Filed under: Cellphones

The T-Mobile G1’s Google Maps Street View implementation is one of the slickest features of the first Android phone, but it looks like Apple’s going to keep feature parity — the latest builds of iPhone OS 2.2 seeded to developers have Street View, as well as the ability to give mass transit directions. That’s pretty useful for cityfolk like us — and we’re also stoked that line-in audio is now supported in the SDK, giving devs the ability to create voice recorders and other interesting audio apps. Of course, there’s no word on when 2.2 will actually arrive, but until then we suppose we’ll live with regular, non-data-augmented streets. Lots of screenshots of the new features at the read link.

[Via MacRumors]

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Filed under: GPS, Transportation, Wireless

For more than a year lucky BMW-owning Germans have been hitting Google Maps, and more recently the rest of the Internets, at blazing (cough) EDGE speeds from their sport-seats. Now, Bimmer-owning Americans are getting a piece of the action with a little help from AT&T’s GSM-friendly network. However, while there’s no mention in the release, BMW Blog thinks US cars will be limited to GPRS, not EDGE. All 2009 American BMW models, except for the lowly X3 mini-’Ute (which BMW doesn’t even bother to manufacture itself), will get Google Maps integration, enabling the driver or passenger to search for businesses from the dash. Directions can be piped to the car’s nav system and calls placed via in-car Bluetooth. At $199 per-year it’s not exactly a steal, but that does include standard BMW Assist functionality like locating your car if it’s stolen or dispatching an ambulance if you’re in a horrible accident. Yeah, we only care about the searching too.

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Filed under: Cellphones

If you were concerned that you didn’t look crazy enough screaming into your phone at business associates, family members, and the guy who does your landscaping, Google has added a feature to Maps for RIM devices that should confirm that yes: you’re a total maniac. Available right now for a handful of BlackBerry phones (8110, 8120, US version of the 8130) you can grab Google Maps with voice search, which enables you to find what you’re looking for by pressing the left-side button and speaking the name of a business (or location, we assume). Sure it sounds convenient, but think twice before searching for hookers or cocaine out loud — stock brokers, you have been warned.

[Via Gear Diary]

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Filed under: Cellphones

We’ve seen the Centro in its Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon (to name a few) iterations, but global roamers and free agents of all sorts will be delighted to know that Palm’s increasingly popular little smartphone is now available in a delicious unlocked GSM flavor. The device sports all the same specs as AT&T’s model, but clocks in with a $299 price tag and plain gray numberpad instead of the telco version’s shocking lime green variation. Alongside the carrier-free phone, Centros will also be nabbing a version of Google Maps with its “My Location” feature (long absent from GMaps on Palm phones). Current AT&T and Verizon customers as well as new unlocked owners will be able to download the app tomorrow, with a software update for Sprint later this Summer. Finally, you’ll all know where you are.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Apparently, Amazon’s wondrous e-book reader, the Kindle, has more than meets the eye — not unlike some fictional, alien, robotic characters which shall not be named. Users of the device have been plumbing its depths, and have uncovered a handful of easter eggs which will make current owners extra happy, and might push potential buyers over the edge. Amongst the hidden features are access to Google Maps coupled with CDMA-based location-finding, which also allows you to quickly locate nearby gas stations and restaurants (as well as your own custom searches). In addition to the GMaps integration, the Kindle also comes equipped with a hidden picture viewer and slideshow functionality, the ability to snap a screenshot, a clock quick-look, plus everyone’s favorite time-wasting game: Minesweeper. Hit the read link to learn all about the unrevealed guts of the innocent little reader.

[Via interface]

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Filed under: GPS

It looks like TomTom users looking for a little additional help with directions could now have the fix they’ve been searching for, as TomTom announced today that it’s teamed up with Google in an attempt to bridge the divide between Google Maps and its array of GPS devices. To that extent, you’re now apparently able to search for businesses on Google Maps and send all the necessary information straight to your TomTom GPS, albeit with TomTom’s Home software acting as a mediator. That’s, of course, decidedly less exciting than some of the Google Maps-to-GPS interaction we’ve seen in other parts of the world, but a welcome addition nonetheless.

[Via CNNMoney]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Transportation

Soon, you will never have to admit that you’re lost and suffer the humiliation of asking for directions. Google is expected to announce a partnership today with Gilbarco Veeder-Root, to include Google’s mapping service on 3,500 Internet enabled gasoline pumps across the US. The maps will be available on the pump’s small screen giving motorists the ability to scroll through local landmarks, hotels, restaurants, and hospitals to the bemusement of the guy waiting behind you. The pump will even print directions. The service is said to be ad-free but will offer coupons which sounds a lot like advertising to us. Look for the gPumps to arrive courtesy of that Encore S rig pictured above.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Cellphones

For now it’s not much more than a plan to announce a plan within the next few weeks, but since it involves Google and cellphone networks, we’ll take it. The Wall Street Journal has the news that Google will announce its mobile offerings within the next two weeks, which could take the form of hardware, software packages, or — most likely — an open platform for phones that third party developers can build on. Interaction is the key word here: Google’s platform won’t involve locking down features, rather, it’ll open them up so that they work together. How exactly the company will execute this plan will be revealed within the immediate future: although with most phone manufacturers already subcontracting development of their phone’s software platforms, it doesn’t sound like it should be too difficult a job to muscle in.

[Thanks, Harry; via MarketWatch. Image credit]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!