WSJ: Google putting final touches on Google Maps for iOS, distributed to a small number of outside testers

After Apple moved to its own mapping solution on iOS, the rumors of Google bringing a standalone Maps app to the platform have intensified. The Wall Street Journal reported that the highly anticipated Google Maps for iOS may be here soon, with word that the app has entered its final testing stages and will include turn-by-turn navigation.

The WSJ wasn’t able to give specific time frame for the app’s launch, but the report added that the app has been distributed to a few members outside the bounds of Mountain View for testing before it is submitted to the iTunes App Store review team. The launch sounds like sooner than later, as several publications in the recent months have pegged the launch before the end of the year. The question is: will Apple accept it?

[Source: 9to5Mac]

Firefox browser add-on lets us try Firefox OS in an all-Mozilla universe

We've had the chance to experiment with early versions of Firefox OS for awhile -- just not in Firefox the browser, where you'd nearly expect it to have shown first. At least one person appreciates that seemingly natural fit. A new Firefox OS simulator add-on, r2d2b2g, lets us try Mozilla's upcoming mobile platform from within the company's own browser for everything that doesn't depend on native hardware, including the browser and Firefox Marketplace. The goal is ostensibly to let developers test truly optimized web apps, although the simulator is also a good excuse for the curious to try Firefox OS without the hassle of a dedicated client or a real smartphone. If you can get by the early state of the simulator and the Xzibit jokes that come with putting Firefox on your Firefox, the extension is already providing a glimpse of a web-focused mobile future to Linux, Mac and Windows users at the source below.

[Source: Engadget]

Facebook users can now share via Android and iOS apps

Yesterday, Facebook revealed that it was in the process of bringing its website's share feature to mobile apps for iOS and Android. Well, Zuckerberg's crew just made good on its promise, and has released version 5.2 of its app for both platforms. That means that folks using either app can now pass on their witty musings and puppy pictures to all of their online friends with a simple tap in their news feeds. Want in on the action? There are downloads to be had at the source links below.

[Source: Engadget]

Ireland completes spectrum auction after analog shutoff, LTE rollout pegged for mid-2013

The dust has settled after Ireland's recent spectrum auction, and wouldn't you know it, Vodafone, O2, Meteor and Three have picked up a combined 140MHz of paired spectrum across the 800, 900 and 1800MHz bands. According to the country's regulator, ComReg, the auction will effectively double the spectrum available in these bands and will allow for LTE deployment across Éire. For its part, O2 has committed to begin its 4G rollout in the first half of 2013. To ensure quick deployment, all license holders are required to make their new spectrum available to 70 percent of Ireland's population within three years. In all, the companies will pay €855 million ($1.09 billion) for spectrum rights until 2030, of which, €482 million is payable up front. Curiously enough, the country's 800MHz spectrum was freed up just last month after its analog shutoff. To find a complete breakdown of the situation, feel free to hit up the announcement from ComReg at the source link below.

[Source: Engadget]

Dropbox Chooser lets web apps attach files from the cloud

When Dropbox decided to get all close and cozy with Facebook Groups, that was just the beginning. With its new Chooser tool any developer can integrate Dropbox for quickly and easily sharing files stored in the cloud. Rather than upload or attach files from your desktop you can simply link files from your online folders. And, since the attachment is actually stored with Dropbox, rather than copied to a site's own servers, every time you update a document it's automatically updated for everyone else too. The first site to integrate the new tool is task management service Asana. Check out the source for more info from both companies.

[Source: Engadget]

Spotify confirms web app in the works, currently in closed beta

There have been rumblings that Spotify would unveil a browser-based client. Well, the company has just confirmed to us that such a service is not only in the works, but is currently in beta testing. The trial version is being rolled out slowly to users over the coming weeks and months, though it may be sometime before the general public is granted access. The statement we received didn't specify an official launch date, the company simply said it "will have more information in Q1 of next year." We weren't able to squeeze too many details out of the spokesperson but, according to a report from The Verge, there is a basic set of features that mirrors what you see in the desktop app. That means a what's new section, simple search and Spotify Radio, though no support for apps at the moment. Now you'll just have to cross your fingers that you'll be one of the lucky few granted testing privileges sooner, rather than later.

[Source: Engadget]

TomTom unveils location based services, portal to help put developers on the map

Thanks to a certain fruit company and its cartographic woes, many folks are aware that TomTom provides mapping services to third-parties. Now the navigation company is offering cloud-based services like map display, routing, traffic and geocoding to all, alongside a developer portal with the tools to program them. That'll pit it against rivals like Nokia and Google in providing location data for fleet management, traffic planning or geolocation analysis apps, for instance. Naturally, there's a fee to be paid for all those goodies, but to get you hooked, the company's offering a 90 day free evaluation of its SDK and API. Need directions to the PR? Take the first left, then head after the break.

[Source: Engadget]

Facebook adding share feature to its iOS and Android apps

The house that Zuck built is reportedly in the process of bringing its desktop site's share feature to mobile, which will allow Facebook users to retweet repost and comment on content from within their news feeds. Currently available on Facebook's mobile website, this Twitteresque option will soon make its way to the company's iOS and Android apps. Whenever a person shares something, it will credit the source of the information by attaching the original poster's name to the status update. It's too early to tell how the addition of a share button will affect how people "like" posts; however, once this feature becomes widely available to Facebook's 604 million-plus mobile users, news feeds are likely to be flooded with even more pictures of cats, food and grandchildren than ever before. Bet you didn't think that was possible, but rest assured it's a comin'.

[Source: Engadget]

Google Shopping spiffs up ahead of the holidays with Shortlists and 360-degree views

Google is getting ready for the holiday season by adding a bevy of features to its premier shopping products. The company's web-based Shopping search tool has received a number of tweaks, including reviews from friends and discount tracking. The most visually arresting change is certainly the addition of 360-degree interactive images. Only a few retailers have uploaded the content so far, and primarily the products available are toys, but it's a nice way to get virtually up-close and personal with the new Furby. Our favorite feature though is Shortlists, a tool that lets you create Pinterest-like collections of products, take notes on them and, if you so wish, share that list with friends and family for a collaborative shopping experience. The painfully cheesy video after the break demoes how Shortlists can help a couple work together to pick a wedding gift for a friend. It's hardly Earth shattering, but it's definitely a well implemented tool and you're not limited to items found through Google Shopping. The only thing that strikes us as odd is it's reliance on Drive's contact sharing model, rather than Google+. Head on after the break to see it in action.

[Source: Engadget]

Western Digital boosts entire MyBook Studio line with USB 3.0, adds 4TB model to the mix

After bumping its Thunderbolt and regular MyBook line with a couple of extra terabytes, Western Digitalturned its attention to its shiny MyBook Studio offerings to kick those up a notch too. WD's family of premium aluminum-clad drives finally gets USB 3.0 across the line, along with a new top-of-the-pack 4TB capacity model. All the Studio drives feature WD Security, seamless integration with Time Machine and a 3-year limited warranty. Pricing for the 1TB, 2TB, 3TB and 4TB drives are $159.99, $189.99, $239.99 and $299.99 respectively. Western Digital says they'll continue to offer older USB 2.0 and FireWire 800 models, just in case you're still struggling along with a storage-starved relic from the past.

[Source: Engadget]

Google bags patent for directions based on cell coverage

Want to get somewhere, but don't want to miss an email, or risk a break in the directions on the way? A patent granted to Google suggests it's been thinking about the very same thing. Read through the details, and it all sounds fairly familiar -- receiving origin and destination, planning a route etc. But, this time, there's the added hop of accessing wireless coverage data, and stirring that info into the returned directions mix. The flow charts in the literature suggest that this could be a user input option. So, along with the choice of fastest and most economical, maybe some day we'll be seeing one for "fastest data" too. Someone resurrect the term "information superhighway," and quick.

[Source: Engadget]

SugarSync releases version 2.0 beta with new UI, drag-and-drop sharing and cross-device search

SugarSync's popular cloud sharing app just got a complete web and desktop makeover. Version 2.0 beta is now available in desktop, web and Android app flavors, bringing a handful of new features to subscribers on multiple platforms. Mac and Windows users will have direct file system access to all of their cloud content, letting you transfer documents and other data without launching the app or web interface. You'll be able to store files within individual folders, and you can hop over to the activity feed to see a list of items in the order they were added, making it easy to locate a file transferred recently.

A new search tool indexes all of your remote content, while also letting you locate files stored locally on computers and other devices. You can also drag and drop files to specific contacts or to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, without any need to copy and paste a download link. Apps will be available for Android at launch, and while BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian and Windows Phone users will need to hang tight for now, they'll still be able to use previous versions alongside 2.0 in the meantime. As always, you'll be able to sign up for a free 5GB account, with paid monthly plans ranging from $5 for 30 gigs to $40 for a monster 500GB plan. Grab the new version now at the source link below.

[Source: Engadget]