Google’s never been afraid to “blow it out” with Google Maps, most famously with its inclusion of Navigation, which knocked the legs out from under a lot of the GPS device and navigation app market. Google Maps 5.0 for Android might seem similarly earth shattering, but it marks a significant change to the basic technology of Google Maps. Most importantly, Google is now using vector graphics for its maps, which are scalable and much lighter weight than the traditional stitched together images used in most Google Maps incarnations. The vectors also enable something else a whole lot sexier: a two finger swipe can “tilt” the map and now you’ve got a 3D view of the landscape. It’s not quite as flashy as Google Earth, but it looks a whole lot more useful. The other thing these low-bandwidth vector maps enables is offline caching of maps, specifically your most frequently visited locations, and entire trips that have been routed in Navigation, including potential reroutes. Anybody with an Android 1.6 or higher device can download 5.0 right now for free, but the 3D and offline features are 2.0+ only.

Continue reading Google Maps 5.0 hits Android, includes new 3D map view and offline Navigation

Google Maps 5.0 hits Android, includes new 3D map view and offline Navigation originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile USA fires up first solar-powered cell site in Pennsylvania originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Google Earth 3.1 for iOS gets its ocean layer, Eric Schmidt’s undersea base conspicuously absent

Google Earth 3.1 for iOS gets its ocean layer, Eric Schmidt’s undersea base conspicuously absent originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading New Google Earth for Android lets users tour New Kelp City, Mermalair, other underwater locales

New Google Earth for Android lets users tour New Kelp City, Mermalair, other underwater locales originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Update: Looks like the app’s been pulled. Ye who snoozes, ergo must lose. If you did manage to nab and the video below isn’t working (we see it just fine), check out App Shopper for more detailed, text-based instructions.

Continue reading Handy Light for iPhone’s dirty little secret: tethering (update)

Handy Light for iPhone’s dirty little secret: tethering (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Ericsson estimates mobile lines have hit 5 billion, gives shout out to China and India for the help

Ericsson estimates mobile lines have hit 5 billion, gives shout out to China and India for the help originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yeah, seriously. While Aircell’s Gogo in-flight WiFi service has been blocking VoIP calling services (Skype being the most obvious example) from day one, it’s apparently not throwing the same brick wall in the face of Apple’s new standard. Our good pals over at TUAW managed to record a (relatively) solid two minute FaceTime conversation with an iPhone 4 owner, and only after you realize that said owner is a few thousand feet above the Earth’s surface does this all become a lot more interesting. We know for a fact that certain iPhone 4 owners have had difficulty with FaceTime conversations when using highly firewalled access points (like those found in hotels and corporate offices), but it seems as if seat 16A is cleared for transmission. For now, anyway. Head on past the break to peek the FaceTime ad that Apple forgot to make.

Continue reading FaceTime video call works beautifully on airplane’s in-flight WiFi (video)

FaceTime video call works beautifully on airplane’s in-flight WiFi (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia’s Ovi Store got a little more awesome this week thanks to a makeover that brought a handful of minor changes — nothing Earth-shattering by any stretch, but in this app-centric mobile world we’re now an inseparable part of, we figure that every little bit helps. Actually, they’ve made changes both to the mobile and desktop clients, with the mobile side focusing on better and easier access to details about apps that you’re looking at buying; they’ve also switched from a three-star rating system to five stars based on user feedback. On the desktop side, you’ve now got a list-based view of search results, and you’re more aggressively asked to select your device to make sure you’re not seeing any content that your particular device can’t use. The updated Store is available immediately, so enjoy — and go buy a few bubble level apps, why don’t you?

Ovi Store warmed over with fresh look, new features originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 03:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s no TouchFLO or SPB Mobile Shell, but it turns out you will be able theme Windows Phone 7 Series… a little. Although we’ve only ever seen the classy “dark” theme with the black background, Microsoft just demoed a “light” theme with dark text on a white background. Earth-shattering, we know. Both themes also have selectable accent colors, but don’t expect to go crazy here: your choices are red, orange, green and blue. We’re hoping all of these options will be expanded over time, but for now it’s not looking like a customizer’s dream come true.

Windows Phone 7 Series will have themes… sort of originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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