On Friday, Windows Phone users supposedly found themselves unable to access Google Maps. But Google said it made no sudden change on its end to cause this. What happened? It seems likely many people simple noticed for the first time long-standing redirection that Google had in place for those not using Android or iOS devices. Windows Phone User? No Google Maps For You! To recap briefly, some Windows Phone users started reporting (as covered by The Verge) that they were unable to reach Google Maps using the Internet Explorer web browser on their phones. They got redirected instead to the Go [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Mobile | Features: Analysis | Google: Maps & Local | Microsoft: Windows Phone | Top News

The notion that Google Maps drove a rash of iOS 6 upgrades turns out to be wrong according to ad network Chitika. As several people have already argued, iOS 6 traffic growth more likely came from the release of the iPhone 5 in China (Apple said it sold 2 million handsets over the initial weekend). Mobile ad exchange MoPub earlier this week suggested a large contingent of Apple iPhone owners who hadn't yet upgraded from iOS 5 to iOS 6 were prompted to do so by the release of the new Google Maps app. That story seemed to fit with the immense anticipation and interest, among tech writers, [...]

Related Topics: Apple | Channel: Mobile | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile

Google Maps new iOS app is terrific -- although initiating navigation isn't as intuitive as it might be. But I've found that Apple Maps is as good or nearly as good, at least in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have not had a chance to test maps apps side-by-side in other regions. Here's what can be said from my experience of the comparison this past weekend: Google Maps offers more local data on the map when doing a category search. It also does a somewhat better job with the "local search" experience overall when the map is the entry point Google's local business profile pages offe [...]

Related Topics: Apple: Maps | Channel: Mobile | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile | Top News

Following its acquisition of travel software provider ITA, Google's flight and hotel search products have offered isolated useful features but have largely failed to live up to Google's promise of "innovation." Consumers have mostly failed to notice Google's travel innovations so far as well. There are now indications that Google's travel sites and content are becoming more integrated into something more interesting and useful for travelers and not simply "me-too" products -- as they mostly have been to date. A Google blog post today provides a review of recent upgrades to Google Fligh [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Mobile | Google: Google Now | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile | Google: Travel Search | Google: Web Search | Top News

Just about a week ago Google's new Google Maps iPhone app was released and oh boy were people waiting for it. Jeff Huber, Google's Senior Vice President of Commerce & Local at Google said on Google+ that in two days they had over 10 million downloads of the app. The app has already hit the number one free app rank in the Apple App Store and has over 20,000 reviews with a 4.5 star rating. Finally, the reviews for the Google Maps app have almost all been stellar. Jeff Huber wrote: We're excited for the positive reception of Google Maps for iPhone around the world. Congratulations t [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Mobile | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile | Top News

According to a report in Computerworld, Google has violated German data protection and privacy rules with its new Google Maps app for the iPhone. When users install the app and agree to the terms and conditions there's a check box that authorizes Google to collect "anonymous" user location data. The fact that this box is an opt-out (rather than an opt-in) violates German privacy regulations, which require "informed consent" where personal data collection is involved. The fix is obviously easy for Google: simply uncheck the box as the default. Yet the likelihood that people will op [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Mobile | Google: Legal | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile | Google: Outside US | Legal: Privacy | Legal: Regulation

Google has released its long-awaited map app for the iPhone. And it delivers all the expected features: voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation, traffic, public transit, Street View and so on. It's better than Google Maps for Android because it has been built or rebuilt "from the ground up" and didn't grow by accretion. The bottom line: it delivers. Yet it's also not 100 percent satisfying (at least in my initial test). I'm not sure what I was expecting. It's not integrated with Siri. You can't say "I need directions to San Francisco" and be taken to Google Maps, as you once could. Instea [...]

Related Topics: Apple | Apple: Maps | Apple: Siri | Channel: Mobile | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile | Top News

Google has been helping the popular NORAD Tracks Santa site locate Santa Claus on Christmas Eve since 2007. But this year, Jolly St. Nick will be tracked on Bing Maps, not Google. NORAD is also pushing an official Windows 8 app. It part of Microsoft being the new lead partner for the site. NOTE: For the latest news on 2012 Santa tracking, see our post: Where’s Santa Claus? The 2012 Santa Tracker List, From NORAD To Google, From The Web To Apps Goodbye, Google NORAD Tracks Santa has a new "team" page listing corporate sponsors. Microsoft tops the list; Bing Maps is prominent and Google is [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Local | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Marketing | Microsoft: Bing | Microsoft: Marketing | Search Engines: Santa Tracker | Top News

This is a bit of bad PR: Macrumors reports that Australian police have warned iPhone owners in that country not to rely upon Apple Maps due to "safety concerns." According to a local police statement: Mildura Police are urging motorists to be careful when relying on the mapping system on the Apple i-phones operating on the iOS 6 system after a number of motorists were directed off the beaten track in recent weeks.  Local Police have been called to assist distressed motorists who have become stranded within the Murray-Sunset National Park after following directions on their Apple i-phone [...]

Related Topics: Apple: Maps | Channel: Mobile | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile | Top News

A few months ago, Google introduced the knowledge graph carousel feature to desktop users. Now, when you search Google on your tablet device, such as your iPad, Google make show you a carousel like feature at the top of the search results. 9to5Google spotted this claiming it works for local based queries. I was able to replicate it and here is my screen shot: The issue I had is that you cannot swipe the local results from left to right with your finger. One would expect such an experience when using the carousel feature on your tablet. In fact, searching for other search exampl [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEO | Google: Knowledge Graph | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile

After a several year lull the mapping segment is really hot again. Google, Apple, Microsoft, Nokia and Amazon are now competing fiercely in a newly reinvigorated mapping arena. Yesterday, Amazon announced that its Maps API is now generaly available to developers who want to integrate maps into their Kindle Fire apps. Google Maps isn't available for Kindle devices. Like the Google Play marketplace, which isn't on Kindle Fire, Amazon doesn't allow Google Maps on the popular devices (though you can get to it via the mobile web). The Amazon Maps API was first released in beta earlier this [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Local | Google: Maps & Local | Search Engines: Maps & Local Search Engines

Nokia has many fans around the world who believe that its mapping service is the best one out there. And in selected ways it might be. Nokia offered "offline" maps well before Google. The company is also the go-to mapping provider for third parties, such as Yahoo and Yandex. In addition, Nokia plays an increasingly important role on the back end for Bing Maps both on Windows Phone 8 devices and on the PC. Nokia subsidiary Navteq was once one of the primary data providers for Google Maps until Nokia acquired the company for roughly $8 billion in 2007. All this suggests that Nokia's spl [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Mobile | Features: Analysis | Google: Maps & Local | Search Engines: Maps & Local Search Engines | Search Engines: Mobile Search Engines

When Apple announced, in June, that it was introducing its own maps and ousting Google from its default position on the iPhone, that was perhaps the best thing that could have happened to Mountain View. Apple subsequently introduced an elegant-looking but flawed mapping app as part of iOS 6. While Apple and its mapping mistakes have helped to open up the market somewhat, and brought new attention to third party mapping apps such as Waze, Scout and others, they have also created an opening for Google to fully monetize local search on the iPhone in ways that were not equally possible before. [...]

Related Topics: Apple | Apple: Maps | Channel: Mobile | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile | Top News

While this will be a true multi-channel holiday, the overwhelming number of actual purchases (north of 90 percent) will still be made in stores. Yet those purchases will be highly influenced by PC, tablet and smartphone usage. More than 80 - 90 percent of online consumers do research before buying offline. This has been documented by several surveys and it makes anecdotal and intuitive sense. Yet most marketers appear to have not fully understood this until recently. In recognition of this "online-offline" consumer shopping pattern (and especially for Q4) Google is introducing a range of [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEM | Google: AdWords | Google: Maps & Local | Top News

Globally there are arguably four main digital mapping competitors: Google, Apple, Microsoft and Nokia. Google is the clear leader. However Nokia is making a renewed bid to challenge Google's mapping supremacy with a rebranded platform "Here," new APIs, a Google Street View-like offering, augmented reality and new apps for third party smartphone operating systems. Apple is busy trying to fix its recently launched maps and seems to be making some progress. Bing, after aggressively investing in maps for several years, now seems to be outsourcing key parts of its mapping infrastructure to Nokia [...]

Related Topics: Apple: Maps | Channel: Mobile | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile | Microsoft: Bing | Microsoft: Bing Maps & Local | Search Engines: Maps & Local Search Engines | Top News

As consumers prepare to get serious about their holiday shopping, Google is introducing new features to its pay-for-play Shopping search engine, including 360 degree product images, deals and discounts, and a collaborative shopping list. 360 Degree Views Start With Toys The company has started its effort to get 360 degree images of products with the toy category -- a natural for the holiday season. Google VP of Product Management Sameer Samat told me the company's priority is on products that consumers like to examine closely and feel in the retail environment -- such as apparel, shoes a [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEM | Google: AdWords | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Product Search

Citing "sources at Google familiar with its mapping plans," the UK Guardian website reports what amounts to anxiety that Google's forthcoming mapping app will not be approved by Apple: Sources at Google familiar with its mapping plans say they are "not optimistic" that Apple will ever approve a dedicated Google Maps iOS app. Though the app is reportedly in development and should be ready to ship by the end of the year, the sources say their plans are only proceeding in "the unlikely event" that Apple will choose to approve the app. Although any user can bookmark a page on the Safari browse [...]

Related Topics: Apple: Maps | Channel: Mobile | Features: Analysis | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile

Google is in the process of shutting down its collection of city pages -- a change that follows the shift from Google Places to Google+ Local, and a change that may be reflective of a larger shift in direction for Google's local efforts. Mike Blumenthal noticed yesterday that the Portland city page had gone missing. The page used to be accessible at www.google.com/portland/ (which redirected to www.google.com/city/portland/), but that URL now produces a 404 error. The same thing happens with some other city page URLs, like google.com/sandiego and google.com/madison. Those pages were laun [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Social | Google: Google+ | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Place Pages | Top News

We know from multiple data sources that more than 90 percent of smartphone owners use maps and local search. We also know from Google that up to 50 percent of mobile search carries a local intent. Now, a new local search study from YP and Street Fight takes a closer look at local search behavior and tries to segment the audience based on the intensity of local search frequency and usage. Got Mobile Devices? You're Likely An "Avid" Local Searcher Based on a survey of 1,100 US adults, the study found that 40 percent of survey respondents used local search daily and that 70 percent of smartphon [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Mobile | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile | Google: Web Search | Search Engines: Maps & Local Search Engines | Top News

For those of you in the path of Hurricane Sandy, like me, knowing certain information about the storm can be vital to those stuck at home and preparing for the storm. Google announced a new crisis map for Hurricane Sandy at google.org/crisismap/2012-sandy and they have an additional more detailed map for New York City at google.org/crisismap/2012-sandy-nyc. What do these maps give you? Location tracking, including the hurricane’s current and forecasted paths, courtesy of the NOAA-National Hurricane Center Public alerts, including evacuation notices, storm warnings, and more, via [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Local | Google: Maps & Local