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Google Maps for Android Shows What’s Nearby, Plus New Maps Labs

Categories: Android, Applications, LBS
By: , IntoMobile
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 1:30 PM

Android-WhatsNearbyI would be sick of all of these Google announcements if they weren’t all so unanimously cool. Google Maps for Android is getting a few extra goodies, starting with “What’s nearby?” As you might expect, it shows all of the Google Maps listings closest to your GPS location. Simple, and an effective way of knowing what’s nearby without actually having to look away from your phone (heaven forbid).

A slightly more exciting announcement is Labs for Google Maps on Android. This lets you check out some prerelease/experimental features not unlike the Gmail labs. Some of the first features here include a topographical terrain layer for the hikers out there, popular categories, compass-enabled My Location dot, and main-screen layers button. If any of those features are wonky or the mapping data seems incorrect, you can report it to Google right through the app. Neat stuff all around, and available to any Android device running OS 1.6 and up.

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About The Author

Simon Sage

Simon Sage’s education largely surrounded writing, technology and online community, leading him to begin his blogging career at www.BlackBerryCool.com and to quickly discover a vibrant and active community surrounding BlackBerry and mobile technology. In exploring RIM’s platform, he has learned what enterprises are looking for in mobility as well as what makes the innocuous BlackBerry so appealing to them. Recently Simon’s been covering RIM’s gradual move into an already-crowded consumer market, and the impact of burgeoning challengers, such as the iPhone, as well as long-time leaders, like Nokia, on BlackBerry’s advancement. With plenty of content under his belt, Simon will be branching off a bit to see what other smartphone manufacturers are working on while still using BlackBerry as a barometer. At IntoMobile, you can count on his posts being even-handed, well-informed and thought-out.