Google Maps Makes Waze and Apple Maps Obsolete - http://clapway.com/2016/01/13/google-maps-makes-waze-and-apple-maps-obsolete-123/

Google Maps has gotten an update today, and it renders other applications like Apple Maps and Waze totally obsolete. Introducing: Google Maps Driving Mode.

Driving Mode is The New Siri, But For Driving

Driving Mode actually guesses user’s destinations and helps them navigate there to the best of their ability. The new version of Maps is already available on the Google Play store, but the update won’t be available until the end of the week. That, and it will only be rolling out to Android users.

Driving Mode won’t be available to all users. According to the announcement, the update will only be available in seven countries: the US, UAE, the UK, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Driving Mode Is Restricted to Certain Areas for Now

With a single tap, the update will tell you if you should head out or if you should wait to avoid heavy traffic. The new Driving Mode will get users the quickest way to their destination even without knowing what the destination is. It also provides information like ETAs, traffic updates, gas station locations and pricing, and quickest routes to frequently visited places. This is all from the Android home screen.

For Android users, there are two ways to get to the new feature. They can choose to add a shortcut to their home screen or go directly onto the Google Maps app. Google Maps will slowly replace the need for even the most expensive and sophisticated GPS systems. The system will be able to calculate just how long it’ll take to get anywhere according to the time of day and location, and keep a log of your frequent destinations.

Google Maps is A Lot Smarter than Waze and Apple Maps

Google is making Google Maps extra smart. It is now able to use your destination history, your current location and the time to get to your final destination to predict where you want to go in the future and how you will want to get there. Now there’s the cybernetic chauffer we’ve always wanted. We could even see this software and this algorithm in action on the Google self-driving car, and then things will really be moving up. Waze and Apple Maps have no way of catching up to this bad boy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwCrjfmCgO0

 

Google Maps Makes Waze and Apple Maps Obsolete

Google Maps Rolls Out a Feature Waze Has Had Since 2012 - http://clapway.com/2015/12/15/google-maps-rolls-out-a-feature-waze-has-had-since-2012-123/

Google Maps for iOS was updated today, finally incorporating the offline maps feature that rolled out to Android a whole month ago. Though users will still need the Internet for subway or train routes and walking or biking directions, they can now get turn by turn navigation, business hours and contact details on saved maps offline. Not only that, but Google Maps now offers gas price options directly on the app.

Google Maps Monopolizes Phone Storage

A major setback of this new feature, for both Android and iOS, is that saving offline maps takes quite a bit of space. Downloading offline maps from New York City, for example, can take up to 300MB of space, so people should be very mindful of what they decide to save. On the plus side, any downloaded maps expire after a month automatically. Any forgetful users won’t have to worry too much.

New Maps Update Introduces Gas Prices

The new iOS Google Maps update also incorporates gas prices into the platform. Users can now view where gas stations are located and how much they sell gallons for. This is also a feature that had been on the Android app for a while. Google Maps iOS users, when looking at local businesses, will not be able to see when the establishments are at their busiest throughout the week or on any given day.

Waze Had a Similar Update Roll Out… in 2012

Another popular GPS application also saw a similar update a few years ago. In May of 2012, Waze introduced a feature that let users see real-time as prices and fuel discounts. This has since then has allowed users to search around for fuel within the category menu, with real-time prices. The map also provides gas station locations along users’ routes to avoid them having to stray from their path to get refueled.

Waze is Undoubtedly the Best Social GPS Out There

Since Waze is a very user-driven app, users were even able to report/adjust gas prices and deals so other people can make use of them, which earns them Wazer points and helps them ascend status. This is the Social GPS side of Waze at its best. Waze even partnered with gas pump companies like Kum & Go, Hess, BP, Exxon, ConocoPhillips, and Shell, to offer in-app discounts on gas. This gave users special codes that can be put on any gas station register to get a discount. This update rolled out to California at first, then following to the rest of the country.

What Took Google Maps So Long?

The gap between the Waze Update and the Google Maps for iOS and Android is very wide. When considering what may have taken Google so long to release this kind of update, it could be simply because of scale and optimization. Waze, being a significantly smaller company, had the ability to test out the app in a control area (California). Google rolled out its update everywhere the app is available, and it probably spent quite a bit of time optimizing the feature.

Google Takes Time, and It’s Always Worth It

Google doesn’t do anything in halves. The company usually goes all out to make sure that new features are perfect, or closest to. Bug fixes usually roll out quite quickly, so Google was likely taking in the vein of what Waze accomplished it and bringing it to a much bigger scale. In the end, they bring the classic and functional feel of Google Maps to their faithful users. While this may or may not have been three years in the making, it will make the lives of countless people a lot easier, especially with the holidays right around the corner. Christmas shopping frenzies are already happening all over the world, and the busy time monitor feature will be of help to a lot of people. This does leave people to wonder what other updates Google has spent a few months or years working on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtXFWU4r9FQ

Google Maps Rolls Out a Feature Waze Has Had Since 2012

Expect big 5 announcements by Apple on June 8 at WWDC 2015 - http://clapway.com/2015/06/03/expect-big-5-announcements-by-apple-on-june-8-at-wwdc-123/

The famous Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference is just round the corner. It is going to take place on June 8th at San Francisco. What are you expecting? Apple’s latest versions of OS X or iOS? No wonder why, developers from around the globe turn up for the Apple event. The tagline of the event which says “The epicenter of change” has a lot to offer. Before, you calculate a little more, here is this piece all set to tell you things in detail.

Here is the first prediction. There are several rumors taking rounds on Apple TV. A lot of Apple TV owners had an opinion that the smart device had more potential than simply streaming TV. This time, Apple TV is going to be one of a kind for your home. The company is integrating HomeKit support to the TV along with iOS 8.1. If it happens that way then you can expect Siri to be inevitably present in the enhanced Apple device. Apple Siri shall help you control the HomeKit accessories, thus, making your TV a HomeKit hub.

Coming to another Apple Music (formerly Beats Music), it is expected to show up refreshing streaming music service. Such a game changer that is going to be! It is expected that the overhauled Beats Music, it will be a ‘$10-a-month on-demand streaming service’ with ad-supported and free radio stations which are going to be curated by Pharrell Williams and Drake. Knowing the fact that Apple iTunes have more than 110 million customers, there are questions on how many will convert into streaming subscribers. Let’s keep ourselves alert at the WWDC 2015.

The third announcement is expected to be around the highly criticized Apple maps. Considered half baked, the maps were leading people to wrong destinations and did not have public transit directions. As a result, it was pretty disappointing as compared to other Apple devices. But, things are changing this time. For the Ios 9, maps are getting improvised. Reports say that mass transit information shall be integrated for the well-known cities such as New York and San Francisco. Also, major work is happening on augmented reality overlay that will inform you on business just as you point on the map. There is going to be an addition of Browse Around Me that will inform you about the nearby places which could be of your interest based on your previous searches. Lastly, you shall see features like a Street View competitor, indoor maps and 3D maps.

On the fourth grade, lies Siri. It is getting smarter this time. As per reports, an Apple initiative shall unite Maps, Calendar, Siri, Spotlight, and other apps to assist in giving information across the day without even asking. This shall be seen on the left side of your home and you can access it through a swipe. Spotlight app will be seen at the top and other apps shall show up on the rest of the screen.

On the final note, the fifth prediction is about the Native Watch apps. Apple has plans to let open an SDK for the developers that shall permit the third-party apps to just run natively rather than continuing along your iPhone. This time, the Apple watch shall have much enhanced strava fitness app that will have direct access to the Apple watch’s onboard sensors. So the third-party apps can tap into the accelerometer, heart rate sensor and gyroscope in the Apple Watch without even waiting for the Watch to run the information along with the iPhone Health app. So, they were the five predictions. Wait and Apple watch!

Expect big 5 announcements by Apple on June 8 at WWDC 2015

U.S.: Apple Public Transit Maps Coming to Six Cities - http://clapway.com/2015/05/27/u-s-apple-public-transit-maps-coming-to-six-cities-123/

Soon, people in six selected cities will be able to use public transit maps on their mobile devices as Apple Maps prepares to release its public transit maps and directions along with iOS 9. The premiere release of these public transit maps for travel via bus, subway and trains is coming to the cities of New York and San Francisco in the United State, as well as London, England; Toronto, Canada; Berlin, Germany and Paris, France. Apple says that it could also provide the public transit maps to some cities in China.

Apple Public Transit Maps Expected to Spread to Hundreds of Cities

After the initial launch of travel services for mobile devices in those first few locations, Apple Maps says it wants to eventually provide the public transit maps system to more than 600 other cities. While this new public transit maps system is expected to be a great service for the people who use it, some think that Apple Maps hasn’t made much progress in the three years since it first released Apple Maps. This new rollout of public transit maps is seen as a great new addition to Apple Maps, which Apple hopes will be a competitor to Google Maps, which Apple stopped using as of their iOS 6 update.

New Cities to Be Added to Public Transit Maps as They’re Ready

Apple Maps plans to add each new city as it becomes available via a rollout over the air instead of doing it via an iOS update. The next two cities after the initial launch are expected to be the cities of Boston and Tokyo. Most other towns in the US and Europe aren’t expected to be added until sometime in 2016. Many commuters are hopeful their towns will be added soon, as the current version of Apple Maps doesn’t do much good for those who travel via bus, subway or train.

Apple Maps Long in the Making

Apple started their plan to create the public transit maps system when it bought two transit apps called HopStop and Embark more than two years ago. Since then, they have purchased other mapping oriented companies as part of their plan to get out this new public transit maps travel system for its commuting customers. If you commute via subway, train or bus, Apple Maps will eventually put together new public transit maps to make your commute easier.

U.S.: Apple Public Transit Maps Coming to Six Cities

Apple Buys Maps From Coherent Navigation - http://clapway.com/2015/05/18/apple-buys-maps-from-coherent-navigation-123/

People travel every day all over the world and many of them use GPS and computer mapping programs to get where they need to go. Soon, Apple users will be getting better service as Apple buys maps to make the GPS company, Coherent Navigation one of its newest acquisitions, so they can make improvements in their current navigation systems.

Apple Inc. has announced its purchase of Coherent Navigation, which is a GPS related business. Reports say that the actual amount of money Apple spent to buy the firm has not been disclosed, but it is known that the CEO of Coherent Navigation, as well as several of its workers have already been working for Apple, Inc. as of the past few months to work the deal.

Apple Buys Maps to Make System More Accurate, Precise

The Coherent Navigations business provides a unique method of producing its GPS signals for people to travel by using a combination of customary data from mid-earth orbiting GPS satellites and information from satellites that travel in a lower orbit from the voice and data provider, Iridium.

By combining these two sources of navigation data, there is reportedly more accuracy. GPS coordinates offer data to users that is so accurate that it is within a few inches of the requested travel location.

Apple Buys Maps to Help it Compete

Analysts say that currently, Apple’s systems of mapping and navigation have been poor and inferior to their competitors, thus making it difficult for it to compete with its rivals like Google Maps. Google Maps is still considered the dominant company when it comes to mapping applications, according to ComScore (www.comscore.com) data. They reported that more than twice the number customers who own and use iPhones for their travel and mapping needs used Google Maps.

Their data shows that as of February 2015, the Apple maps got only about 22 percent of the business of travel needs, and that is part of the reason that Apple buys maps like those from Coherent Navigations to help its customers get improved service. Coherent Navigations is not the first purchase of a mapping system that Apple has bought in order to help it better compete with its rivals.

Some of its other purchases include: BroadMap, and Embark, as well as Locationary, and Hop Stop and WifiSLAM. Specialists say that the unique features of Coherent Navigation should help Apple, Inc. better compete with not only Google Maps, but also with its other rivals like Yahoo Maps, along with Bing from Microsoft and with Wikipedia’s WikiMapia and Nokia Maps.

Apple Buys Maps From Coherent Navigation