Wednesday, December 29, 2010

New Google Maps for Android



For me, the important new features are the ability to have the maps cached to view offline and ability to search for local businesses (and connect to their Google information, with ratings, phone numbers which I can immediately dial, etc.). For gas prices, I use Gas Buddy, linked to Google Maps when I need directions.

The important old features are, of course, synchrony with my saved maps (e.g., I entered the maps for my furniture pick-up route for today in Google Maps on my computer and can see them on my phone), ability to see the traffic levels and transit lines (subway, etc.).

The important feature yet to be created by Google is an easy ability to synchronize my Google Contacts with my Google Maps. I should be able to choose to view the addresses from my “Furniture Pick-Up” group from contacts on the Maps. When I click on each address’s “pin”, I should be able to see all the notes that I made and call them. It’s a very easy thing to create (comparing to everything else that Google has made available), so it’s surprising that Google hasn’t done that yet.

18 comments:

e said...

http://www.thechurchofgoogle.org/

CA said...

Google is divisible, finite, imperfect, and has properties. Ergo, not G-d.

CA said...

People who haven’t learned Chassidus and talk about G-d for the most part make fools of themselves.

e said...

It's all a matter of how you define "god."

CA said...

Well, if you define “G-d” as “a very successful search engine”, then yes, Google is Him. If you define G-d as “the source of all reality”, then not.

Same goes for any word. For instance, “Belgium”.

e said...

But what if you define "god" as omniscient, omnipresent, and omnibeneficent? Have you seen http://www.thechurchofgoogle.org/Scripture/Proof_Google_Is_God.html

CA said...

no-no. those are characteristics of G-d’s actions, not of G-d Himself. His expressions in the world. Being all those things does yet make one G-d. (For instance, one can also be a Rebbe.)

e said...

OK. You're entitled to your opinion about god.

CA said...

It’s not an opinion. It’s logic.

e said...

Listen here, fact it's not.

CA said...

You’re saying that reality has no source? Or that the source is an itself a sort of reality? Both are illogical statements. If we accept as a fact that reality exists (as we should), then we must accept that it has a source and that source is not a reality itself.

e said...

ok. but how does god get involved?

CA said...

I am defining “G-d” as that source. (That’s why “G-d” is capitalized.) Proving that G-d is the G-d of Jewish tradition is the job of Judaism. But whatever G-d is, He (It) is not Google.

e said...

OK. But most people do not define god that way.

CA said...

Well, that’s their misfortune.

e said...

I repeat, you're entitled to your opinion.

le7 said...

Um. Cool. I kind of don't like google maps for my iPod. I wish I could save routes and maps.

BUT it syncs with my google calendar which I think is pretty sweet.

Anarchist Chossid said...

Your Google Maps sync with Google Calendar? Or your iPod?