maps. Google

Did Apple just create the best Google ad campaign ever?

Schadenfreude, anyone?

Nobody at Google is going to own up to this publicly, but Apple just handed Sergey, Larry, and the Android team the best marketing material they could ever hope for this fall.

With only hours to go before the iPhone 5 goes on sale in Asia, this would normally be an occasion for full-on celebration at Apple. Instead, it's been a tough 24 hours with iOS 6 users around the world posting evidence of myriad geographic mistakes and misplaced towns they've turned up in the mapping app for the iOS 6 operating system.

And in the … Read more

Android users gloating over Apple Maps fiasco

If you see someone walking around today with an extra spring in their step, it might well be an Android user.

On a day when the world was hurling insult after accusation after put-down at Apple for its iOS 6 Maps fiasco, a lot of people getting from point A to point B using Google Maps on Android devices are probably feeling pretty good about themselves and their technology. And maybe even a little superior.

"I saw the new iOS Maps app," wrote @ArdaXi on Twitter. "Really, I appreciate all the effort Apple is expending to drive … Read more

Amid weak reviews of Apple Maps, Google offers alternative

Reviews of Apple's new maps application are in, and they aren't great.

Everyone praises the app's look and feel, but critics have said it is inferior to the app it replaced in important ways. CNET's Jason Parker said users would likely miss Google Maps. "Not only are Google Maps no longer integrated, but also you're further walled into Apple's ecosystem," he wrote.

Harsher notes were sounded by All Things D's Walt Mossberg, who called it the " biggest drawback" of the iPhone 5. Daring Fireball's John Gruber labeled the … Read more

How to see inside businesses using Google Maps

A new feature inside Google Maps lets users peek inside businesses before visiting them, thanks to panoramic photos shared by the businesses with Google.

"These interior business photos on Google Maps give you the feeling of being there, and the comfort of knowing what to expect when you arrive," the company said in a blog post.

To see the panoramic photos, first zoom in toward street level -- if you're more than four levels up from the street, it won't work.

Click and drag the orange figure known as Pegman over the section of the map … Read more

The 404 1,127: Where we eat our utility bill (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Google Glass makes catwalk debut at New York Fashion Week.

- The Fifth Element inspired: Remote-controlled roaches to the rescue.

- Odd "digital rituals" we perform to make technology serve us.

- Will putting a car remote under your chin increase its range?

Bathroom break video: Pong traffic light in Germany.

Video voice mail: Matt is now the ultimate trucker.

Episode 1,127 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video

Google Map Maker users can now share their maps via Google+

Those of you who build and tweak your own maps via Google's Map Maker can now share them with your circles on Google+.

Any maps that you share via a post pop up on your Google+ profile, visible to the folks who follow you. They can then see your map and comment on it, according to the latest info from the Google Maps team.

Google has outlined a series of steps for sharing your maps on its social network. It's just as simple as sharing other content. Simply click on the Share button, type your message, and then … Read more

Google Maps for Android adds turn-by-turn navigation for bicyclists

Google Maps for Android has offered turn-by-turn directions for automotive use since 2009. It wasn't long until walking navigation was added in 2010. Finally, transit direction made the jump to turn-by-turn navigation back in June of this year. Today, with the version 6.11.1 update to the Google Maps app, cyclists can get in on the turn-by-turn fun with the addition of bicycle route navigation.

Cyclists will be able to view turn-by-turn directions on a live updating map after selecting a destination and affixing their phone onto the handle bars, or they can simply listen to the spoken … Read more

When Google Street View and ASCII art collide

Long before 1080p video and high-resolution imagery, a special graphic design style known as ASCII art enabled amateur artists to create unique images on computers through specifically formatted text.

The glory days of text art invading e-mails and bulletin boards are mostly gone. But you can at least take a stroll down memory lane with a Web site that automatically converts Google Maps' Street View into a world of colorful ASCII art. … Read more

Save maps for offline use in Google Maps for Android

Shortly after the Google I/O keynote yesterday, Google rolled out a list of app updates, one of which was an update to Google Maps. In the update, Google enabled the ability to save a section of a map for offline access. This is a great feature when you are traveling in an area with spotty coverage.

To save an area, launch Google Maps and tap on the menu key. Select Make Available Offline from the menu and then narrow down the area you want to save. You'll want to make sure you do this in advance and when … Read more

Google slashes price 88% for using Google Maps API

Google has announced an 88 percent price cut for those using Google Maps on high-traffic Web sites and services.

The move, which Google Maps API product manager Thor Mitchell announced yesterday, comes a few days before the developer-oriented Google I/O show and two weeks after Apple ditched Google Maps for the upcoming iOS 6.

Google lets others embed Google Maps on their own sites and services through the Google Maps API, or application programming interface. When Google announced new limits to Google Maps usage last October, Mitchell said at the time, "We need to secure its long-term future … Read more