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]

Google's Blogger app updated with iPad support, landscape composition mode, Google+ integration

Google's Blogger app has hit version 2.0, bringing a visual revamp and a handful of new features to its iOS and Android flavors, in addition to iPad support. Now, users can compose posts in landscape mode, share to Google+ and view scheduled post times. In addition to a grab bag of unspecified bug fixes, the update brings the app's total number of supported languages up to 30. Eager to start tapping out posts? Hit the source links below for the appropriate download.

[Source: Engadget]

Dropcam's iOS app goes big, now optimized for iPad

After establishing itself in the Android ecosystem with a native app, modern-day nanny cam outfit Dropcam has decided to optimize its service on the iPad, too. Users of the iPad 2, new iPad or the iPad mini can now view up to four Dropcam devices simultaneously, snap still images and receive real-time motion and audio alerts via SMS. Subscribers also have access to a cloud-based DVR service, which allows them to view, store and manage their recorded videos. So, whether you're trying to catch your roommatestealing borrowing your clothes, or keep an eye on a mischievous pet, you can now grab a super-size update from the App Store.

[Source: Engadget]

Apple Maps turn-by-turn voice navigation goes live in Australia

After first being promised in October, then being delayed into November, Apple has finally rolled out iOS 6 Map’s turn-by-turn voice navigation functionality to its users in Australia. Responding to a customer email in September regarding the feature’s availability in Australia, former Apple Senior Vice President of iOS Scott Forstall said that the data needed to be exceptional and qualified before the on switch was flicked.

[Source: 9to5Mac]

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]

Xbox SmartGlass app turns your iOS device into a remote control

If you have an Xbox 360 and an iOS device, congratulations, Microsoft has offered you a free touchscreen remote control! Well, not literally, but the new Xbox SmartGlass app turns your iPad or iPhone into a do-it-all control center for your game console, and it's actually a pretty slick experience.

Once you've connected your SmartGlass app to your console -- by syncing the devices via the Internet using a short code -- you can do pretty much everything using your iOS device that you would normally do with your controller, aside from playing games. You can compose messages, browse your achievements and launch apps such as Netflix with just a tap.

[Source: TUAW - Click here to read the full story]

Sky+ app update brings remote control features to iPhone, iPod touch

It's been a few months since UK TV operator Sky added remote control features to its iPad app, and now it's brought similar controls to the iPhone and iPod touch. The v4.2 update gives users brings remote control with support for gestures, DVR scheduling and management, a new guide as well as revamped navigation and search on the smaller screens, as long as they're connected to the same WiFi network as the box. The Android app is still without the new features, however they're promised to arrive there "in the coming months."

[Source: Engadget]

Apple starts offering Passbook-enabled gift cards, may save our hides in holiday shopping

Gift cards often get a bad rap as the last resort in holiday shopping, what we supposedly get only when all hope of a carefully considered present has gone out the window. Apple isn't quite so cyncial, and it may have injected new life into gift giving now that it has switched on buying gift cards through the recently updated Apple Store iOS app as of this weekend. Pick a color and a card value -- up to $2,000, if someone's been good enough to earn a MacBook Pro -- and the resulting email lets iOS 6-touting recipients load the card into Passbook. Besides saving some plastic, the Passbook entry adds some worth through geofencing that reminds recipients to splurge if they're near one of Apple's steel-and-glass stores. All told, the card may be more than welcome by iPhone fans and save the ignominy of a last-minute rush to the store. Just make sure the recipient doesn't mind going without a physical gift on the big day -- it wouldn't be right to drain all the romanticism out of a special occasion.

[Source: Engadget]

Apple pays Swiss Rail $21M to use iconic clock design

US tech giant Apple has dished out 20 million Swiss francs ($21 million, 17 million euros) to compensate Swiss national rail operator SBB for using its famous clock without permission, a Swiss daily reported Saturday.

The Mondaine clock is an OK design but I think Apple could have done a better job on its own and probably could have saved a few million bucks in the process. The $21M figure represents about 10 cents per device if you figure 210M devices going to iOS 6. The exact terms of the deal weren’t given.

A SBB rep said at the time that SBB was more interested in bringing clarity to where and how Apple could use the logo than in raking in cash. ”We’re rather proud that a brand as important as Apple is using our design,” she said in September.

The clock was designed in 1944 by Swiss engineer Hans Hilfiker and remains the property of SBB. It is still used in SBB’s stations.

[Source: 9to5Mac - Click here to read the full story]

Want to replace Siri with Google Search? You can via jailbreak

Google's latest version of its voice-enabled Search app may not have the personality of Siri, but it is as good, if not better, than Siri at pulling up relevant search information. If you want to replace Apple's personal assistant with Google's version, you can do so thanks to a jailbreak tweak called NowNow.

As spotted by AppAdvice, NowNow is available in Cydia and allows you to launch Google Voice Search anywhere in iOS. It requires you to install Activator and Google Voice Search, but once you set it up, it's as easy to use as Siri. If you drop Siri for Google, remember that you will lose the "assistant" features of Siri, like adding reminders and setting alarms.

Your device has to be jailbroken to use this tweak, which means it is not available to iPhone 5 users or anyone with an iOS device with an A5/6 processor on iOS 6.

[Source: TUAW]

Tumblr for iOS goes native: now with redesigned Dashboard, improved notifications and more

Just as Facebook did a while back, Tumblr, too, has decided to rebuild its iOS application from the ground up. Inside this new version (3.2), daily users of the blogging service will find a completely redesigned Dashboard, which displays larger pictures and offers faster overall speeds when loading posts. In addition, Tumblr's also added "spiffy" notification previews to its iOS application, allowing folks to see when other users reply, like or reblog their posts -- oh, and better yet, GIFs now automatically play on the all-new Dashboard. The new Tumblr app's now live on Cupertino's App Store -- all you have to do is either hit the source link below or snag it directly via your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.

[Source: Engadget]

Pulse 3.0 update for iOS and Android brings new design, better search and more

Pulse might have launched that browser-based app back in August, but most of its customers still use its mobile app. Lucky for them, both iOS and Android versions of the app have been updated to Pulse 3.0. The update promises a sleeker and more user-friendly interface, along with a new category sidebar, a search feature that lets you cull news from a wider variety of sources (from Tumblr, Youtube, Reddit, Facebook, Google, Flickr and Blekko just to name a few), infinite scrolling, and unlimited pages. The new iOS app is now universal and can be used across all iOS devices -- previous versions were divided into iPhone and iPad camps. On the Android side, users get a redesigned Pulse widget that displays top stories in a resizable view. Customizable notifications on both platforms will ensure you always stay on top of the news -- perhaps now you can finally score a win at your favorite pub's quiz night.

[Source: Engadget]