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‘maps’ Stories

Google Earth update removes undersea grid that sparked Atlantis furor

Shane McGlaun, Feb 6th 2012 Discuss [0]

A while back Google Earth started using images of the oceans to allow people to explore the depths and see the terrain under the sea. Some geeks who were exploring the new service discovered what appeared to be a grid-like pattern on the sea floor. Since the grid resembled city streets, some started calling the grid the site of the fabled lost city of Atlantis. Read The Full Story

Google Maps now displays emergency alerts

Sam Koutroulakis, Jan 25th 2012 Discuss [0]

Emergency alerts have now been subtly added to Google Maps, and are now live across the United States. Never again will you have to navigate from page to page looking for specific information on flood warnings, earthquakes, or even snowstorms. Maps will now show all the specifics: from the warning duration, to even how severe it may be. Read The Full Story

Microsoft lands patent to steer walking directions away from bad neighborhoods

Shane McGlaun, Jan 4th 2012 Discuss [1]

Way back in 2007 Microsoft filed for patent on a technology to help produce walking directions for people that are traveling in unfamiliar areas. The patent app is titled "pedestrian route production" and outlines a way to automatically adjust the walking directions given based n certain parameters like crime rate. The system uses more data than others to predict a "safe" route. Read The Full Story

TeleNav GPS HTML5 browser-based navigation announced, world’s first

Chris Burns, Dec 14th 2011 Discuss [2]

When it comes to mapping out the earth for mobile devices, there are only a few choices options you should really be deciding between - TeleNav being on of them - and this week they've upped the ante with the world's first HTML browser-based, voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation service. What this service will do is amp up TeleNav into the all-access world of mobile, giving essentially anyone with access to a web browser on their handheld device access to GPS in a way that's never quite been accomplished before now. In addition, developers of mobile websites and apps with local content will now be able to add one simple line of code to their product to have easy to use navigation at a glance! Read The Full Story

Google Maps create 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami archive

Chris Burns, Dec 13th 2011 Discuss [1]

For those of you wishing to get up close and personal with the destruction and collapse of massive parts of Northeastern Japan as crushed up by the earthquakes and tsunami from March 2011, you can certainly do so thanks to Google Maps new initiative to archive images of the area in the weeks after the disasters unfurled. In addition to being able to see these areas inside Google Maps (until they're updated as repairs are made and new images are collected), you can see before and after shots at a special site Memories for the Future, fully optimized for a browser-centric experience. What do you think, citizens of earth, is this a suitable memorial for the terror that occurred earlier this year? Read The Full Story

Nokia outs slick Maps 3D with nav and share capability

Shane McGlaun, Dec 7th 2011 Discuss [3]

Nokia unveiled its Nokia Maps 3D back in April of this year and they were certainly cool. The service reminded me more than a little of Google Earth. Nokia has announced some really cool new features. One of the new features is the ability for the user to search for local attractions, restaurants, and shops. That means you can see the shop you want to visit and then get directions how to get there. Read The Full Story

Google Maps goes indoors

Chris Burns, Nov 29th 2011 Discuss [4]

Though the final frontier may be space, and according to some the ocean of water that surrounds us here on Earth, Google has decided that it’s inside buildings – and that’s exactly where it’s going with it all-encompassing Google Maps environment. You’ll be able to work indoors with Google Maps 6.0 for Android, for example, using “My Location”, which will soon show you as a blue dot on a map of the location you’re at, including both outdoor AND indoors. No longer will you have to act as a car to get to where you need to be should you simply have a pair of shoes. Nothing but fun ahead!

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Apple acquires C3 Technologies for next-generation 3D mapping

Chris Burns, Oct 29th 2011 Discuss [13]

This week its been revealed that Apple's newest investment into its in-house-built Google Maps application is 3D mapping firm C3 Technologies. This is the second business Apple has purchased in the same vein, the first being Poly9 - C3 having been purchased and shut down by its buyer this summer, that buyer now confirmed by 9to5mac to be Apple. C3 is in the business of creating photo-realistic models of our modern city environments using declassified missile targeting methods previously part of aerospace and defense company Saab AB. Thusly this situation is about to get hardcore. Read The Full Story

Nokia Maps HTML5 for Android and iOS get offline mode

Shane McGlaun, Oct 24th 2011 Discuss [0]

Last time we talked about the new HTML5 version of Nokia Maps was when they first hit beta. Originally, the Nokia maps were only offered on Nokia branded devices. Nokia is now expanding the maps to allow them to work with other devices on the Android and iOS platforms. Some new features for the HTML5 version of the maps have surfaced. Read The Full Story

Google Maps gets 3D on the web with WebGL

Chris Burns, Oct 13th 2011 Discuss [0]

Have you see the view of Google Maps with the buildings that pop out at your face as you're driving through the city with your mouse clicker? It's time to take a look. Google this week has enabled MapsGL, an option that will allow you to see 3D buildings rendered to replicate the buildings that are actually standing on site throughout their massive mapping of the earth. Through the power of WebGL, those of you using Firefox beta, Chrome, Safari (if you enable it), and starting today Opera 12 Alpha, can all see the buildings, the lovely, lovely buildings. Read The Full Story

Google Earth Goes Global with 1 Billion Downloads

Cory Gunther, Oct 10th 2011 Discuss [2]

Released to the public free-of-charge in 2005, Google Earth has had more impact on how we view our earth than any cartographer could have imagined. It seems fitting that the software would reach 1 billion downloads on America's Columbus Day, as discovering America then may represent our in-depth analysis of the world now. Read The Full Story

Nokia launching HTML5 map app for iOS, Android

Rue Liu, Sep 8th 2011 Discuss [8]

Nokia Maps will soon be getting an HTML5 version so that it can be used on all mobile operating systems, especially the popular iOS and Android platforms. Formerly known as Ovi Maps, Nokia's map service has had a long history on Symbian handsets and could potentially rival Google Maps. Read The Full Story