Mapping

Google Maps for mobile lays on layers

Google Maps for Windows Mobile and Symbian Series 60 phones can plot you, your friends, and businesses on a map. Now it can also layer on transit lines, traffic, and points of interest that correspond to Wikipedia articles.

Google Maps for Mobile 3.2's new layers option for its mobile Maps is accessible by pressing the "2" key or by selecting "Menu" and "Layers." In addition to traffic and transit, Google opens the door to personal maps you've saved using the My Maps feature on Google Maps for the desktop. The latest … Read more

Real-time Earth wallpaper

EarthView offers a look at the globe in real time. With simple controls and a crystal-clear satellite view, this is a fun addition to any desktop or screensaver.

EarthView's interface is a user-friendly affair that allows you to customize your view of the globe. Controls are unmistakable and fun to tinker with. In addition, there is a Help file for anyone still feeling confused about this basic program. Viewing Earth is not difficult, but choosing which view may be a little more work. The program's controls provide simple access to the entire globe. Clicking a few buttons will … Read more

More Shots at Google

Someone needs to rectify the growing disparity of applications that Google has for other mobile users and what is available on the Palm units. I had hoped that the Pre would bridge this gap with the new webOS offering incentive for engineers to expand their audience reach, but so far to no avail.

I mentioned previously about my frustrations with the lack of a built in public transit on the Google Maps application. This time around it is Google Latitude that I have found out is not available.

Now, I was nowhere near as upset about this one because my … Read more

Mapping celebs' favorite places

GPS on the Pre

There are 2 GPS applications on the Pre, the standard Google Maps application and a "Sprint Navigation" application. It appears that the Google Maps application is a generic application (available on most phones I believe) which can pinpoint your location, provide directions from that location, and display a variety of maps and detail. Sprint Navigation, on the other hand, while the maps may have less detail (like satellite view), is supposed to operate like a stand alone GPS system, providing turn by turn directions from your location. Unfortunately, the phone needs a good GPS signal to accomplish this, and it doesn't appear to be up to the task.… Read more

Still no Public Transit Info on Palm

About a day after the public transit option on Google Maps was released on the web, I wanted to be able to use it on my phone. Of course, it was not available at the time, but I remained hopeful that one day soon I would be able to make use of it to check bus schedules on the go, a killer app for someone who is vehicle-less in a metro city. One by one, my firends with iPhones and Windows Mobile phones got the use of public transit and I still waited, left out in the cold by Palm/Google.

Eventually, I found out that Google never planned to develop a new update of their Maps application on the old Palm OS. That made sense, I reasoned, with webOS coming out so soon. Surely, they must develop the option for the new Palm OS though, right? It was one of the first three things that I checked upon getting my Pre activated and it sure seemed to me that the option still was not present.… Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1009: Pirate Bay or Cruiseship Bay?

As the new owners of the Pirate Bay take over they will have to eventually change things and sell out. So Rafe has dubbed them as Cruiseship Bay. We also discuss the pyrrhic victory of RIAA over Usenet.com and Rafe and Natali hate some more on Verizon.

Listen now: Download today's podcast Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video) EPISODE 1009

RIAA triumphs in Usenet copyright case http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10276607-93.html

Cash for Pirate Bay file-sharers http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8128551.stm

Twitter reworks following lists, adds functionality http://news.cnet.com/8301-13515_3-10276568-26.html… Read more

Astrological destiny predictor

MB Feng Shui Ba Zi provides a program that sheds light on a user's destiny. However, without much direction, we predict users will need outside sources to translate their future.

Thankfully, this program could not have a much simpler interface. Users can enter their personal information in very plain boxes and pull-down menus for dates. From there, navigating the information is much easier than interpreting what it might mean. We were disappointed to find that the Help file did not give us much information beyond the program's core functions. The program asks users for their birthday, time of … Read more

Google Maps acquires Android voice search, transit

This past weekend, Google introduced a new version of its glossy Maps application for Android phones. Version 3.1.0 brings with it several new features, including voice search to go with its text search field and transit and walking directions to go with step-by-step driving directions.

In tests, Google's voice search on Android was fairly consistent with other voice search apps we've tested. That is to say, a skosh inconsistent. Most searches for banal items of daily life like "shoe repair shop" and "coffee" plotted the sought-for neighborhood responses on the map. Once … Read more