It has been reported that Apple will be using Google Maps again in iOS 5. There have been a lot of rumours that Apple would be developing their own mapping software, however it seems like this is not going to be the case.
Expect Apple to release their own mapping service in the coming years, mainly due to their purchases of Placebase and Poly9. Im very much looking forward to a traffic service and GPS offering by Apple, but for the time being we will be sticking to Google Maps.
I’m pretty sure that in Internet and geo-location history, Google Maps is an important milestone. Scribble Maps is a simple but quite useful web app: Using Google Maps lets you scribble down, draw circles, places markers and much more within maps.
Just use it in the same way you use Google maps, but you’ll find over the left top corner a bunch of tools to use for you to take full advantages of Google Maps.
The tools included in Scribble Maps are:
Draw circles, rectangles, shapes.- Use text, markers or lines on the map.
- Add an image from a file.
- Save map as a JPG, KML (Google Earth) or GPX.
- Change the style of the map.
- Instantly get a widget for your blog.
There is also a Professional version for Scribble Maps, providing enhanced features. Is in beta stage for now and you can register for free.
If you have some kind of mobile addiction and feel the necessity to constantly check your email with your mobile; I’m pretty sure that you usually get uncomfortable trying to use the small screen on your phone. Well this is not a revolutionary invention, but it keeps reminding me that Google is trying to keep things simpler: “Smart Links” automatically shortens long links and converts them into named links.
This is what you usually when you are reading an email with a long link:
And Smart Links converting it like this:
Of course these links, at least for now, will only work with Google related sites: Google Maps, Google Sites web pages and YouTube videos (but they are expecting to make it available soon for Google Docs as well).
There’s an important disclaimer about the use of this feature: only works with plain text emails.
Google has once again taken another step in the right direction. The company has done everything from managing our email, our documents, manages statistics, mapping the earth, and now provides us even more detail with regards to directions. Along with driving directions, you can now get walking directions to any of your destinations via Google Maps.
When you plug in your start point and your end point you can change from step by step driving instructions to walking instructions. The site assumes an average of 19 minutes per mile, and may alter the route due to you being on foot. For example, one way streets are not a problem because you are not on foot, and any walking trails that exist may not cut completely across areas that would have otherwise been inaccessible with a car.
I don’t really see this application useful for locals. Chances are anywhere you wish to walk you probably already know, and any further, you might as well take car or other form of transportation. These addition definitely seems useful for tourists. Perhaps you want to map the distance from your hotel to a point of interest, or perhaps you’re at a convention and want a place to eat off-site, this little addition can make a huge difference.
I find it funny though that the beta warns people to “Use caution when walking in unfamiliar areas.” Kinda creepy, but a justified warning I think.
This feature is new, so the beta version may not be perfect, but despite it’s flaws, the addition definitely seems worthwhile.
