SEOGadget noticed Google testing a new travel search OneBox interface. I suspect this is an early sign of the Google ITA integration, where Google purchased ITA, a travel software company. A typical Google travel search OneBox looks like this: The new travel OneBox offers a more detailed box of information with departing cities, airlines and prices: Clicking on the plus sign will extend the one box to show you additional departing cities, airlines and prices: I personally cannot replicate it but let me share the screen shots from SEOGadget's blog. Postscript: Goog [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEO | Google: Acquisitions | Google: OneBox, Plus Box & Direct Answers | Google: Transit | Google: User Interface

Google's mission is "to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful." Their next step into that realm is making auto driving cars. The Google Blog announced Google has "developed technology for cars that can drive themselves." Yes, auto-driving cars, like from the movies and high tech TV shows. Google's reasoning behind this move is to make the roads safer and reduce accidents. Google said they have been testing this for a while and have already driven 140,000 miles with trained safety drivers who can override the system at any time. Google explaine [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Mobile | Google: Cars | Google: General | Google: Labs | Google: Mobile | Google: Transit | Top News

Already recognized in some quarters as the most feature-rich of the major mapping sites, Google Maps has announced the addition of public transit data in more than 50 cities around the world. The new Transit Layer is available as a choice under the MORE button on the Google Maps interface: Once selected, the Transit Layer will display public transportation lines/routes for the area you're viewing. Google describes it as a "virtual metro map on top of Google Maps." It doesn't provide full schedules and routing details like Google Transit does, but it will show the transit lines in the [...]

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

You've seen the Earth Day logos, now comes several Earth Day related announcements from Google. The most significant of those involves the expansion of Google Transit to nine new US locations, including San Francisco, Denver, Millwaukee, Ann Arbor and Holland, MI, Kansas City, MO, Framingham and Cape Cod, MA. Here's more from the Google LatLong blog. Other green related initiatives and announcements launching in celebration of Earth Day can be found on the Official Google blog. [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Local | Google: Transit

The Google LatLong blog announced that Google Transit now supports certain areas in Europe. Google Transit is a tool to help you find public transportation options for your trip or commute. Google Transit supports travel southeast of the UK, SBB, Switzerland, VBZ, Zurich, Switzerland, Turin, Italy, and Florence, Italy. Yes, Google Maps and Google Transit are also integrated for the available European options mentioned above. Here is an example route for Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi to Piazza Leopoldo Pietro: [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Local | Google: Transit

Google Operating System reports Google Transit data can now be found in Google Maps for select cities. If you plot driving directions between Norwalk, California and Orange County, California, you should see an option on the left for "Directions: Drive There - Take Public Transit." Clicking on "Take Public Transit" will plot Google Transit data within maps. After you click on the transit link, you are given various ways to take public transportation between the two locations. Here is a picture of that in action: Here is an embedded map: View Larger Map [...]

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

Google May Start New York Transit Guide to Boost Ads from Bloomberg reports that Google Transit will soon support the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. Currently Google Transit covers about 15 U.S. cities including Burbank, Humboldt County, Orange County, San Diego, Tampa, Honolulu, Duluth, Las Vegas Monorail, Reno, Eugene, Portland, Pittsburgh, Austin, Dallas and Seattle. Two of New York's largest transit companies, New Jersey Transit and the MTA have both confirmed working with Google to provide maps and schedules to Google. Greg Sterling was quoted when asked about the potential ad [...]

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

Adam Darowski blogged about getting some really bad advice from Google Transit, specifically asking him to "cross an eight-lane highway on foot." So how did Google respond? Joe Hughes of Google Transit sent Adam a Superman cape and a letter apologizing for the inconvenience. Here is the letter: Dear Superman, Reading your blog post about Google Transit at SXSW made us wonder if you were losing your powers—I mean, how hard could it be to leap over a simple 8-lane highway intersection, man of steel? We’ve enclosed a new cape—hopefully it will help you find your powers again. …seri [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Local | Google: Marketing | Google: Transit