Google has incorporated WebGL into Google Maps. The improved app, Google MapsGL, leverages computer-based hardware 3D graphic acceleration to provide richer visuals and animations. The functionality, availabile as a beta, initially will be supported on Chrome 14+ or Firefox Beta.... Read more...
Google Maps for Android Now Lets You Add Photos to Reviews (Mashable)
Mashable - Google Maps for Android has been updated to version 5.10.0, which brings two new nifty features: the ability to attach photos to Place reviews and the option to see Places you've rated with 4 or 5 stars in your map view. The first option is self explanatory -- it just lets you add a little more flavor to your reviews with a photo. The second option is a great incentive to use ratings more often, as the most places most important to you will show up on your map every time you fire it up. Read more...
Google employee proposes with Google Maps scavenger hunt (Digital Trends)
Digital Trends - Working at Google as a software engineer, Ari Gilder is no stranger to the Google Maps mobile app. In a recent post on the official Google blog, Gilder described in detail how he used technology from Google to ask his long-time girlfriend, Faigy, to marry him. Gilder constructed a map of seven places in New York City that had special significance to the couple such as the first date and memorable surprises. He then convince Faigy’s manager at hew workplace to give her a Nexus One preloaded with the Google Maps app. Read more...
Google employee proposes with Google Maps scavenger hunt (Digital Trends)
Digital Trends - Working at Google as a software engineer, Ari Gilder is no stranger to the Google Maps mobile app. In a recent post on the official Google blog, Gilder described in detail how he used technology from Google to ask his long-time girlfriend, Faigy, to marry him. Gilder constructed a map of seven places in New York City that had special significance to the couple such as the first date and memorable surprises. He then convince Faigy’s manager at hew workplace to give her a Nexus One preloaded with the Google Maps app.  She was also to be given a digital camera and instructions to reach the first location in the scavenger hunt. Read more...
Android Fragments into South Korean, Taiwanese, American Versions (ContributorNetwork)
ContributorNetwork - Let's say you're in charge of a company that makes Android smartphones and tablets. Android is open-source, which means the programming code is free for your engineers to use without asking permission. Read more...
Google Maps gets weather layer, might obsolete weather apps
Google chose Thursday to give Google Maps a weather layer. The addition gets updated information from Weather.com that cues sky conditions and temperatures to positions on the maps. Results also bring worldwide cloud coverage from the US Naval Research Lab and, with a press, will expand to include forecasts, humidity, wind and other detailed information.... Read more...
Santa, dancing elf apps for smartphones
It’s that time of year again and Santa is well past making his list and checking it twice. He’s getting ready to take off and this year, kids and their smartphone-carrying parents can track Santa on a variety of fun apps. Here’s what you need to know to be ready for Christmas Eve. On Christmas [...] Read more...
Google Maps adds 3D buildings, dynamic rendering, and offline mode for Android (Digital Trends)
Digital Trends - Google Maps may not be the hottest new thing at Google, but it’s still getting a bit of attention. Last night, at the D: Dive Into Mobile Conference in San Francisco, Google’s Android chief, Andy Rubin, unveiled some new features to Google Maps. New techniques that make it faster to draw maps on Android smartphones has made it possible for the search giant to introduce smoother, faster zooming and introduce 3D maps, reports the NY Times. No, not pop-out-of-the-screen 3D. Read more...
Google Maps adds 3D buildings, dynamic rendering, and offline mode for Android (Digital Trends)
Digital Trends - Google Maps may not be the hottest new thing at Google, but it’s still getting a bit of attention. Last night, at the D: Dive Into Mobile Conference in San Francisco, Google’s Android chief, Andy Rubin, unveiled some new features to Google Maps. New techniques that make it faster to draw maps on Android smartphones has made it possible for the search giant to introduce smoother, faster zooming and introduce 3D maps, reports the NY Times Read more...
Google buys Phonetic Arts to get more natural phone speech
Google on Friday confirmed that it had bought Phonetic Arts in a boost to spoken text on mobile devices. The Cambridge, UK-based company is best known for a suite of tools that generate more natural-sounding computer-generated voices by blending phonemes together and sampling real voices. It would most likely be used for tools such as Google Maps Navigation on Android but also Google Translate and other independent features.... Read more...