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- POI quick facts
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- Upcoming events
Google is packing even more useful information into the latest version of its Maps app for iOS. Google Maps 4.3.0 for iPhone and iPad adds several contextual data points to locations like nearby businesses for address searches, quick facts for notable locations, and even event information for select venues.As you can see with the Empire State Building search, Google Maps will include information from sources like Wikipedia prominently within search results for popular locations. While a short summary is presented, a link to Wikipedia will open the full entry right in Google Maps, or you can open the page in Chrome, Safari, or copy the URL to your clipboard from there.
In the same section, Google Maps will now include upcoming events right in the app for select venues so you can plan your trip when searching for the location. In the example I found searching for the Apollo Theater in New York City, Google Maps provides a lengthy list of upcoming performance titles with performers in a summarized block of text. Actual event times or links to purchase tickets to these shows aren’t available, but it’s enough additional context to find information you might have otherwise missed.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylsz0OB7sp0]
Google Maps 4.3.0 also adds Local Guide badges for sharing reviews of locations in the app. Public transit travelers will also now be able to add directions directly from Google Maps to the calendar for saving outside of the app.
The latest version of Google Maps for iPhone and iPad is available for free on the App Store.
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While google adds more meta information, Apple adds more eye-candy. Ugh. I do not want to have google apps on my devices but until Apple gets something as basic as subway lines in New York into Maps, I’ll keep google maps around.
What exactly is wrong with having Google maps on your device?
I like to keep it simple and if Apple has an app that will do what I want that’s part of iOS, I’ll use it. Apple maps is nicely integrated into the entire OS and it has a much cleaner look than Google maps. That said, I use maps quite a bit and when Apple maps falls down, I use Google maps. It would be nice to have all of that in a single application.
Before this update I found a glitch with Google Maps and the user pictures on iOS. It looks like they fixed it, but only by patching it up. I’m not a developer, just a regular guy who fiddles here and there. Anyone know where I can go to report this? I screen shot a video that show this as well, before and after.