Our friend and former iDB writer Alex Heath points us to a short clip highlighting Google's embarrassment at yesterday's hastily organized press conference to announce "the next dimension in Maps". Instead, as pointed out by MG Siegler, the search Goliath revealed anxiety over Apple Maps.
Be that as it may, the fact remains that Google put up a pretty boring show, rushing out a new version of Google Maps and looking foolish in the process...
As we noted in our liveblog, today's Google Maps presser has brought out the much-anticipated 3D imagery that we're being told is coming to both Android and iOS platforms via the Google Earth mobile app.
And as Apple reportedly gears up to preview its own 3D mapping solution at WWDC next Monday, it's time to take a closer look at what Google's technology can do.
Well, the search giant just posted an awesome video that shows off 3D cityscapes, complete with buildings, terrain and even landscaping, from the new 45-degree aerial imagery in Google Earth. It's pretty awesome and I for sure am liking a lot where they're taking maps (apparently, I'm not the only one)...
Not to be outdone by Apple, which according to the Wall Street Journal will reveal the souped up Maps app with own tiles and breathtaking 3D view next Monday, Google is holding a presser to announce "the next dimension in Maps". Follow our remote live coverage of Google's media event to learn about the latest in mapping technologies...
Whoa, looks like another iOS app developer (not exclusive, though) just ended up engulfed in the Google ecosystem as the search giant announced its acquisition of the popular mobile app productivity maker Quickoffice for an undisclosed sum.
The news arrives just as we learned yesterday of Google's intentions to snap up popular instant messaging maker Meebo for a rumored hundred million dollars...
When social network Path released its Android app following the successful debut on the iPhone, barely anyone paid notice. But when Instagram went Android, it spurred lots of controversy. Even Apple’s marketing boss Phil Schiller stopped using the app because it “jumped the shark” when it went to Android.
The debate over iPhone exclusives going Android really heated up with yesterday’s announcement of Instapaper of Android, Marco Arment’s read-later program which became a huge success on the iOS platform.
Should Apple work harder to secure iOS exclusives, which have been around in the console business for ages? Or perhaps this is nothing to get worked up about? Cast your vote now...
In what seems to be the norm lately, another popular iPhone app has expanded to Android, Marco Arment's Instapaper. This awesome and elegant tool to save web pages for reading later can now be used on Android devices natively.
While it lacks the polish and elegance of the iOS version, Instapaper for Android comes with one major advantage...
Whoa, Google is buying popular instant messaging startup Meebo for an undisclosed sum.
Meebo, which has an iPhone app, provides a cloud-centric solution that brings disparate instant messaging services under one fold.
Nowadays, Meebo is billed as a social platform for connecting users. They command an army of 190 million unique users globally and its service is used to send over 90 million messages daily...
Not content with being outclassed by Apple, Google today sent out invitations to select members of the press. The invite graphics teases "the next dimension of Google Maps". The search giant's presser takes place next Wednesday, June 6, at 9:30am, five days ahead of Apple's worldwide developers conference that kicks off with a keynote in San Francisco's Moscone West on June 11.
Looks like both tech titans are keen on taking the maps experience to the next level, which can only be a good thing for us consumers and market watchers. But As Apple debuts its own in-house mapping solution, market dynamics will inevitably change due to Apple's size, brand power and for the simple fact that Cupertino will no longer be paying fees for using Google's tiles in Mac and iOS applications and services.
Of course, it's also the question of pride...
Google just pushed out a major update to its iPhone search app, bringing out a completely reworked interface and several new features, including beautiful full-screen image search, faster autocompletion and searching, the new in-line search option (finally!), the redesigned home screen with services shortcuts, handy tabs to filter down your search results and what not...
Earlier today, Google CEO Larry Page took to company blog to break the big news: having obtained necessary approvals from watchdogs on both side of the Atlantic, the search giant has finally closed its $12.5 billion acquisition of the ailing handset maker Motorola Mobility in a move meant to “supercharge the Android ecosystem”.
The transaction will close by May 23 and is rumored to see Google laying off up to one-third of Motorola staff.
Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha is stepping down (not unexpected) and will be replaced by Dennis Woodside whom Apple tried to poach last year. The new CEO already promised "fewer, bigger bets", meaning Motorola should streamline its portfolio to focus on a select few hero devices.
So, Googlerola is alive and the search giant is now officially a handset maker - one sitting on an enormous pile of patents. In fact, the search Goliath is now in a position to directly fight Apple's allegations against Android makers.
Taking it all in, we analyze what repercussions - if any - this development potentially poses for Apple and its ongoing legal spat against major Android backers such as HTC, Samsung and, yes, Motorola...
Google's Chrome has beaten Microsoft's market-leading Internet Explorer to become the world's leading web browser, according to research firm StatCounter.
Chrome has been on the rise since its September 2, 2008 release, steadily chipping away market share from Microsoft's product which has been losing ground for years now.
For the week ended May 13, 2012, Google's product has managed to match Internet Explorer on a global scale for the first time...
Google has today launched a new app, Google Schemer, which may just make us all that little bit more active and, hopefully, happier to boot.
Let's get this out of the way first: no, we had never heard of Google Schemer, either. In typical Google fashion, Schemer appears to be some sort of beta that is open to everyone, and promises to suggest things to do, or Schemes, based on what you have told it you like. Interestingly, it can also use the weather, time of day and location as metrics for deciding what to recommend. Piqued your interest?
Now that Google Schemer has found its way off of Android and on to iOS, things are beginning to get interesting...