Google Maps (for iPhone)

Our short national nightmare is over. People can stop heading to the wrong cities, falling off of warped bridges, and dying of heat strokes while using Apple Maps. iPhone owners running iOS 6 can now restore Google Maps to its prominent place on the home screen for free, thanks to a new, standalone Google Maps app that's available in Apple's App Store. Also, for the first time, it brings parity with Android by including a beta version of voice-enabled car navigation. Just as Google Maps Navigation works well on Android phones, Google Maps now does the same thing on iPhones; the only difference is that you have to download it first. It's not the best at car navigation, but thanks to everything else it offers, it's an easy Editors' Choice for iPhone GPS?apps.

Interface, Map Graphics, and POI Search
In some ways, the new Google Maps app is actually smoother, more attractive, and more fun to use than the previous version. Fire it up and you'll see a 2D overhead map view of your current location. The little blue icon still pulses with light when it has a lock on your GPS location, but it's more subtle now, without the rings that emanated from it in earlier versions. Across the top is a search bar. To the right is a small icon that gives you fast access to your saved destinations, both from here and your regular Google desktop account.

Map and satellite graphics look fantastic on the iPhone 5's large Retina screen, with 3D buildings appearing in Manhattan as you zoom in closer, thanks to the new vector-based rendering engine. You can tip the view over from 2D to 3D even in pedestrian mode. Google's famed Street Views for major cities make an appearance as well. Tap the small vertical bar of dots on the bottom right, and a panel opens up giving options for real-time traffic, public transit, satellite view, and a shortcut to the Google Earth app (if you have it installed). Highlight a point of interest, and Google will display its identity on screen. Then you can swipe up to see the location, reviews, contact information, and other relevant data.

Inputting destinations for navigation is simple; you tap the navigation icon near the top, which looks like a junction arrow that splits in two directions. You can type in anything: a street address, a point of interest, a search term, whatever you want?and then select it from the resulting list below. The app also presents you with alternative routes in each mode, with a visual of how they look on the map, so you can choose whether you'd want to take a given highway or subway. There's no way to tell it up front if you want the fastest or shortest routes, or to avoid highways, though. Regardless, during my tests, everything I searched for resulted in the correct answers, just as you would expect from Google.

Car Navigation, Other Features, and Conclusions
Many iPhone users prized Google Maps for its solid, real-time pedestrian navigation, but new to this version is a voice prompt-based mode that you can use when behind the wheel. It takes a few extra taps to begin voice navigation. Once on the road, the car navigation view is a little sparse compared with what you see on TomTom, Garmin, and other car-focused navigation apps. For example, there's no current speed, road speed limit display, or configurable speed limit alerts. There's also no way to display the trip ETA, the current time, and the distance remaining simultaneously.

Audio prompts are excellent, with a smooth voice, correct pronunciation, and detailed, complete sentences at just the right times. When Google first launched Google Maps Navigation on the Motorola Droid in 2009, voice prompts were a total mess, so this is a clear victory. Google has done a lot to add photo-realistic junction views and destination photos to its navigation, but there still aren't enough of them. In fact, if there's no photo available of a highway exit, you don't see any lane assistance at all?either a 3D rendering or 2D lane arrows?which is disappointing.?

All of the routes I tested in Manhattan and in New Jersey were accurate and worked well. As always, Google Maps data is super-accurate; it even knew that you couldn't access the Lincoln Tunnel from West 34th street traveling east, and that I had to go up to West 40th Street. Real-time traffic information was also on the mark, for the most part, although saying there are "delays" in New York City in the afternoon is like saying there are stars in the sky at night.?In addition to voice navigation, Google Maps now has bike directions and Zagat reviews, and it caches maps offline in case you're outside of a cellular coverage area.

Overall, aside from some issues with the 3D interface while driving, Google Maps is a must-download for iPhone users, whether you're on foot or behind the wheel. There's no iPad version yet, unfortunately, though I imagine Google will rectify that sooner rather than later. Just as I've said in our Google Maps Navigation?review, it does a nice job with car navigation, but dedicated car nav apps still offer more, and work more like standalone GPS devices. I wouldn't automatically discount every paid navigation app from consideration, but make no mistake: Google Maps for the iPhone is a comprehensive GPS and voice navigation solution for walking, driving, biking, and taking public transit. I can't help but wonder if Apple even needs to bother fixing its own maps anymore.

More GPS Reviews:
??? Google Maps (for iPhone)
??? LandAirSea Tracking Key
??? LandAirSea SilverCloud
??? Microsoft Streets & Trips 2013 with GPS Locator
??? LiveViewGPS Live Trac EZ
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/xg_NkmmZN-o/0,2817,2413207,00.asp

big east tournament ashley olsen new apple tv sun flare love hewitt new ipad solar flare

President's pot comments prompt call for policy

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? President Barack Obama says he won't go after pot users in Colorado and Washington, two states that just legalized the drug for recreational use. But advocates argue the president said the same thing about medical marijuana ? and yet U.S. attorneys continue to force the closure of dispensaries across the U.S.

Welcome to the confusing and often conflicting policy on pot in the U.S., where medical marijuana is legal in many states, but it is increasingly difficult to grow, distribute or sell it. And at the federal level, at least officially, it is still an illegal drug everywhere.

Obama's statement Friday provided little clarity in a world where marijuana is inching ever so carefully toward legitimacy.

That conflict is perhaps the greatest in California, where the state's four U.S. Attorneys criminally prosecuted large growers and launched a coordinated crackdown on the state's medical marijuana industry last year by threatening landlords with property forfeiture actions. Hundreds of pot shops went out of business.

Steve DeAngelo, executive director of an Oakland, Calif., dispensary that claims to be the nation's largest, called for a federal policy that treats recreational and medical uses of the drug equally.

"If we're going to recognize the rights of recreational users, then we should certainly protect the rights of medical cannabis patients who legally access the medicine their doctors have recommended," he said.

The government is planning to soon release policies for dealing with marijuana in Colorado and Washington, where federal law still prohibits pot, as elsewhere in the country.

"It would be nice to get something concrete to follow," said William Osterhoudt, a San Francisco criminal defense attorney representing government officials in Mendocino County who recently received a demand from federal investigators for detailed information about a local system for licensing growers of medical marijuana.

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano said he was frustrated by Obama's comments because the federal government continues to shutter dispensaries in states with medical marijuana laws, including California.

"A good step here would be to stop raiding those legal dispensaries who are doing what they are allowed to do by law," said the San Francisco Democrat. "There's a feeling that the federal government has gone rogue on hundreds of legal, transparent medical marijuana dispensaries, so there's this feeling of them being in limbo. And it puts the patients, the businesses and the advocates in a very untenable place."

Obama, in an interview with ABC's Barbara Walters, said Friday that federal authorities have "bigger fish to fry" when it comes to targeting recreational pot smokers in Colorado and Washington.

Some advocates said the statement showed the president's willingness to allow residents of states with marijuana laws to use the drug without fear of federal prosecution.

"It's a tremendous step forward," said Joe Elford, general counsel for Americans for Safe Access. "It suggests the feds are taking seriously enough the idea that there should be a carve-out for states with marijuana laws."

Obama's statements on recreational use mirror the federal policy toward states that allow marijuana use for medical purposes.

"We are not focusing on backyard grows with small amounts of marijuana for use by seriously ill people," said Lauren Horwood, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner in Sacramento. "We are targeting money-making commercial growers and distributors who use the trappings of state law as cover, but they are actually abusing state law."

Alison Holcomb, who led the legalization drive in Washington state, said she doesn't expect Obama's comment to prompt the federal government to treat recreational marijuana and medical marijuana differently.

"At this point, what the president is looking at is a response to marijuana in general. The federal government has never recognized the difference between medical and non-medical marijuana," she said. "I don't think this is the time he'd carve out separate policies. I think he's looking for a more comprehensive response."

Washington voters approved a medical marijuana law in 1998, and dispensaries have proliferated across the state in recent years.

Last year, Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed legislation that would have created a state system for licensing medical dispensaries over concern that it would require state workers to violate the federal Controlled Substances Act.

For the most part, dispensaries in western Washington have been left alone. But federal authorities did conduct raids earlier this year on dispensaries they said were acting outside the state law, such as selling marijuana to non-patients. Warning letters have been sent to dispensaries that operate too close to schools.

"What we've seen is enforcement of civil laws and warnings, with a handful of arrests of people who were operating outside state law," said Alison Holcomb, who led Washington's legalization drive and helped write the bill that Gregoire vetoed. of

Eastern Washington has seen more raids because the U.S. attorney there is more active, Holcomb added.

Colorado's marijuana measure requires lawmakers to allow commercial pot sales, and a state task force that will begin writing those regulations meets Monday.

State officials have reached out to the Justice Department seeking help on regulating a new legal marijuana industry but haven't heard back.

DeAngelo said Friday that the Justice Department should freeze all pending enforcement actions against legal medical cannabis providers and review its policies to make sure they're consistent with the president's position. He estimated federal officials have shuttered 600 dispensaries in the state and 1,000 nationwide.

DeAngelo's Harborside Health Center is facing eviction after the U.S. attorney in San Francisco pressured his landlord to stop harboring what the government considers an illegal business.

"While it's nice to hear these sorts of positive words from the president, we are facing efforts by the Justice Department to shut us down, so it's hard for me to take them seriously," DeAngelo said.

The dispensary has a hearing Thursday in federal court on the matter.

__

Associated Press writers Terry Collins in San Francisco and Manuel Valdes in Seattle contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/presidents-pot-comments-prompt-call-policy-073827744--finance.html

time 100 bob beckel anna paquin warren buffett 2012 nfl schedule dishonored april 18

Google+ app for Android updated with new photo-sharing features, emoticons, GIFs and more

Although Google+?hasn?t turned out to be quite the?Facebook?(FB)??killer,? Google (GOOG)?is still very serious about expanding its social network. The company announced on Friday an upcoming update to its Google+ Android app with new features for ?including on-the-go profile editing, an easier way to author content, and a subtle notice when there?s new stuff to read.? Google is also adding some killer photo features: up to 5GB of full-sized photos can be backed up for free via?Instant Upload?and Android 4.2?s 360-degree ?Photo Sphere? panoramas can be shared to the mobile stream.

[More from BGR: Sony?s PlayStation 4 could lose to the next Xbox before it?s even released]

There are also new event-planning features including Hangouts for markets with low-bandwidth (150KB minimum to start one), a lock screen widget, emoticon support, animated GIFs and birthday reminders in Google Now. For the full skinny on all of the improvements, you can read the blog post by Dave Besbris, Google?s Vice President of Engineering for Google+.

This article was originally published by BGR

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/google-app-android-updated-photo-sharing-features-emoticons-010217472.html

snl hillary clinton morgan freeman Sandy Hook Victims China glock earthquake

Watson returns as Ryder Cup captain

NEW YORK (AP) ? The Americans are bringing back Tom Watson as their Ryder Cup captain with hopes of ending two decades of losing in Europe.

"We've got the right guy to lead our team," PGA of America president Ted Bishop said Thursday morning during a short segment on the "Today" show to introduce the new captain. A press conference was planned later Thursday in the Empire State Building.

Watson faces a tall order.

The Americans have lost seven of the last nine Ryder Cups and have not won away from home since 1993, when Watson was the captain at The Belfry in England. They are coming off a staggering loss this year at Medinah, where Europe strung together a remarkable rally from a 10-6 deficit going into the final day to win by one point.

The selection of Watson received an immediate endorsement from Tiger Woods, whom Watson has strongly criticized because of Woods' behavior on the golf course.

"I'd like to congratulate Tom Watson on his selection as Ryder Cup captain," Woods said in a statement. "I think he's a really good choice. Tom knows what it takes to win, and that's our ultimate goal. I hope I have the privilege of joining him on the 2014 United States Team."

Watson had said Woods needs to "clean up his act" in the months after Woods' personal life fell apart after being caught in multiple extramarital affairs, though the Stanford alums have never been particularly close.

Watson breaks the PGA of America's prototype in a big way. The eight-time major champion will be 65 when the 2014 Ryder Cup is played at Gleneagles in Scotland, making him the oldest captain in Ryder Cup history. Sam Snead was 57 when he was captain in 1969, and the oldest European captain was John Jacobs (56) in 1981.

Watson has not been back to the Ryder Cup since that '93 victory at The Belfry, though he sounded like he couldn't wait to get started.

"I was waiting for about 20 years to get the call," Watson said with that familiar gap-tooth grin. "I loved it the first time. I'm a great fan of the Ryder Cup. It's a great honor to be able to do it again."

Watson is the first repeat captain for the U.S. team since Jack Nicklaus in 1987, when the Ryder Cup was played on his home course of Muirfield Village in Ohio. Watson, one of the most respected figures in golf worldwide, becomes the seventh U.S. captain to get more than one shot.

The matches being held in Scotland contributed to Watson's selection. As much as he beloved around the world for his timeless game, epic duels with Jack Nicklaus and graciousness in any outcome, the Scots consider him one of their own. Watson won his first major at Carnoustie in 1975 when he quickly understood how to play links golf. He won five British Open titles, the most of any American, with four of those in Scotland.

He nearly made it six claret jugs three years ago when at 59, he came within an 8-foot par putt of the last hole from winning at Turnberry. Watson missed the putt, and then lost to Stewart Cink in a playoff.

The ovation he heard that week in Turnberry might be different at Gleneagles.

"They're going to be cheering against me," he said.

The PGA of America went away from its model of taking former major champions in their late 40s who still play the PGA Tour and are in touch with the players. Watson last played a full schedule in 1998, though the PGA of America had to wonder if perhaps the young captains were too close to the players.

As for the pressure of bringing back the Ryder Cup?

"I've lived for that pressure, and lived underneath that pressure all my career," Watson said. "I hope I can set the table for these players. I'm the stage manager. I set the stage and they go out and perform. In two years, I hope they can get it done."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/watson-returns-ryder-cup-captain-133626037--golf.html

new york knicks president day lin j.r. smith espn jeremy lin sleigh bells meek

Show Us Your Busted Phone

It doesn't matter how careful you are with your phone. It doesn't matter whether you use a case or not. Sometimes bad things happen. We'd like to see those bad things, so take a moment to snap a picture of your busted phone and share it below.

Photo by Macs Moser (Shutterstock).

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/u9e42WEXLRg/show-us-your-busted-phone

ESPYs daniel tosh kate upton Jason Kidd All Star Game 2012 directv rashard lewis

Baby Shower Thank You Notes JUST $2.00 @ part City

Party City Deal published by Afi to Baby Shower, Thank You Notes

If you need thank you notes for your baby shower, visit PartyCity.com to save 50% on these Baby Soft Pink Baby Shower Thank You Notes. For just $2 (was $3.99), you get an 8-pack of thank you cards that include 8 envelopes. These baby shower thank you notes are just one of the many items you?ll find in the Party City clearance section.

Suggest This Deal to Your Friends!

Source: http://www.cheaptoday.com/deals/baby-shower-thank-you-notes-just-2-00-@-part-city/

Sweetest Day optimal Samantha Steele Espn goog Sylvia Kristel st louis cardinals Steelers Schedule

A Roadside Ranch With A Sweet Lesson ? News Watch

Could you slaughter a chicken? It?s a question I?ve occasionally thought about, curious if I?d have the stomach to procure my own protein. Every so often, budding farmers at Pie Ranch in Pescadero, California just off Highway 1 will show you how, and offer some other lessons about food origins. Fresh local pie is the main draw at the 25-acre facility?which is, appropriately, shaped like two giant pie wedges?but budding farmers also grow and harvest many of the things you?d find on your table, from beef to wheat to butter and honey.

I was hardly the first person to pull over, drawn in by the large ?PIE? signs a mile out (strictly on business, of course). Thousands of students, fruit buyers, and curious tourists visit the ranch each year for workshops on food-making the old fashioned way. ?We want to teach people how to grow all these things, and let them see where it all comes from,? farming apprentice Nichole Mikaelian told me when I stopped in. She also mentioned a monthly barn dance, fiddle and all.

As for the the slaughter workshop, unfortunately for me?but luckily for the chicken?I missed it by one week.

Source: http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/12/11/a-roadside-ranch-with-a-sweet-lesson/

the glass castle jennifer hudson trial north korea threat brandon jacobs brandon jacobs brian dawkins emma roberts