Bigmouthmedia Search Engine News: /local-search/

Major map update puts Google streets ahead

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 05:36:00 GMT

Google have upped the ante on their comprehensive map service once again, with the release of the biggest ever update to Google Maps and Street View.

250,000 miles of road across the world have been updated, with the number of "special collections" doubled, allowing users to have an insight into some of the world most famed or least travelled spots from the comfort of their own homes.

Ulf Spitzer, Street View Program Manager, announced the updates yesterday, saying: "We're increasing Street View coverage in Macau, Singapore, Sweden, the U.S., Thailand, Taiwan, Italy, Great Britain, Denmark, Norway and Canada.

"And we're launching special collections in South Africa, Japan, Spain, France, Brazil and Mexico, among others."

Armchair travellers can now explore renowned urban parks such as Toronto's Stanley Park and Fort Canning Park in Singapore, as well as famed tourist attractions including Russia's Ferapontov Monastery and Elsinore castle in Denmark, the setting for Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Spitzer continued: "Street View...is a useful resource when you're planning a route or looking for a destination, but it can also magically transport you to some of the world's picturesque and culturally significant landmarks."

The new additions join an impressive list of ground-breaking collections, including explorations of Scott's Hut in Antarctica, Australia's Great Barrier Reef and NASA's Kennedy Space Centre.

The updates come just weeks after arch rival Apple was heavily criticised for its sub-standard map application, which was designed to replace Google Maps on its new iOS6 operating system.

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Apple apologises for Maps app problems

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 02:37:00 GMT

Apple's chief executive Tim Cook has apologised to customers over errors on his company's new Maps app.

The head of the technology giant issued the statement after the iPhone app was beset with inaccuracies and misplaced destinations. Users reported that the satellite images on the app were unclear and that the search function could not carry out basic tasks.

The app was designed to replace Google Maps on Apple's new iOS6 operating system, although there are rumours that the company may now be employing the search engine giant to develop a compatible app due to the problems.

Speaking in a letter posted on Apple's website, Tim Cook said. "At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment.

"We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better. While we're improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app."

Apple had originally included Google Maps on the iPhone since 2007 but the two companies' intensifying competition in the smartphone market has led to animosity. It is claimed that negotiations over licensing had broken down after Google refused to allow certain features and improvements that would be available to Android users, to be included on the iPhone 5.

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Under the sea … with Google Street View

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 02:12:00 GMT

Google have taken another pioneering step towards giving Internet users an insight into every nook and cranny on the planet, with the addition of underwater maps to their all-seeing Street View service.

Six sets of panoramic coral reef images have been added to a collection that already contains explorations of seldom-seen sights, including Scott's Hut in Antarctica and NASA's Kennedy Space Centre.

Virtual explorers can navigate their way around Hawaii's Hanauma Bay and Molokini Crater, Apo Island in the Philippines and Heron Island, Lady Elliot Island and Wilson Island on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Jenifer Foulkes, Google's ocean programme manager explained: "We want to be a comprehensive source for imagery that lets anyone explore anywhere."

Talking to the BBC, Foulkes continued: "This is just the next step to take users underwater and give them the experience of an area that most people haven't been to - seeing sea turtles, seeing manta rays, crazy pencil urchins and beautiful fish."

Google's newest awe-inspiring online experience is made possible by sets of images gathered by the Catlin Seaview Survey, a project examining and monitoring the health of coral reefs around the world.

A series of images are taken at four-second intervals, using a 24-megapixel, three-lensed submersible camera, allowing for a 360-degree view of the stunning underwater scenes.

Richard Vevers, the project's director, told the BBC: "The main reason is to record reef environments and reveal them to the world. It's about creating a global reef record - something that has been missing and something that is very much needed.

"Scientists from around the world will now be able to study reefs remotely and very clearly see how they are changing."

Google, in collaboration with the Catlin Seaview Survey, also intend to add images from reefs near Bermuda to their oceanic Street View portfolio.

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Apple map app fails to meet expectations

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 00:12:00 GMT

This morning's release of the iPhone 5 may have attracted record numbers of queuing Apple addicts, but today's success may have been tarnished by reports that the tech-giant's new maps app is not up to scratch.

The new mapping software comes pre-installed on all products with the latest version of Apple's operating system, iOS6, including the new iPhone 5.

The company announced in June that it was to stop using Google Maps, instead opting to develop its own system using data from navigation firms including, notably, TomTom.

However, early reports from users of Apple's new map app have been less than complimentary.

The BBC recorded a number of complaints from iOS6 users about the quality and accuracy of the software, including reports that certain locations on the map were obscured by cloud cover, in the wrong place or missing altogether.

One Twitter user posted a screenshot of a map showing the location of a furniture museum to be in the middle of a river.

TomTom are denying any responsibility for the sub-standard app, telling the BBC: "The user experience is determined by adding additional features to the map application, such as visual imagery."

The spokesman continued: "User experience fully depends on the choices these manufacturers make."

Responding to the outcry of disgruntled users, Apple released a statement overnight, saying: "We launched this new map service knowing it is a major initiative and that we are just getting started with it...We appreciate all of the customer feedback and are working hard to make the customer experience even better."

67 per cent of those questioned at Apple's Regent Street store this morning said they would prefer to have Google Maps on iOS 6, according to statistics from text message Q&A site 63336.

However, this didn't seem to damage sales of the new product, with London's flagship store recording a record queue of 1,297 iPhone fans waiting to get their hands on the latest device.

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Microsoft challenges Google to "Bing It On"

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 05:48:00 GMT

Microsoft is squaring up to Google with its new campaign entitled "Bing it On", a comparison challenge that allows users to pitch the two heavyweight search engines against each other in a side-by-side stand off.

The 'Bing it On Challenge' prompts users to enter neutral search terms, producing unbranded results pages from both Google and Bing. The user can then compare and choose which search engine produced the most favourable results, or call it a draw.

The overall winner is decided after a best-of-five face-off.

Microsoft, taking umbrage against many people's automatic habit of "googling", is hoping the direct comparison test might show Internet users that "Lets Bing it" might have a better ring to it after all.

Senior director of Bing, Stefan Weitz, told CNET news the goal of the campaign was "to get users to take a look again at Bing.

"We want them to see Google's magic secret search sauce isn't really so magic."

Microsoft claim that users prefer Bing search results 2 to 1 over Google's, after commissioning a recent study involving 1000 people. Bing bosses hope that the campaign will encourage people to re-think their search defaults.

The tech giant, currently holding 28 per cent of the U.S search share, is launching the Bing it On Challenge in a flurry of publicity, promoting the campaign on nationwide American television stations as well as across the internet in the form of online ads and the twitter hashtag 'bingiton'.

Competitions will also be held, with prizes such as an Xbox 360, a Microsoft Surface and a Windows Phone up potentially for grabs for twitter users who share a designated Bing It On tweet.

The challenge is risky for Bing, who will no doubt report a short term surge in its user numbers, but if Google is victorious in the transparent side-by-side challenge, then Microsoft may have just put its search head on a very public chopping block.

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Google, Apple spark privacy concerns over 3D maps

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 03:13:00 GMT

Industry titans Google and Apple are attracting scrutiny from government officials over "military-grade spy planes" and other methods used to power the companies' rival mapping projects.

Both Apple and Google have unveiled new 3D mapping initiatives in the last month, and the two rivals look set to go head to head once again for supremacy as they step up their mapping efforts.

The 3D maps from both Apple and Google promise to let users navigate through cities and communities with aerial view images that provide a more realistic picture than the flat satellite images commonly used in mapping products.

However, as the two companies race to develop their respective mapping services, privacy advocates are already speaking up over concerns about Google and Apple's practices.

One such activist, US Senator Charles Schumer, has written an open letter to both companies, and said in a statement to Reuters he wanted to clarify "they understand the significance of our concerns over the potential publication of images captures in people's backyards and other private settings."

Mr Schumer met with Google over privacy concerns Tuesday, and has further plans to meet with Apple later this week. He also intends to reach out to other companies, like Microsoft, said to be working on similar technologies.

"Apple and Google each unveiled competing software applications that will display maps for the first time in three dimensions with an unprecedented level of detail," Schumer said in an open letter to both companies.

"In order to create extremely detailed 3D maps, reports have suggested that Apple and Google are using planes equipped with military-grade photographic equipment that can capture detailed images of objects as small as four inches - enough to see through windows in homes, capture individuals in their backyards, and reveal details of sensitive security locations."

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Google Maps debuts new features

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 08:49:00 GMT

Google is set to make it even easier to see the four corners of the globe from behind a computer screen with a host of new updates to its popular service, Google Maps.

In an effort to reassert its dominance and maintain its position as a market leader, Google's latest round of updates to its Maps service includes 3D enhancements, offline access and greater map accuracy.

"Over the last few years we've been building a comprehensive base map of the entire globe - based on public and commercial data, imagery from every level (satellite, aerial and street level) and the collective knowledge of our millions of users," Maps VP of Engineering Brian McClendon wrote on the Google Blog.

Google Maps currently boasts one billion users - and while the service is overwhelmingly popular, more recently key developers and partners have abandoned Maps in favour of other open-source platforms.

According to the BBC, industry experts are speculating Apple may be the next major partner to abandon Google Maps - insiders are predicting the tech giant will announce its own bespoke application for the iPhone and iPad at its developer conference next week.

When asked about the possibility, Peter Birch, program manager for Google Maps, told the BBC: "I can't really speculate on what the rumours may be... Apple is a good partner of ours.

"We have a lot of fantastic applications already on the platform. Google Earth is one of the top applications, and we've been on Apple devices since 2008," he added.

"It's a really fantastic showcase for the platform and we're really excited to be offering new features."

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Google+ Local makes its debut

Thu, 31 May 2012 07:37:00 GMT

Say goodbye to Google Places and say hello to Google+ Local.

The mighty king of search has unveiled its latest offering, an online review feature for local businesses that's fully integrated into Google's own social network. What a surprise.

"We're rolling out Google+ Local, a simple way to discover and share local information featuring Zagat scores and recommendations from people you trust in Google+," Google's director of product management, Avni Shah, wrote in a blog post.

"It's integrated into Search, Maps and mobile and available as a new tab in Google+ - creating one simple experience across Google."

Now, when users query the search engine for a local restaurant or business they'll be met with the typical Google results, along with a secondary window that contains Google+ Local information - namely a map, rating, and links to other review sites.

Taking the place of Google's 5-star rating system are Zagat reviews - the search giant purchased Zagat last September for $125 million, and the once subscription-only information included on the site has now also been integrated into Google+ Local pages for registered users.

"Since Zagat joined the Google family last fall, our teams have been working together to improve the way you find great local information. Zagat has offered high-quality reviews, based on user-written submissions and surveys, of tens of thousands of places for more than three decades. All of Zagat's accurate scores and summaries are now highlighted on local Google+ pages," Shah wrote.

Advanced integration also means that users can have access to the same information on the Google+ Local page via Maps and Search - notably, Google+ Local results will also appear for Android users while searching in Maps on the go, with the promise that iOS users would soon be able to do the same.

Not everyone is convinced, however. According to the Guardian, advocacy groups - including Consumer Watchdog - have criticised the rollout, arguing Google's latest offering thwarts competition.

Shah denied the claims. "Our goal is still to help people find the best resources on the web. We do point to other sites and to other places on the web," she told the Guardian.

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Foursquare ditches Google Maps

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:25:00 GMT

Foursquare has turned its back on Google Maps, embracing crowdsourced maps by the OpenStreetMap project instead.

The location-based social networking platform made the announcement yesterday on its blog, explaining it had partnered with another startup, MapBox, to make the switch and provide users with the same quality check-ins they know and love.

"Starting today, we're embracing the OpenStreetMap movement, so all the maps you see when you go to foursquare.com will look a tiny bit different (we think the new ones are really pretty)," foursquare stated on its company blog.

The move came about as a result of the company's "hackathon" in January, after an engineer proposed exploring what it might be like if foursquare used its own maps rather than ones provided by Google.

"We've been using the Google Maps API since the early days of foursquare. In the last six months, though, we've seen an increasing number of companies migrating to other options," the foursquare blog said.

The company eventually landed on MapBox, it says, because of OpenStreetMap's design flexibility, giving foursquare the ability to alter colours and fonts, as well as the Leaflet javascrip library which powers the maps.

"When we initially began looking around for other map providers, we found some incredibly strong alternatives," foursquare continued.

OpenStreetMap is one of the largest collaborative projects on the web, and similar to sites like Wikipedia, users can view and contribute to the maps.

"While the new Google Maps API pricing was the reason we initially started looking into other solutions, we ultimately ended up switching because, after all our research and testing, OpenStreetMap and MapBox was simply the best fit for us," foursquare wrote.

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Under the sea - Google teams up with pioneering scientific expedition

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:12:00 GMT

Google is collaborating with the Catlin Seaview Survey and plans to bring thousands of underwater panoramas to web users in a fascinating and educational tour of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The search giant teamed up with the University of Queensland and their sponsor - a multinational insurance firm called the Catlin Group - to bring images of life under the sea to the masses.

The project is a combination of science project and public outreach, where the state of the reef's health may be assessed from the panoramic underwater photographic and video survey, while the rest of us are able to enjoy stunning views of the reef's untamed beauty online.

"For the first time in history, we have the technology available to broadcast the findings of an expedition through Google," said the survey's chief scientist, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg of the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

"Millions of people will be able to experience the life, the science and the magic that exists under the surface of our oceans."

When the survey begins in September, three surveys will take in 20 points around the 2,300 kilometre long reef, but at the moment a few sample surveys can be seen at seaview.org.

A motorised diver-pulling underwater 'scooter' will carry a 360 degree camera to survey the shallow reef, while robotic submarines will plunge to deeper depths of between 30-100 metres and survey the megafauna - including tiger sharks, green turtles and manta rays.

"Issues with water clarity, low light conditions and light distortion underwater called for a very different camera set-up to Street View," said Richard Vevers, founder of Underwater Earth the company handling all camerawork and submarine robots.

In all, Google will make approximately 50,000 underwater panoramas available online via its Google Earth and Google Maps sites.

There are also plans afoot to give a reef in Bermuda similar treatment.

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