Tag: maps
1.4 million grab Nokia's free Ovi Maps
It's been less than two weeks since Nokia announced that its Ovi Maps Naviagtion app was available for free, but it's already been downloaded 1.4 million times, breaking the million mark by the end of last week. The app…
TomTom shares fall after Nokia's Ovi Maps announcement
Not to be the jammy bringers of a massive "we told you so" but yesterday, following Nokia's announcement that Ovi Maps was to become free globally across their smartphone range, we suggested that it was "time to offload those TomTom…
Nokia smartphones to get free global sat nav
Google may have recently announced its free navigation service, but Nokia's announcement today totally trounces that one. From March, all new Nokia GPS smartphones are to get Ovi Maps. For free. WORLDWIDE. While Google's service is US-based only, Nokia's…
Metropolitan Police release London crime maps online
The website allows you to zoom in and out of a map, just like with Google Maps, but the key difference here is the colour coded sectors that represent differing rates of crime between areas.
Google Maps adds some new functionality
There’s been no big announcement but Google has added a couple of new features to the full-browser version of Maps.
Firstly, and most useful, is the layers function that allows users to do multiple searches and layer the results on top of one another in a colour-coded system. The example below shows a search for pubs and kebab shops around Upton Park, home of the mighty (yes, mighty) West Ham United:
For the record, if you’re planning on visiting Upton Park, I’d recommend a jar or two in The Duke of Edinburgh followed by a kebab from Kebabish.
The other new feature is the My Location button – which smartphone users will already be aware of. I can’t really see the point of it on a desktop version though. I suppose it may be useful if you’re out and about and lost with a netbook.
My Location will try work out your location based on Wi-Fi points nearby, or via your IP address. Neither is guaranteed to be accurate though. It didn’t work on my desktop here in TD Towers. I’m running Firefox 3.5 so I’m not sure why?
Does it work for you guys?
(via Search Engine Land)
Ofcom releases 3G coverage maps
Spare a thought for people living in Scotland or Wales, or if you live in Scotland or Wales spare a thought for yourself. The 3G coverage maps released by Ofcom show a distinct lack of a 3G network in those areas. In fact there is a distinct lack of coverage in any rural area in the UK.
The maps show that 3 is the network with the most 3G coverage, closely followed by Orange. O2 comes last – supporting our theory that O2 is, in fact, a bit rubbish.
Ofcom said: “For 3G network coverage there is still a noticeable difference between rural and urban areas, and also between different parts of the UK, with coverage problems a particular issue in the devolved nations.”
3G is becoming ever more important, especially with the new generation of smartphones which rely on good coverage and fast connections in order for their features and apps to run smoothly. The maps paint a bleak picture of a network that isn’t really supporting the smart devices.
What’s the answer? Well, see these related posts for possible alternatives and solutions: Will WiMax or LTE win out? | Femtocells – much more than a signal booster
(via The Press Association)
Google adds tube map to Google Maps
Google Maps launched its new ‘Transit’ section of Google Maps this morning, which focuses on public transport. Wonderfully, included in the update is a tube map that you can turn on and off on the display – immensely useful for planning ya route across the capital.
Be aware though – because it’s tied to real geographical locations, it might be a bit confusing, and not as intuitive as using the regular tube map. On the other hand, you might find out something useful, like how close Lancaster Gate (on the Central Line) is to Paddington, or Canon Street to Bank, saving you some trouble, and going miles out of your way to change tubes.
If you’ve got a local metro/tube/underground system of some sort, is it shown on Google’s new layer? Let us know in the comments. Now… if only Google would release street view in the UK…
Google Maps UK (via TechCrunch)
Related posts: Google Earth maps Ancient Rome, hope to catch up to modern Rome within the next 2000 years | Google goes mega-high-resolution on Google Maps with the GeoEye-1 satellite
Google Maps adds live traffic info for England
In all honesty, I thought this feature was already active, but then I don’t drive, so what do I know? Nothing, clearly. Anyway. The Google Maps team has added live traffic information to major roads in England. Just England – no Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland just yet.
If you enable this layer on your maps, it’ll tell you what traffic conditions are currently like, as well as predicting what traffic will be like at any particular day and time, based on past conditions. Nice, Google. Now roll out Street View, please.
Related posts: Google Maps for Mobile gets Street View and walking directions | Google planning offshore, tax-evading, auto-powering, floating data warehouses
Google Street View to offer window into parallel universe populated by people with blurred faces
Good news! Google is allowed to continue with putting together its Street View tool in Britain after the Information Commissioner said that it’s okay for Google to continue invading our privacy…
UK Police to provide online crime maps by end of 2008
Remember that time you saw that bloke legging it up the street followed by a team of hooded pursuers? I bet you’ve always wondered whether he was late for a meeting, just larking about or was in fact being chased into submission by a gang of teenage assailants wielding sticks with nails in them. Well, soon you’ll be able to find out.
