Tag: navigation

Huawei to use TomTom maps

Following the embargo placed on Huawei, the Chinese phone company can no longer trade with US companies. It’s effectively received a closed door from Google and all its associated services. To be honest most of the Google services can be replaced – in fact most phone manufacturers have …

Amazing new Google Walking AR directions heading your way

I’ll be honest, this popped up the internet last month but we were a little busy with Mobile World Congress at the time. This, then, is what you can hopefully expect to see on your Google Maps in a few months time. Right now it’s only available to …

Is Google Maps making us drive more sensibly?

Yesterday I made a slight error. It’s something I’ve done before, when I strangely only allocated myself 2 hours to drive from Heathrow Airport to Stoke. I did it again, but this time I was driving back from Reading. I knew I wouldn’t get back in time. I’d …

The breadcrumbs are back!

I’m typing this on my old Chromebook. Man, it feels good. Like a pair of comfy slippers. Turn on, into a browser, type a bit, close the lid. No updates interrupting the experience. No 5 minute random unknown reboot times. No virus worries. Just productivity power. Love it. …

#MWC18 – Meet the biggest smartphone in the world.

On Monday we stumbled upon these really tiny phones that plugged straight into your ear. They were one step away from plugging directly into your brain, and were the size of a regular Bluetooth hands-free device. Now we’ve found the complete opposite – a simply massive smartphone. This …

TomTom, remember them? Now they’re killing off lifetime updates.

Every. Single. Time someone asks me what TomTom to get, I say, “Why? Use Google Maps”. Across Europe, you get inclusive data, so you can use Google Maps there and benefit from live traffic and routing information. Meanwhile, if you want to go further, you can download offline …

SmartHalo – Finally, an easy to use navigation device for your bike

We’ve seen similar things in the past, but I’ll confess that this is the first one selling on Apple.com. The Montreal-based startup has sent us oodles of details for their SmartHalo gadget, but for me it’s probably easier to just watch this demo video. I promise I didn’t …

BeeLine – Cycle navigation made easy

I like the sound of this little doo-hickey. Just strap it to your bike and it’ll provide a simple guide to your destination. An arrow shows you the direction you need to be heading and below it’ll show how many miles remain. You can then make the best …

Using your phone on holiday. Top tips.

Honestly. I’m no good at the Search Engine Optimisation business. I’m writing this during the last few days of August. It’s when most of you guys are returning from holiday but here, here I am writing an article on how to prepare for a holiday. That’s a bit …

Google Maps update brings WiFi only mode and save to SD card function.

I’ve been an Android user since my first T-Mobile G1 way back in 2008, and as such watched and used Google Maps through its iterations and updates: the introduction of free navigation, the ability to download certain area’s for offline use, etc etc, with each iteration making improvements …

Where have you been this year? Find out easily with Google Timeline

If you’ve got yourself an Android handset then I can safely bet that it’s silently tracking your movements. Even if GPS is off, the network location will be logging your position. We’ve covered the fact that you can access this stored data before, but after logging in last …

CoPilot on test

So just to set my stall out, pre-Lumia and “Here”, I used CoPilot. It was one of the most feature-packed and reasonably-priced navigation products for Windows Mobile at the time. So here we are on a new platform – Windows Phone. It’s the same product and of course …

RealVNC – Use your car to control your phone

We’ve just come back from a rather cool demonstration with the guys at RealVNC. Their in-car management system will connect to your smartphone, iPhone or tablet and allows you to control all aspects of the device through a screen-mirroring system. The demo, as you’ll see below, shows how …

Google Maps 7.0 hits Play Store

The updated Google Maps has finally appeared on the Play Store. Featuring the new stripped down UI first featured on the iPhone, it’s quite a change from the previous Android versions which were fairly Chrome heavy. There are also a number of other changes.  UI The new UI …

Maps for iOS? Nokia HERE is.. err.. HERE

Maps, on iOS? Let’s not go there shall we? Now Nokia are getting in on the act, launching a location and mapping service for iOS. It’ll be called “HERE”. Yes, iOS. Android soon, and Windows Phone of course too. It’s not just maps either, there’s navigation, offline caching …

Opinion: Android’s “iceberg ahead” moment?

The launch of Windows Phone 8 has thrown Microsoft’s phone efforts back into the spotlight, and how it has struggled to gain market share over Apple and Android. With yet another relaunch of a mobile OS, Microsoft and its embattled partner Nokia (or future purchase), certainly have their …

Help me Robin !

This is Robin, a personal driving assistant which offers help and advice. It’s free and a rather porky 23MB download which is designed to come up with answers while you concentrate on driving. It’s in Beta, so the results might not be perfect just yet, but seemed to …

Google Maps (and many other apps) updated. Offline Maps are go!

Check into the Google Play store this morning and you’ll find a whole heap of updates from Google. Apps inluding Chrome, Google Play Books, Google+, Google Earth have been updated and Google Maps now has an “Offline Mode”. What is this? Well, remember years ago when we used …

Navigate and stay informed with Waze

Available for absolutely nothing, Waze is an Android / iPhone / BlackBerry / Nokia application which works by sharing data between users. By sharing and collecting information on progress by other users it’ll help build a picture of road conditions. Their Live Map shows some of the reports …

Google Maps, now taking you around the Underground too

Google Maps has just been updated and now includes public transport directions. Available for iOS, Blackberry and Anddoid it’ll even get you around the tube with Transit Navigation (Beta). Find your destination, choose “Directions” and you’re off. If you’ve tried it to get around London by bus or …