GPS, Maps, and Directions

Google Maps now tops the most used apps in UK with 6.4 million users using it to find their current location and destinations, according to a research by comScore and GSMA mobile data records. Yahoo is second in place with 3.6 million users for its weather app. Facebook is very close to yahoo with 3.5 million [...]

Social media is overtaking one of the world’s most exciting races, as mobile phones and social networks will play major roles in the upcoming New York City Marathon. For this year’s big event, the Mobile Spectator App has expanded, allowing fans to follow runners throughout the event that will be held on Sunday, November 6.

Join Baratunde Thurston (left), The Onion’s Director of Digital and author of How to Be Black, for an entertaining look at creative social media campaigns in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. Other speakers include Morin Oluwole (Facebook), Tim Devane (bitly), and SocialTimes' writer Devon Glenn.   Register now.

Google Maps now tops the most used apps in UK with 6.4 million users using it to find their current location and destinations, according to a research by comScore and GSMA mobile data records. Yahoo is second in place with 3.6 million users for its weather app. Facebook is very close to yahoo with 3.5 million [...]

The Google Maps team has released a version of the Maps for Android, they are now up to version 5.5.  The new release adds redesigned Transit schedules and Place details pages as well as the option to edit home/office address for Latitude. It is now much easier to check in/out of places, get transit schedules [...]

Google Maps for Mobile is now part of more than 200 million mobile devices worldwide, according to Marissa Mayer, Google’s vice president of maps and local products, speaking at TechCrunch’s Disrupt conference in New York City. Google Maps is an integral part of the Android platform and its phenomenal adaptation has played a major role [...]

Latitude is Google’s response to Foursquare, Gowalla, and Facebook Places: A social location check-in app. As far as I can tell, very few people use it. This is ironic since it is probably descended from the first geo-location social network service I’m aware of: DodgeBall. Google bought DodgeBall and then let it disappear.

Google updated Latitude for iPhone to provide a location check-in feature (v2.1).

Explore the world with updated apps for iPhone: Check in with Latitude and use Places in 30 languages

Unlike Facebook Places and other geo-location services, Google Latitude by default provides your location regardless of whether or not you identify your current (check-in) location. This is probably why few people use it and then only share location information with select individuals (actualy friends and family). There are settings to determine how geo-location information is shared. But, I suspect this is too much busy work for most people to bother with. My view? Latitude is an interesting app that works well with Google Locations to let you know about your movements. However, it is not a great social tool. It joins Google Buzz, Google Wave and other recent Google social networking product attempts as a third tier service.

Google Latitude 2.1 (iTunes App Store)

I received a tweet from goGlyph yesterday asking:

goGlyph @toddogasawara did you get the 1.0.1

Well, actually “no” since I had not heard of the app. However, goGlyph is a free iOS app. So, I downloaded and installed it on my iPhone 4. The app’s concept is to let people leave messages associated with geographic locations. Think of it as graffiti that doesn’t spoil anyone’s view. You need to register to leave a location message. However, registration is not needed to see what has already been written for locations near you. goGlyph can retrieve location messages written up to 1000 meters (3280.8 feet) of your current location. Unfortunately, there weren’t any messages that had been written within 1000 feet of my current location last night. This isn’t too surprising since I didn’t hear much going on around me except for a pair of ducks quacking away.

This is the sort of app that works best in a dense metropoilitan area or at popular tourist spots. I’ll give it another try later this week when I am in areas like that. It would be nice if goGlyph provided a rough idea of message density within, say, 10 kilometers so that the user would know whether it is worthwhile to pop it up on the screen now and then as they travel about.

goGlyph 1.0.1 (iTunes App Store)

Google Maps for Android is a very good mapping tool. The recent addition of cached maps to get you through 3G-less areas even reduces the need for on device mapping apps. With this in mind, I was prepared to be underwhelmed by Mapquest’s new free Android app. To my surprise, I found I like Mapquest’s simple and inituitve place type category icon list at the bottom of the display. It provides a quick and simple way to find places in one or more categories.

Tapping a category spot on the map brings up information about, for example, the business (one or more) in a particular location.

I did not try the app’s turn-by-turn navigation feature or try the option to use data from the OpenStreetMap project.

Via Search Engine Land: Mapquest Takes On Google Navigation With Free Android App

AT&T has an interesting array of mobile products lined up to try to fill the expected slow down in new subscriber growth as Verizon siphons away potential new customers.

AT&T Adds Nearly 2 Million Emerging Device Connections in 4Q; Approaches 11 Million Total Devices Mark

1. Glowcaps: Intelligent medication pill container caps discussed here on Jan. 5.

2. Pandigital Novel eReader: 9-inch color ebook reader & Android tablet. Books will be available through Barnes & Noble. It will be aggressively priced at $280.

3. Garmin GTU 10: Waterproof GPS tracking device that can be attached to backpacks, dog collars, and other objects that need to be tracked. Its $200 price includes one year of tracking.

4. BMW Assist: Safety and infotainment services for future BMW cars.

Here’s something you don’t see often (ever?) on a point and shoot digital camera: A GPS. But, that’s what will be on the soon-to-be-available Panasonic Lumix TS3(FT3). It has the usual assortment of good camera features too like 12 megapixel still photos and various scene settings. However, the TS3 goes way beyond the specs I’ve seen for point and shoot cameras. Here’s some of the other goodies it includes:

- 1080p video recording (720p too)
- 3D image (MPO) support
- Orientation detection (in addition to GPS location)
- Compass
- Barometer
- Altimeter
- Waterproof (to 12 meters)
- Dust proof
- Freeze proof (to 14 degress F)

Panasonic has not revealed the TS3′s price. But, it is defintely in my gadget wish list for now.

Panasonic Lumix TS3/FT3 (product page)

My long held belief is that I’m the last person on earth who has not signed up with Foursquare and checked in somewhere. According to Foursquare’s own data, it looks like I may be right.

So we grew 3400% last year

Foursquare not only grew at a phenomenal rate, they also note the 6 millionth person signed up for service last week.

While the vast majority of check-ins appear to be U.S.-centric (based on their categorgy top 3 lists), there are a few highly checked-in sites in Tokyo, South Brisbane, and Khlong Tan.

It looks like Facebook Places and Google Latitude did not have much impact on Foursquare’s 2010 growth trajectory.