According to msmobiles.com (see http://msmobiles.com/news.php/6898.html) a new version of Google Maps was released on November 16th. I have DLd it, but haven't yet installed it.
From reading about it, I am not too sure how much has changed. Here is the list the site speaks to:
Real-time traffic conditions
See where the congestion is, and estimate delays in over 30 major US metropolitan areas.
Favorite places and routes
Save time (and avoid sore thumbs) by keeping a list of residential or business locations, and driving routes.
Insta-KB-o-meter
Monitor your data consumption in real-time — just look to the top right portion of your phone screen while using Google Maps.
Enhanced business info
After selecting a particular business, select the "Details" tab for hours of operation, hotel amenities, and more.
BlackBerry support
Just visit www.google.com/gmm on your BlackBerry's web browser, and you're all set to go.
The update can be found here: http://www.google.com/gmm/GoogleMaps.CAB
Enjoy,
-pvs
thanks for the post, wouldn't have known about it otherwise
Yeah, appreciate the heads up!
thanks for the link
Sweet thanks for the headsup! I installed it, and it works better than ever over HSDPA and with my bt gps!
How does this compare to LiveSearch?
sook said:
How does this compare to LiveSearch?
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I'm not really sure. LiveSearch was the best for a short while (IMO), until Google Maps came out with an executable version. I dropped LS back then, and have not looked back.
Google Maps has many nice features:
1) Look up any of your Contacts for whom you have Address Information
2) Drag-scroll around the map, in map or satellite view
3) Shows real-time traffic conditions
4) Zoom-in and out quickly and easily
5) Provides directions from point A to point B
6) Integration with GPS devices (I haven't used this, but imagine it works ok)
7) Find info on searched-for businesses and easily saving it into Contacts
Some "features" I'd like to see are:
1) Storing data in user-defined locations on the device
2) Management of that data ... selectively deleting old location searches
3) Tilting of the map aka Google Earth
Again, I don't really know how well LiveSearch has developed, so I really can't compare. But maybe you can judge for yourself from what I show above for GM.
-pvs
I'll install it and play around with it, but from what you describe it sounds much the same. LiveSearch also has something called community search that will show you events, movies, and todos in your area, along with traffic and local gas prices.
If I read you correctly, the only thing on your list LiveSearch doesn't have is an easy way to look up contact addresses.
I will report back this weekend, either bumping this one or starting a new thread. I'm quite attached to LS, but if I can find something even better, well, right on.
ER... just in case anyone is having a blond moment like me
the link is CAsE SenSitivE!!
nice find.
has it got rid of those anoying no data warning messages that you had to keep clicking OK to in order to continue?
I was originally using (the previous version of) Google Earth. So far, I like Microsoft Live. The addressing and directions are a LOT more accurate. When I look up addresses, google doesn't even find most of them. Live also does a lot better with one way streets and stuff like that too.
Yes, Live is much, much better, even the diectory is better. Map loading seems a little quicker also.
I wish google showed on the page what version it was up to, so I can know when they've updated it.
I love google maps mobile.
Wow, judging by sook's and Braingears' comments, it sounds like Live Search has come a long way in the past year. Might be time to give it another shot.
And yes, frenchglen, wouldn't it be nice? I guess they have some reason to want to keep the version number a secret, eh?
-pvs
For a dedicated GPS unit, whether you have a destination set or not, you can always see a 3D view of your current position. It doesn't seem to be the case for Nexus One. You can only see 3D view under Google Navigation when you are in navigation mode.
Is there anyway to trick Nexus One to run Google Navigation even though you don't have specific destination set?
Maps is also pretty nice, but it's always north-up so it's confusing sometime.
I wanted to see this too, so I made a feature request ticket: http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=6839
Please star this issue if you want to see it implemented!
Done. Thanks for creating it
Oops, I searched and found out my ticket was a duplicate.
Here's the original: http://code.google.com/p/android/is...on&colspec=ID Type Status Owner Summary Stars
I think the problem is the lack of pre-loaded maps. Since it doesn't have the maps on SD card it downloads your route when you set it. They are probably trying to avoid the need for a constant and reasonably good data connection which would come with downloading map data on the fly.
Its by far my favorite and most used app/widget.
But theres 2 things bothering me , not sure if im understanding why its happening.
1.I open an article . "Javascript is turned off please check safari settings and turn back on" with a giant overlay blocking much of the article.
2. The most recent news articles not being cached. I rely on it being cached to read on the subway. But many articles never seem to load up.
I have refresh settings at every 3 hours. Do I have too many news items trying to load ? Not enough disk space ?
Also is there a browser setting to change that first error ?
Nothing I seem to do makes any difference on these.
Anyone have any insight ?
My biggest annoyance: there's no direct way to open an article from the News widget onto the default browser. For example if there's flash on the page and I want to use the Desire browser... There's no way to launch the page directly.
As far as something that might help you, try out NewsRob. By far one of the most AMAZING apps ever. Definitely my favorite app bar none. It downloads all items in your Google Reader for offline reading.
This is incredible for me because I work in an area with no cell reception (too many floors above me) and no wifi. For you in a subway, it might be awesome too. (Especially since anything in the News Widget can be put into Google Reader.) Check it out: NewsRob on the Market.
Paul22000 said:
My biggest annoyance: there's no direct way to open an article from the News widget onto the default browser. For example if there's flash on the page and I want to use the Desire browser... There's no way to launch the page directly.
As far as something that might help you, try out NewsRob. By far one of the most AMAZING apps ever. Definitely my favorite app bar none. It downloads all items in your Google Reader for offline reading.
This is incredible for me because I work in an area with no cell reception (too many floors above me) and no wifi. For you in a subway, it might be awesome too. (Especially since anything in the News Widget can be put into Google Reader.) Check it out: NewsRob on the Market.
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Hmm.. Ill give that a second look. I recall getting confused by it my first go round.
Have you had any of the caching problems ive had ?
xManMythLegend said:
Hmm.. Ill give that a second look. I recall getting confused by it my first go round.
Have you had any of the caching problems ive had ?
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Unfortunately, I've never actually used the caching feature of the News Widget. NewsRob is just that good
Confused by NewsRob or by Google Reader?
Just wanted to know what your opinions are on goggles as a business card reading tool. I have read some great reviews about it yet i have tried at least 6-7 different cards and not once has it picked up all of the contact details on it. Has anyone got any advice or tips that might help with the accuracy?
Also, does anyone know how to add a contact field to someone for their personal website address? All i can do so far is put it in the notes section
Thanks in advance guys
For your second question, it looks like you have to do it from a computer. I've added contacts' home pages, and for those I have the option to edit it. For contacts with no website, there is no option using the phone to add or edit one. Looks like you have to do it when logged in to Gmail on your desktop.
Your first question surprised me. Every day I learn something new that I can do with the phone, and that's another one. I knew that I could scan stuff with Goggles, but it never occurred to me to scan a business card. Cool. I use QR codes on the back of mine to make it easier. They work perfectly, but most people I meet don't have them or know what they are. There are a bunch of (paid) business card readers in the market but I bet they do no better than the free Goggles app. All I can suggest is get good lighting for the picture, and if that fails snap a photo to enter it in manually later. OCR still has a long way to go.
that makes complete sense and thanks for taking the time to produce such a comprehensive answer.
Well, I ran several (~30) read tests with the Goggles. I use business card reading quite frequently, both using an OCR program on my PC and using BCR on WinMo phone. Both these solutions do infinitely better than Goggles. Google's product would frequently fail in the OCR process (which can be due to the phone's camera or the business card quality) but it really pisses you off when it recognizes all the words correctly including weird names (I work in the far east sometimes and there are names you can't read in my phonebook) but has no idea that email:[email protected] should go in the "mail" field, and it misses most if not all of the fields in all the cards I used it on. bottom line: useless.
Google Googles vs specialized card scanner
I can't speak on behalf of Google but I believe their intention with Goggles is not necessarily to invest heavily in deep functionality around business cards but rather to provide broad, generally useful analysis of images and as they often do, leave it to others in the ecosystem to provide more elaborate apps.
We are the authors of one such scanning app - scanbizcards - and I can attest that there is a ton of code besides just recognize the characters, to correct OCR mistakes using the business context. Don't forget that a great business card scanner should do more than just scan & add to the address book. We certainly try to do that, providing 27 different features ...
Our app runs only on the iPhone right now, sorry - BUT we have started its port to Android so stay tuned ...
As we all know the Google Latitude service is shutting down on 9th August 2013.
Does anyone know of a suitable replacement?
p.s I never made it to the moon :crying:
The official replacement is "Locations" in Google+. Any reason why that won't work for you?
Solutions Etcetera said:
The official replacement is "Locations" in Google+. Any reason why that won't work for you?
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My family and friends don't use Google+, any other apps?
meyert11 said:
My family and friends don't use Google+, any other apps?
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Come next month, they won't be using Latitude either. I don't understand why looking for another app is preferential to switching to Google+. Is it just having to add it to your account? Or is it something else?
Solutions Etcetera said:
Come next month, they won't be using Latitude either. I don't understand why looking for another app is preferential to switching to Google+. Is it just having to add it to your account? Or is it something else?
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Google latitude ran under Google maps, so users of Google maps (virtually anyone) could follow each other. Now that latitude is being moved under Google+, only people with plus accounts will be able to use it. Since my family and friends don't use Google+, if we want to follow each other we will all have to sign up for Google+ accounts, just to use latitude. Seems like an unnecessary amount of work, for a feature that is useful during vacations and trips. Hope this explains it a bit.
meyert11 said:
Google latitude ran under Google maps, so users of Google maps (virtually anyone) could follow each other. Now that latitude is being moved under Google+, only people with plus accounts will be able to use it. Since my family and friends don't use Google+, if we want to follow each other we will all have to sign up for Google+ accounts, just to use latitude. Seems like an unnecessary amount of work, for a feature that is useful during vacations and trips. Hope this explains it a bit.
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Google+ is a single option on a Google account. If they are using Maps with Latitude, the already have a Google account. IIRC adding Plus to an existing Google account is a single mouseclick.
Solutions Etcetera said:
Google+ is a single option on a Google account. If they are using Maps with Latitude, the already have a Google account. IIRC adding Plus to an existing Google account is a single mouseclick.
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Google+ is a social media service, like facebook, that is altogether separate. Larry Page is obsessed with having everyone sign up for Google+ because most people are surfing the web via their mobile phones and Facebook is dominating the mobile ad space. My friends and family are not likely to migrate from Facebook to Google+, so I need an alternative to Latitude.
If you'd like further clarity, feel free to PM me, rather than us having a long personal conversation on a forum about Latitude alternatives.
You don't have to use it, you just need to opt in to use the location services. I don't see what the big deal is but to each their own.
Solutions Etcetera said:
You don't have to use it, you just need to opt in to use the location services. I don't see what the big deal is but to each their own.
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You will have to open the Google+ app to follow your friends and family. It has been physically removed from the updated Maps app.
The problem is that you don't even HAVE to have a Google + "account" just because you have a Google account. I can go into my Google account right now and delete my Google + profile. So that's not even true. To have to opt into and then use the Google + app is a pretty lame alternative. ALSO, the Google + Locations really sucks right now. My boyfriend and I are in each other's circles, have shared our locations with each other, and turned on background location reporting, but he does not show up as a person who I can see his location. He showed up for 1 hour when we first set it up, but he's since disappeared, even though I've been right next to him and seen his settings on his phone as we tried to troubleshoot. It needs some serious work before it's ready to replace Latitude.
I've been trying to use Glympse for those times when I need to let someone know where I am, and for them to track me. The only down side is you can only let people see your location for up to 4 hours at a time. When you've got an active Glympse running, your GPS is in constant use too, so it will drain your battery faster than Latitude did. You can opt to turn your GPS off and just let Glympse use WiFi or cell networks to locate you, but it won't be as accurate.
Other than that, all the other alternatives are also closer to social networking or checkin apps that also happen to share your location. I just want something simple, LIKE LATITUDE.
Oh. I guess the alternative is Latitude. I don't understand why they killed it off. I hope maybe Backitude will pull a Feedly and create something neat out of this.
Solutions Etcetera said:
The official replacement is "Locations" in Google+. Any reason why that won't work for you?
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For me, three things:
1. No option to navigate to a person on the map
2. No "last update" time stamp means sometimes the locations are 5 minutes old. Sometimes an hour.
3. No accuracy bubble
It's basically useless as a way to figure out where people are at any given time. Extremely annoying to have that go away. Hopefully there will be a replacement that shows up that doesn't drain the battery. Something that automatically responds to a ping for a check-in rather than polling for locations every X minutes would be great.
ppdd said:
For me, three things:
1. No option to navigate to a person on the map
2. No "last update" time stamp means sometimes the locations are 5 minutes old. Sometimes an hour.
3. No accuracy bubble
It's basically useless as a way to figure out where people are at any given time. Extremely annoying to have that go away. Hopefully there will be a replacement that shows up that doesn't drain the battery. Something that automatically responds to a ping for a check-in rather than polling for locations every X minutes would be great.
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Hi, these are some valid concerns. I am not a big fan of the location tracking features so were unaware of these. Hopefully, as Google continues to unify its social services we will eventually see more granular features resurface. I miss the offline ability in the new maps more than anything else at the moment. Hangouts not showing online status is annoying as well. Its important to leave Google feedback through official channels when valued existing features go AWOL. It has always been Android's nature to throw out something half-baked, and improve (or kill ) it over time based on user feedback.
As for battery... Google announced a number of new API's that would be rolling out this year. Some of which are specifically designed to reign in apps that poll/push data. I remember location services being a big part of that.I'm willing to bet this will get better over time.
Solutions Etcetera said:
Hi, these are some valid concerns. I am not a big fan of the location tracking features so were unaware of these. Hopefully, as Google continues to unify its social services we will eventually see more granular features resurface. I miss the offline ability in the new maps more than anything else at the moment. Hangouts not showing online status is annoying as well. Its important to leave Google feedback through official channels when valued existing features go AWOL. It has always been Android's nature to throw out something half-baked, and improve (or kill ) it over time based on user feedback.
As for battery... Google announced a number of new API's that would be rolling out this year. Some of which are specifically designed to reign in apps that poll/push data. I remember location services being a big part of that.I'm willing to bet this will get better over time.
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I've already complained to google, but I'm not real hopeful there. If Latitude wasn't being used heavily, it didn't make sense to leave it in Maps cluttering up the interface. I don't blame them.
For me, literally the only thing I want to use this for is making it easier to coordinate with my wife, or friends/family when we're on road trips. I suspect thats how most people were using it. It's great to be able to see that she's left her office or is at our kids' daycare or is 10 minutes away from a restaurant without calling her a dozen times a day. Losing the 'last update' stamp ruins that use case. Really not sure how they envision people using the G+ locations feature.
Apple's Find My Friends was great when my wife and I were on iOS. It behaved almost exactly right, only ever reporting your location when someone on your whitelist opened up their FMF app. There was no real power drain associated with it. All the apps in the Play store that fill this niche seem to report locations on their own, which is dumb *and* a redundant power drain given that Google location services is already grabbing that location.
Oh well.
ppdd said:
Apple's Find My Friends was great when my wife and I were on iOS. It behaved almost exactly right, only ever reporting your location when someone on your whitelist opened up their FMF app. There was no real power drain associated with it. All the apps in the Play store that fill this niche seem to report locations on their own, which is dumb *and* a redundant power drain given that Google location services is already grabbing that location.
Oh well.
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Apple does it right in not allowing apps to just go out and post/get whatever they want, whenever they want it. The app has to register for the info, and the system coalesces these requests for when the corresponding hardware is connected. Google is well on their way to implementing this same behavior.
Having much of this stuff better unified is a good thing IMHO, and I understand the thinking that things related to friends and family should be found in + and not maps. And based on what I saw at I/O, this will get better.
From what I've heard, the previously mentioned Glympse is a pretty decent replacement depending on what features you need. It's more aimed towards temporary location sharing between people during car trips, theme park visits, going out for lunch, etc. There's no option to leave it permanently on, though, and it doesn't appear to use intermittent polling.
Now that Latitude is dead, who knows if it will introduce this functionality to get new users?
I'm hoping that there is a location history feature in the new Google+ locations as I use this a lot, but I would love to eventually reach the moon - and maybe beyond!
It's an opening for another Feedly to come in and increase their market share. Someone like echoecho or swarmly could tweak their application to provide the same functionality, while furthering their own growth, a percentage of those new users would start using their services as result.
If I knew enough about Android development I’d quickly drop an app that pulled the Google+ location information and dumped it into maps provided by the Google Maps API with the options for satellite imagery and streetview. I'm really surprised that Google didn't merge the existing functionality into Google+, it must be available as they'll only be leveraging Google Maps anyway, certainly in regards the above.
theickleone said:
I'm hoping that there is a location history feature in the new Google+ locations as I use this a lot, but I would love to eventually reach the moon - and maybe beyond!
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Location history will remain:
If you use Location Reporting and have Location History enabled, your location data will continue to be recorded to your Location History. You can view and manage Location History data on the Location History dashboard.
Note: We’re no longer supporting Google Maps for Mobile 6.14.4 and below for Location History or Location Reporting settings.
google is forcing us to use their G+, first was gtalk converted to hangouts, now latitude
i have yet to find a map of people in G+ on the PC, i can only see people on the phone
now they have a universal "location tracking" setting in android, the new maps v7 is garbage, hopefully someone is able to mod the old maps apk to push and pull data from their new location service, reformat it and keep latitude working in the old maps
laur3n.newm4n said:
Other than that, all the other alternatives are also closer to social networking or checkin apps that also happen to share your location. I just want something simple, LIKE LATITUDE.
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Hi laur3n.newm4n, I'm currently building location sharing app for many of the same reasons you mentioned. We're still in private alpha but if after you checkout the features and it's sound like we're solving your problem you can signup for the beta
Hope it will help: yougy.co