Google Maps Available Offline In Over 150 Countries

The new Google Maps for Android with capability to save a region of a map from more than 150 countries for use offline is now available on Google Play.

Whether travelling internationally, carrying a WiFi-only device, heading underground on the subway or restricting your mobile data usage, you can now save up to six large metro areas (e.g., Greater London, Paris, or New York City and surrounding area) and use Google Maps for Android to find your way.

» Go offline with Google Maps for Android | Google Lat Long Blog

Google's April Fools' Day Joke - Google Maps 8-bit map

Google launched an April Fools' Day joke today in the form of a Google Maps in 8-bit version. Google Maps posted this video to introduce their new product.

To access Google Maps in 8-bit version, simply click on the "Quest" button located on the top right corner.

City Hall MRT Station Singapore on Google Maps regular map.

City Hall MRT Station Singapore on Google Maps 8-bit map

Nokia Maps offer audio navigation

Nokia Maps and its voice-guided, turn-by-turn walk navigation is now available for iOS and Android. It is not working very well in Singapore.

» m.maps.nokia.com gets updated with walk navigation | Conversations by Nokia

Man Caught Peeing in 'Street View,' Sues Google

This is so funny.

Google Maps to launch Google+ games

Google will be releasing a Google maps oriented game for Google+ in February. Watch the preview features in the following video.

To know what exactly is and the services provided by Google Maps, click here for a quick walkthrough.

Google Maps on Android - Mapping the indoors

Google Maps for Android adds a new feature that will now not only show you where you are and help you find the directions outdoor on the street, it now also provides you where you might want to go when you're indoors. Yes, I repeat is indoors.

Announced in the Google LatLong blog,

When you’re inside an airport, shopping mall or retail store, a common way to figure out where you are is to look for a freestanding map directory or ask an employee for help. Starting today, with the release of Google Maps 6.0 for Android, that directory is brought to the palm of your hands, helping you determine where you are, what floor you're on, and where to go indoors.

Detailed floor plans automatically appear when you’re viewing the map and zoomed in on a building where indoor map data is available. The familiar “blue dot” icon indicates your location within several meters, and when you move up or down a level in a building with multiple floors, the interface will automatically update to display which floor you’re on. All this is achieved by using an approach similar to that of ‘My Location’ for outdoor spaces, but fine tuned for indoors.

For now, Google has partnered with some of the largest retailers, airports and transit stations in the U.S. and Japan, including:

• Mall of America, IKEA, The Home Depot, select Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, Daimaru, Takashimaya and Mitsukoshi locations and more. Watch an IKEA demo here.
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Narita International (NRT), among others.
• JR and Tokyu Corporation

Click here to find the list of participating stores.

Demo showing navigating in an IKEA store

» A new frontier for Google Maps: mapping the indoors | Google LatLong

Google Maps brings 3D view using WebGL

Tapping onto MapsGL technology, Google Maps now brings a much smoother 3D experience and let you swoop into street view without the need to install plugin. All you need is a modern browser that supports WebGL e.g. Chrome 14+ and Firefox 8+.

Visit Google Maps at http://maps.google.com and then click on "Want to try something new".

After you have enabled WebGL, zoom in to a location to switch to street view in 3D view.

Google Maps show weather layer

Google Maps has begun showing weather layers on its maps providing useful information no matter it is rain or shine.

This new feature even provides information on 4-days weather forecast. The nice thing about Google Maps layers is that you can combine them. For example, you can enable both the terrain and the weather layers, like you can see in the screenshot above.

» Rain or shine, see the weather in Google Maps | Official Google Blog

Google Maps 5.7 for Android supports downloading of map

Google Maps 5.7 for Android has a few new tricks in stall and one of them is the ability to mark an area on a map and download for viewing offline.

But what if you don’t have a data signal, or you’re abroad and don’t have a data plan? We say that if you use Google Maps for mobile, you’ll never need to carry a paper map again. The “Download map area” lab in Google Maps 5.7 for Android is a step in making that statement true even when you’re offline.

Google Maps will download the map area within 10 miles (16.09 kilometres) of the selected location and outline it, saving only the base map tiles and the landmarks on the map, so you still need a data connection to see satellite view and 3D buildings, search for Places and get directions.

Left: Status screen for download. Right: Coverage of downloaded map area

All your downloaded map areas can be managed in your Google Maps cache settings so you can delete maps you no longer need or if you want to free up storage. After 30 days, all downloaded map areas will be removed from your cache; they can be re-downloaded any time.

» “Download map area” added to Labs in Google Maps for Android | Official Google Blog

Google Maps - Offline Map

Probably the most useful new feature is buried inside Google Maps Labs: on-demand maps caching. Tap the "menu" button, select "More" and then "Labs". Enable "download map area", long press on the map around the area you want save, tap on the bubble and select "Download map area". Google Maps will download the map area within 10 miles (16.09 kilometers) of the selected location and outline it. This feature only saves map tiles, so you won't be able to see satellite imagery, Street View images or get driving directions while offline.

The 10 miles limit can't be changed, but at least you can manage your downloaded maps. Use the "Cache settings" option from the menu and select "Downloaded map areas". You can rename map areas, delete them and quickly visualize them.

Download latest Google Maps for Android here via the Android Market.

» Offline Maps and Transit Navigation in Google Maps for Android | Google Operating System

Google Maps 5.7 for Android introduces Transit Navigation (Beta) and more

Google Maps 5.7 for Android have recently added Transit Navigation (Beta) with updates on access to directions, better suggested search results and a photo viewer to Place pages—all of which can help you whether you're traveling to an unfamiliar part of town or visiting a city across the world.

Transit Navigation (Beta) brings GPS guided stop-by-stop directions to over 400 cities around the globe. Using your location along the route, Transit Navigation will alert you when its time to get off at your destination or to make a transfer. Transit Navigation (Beta) requires a phone with Android 2.1+ and the latest update of Google Maps for mobile.

» Google Maps 5.7 for Android introduces Transit Navigation (Beta) and more | Official Google Blog

Google Maps - Map style improved, roads thinner, ...

In yet another several improvements to Google products, Google Maps is of course included too.

Some of the ongoing incremental improvements to the style of our maps:

1. Roads thinner and more discernible, and improved treatment of tunnels so they don't look so much like they're above ground:

2. Roads used to overlap in some places. This is improved by making the map more navigable and providing a better sense of the city structure:

3. Add detail and feel easier to read:

4. Improvement in our styling of building models, which makes the map less overwhelming and the road labels easier to read:

Minor Style Updates, Major Improvements [via]

Track location of Santa with NORAD and Google

Starting tomorrow, December 24 at 2:00am EST, visit www.noradsanta.org to follow Santa as he journeys around the world delivering presents to children in more than 200 countries and territories. There are a few different ways to find the jolly old man in his unmistakable red suit over the course of the day, so feel free to track him using any of the following methods:

• See Santa on a Google Map: On your home computer or laptop, visit www.noradsanta.org and choose your preferred language. You’ll see a large Google Map on the page displaying Santa’s current location and his next stop. Click the video icons to watch “Santa Cam” videos, and click the gift icons to learn more about each city.
  
  
• Watch Santa fly with the Google Earth Plug-in: From www.noradsanta.org, click on the link Track Santa in Google Earth. You'll see Santa steering his sleigh right on the webpage. If you don't have the Google Earth plug-in, you can get ready by downloading it ahead of time.
  
  
• Follow Santa on your phone: Track Santa from your mobile phone by opening Google Maps for mobile and searching for [santa]. Or, visit m.noradsanta.org on your phone’s browser.
  
  
• Subscribe to his YouTube channel: Santa’s home on YouTube is at http://www.youtube.com/noradtrackssanta. That’s where you can find videos from his journey throughout the night.
  
  
• Get real-time information about Santa’s location: Use Google’s Realtime Search to get updates from social networks, news and micro-blogs like Twitter at @noradsanta, and keep up with news about his journey on this Facebook page.

Dashing through the snow... with NORAD and Google [via]

Google Maps 5 for Android - 3d Maps and Offline Caching

Google Maps 5 for Android comes with two features that make Google's mapping software a lot more useful. Google now uses vector graphics instead of map tiles and it caches some of your most frequently used maps so that they are available offline.

The use of vector graphics allows map to be dynamically drawn on your device as you use it, allowing you to interact with it in new ways:

• Tilting: Drag down with two fingers to tilt the map. Tilt while zoomed in on one of the 100+ cities around the world with 3D buildings to see a skyline spring to life.
• Rotating: Twist with two fingers to rotate the map. After tilting to see 3D buildings, rotate around them to gain a new perspective from any direction.
• Smooth zooming: Slide two fingers together or apart, and see the map and labels continuously scale to any zoom level, stopping when your fingers stop.
• Compass mode: Center the map on your location, and then tap the compass button in the top right corner. The map will flip into 3D mode and start rotating to match your perspective, while still keeping all the labels upright and readable.

Get Google Maps for mobile 5.0 by searching for Google Maps in Android Market (or tap on this link if you’re on your phone). Android 1.6+ devices can get Maps 5.0, but 3D and offline features require Android 2.0+, and some features may not be supported for all devices or countries.

The next generation of mobile maps [via]

Google Maps inspired by Google Instant

After the launch of Google Instant, a third part geek came out with an "Instant" search for Google Maps. Visit Google Maps Instant now. Using Google Maps Instant, you can get it to plot out driving route instantly by typing in for example Destination A to Destination B.

Note that Google Maps Instant is not official from Google or YouTube.

Display your foursquare checkins on Google Maps the easy way

There is an easy method to view your check-ins with Foursquare by using Google Maps. All you need to do is to supply your Foursquare kml link to Google Maps.

1. Visit your foursquare feeds page. Right click the KML link and copy it to your clipboard (don’t download it).
2. Visit Google Maps and paste the link you copied into the search box. Hit enter.
3. There is no step 3.

Display your foursquare checkins on Google Maps the easy way [via]

Google Earth integrated into Google Maps

Now you can navigate the world's terrain, great cities' buildings, and your neighborhood's restaurants in 3D, without having to install a hefty separate application. Google Earth has arrived in Maps in a new "Earth" view, and its pretty great. What is needed now is just a Google Earth plugin.

Earth View in Google Maps

Earthly pleasures come to Maps [via]

Introduction to Google Maps Singapore with Traffic & Transit

Google Maps Singapore can be accessed via http://maps.google.com.sg/transport

LTA partners Google to provide traffic & transit information

LTA partners Google to provide traffic & transit information
By Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 19 November 2009 1633 hrs

A new collaboration between Google and Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) will give commuters land transport options at their fingertips.

The result is a service that will allow commuters to plan their journeys based on current traffic status.

The partnership also marks the first time a country is working with Google to provide transport options as part of its global online map platform - Google Maps.

The LTA currently provides traffic and transit information to various other vendors for similar applications, and it hopes this service will encourage more people to take public transport.

"Our aim is to make sure that commuters have all the choices and they can choose between the different modes of transport - on the bus, on the train - and to travel in different ways to reach their destination as smoothly as possible," said Yam Ah Mee, chief executive of Land Transport Authority.

The application is available at the following website - http://maps.google.com.sg/transport.

It is sad that Google Maps does not work on my Windows Mobile 6.0 powered PDA.

Investing in innovation at Google

Eric said during our third quarter earnings call that "innovation is the technological pre-condition for growth." He was talking about the kind of innovation that's only possible when you can attract and retain the world's finest minds. Some come to Google through acquisition, like the people who created Google Earth (formerly Keyhole), or the folks at Android Inc. — but most innovation coming out of Google is homegrown.

A good example is Google Chrome, which in only a year, has more than 30 million active users. Larry and Sergey recently gave the Chrome team a Founders Award, a multimillion-dollar stock bonus shared by the Googlers who worked across functions and regions to create and launch that product. As its name suggests, this award is presented by our founders to celebrate the kind of large-scale, game-changing achievements that Google stands for. The Chrome team joined a long list of teams — including Gmail, AdSense for Content, Google Maps and parts of our sales and marketing units — who have won this award (and could win again!).

We want to continue to create products that rethink industry standards, challenge the status quo and make people's lives easier — and we know that there are great minds out there with the same goal. Recently, we announced that we're starting to ramp up hiring for positions across the company, continuing our investment in the future as we imagine it. That future is shaped by small teams of creative people who want to make a difference. We're on the hunt for these kind of people — let us know if you think you're one of them.

Posted by Alan Eustace, Senior Vice President, Engineering & Research