14 DAY TRIAL // Android mobile phone users have now yet another newly enhanced solution available for their handsets, in the form of Google Maps 3.4, which has been included in the recently announced over-the-air software update for the Nexus One by HTC, and which is also available for download from the Android market for older phones. According to Google, some of the main features of the new iteration of the application include personalized suggestions and synchronized starring, enabling users to take their search with them while on the go.
“If you often use both a computer and a mobile phone in your daily routine, it can seem like a hassle when they don't stay in sync. You might spend time on your computer looking for a great used bookstore, only to forget the name of the place when you are ready to get directions from your phone. Sure, you could print directions in advance, but we believe smartphones are "smart" because they save you time. That's why today we're making your phone a bit smarter with the introduction of personalized suggestions and synchronized starring in Google Maps for mobile on Android,” a recent post on Google Mobile Blog notes.
Personalized suggestions, one of the newly announced main features of Google Maps 3.4 for Android, offers users the possibility to easily find places they have searched for before. As an example, if one searches for a restaurant on a computer, and finds a series of reviews that make him/her decide to lave launch there, it will prove a like a great option to open Google Maps on the phone, start typing the name and then receive suggestions for the search. This eliminates the need of re-typing an entire query on the phone and enables users receive directions to a place much faster.
At the same time, the synchronized starring is said to be an appealing new feature for users, as they can save places to be accessed later. Basically, as soon as one user stars a place on the computer, it can be set to appear on the map as soon as one opens Google Maps on the mobile phone. To star a place, one will only have to press the star icon next to the place name when viewing its details, and the synchronization is made automatically between the computer and the phone. To access them, one will have to go to the More menu on the phone, or to the My Maps tab on the computer.
“Starring and personalized suggestions both require you to be signed in with your Google account, and your Web History must be enabled in order to use personalized suggestions.With synchronized starring and personalized suggestions, we hope to make your life easier when taking places and searches between your computer and phone. Both features are available in Google Maps 3.4. On Nexus One phones, you'll get this version of Maps after you accept the over-the-air update that started today. For other Android devices, starring and personalized suggestions will soon be available by downloading Google Maps 3.4 from Android Market. Lastly, be sure to check out the newly added "night mode" in Navigation, which will automatically turn on for easier Navigation viewing at night,” the blog post concludes.
