Google Maps rides to iOS users' rescue (week in review)
Google returns its maps to Apple's mobile operating system and, separately, revamps image search to make it harder for the innocent to stumble upon porn. Also: Instagram filters out Twitter.
Google Maps returned to the iOS platform this week, but that was not enough to rescue Apple's map app rep.
Banished from Apple's iOS earlier this fall, Google Maps returned to the mobile platform in the form of a standalone app. The official Google Maps app returned to Apple's App store Thursday evening with turn-by-turn navigation, as well as public transit directions, integrated Street View, and a 3D-like Google Earth view. Google Maps didn't take long to capture the top spot among free iPhone apps.
The release came a few days after Apple again became the subject of ridicule when police in Australia issued a warning discouraging iPhone users from relying on Apple's map app after rescuing several people who became stranded in recent weeks in the wilderness following the app's directions.
However, the bad directions may not entirely be the iPhone makers fault; apparently there are two listings for the same problematic location in the Australian Gazetteer, the de facto local geographical dictionary that lists some 322,000 locations and their corresponding GPS coordinates.
• Police: Google Maps giving dangerous directions, too
• Samsung knocks Apple Maps in Sydney marketing stunt
• Apple could make bid for map firm TomTom, analyst says
More headlines
Google tweaks image search to make porn harder to find
The company says the move is designed to ensure adult content is shown only to those who explicitly request it.• Google: No immediate plans for Google Apps on Windows 8
Instagram photos disappear from Twitter feeds
Picture this: The photo-sharing app completely turns off all support for the microblogging site.• Twitter takes on Instagram with new photo filters
• Instagram improves camera, editing, and adds new filter
• Analyst: Instagram will be big moneymaker for Facebook
BlackBerry 10 revives RIM's chances at federal agency
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency had said it would dump BlackBerry in favor of the iPhone. But now it will run a pilot program for new BB10 devices.• BlackBerry 10 goes 'gold' for developers
• BlackBerry 10 to feature deep integration of Evernote
Crazy like a fox? McAfee admits to playing the 'crazy card'
The security software founder, who has arrived back in the U.S. after fleeing Belize for Guatemala, tells ABC News he faked health problems to avoid being deported to Belize.• Antivirus guru John McAfee sells rights for movie about his life
U.N. summit implodes as U.S., others spurn Internet treaty
The summit on telecommunications policy breaks down after U.S., Canada, and other democracies refuse to sign a treaty that would hand a U.N. agency more authority over how the Internet is managed.• U.N. summit derailed over human rights controversy
• Russia abandons proposal for U.N. governance of Internet
• U.N. proposal renews concerns of Internet power grab
Facebook privacy settings get reworked once again
The social network overhauls its settings, not for the first time, in an attempt to make things easier for people to understand, and phases out the option to block people from searching for your profile.• Facebook: No more voting, but we're still listening
• Facebook voting is gone, but privacy issues just get worse
• The Facebook vote and a nation-state in cyberspace
FTC re-slams apps for kids over privacy concerns
In a follow up to a 2011 study, the Federal Trade Commission found that "little or no progress has been made" on disclosure of information gathering since the first report was issued.• Developer temporarily pulls kids app accused of privacy violations
Also of note
• Facebook helps FBI take down $850M botnet crime ring
• FCC wants texting apps like iMessage in text-to-911 plan
• Former top Apple fanboy now rocks all Android devices