Thursday Recap: Google Earth Goes 3D, Time Honors Steve Jobs, Boxcar Update
Thursday Recap: Google Earth Goes 3D, Time Honors Steve Jobs, Boxcar Update
Google Earth for iOS Beats Apple to the 3D Imaging Punch
Those cool 3D maps included with iOS 6 may still be a few months away, but if you have an iPhone 4S or recent iPad, you can get a taste of what they'll be like right now. That's because search giant Google has pushed out Google Earth 7.0 today, adding the ability to "take flight above entire cities in 3D." The only downside is the experience is limited to a handful of cities right now, so if Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Geneva or Rome aren't on your virtual bucket list, you'll have to wait a bit. Google promises "new additions in the coming weeks," but also notes you'll need an iPhone 4S, iPad 2 or new iPad to experience the new 3D imagery (the rest of the app works fine with any device running iOS 4.3 or later). The update also adds a "tour guide" mode for exploring places around you, including favorite cities, historic landmarks and natural wonders, and is available as always, free of charge from the App Store.
Time Names Steve Jobs One of 20 Most Influential of All Time
He may have been robbed of being the Person of the Year in 2011, but Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is now receiving far more acclaim from the publishers of Time magazine by being included in its list of "The 20 Most Influential Americans of All Time." We certainly wouldn't argue with the former CEO's inclusion, particularly when it includes legendary figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. In fact, Jobs is the sole member of the list whose impact was largely felt from the 1980's to present as number 20 in chronological order.
Washington Post Launches iPhone App for D.C. Visitors
Ready to take a trek to the nation's capital? Visiting Washington, D.C. can be a daunting experience, which is why The Washington Post has released a new iPhone app called Explore D.C. which offers a wealth of information for both tourists and local residents alike. “Explore D.C. app combines the best of The Washington Post’s coverage of local events and venues, search tools and valuable deals, all in one easy-to-use app," said Tim Condon, Director of New Ventures at the Post. "This is one app that everyone will want to use, whether you’re new to D.C. or just want to save money when visiting your favorite sights and restaurants." The free app is now available from the App Store, so be sure to install it before embarking on your own trek to the District of Columbia.
Boxcar Not Dead, Just Acquired by Kwaga
We recently reported that popular push notification service Boxcar appeared to be on its last legs, but a new report from Macworld has finally revealed what's really happening: The company is being acquired. No, it's not by Facebook or Google like other recent high-profile acquisitions -- instead it's Kwaga, the company best known for subscription service WriteThat.name, which helps users keep an address book current. Boxcar founder Jonathan George is coming along for the ride as a Kwaga board advisor, and dismisses the notion that the app was on its last legs. “The trouble with Boxcar in the past few weeks was primarily related to scaling and growth issues," George explained to Macworld. "Part of this acquisition is absolutely to help Boxcar grow and restore it to 100 percent -- and to keep it there.â€
Yes, Microsoft Office is Ready for OS X Mountain Lion
As many of us spend our second day with OS X Mountain Lion, it's only natural to approach each click of an app icon with a bit of anxiety. Will [insert favorite app here] work without an issue? In the case of Microsoft Office, the answer is yes. The Office for Mac team posted a blog entry confirming that both Office for Mac 2011 and Office for Mac 2008 are fully supported under OS X Mountain Lion, but notes that users who attempt to manually install updates may run into trouble due to Apple's new Gatekeeper security. The solution is to make sure Microsoft AutoUpdate is enabled, and install any required updates from there.
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