Google updates Maps and Earth with more high-res and 45-degree images, encourages wanderlust

Google has expanded its high-res Maps and Earth offerings to cover a whopping 164 cities and 108 countries / regions, while its brand new 45-degree imagery is now available for 60 cities (40 in the US and 20 abroad) -- the list is long, so check out the source to discover all the locations. The photos are pretty stunning; highlights include a live look at the Space Needle's orange paint job for its 50th anniversary, an overhead look at Austrian bridges and an angled view of the Thun Castle in Switzerland. Now, excuse us as we stare longingly at these gorgeous vistas -- it is Friday, right?

[Source: Engadget]

'Tis the season: Amazon now offering customizable video gift cards from JibJab

Amazon announced a partnership with digital media company JibJab on Friday that will introduce free, personalized video gift cards to its customers. This new feature gives you the option to attach pictures to over 50 pre-themed videos, which includes holidays, birthdays and other special occasions. Customers can load up to $2,000 on a video gift card, which can be sent instantly or at a scheduled date and time via email or a Facebook wall post. The cards never expire and recipients can share their videos through Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or email, while keeping the gift's cash value private. So, if gift cards from the people with the smile on the box rank high on your holiday wish list, get ready to have your inbox hit with a barrage of disco grannies and snowball-throwing elf cat videos.

[Source: Engadget]

Netflix finally comes to Linux! (Sort of...)

Netflix's reluctance to support playback on Linux computers is infamous notorious ridiculous well documented. Well, while the company isn't ready to officially start streaming to your Ubuntu box, youcan gain access to its vast library with a specially patched version of Wine. For those of you that don't know, Wine is a compatibility layer that allows Windows apps to run under Linux. Fire up the Windows version of Firefox with this version of the software, install Microsoft's Silverlight and voilà -- Netflix on Linux. Unfortunately, that makes the whole ordeal sound a lot simpler than it is. For the moment you'll need to download Wine from its Git repository, then download and apply five different patches. Then you'll have to download and install Firefox 14.0.1 and Silverlight 4, neither of which are the current (read: easy to find) versions. So far the hack is only confirmed to work on the 32-bit version of Ubuntu 12.10, but we imagine getting it up and running on other distros shouldn't be too difficult. The work around should get easier once the crafty devs get a PPA up and running that will streamline installation. If you're the impatient type you can hit up the source link to get complete instructions.

[Source: Engadget]

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]