of Google Maps.
And no: he claims this map contains no spoilers. It’s even available as a poster for sale on Etsy, starting at $21 before shipping.
Maybe someday Google will grant our wishes and create something more interactive. Until then, however, Game of Thrones fans might want to try QuarterMaester.info, which includes all the continents from the series along with a “spoiler control.”
The idea of Google Maps being used for non-Earth or fictional locales is not a new one, with one of the more well-known examples being Google’s own recreation of Mars using the Maps software.
Google has released version 9.8 of its Maps application for Android devices and is rolling it out across the Play Store. The updated application includes the ability to select multiple photos to upload to a location. Another addition to the software allows you to hide upcoming reservations, flights, or other appointments from a location to keep the info away from prying eyes.
A few other small tweaks have been made to the app’s iconography and design, but nothing too big.
If you don’t want to wait for Google Maps 9.8 to show up in the Play Store (which could take some time), you can grab the APK and manually install it from this link.
Evidence of a Moto Maker-like “Google Workshop” service for designing custom Nexus 5 cases surfaced last year, but no real product or service ever came of the rumors. The speculation has now been given new life, though, thanks to a recently posted photo from a Googler on Google+, and this time the Nexus 6—Google’s latest flagship—is the subject smartphone getting a custom case…
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A prankster has gamed the Google Maps business listing function to make it appear that NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden is resident in the White House.
Google said that the listing, first spotted by Marketing Land, was originally verified for a snowboard shop of that name elsewhere, with the location subsequently edited. Either the prankster or others have added reviews, one of which says that it’s a “great source of classified information.”
Google says that it has removed the listing, but it was still showing up (as above) in Google Maps at the time of writing.
April Fools’ Day is often one of the more eventual days of the year for Google and other tech companies. This year appears to be no different as a variety of pranks have already appeared around the web. We’ve been analyzing them all, right as they come in, and have listed some of our favorites below. We’ll keep this list updated as more April Fools’ Day gags continue to roll in. We have feeling there will be no shortage of them either…
Google has started the April Fools Day fun a bit early with a new Pac-Man easter egg allowing users to play the classic arcade game on the streets of Google Maps. Here’s how to do it:
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Google tends to push several updates to its apps in the middle of the week, and this week has been a particularly eventful one. Updates have landed over the last 24 hours for several apps in Google’s Android inventory, including Inbox, Google Docs (Sheets and Slides, too), YouTube, Quickoffice, Google Maps, and Google Play Music.
Google today has announced that it is expanding support of lane guidance in Maps for Android to 15 additional European countries. The feature was launched in the United States and Canada last year, with Google promising expansion at a future date. Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom gained support for lane guidance in December.
Today’s update adds lane guidance to the following 15 European countries:
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Google today has started rolling out an update to its Maps app on Android that bumps it to version 9.4. Most notably, the update adds integration with Google’s new Local Guides service, which it originally introduced back in January. Previously called City Experts, Local Guides is the company’s efforts to get users to review local businesses and share them with others.
Google announced today that it’s making Google Earth Pro free to all, bringing the ability to do things like “measure 3D buildings, print high-resolution images for presentations or reports, and record HD movies” inside Google Earth.
The previously paid advanced Google Earth features were previously used by mostly businesses, scientists and hobbyists, according to Google.
Starting today, even more people will be able to access Google Earth Pro: we’re making it available for free… Whether you’re planning a new office building or a trip to the mountains, check out Google Earth Pro and see how easy it is to visualize your world.
Google is allowing anyone to get a free key to Google Earth Pro by signing up here. The Google Earth Pro app for PC and Mac is available to download here.
[youtube http://youtu.be/SGTRTHr-BDw]
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Google is always expanding the imagery available in its Street View feature in Maps, and this evening the company has announced in a blog post that it has added new data from the Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa. The city is set to kick off its annular Winterlude Festival next week, which is a three-week long event that hosts a variety of games, shows, and activities.
Google is constantly bringing new imagery to its Street View feature in Maps, and this week the search giant is highlighting new additions from around Belgium. In what it describes as “some of the best of Belgium”, the new Street View data shows off five different locations including the inside of a castle and a World War II memorial.
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Two of the biggest tech companies in the world–Google and Apple–couldn’t be more different in their philosophies. Apple has always believed in doing a very few things very well, famously saying no to a thousand things for every time it says yes. Google, in contrast, has tried to do– well, almost everything, including things well in the realms of science fiction.
Steve Jobs and Larry Page spoke about this difference shortly before Jobs died, with the Apple co-founder urging Page to “figure out what Google wants to be when it grows up.” Jobs expressed the view that, without focus, Google was in danger of turning into the next Microsoft, creating a large number of ok products but none of them with any wow factor …
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Google today released a set of improvements to the Google Maps APIs for developers looking to use transit directions in their Android apps. Specifically, users can now receive fare info where available and make use of the same mode and routing options as the Google Maps app.
It appears that Google could soon release its promised redesigned Calendar app for iPhone after first making the announcement and releasing the app for Android last November. The Next Web this morning shared a handful of leaked screenshots that provide a first look at Google Calendar for iOS, including info cards that indicate Gmail, Photos and Maps integration will be key features of the app.
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Google has today relaunched its review program previously called City Experts as Local Guides, and hopes to engage the community and get more people involved through what looks to be some much more friendly branding and fun new features. While Google previously touted the “exclusive benefits” you could receive through the program and required “50 high-quality reviews” for entry, the new program instead suggests that you “help others and support businesses” and encourages you to “be yourself.”
If you have ever wanted to experience the Northern Lights without traveling to countries such as Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden, look no further than Google Maps. Starting today, it is now possible for people from all over the world to explore the Aurora Borealis through Street View on Google Maps.
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After a relatively quiet Update Wednesday, Google this evening has picked things up by rolling out an update to Google Maps on Android, bumping the app to version 9.3. The update is not chock full of features, but there are certainly a few things avid users of the app will appreciate.
Google Maps is today releasing imagery of iconic holiday window displays from retailers in London and New York, allowing users to get a Street View-style experience of the elaborate Christmas and holiday decorations that a few big retail stores are known for.
The Street View Windows Displays include Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, and Bloomingdale’s in NYC, and Liberty and Selfridges in London.
Half the fun of holiday shopping is seeing the lavish, seasonal displays in the windows of shops and department stores as you pass by. Starting today, with Google Maps Business View, you can see decked out displays in New York and London—without braving the cold weather, lugging bags around or fighting for sidewalk space with fellow shoppers. Now grab your virtual reindeer because we’re off to our holiday window tour!
The feature is yet another way Google is attempting to promote its Google Maps Business View feature, which allows businesses and others to add the indoor virtual tours to Maps to complement the Street View imagery it has long offered for navigating outdoors.
Earlier this week Google added a virtual, 360-degree tour of The Colbert Report studio ahead of the show’s final episode.
