Google Maps For iPhone Update: Find Local Stuff Faster

Google Maps For iPhone Update: Find Local Stuff Faster

iPhone users, take note: Google is releasing a new update for Google Maps for iPhone that promises faster local searches and a cleaner interface to help find the places you want to be. It should only extend Google's lead over Apple's own troubled iPhone maps app.

According to the Google Maps blog, the update will feature new English-language versions for seven Middle Eastern nations: Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Even more useful, especially if you're using Google Contacts instead of the iPhone's native Contacts app, is the capability to integrate that data with the Google Maps app. Logged in users will see nearby friends's addresses when they view local maps, according to Salahuddin Choudhary, Product Manager, Google Maps.

Local searches will get faster by virtue of graphical tools and icons that will get the search job done quicker.


"For faster local search, you can tap one of the new icons for restaurants, coffee shops, bars and other types of places to quickly see nearby haunts," Choudhary wrote. "So if you're in a rush and need a quick coffee, just tap the search box, then the coffee cup icon, to see the cafes closest to you."

(See also Google Maps: 10 Million Lost iPhone Users Breathe Sigh Of Relief.)

The update is a small set of tweaks to an app that was very much awaited prior to its release in December 2012 - and that is already widely considered superior to the debacle that was Apple Maps. It will be interesting to see if Apple has any major changes planned to compete with the innovation Google is still pushing out.

Images courtesy of Google.

Google Updates YouTube iPhone And iPad App With ‘Send To TV’ Feature, The Google TV Equivalent Of AirPlay

Google Updates YouTube iPhone And iPad App With ‘Send To TV’ Feature, The Google TV Equivalent Of AirPlay 

Google issued an update for its iOS application today that adds the “Send to TV” feature to its apps for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The feature allows you to quickly and easily pair your mobile phone with select TVs, making it possible to play and control video from the app on your television set.

The feature works with Google TV-enabled devices, which includes an increasing amount of television SKUs from major manufacturers, many of which were on display at CES this year. It also work with the PS3 and Xbox via slightly more arduous manual pairing with the iOS application. Other Send to TV features include the ability to have anyone on the same Wi-Fi network join in and control video playback, too, as well as add videos to a playlist, meaning you can queue up your very own Best of Goats Version of any song.

Send to TV had previously only been available for Android devices, so the expansion to iOS means that Google now has a much broader potential user base for it. Combine that with the fact that more than 25 percent of YouTube views now come from mobile devices, and you can see how the company would be eager to get its iOS apps equipped with this particular feature, as the end result will be a much larger percentage of consumers who can take advantage of this element of Google TV, a platform that seems to be gaining more favor with television OEMs after a somewhat rocky start.

The app also now features Capture integration, which means it can handle recording and uploads to the service as well. They’re still separate apps, but this eases the workflow at least.

Spotify for iPhone updated with new interface

Spotify for iPhone updated with new interface

Spotify has just updated its mobile app for iPhone with a new interface that puts it on par with last year's overhauled Android version. There are a few big changes to the interface, and the most prominent is the addition of a swipe-across menu that lets you jump the different section of the app. If you've used the Facebook app for iOS, it's virtually identical.

THE NOW PLAYING BAR IS A VERY WELCOME ADDITION

The most useful feature, however, is the "now playing" bar. Wherever you are in the app, the artist and track name of whatever you're listening to are displayed at the bottom of the screen along with play / pause controls. Swiping to the left or right on the bar will skip to the previous or next track from your current album or playlist. The final addition is a new track menu, accessible by clicking a "..." button to the right of each track. The menu lets you add a track to a playlist, share a track, or add to the playing queue.

The new app is more of an evolution than a drastic redesign; Spotify has tweaked a few parts of its app, and the changes — especially the now playing bar — are very welcome. There are a few bugfixes bundled in with the update as well, which you can check out in the Spotify changelog before heading over to the App Store for the download.

Compare recommendations faster with our new Explore update on iPhone

Compare recommendations faster with our 

new Explore update on iPhone

Feb 28th

Whether your go-to brunch spot is too crowded, or you’re walking around looking for dinner options after a movie, it’s great to be able to find places quickly. With today’s iPhone release, we’ve updated Explore to show you more recommendations on a single screen, so you can compare results and make decisions faster.

Just like before, we’ll show you the relevant info to help you decide: you can quickly see the ratings, friends who have been, money-saving specials, and useful insider tips. Tap through on a place to see even more, like directions and menu items.

You’ll see the redesigned look as soon as you tap on Explore. We’ll show you our top suggestions for places in the area, along with highlights like new spots in the neighborhood and places that are trending. As always, tap on the search bar up top when  you’re looking for something specific.

Update the app now and give it a try!

Update your iPhone now to fix a passcode vulnerability

Update your iPhone now to fix a passcode vulnerability



Anyone — with some practice, and really great timing — can bypass your iPhone's passcode in order to make calls, send out emails and messages, scroll through call histories, view contacts and more, thanks to a security flaw in the iOS operating system. Until now. Apple put an end to these shenanigans with a software update on Tuesday.

The latest version of Apple's mobile operating system, iOS 6.1.3, patches the lockscreen vulnerability (while also including miscellaneous bug fixes).

As we reported in February, Adrian D'Urso of JailbreakNation was among the first publicize the security flaw, demonstrating in a YouTube video how to circumvent the passcode. Following D'Urso's instructions, we were able to confirm the hole on an iPhone 5 and iPhone 4, both running iOS 6.1.

We again attempted the iPhone experiment after the Tuesday update, but this time, were unable to gain access. We're disappointed that it took over a month for Apple to fix this security hole, but it appears to have patched things up.

If you're ready to install iOS 6.1.3 on your iOS device, then connect the gadget to iTunes and hit the "check for updates" button. (Alternatively, head into your device's "Settings" menu, select the "General" tab, and tap the "Software Updates" option to download the update over the air.)

Updating Google Maps for iPhone with faster local search, new ways to find friends, and more countries

Updating Google Maps for iPhone with faster local search, new ways to find friends, and more countries

Today, we’re releasing an update for Google Maps for iPhone with new search icons that make finding local places faster and easier, and with integration of your Google Contacts to make it simple to find your friends.

This update is part of our goal to make Google Maps comprehensive, accurate and useful – wherever you may be in the world. To that end, we’re rolling out the English version of the app in seven new countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. You can also choose between kilometers and miles in the settings menu, depending on your preferences.

For faster local search, you can tap one of the new icons for restaurants, coffee shops, bars and other types of places to quickly see nearby haunts. So if you’re in a rush and need a quick coffee, just tap the search box, then the coffee cup icon, to see the cafes closest to you.  

Your Google Contacts are now integrated into Google Maps for iPhone – meaning that when you’re signed-in and search for a friend’s name, their address will appear as a suggestion (if you have their address saved). Simply tap their name to see the address, which will be visible only to you, on the map. To learn an easy way to keep your Google Contacts synced with your iPhone, click here. We hope you enjoy these updates! Visit the App Store today to download the latest Google Maps for iPhone app. Please note some of the features mentioned in this post aren’t available in all countries.

Update your iPhone now to fix a passcode vulnerability

Update your iPhone now to fix a passcode vulnerability



Anyone — with some practice, and really great timing — can bypass your iPhone's passcode in order to make calls, send out emails and messages, scroll through call histories, view contacts and more, thanks to a security flaw in the iOS operating system. Until now. Apple put an end to these shenanigans with a software update on Tuesday.

The latest version of Apple's mobile operating system, iOS 6.1.3, patches the lockscreen vulnerability (while also including miscellaneous bug fixes).

As we reported in February, Adrian D'Urso of JailbreakNation was among the first publicize the security flaw, demonstrating in a YouTube video how to circumvent the passcode. Following D'Urso's instructions, we were able to confirm the hole on an iPhone 5 and iPhone 4, both running iOS 6.1.

We again attempted the iPhone experiment after the Tuesday update, but this time, were unable to gain access. We're disappointed that it took over a month for Apple to fix this security hole, but it appears to have patched things up.

If you're ready to install iOS 6.1.3 on your iOS device, then connect the gadget to iTunes and hit the "check for updates" button. (Alternatively, head into your device's "Settings" menu, select the "General" tab, and tap the "Software Updates" option to download the update over the air.)