Google Maps for iOS released

[Arthur]

It's back!

 

Source: Google Blog / Download (from iTunes Store)

 

People around the world have been asking for Google Maps on iPhone. Starting today, we’re pleased to announce that Google Maps is here—rolling out across the world in the Apple App Store. It’s designed from the ground up to combine the comprehensiveness and accuracy of Google Maps with an interface that makes finding what you’re looking for faster and easier.

 

The app shows more map on screen and turns mobile mapping into one intuitive experience. It’s a sharper looking, vector-based map that loads quickly and provides smooth tilting and rotating of 2D and 3D views. The search box at the top is a good place to start—perhaps by entering the name of a new and interesting restaurant. An expandable info sheet at the bottom shows the address, opening hours, ratings and reviews, images, directions and other information.

 

At the heart of this app is our constantly improving map of the world that includes detailed information for more than 80 million businesses and points of interest. Preview where you want to go with Street View and see inside places with Business Photos to decide on a table or see if it’s better at the bar. To get you there, you’ve got voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation, live traffic conditions to avoid the jams and if you want to use public transportation, find information for more than one million public transit stops.

 

The world around us is constantly changing and, thanks to feedback from you, we make tens of thousands of daily updates to keep Google Maps accurate and comprehensive. Here’s a helpful hint for the new app: if you see something off, simply shake your phone to send us feedback.

 

The new Google Maps app is available for the iPhone and iPod Touch (4th gen) iOS 5.1 and higher, in more than 40 countries and 29 languages, including Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. Please note some of the features mentioned in this post aren’t available in all countries.

 

Visit the App Store today and download the new Google Maps app. We believe this delightful new experience is a great starting point—and we’ll continue to improve Google Maps for you, every day.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEz1sSKCpIc&hd=1

 

http://i.imgur.com/2DXp4.jpg

[Arthur]

The app looks good too...

 

Design Details of Google Maps for iOS

Edited December 13, 2012 by Arthur

[JonThompson]

It's also got turn by turn navigation! Oh, and the maps are accurate...

[edutech4schools]

looks a bit more like the Android version which is fantastic.

[zag]

Finally!

[SYNACK]

It's also got turn by turn navigation! Oh, and the maps are accurate...

 

Seems like a silly business move, if they had left it the way it was more iFans would have Darwined themselves out of existence and their percentage of market share would increase. The fatality warnings about using their products would also take a bit of the 'shine' off their competition too.

 

Australia police discourage use of Apple maps app after rescues | Apple - CNET News

Australian Police Warn iPhone Owners: Don

[edutech4schools]

Don't think they need to worry. Google have 44% market share in phones Apple have 16% and Google are set to overtake apple in the pads market within 2 years. Google do have an advantage in that it is on lots of different brands.

[elsiegee40]

According to iOS mapping where I live, in the north end of the town, is the village a couple of miles up the road (spelled wrong of course)

 

I live back in town again. The village exists with the correct spelling. General happiness!

[Arthur]

Google do have an advantage in that it is on lots of different brands.

Indeed. Since Google is the new Microsoft, they can use their dominant position to kill off competing platforms by not creating native apps for them.

[tmcd35]

Indeed. Since Google is the new Microsoft, they can use their dominant position to kill off competing platforms by not creating native apps for them.

 

How much does it really matter if Google makes a native app? I can't think of anything from Google that won't work in a modern web browser. I'm it'd be the same on Blackberry. This news has now left me with a really difficult decision - Can I be bothered, and if so when, to delete the Google Maps web page shortcut from my iPhone and install the app instead?

[CyberNerd]

Indeed. Since Google is the new Microsoft, they can use their dominant position to kill off competing platforms by not creating native apps for them.

 

No-once cares about the O/S - its all about the APPS - right?

[Arthur]

No-one cares about the O/S - its all about the APPS - right?

If that is the case, Google needn't have bothered with Android. They could just make apps for everyone elses app stores.

Edited December 13, 2012 by Arthur

[Arthur]

Google Maps Android v Google Maps iOS: The side-by-side comparison « Wired

 

On the whole, we've got to say the iOS version of Google Maps looks nicer, but as far as features go, the Android version wins hands down.

[Arthur]

if they had left it the way it was more iFans would have Darwined themselves out of existence

This might be the next best thing...

 

Police taser Chinese woman who tried to buy more than 2 iPhones

[Arthur]

Hmm...

 

Google Maps for iOS may violate European data protection law

Not everyone was euphoric when Google Maps for iOS showed up earlier this week. Take the Independent Centre for Privacy Protection in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany for instance. Computerworld spoke to the organization's deputy privacy and information commissioner, Marit Hansen, who expressed concerns about the app's location data sharing. By having this option switched on by default, Hansen says, it violates European data protection law. (Source)