You’ve got better things to do than wait in traffic

Ever been stuck in traffic, only to find out you’d have been better off going a bit out of your way to take a less congested route? If you’re like me, you probably hear the traffic report telling you what you already know: traffic is bad on the road you’re currently on, and you should have taken another. It doesn’t need to be this way, and we want to help. So we’re happy to announce that Google Maps Navigation (Beta) will now automatically route you around traffic. With more than 35 million miles driven by Navigation users every day, this should add up to quite a bit of time saved!

On a recent trip to New York, I was running late to meet some friends at the Queens Museum of Art. I had no idea that there was a traffic jam along the route I would normally have taken. Thankfully, Navigation routed me around traffic. I didn’t even have to know that there was a traffic jam on I-495, and I got to enjoy a much faster trip on I-278 instead.

Navigation now uses real-time traffic conditions to automatically route you around traffic.

You don’t have to do anything to be routed around traffic; just start Navigation like you normally would, either from the Navigation app or from within Google Maps. Before today, Navigation would choose whichever route was fastest, without taking current traffic conditions into account. It would also generate additional alternate directions, such as the shortest route or one that uses highways instead of side roads. Starting today, our routing algorithms will also apply our knowledge of current and historical traffic to select the fastest route from those alternates. That means that Navigation will automatically guide you along the best route given the current traffic conditions.

Not only can you save time and fuel, you’re making traffic better for everyone else by avoiding traffic jams. Keep in mind that we can’t guarantee that Navigation will be able to find a faster way, but it will always try to get you where you’re going as fast as possible.

You can begin routing around traffic with Google Maps Navigation for Android in North America and Europe where both Navigation and real-time traffic data are available.

Enjoy your newly found free time!

Posted by Roy Williams, Software Engineer, Google Maps Team

10 ways to extend battery life for iPhone

If you do not want to end suddenly when the battery is important, please consult the following 10 tips to save battery for iPhone .

Prolonged effort to fight for the iPhone model is always a concern of the user. Normally, except for  iPhones 4 have good battery life, the earlier iPhone model will only work for about a day for each charge.

1. Reduce the brightness of the screen

This is the cause of energy-consuming device first. Go to Settings -> Brightness to select the white balance mode automatic, or default brightness below 50% battery live longer.

2. Do not switch the Wi-Fi when not in use

When you enable Wi-Fi mode, the machine will automatically scan to catch waves. This is absolutely no benefit. Best to turn off the connection when finished using. Do the same as with the Bluetooth connection.

3. Switch to 2G

3G is only beneficial when you need to be online soon but no Wi-Fi. If only for simple communication, select the 2G mode (Settings -> General -> Network). Both to save battery, just to save money.

4. Skip to vibration during games

The game for iDevices always have multiple effects. However, most pointless vibrating effect when you play car racing, boxing ... or make some fake applications shaver, lighter ... Plug in headphones to enjoy the sound instead of speakers to also reduce consumption substantial battery.

5. Restrict the use of GPS / A-GPS

Using the GPS feature means that: on the screen, turn on the GPS, more ... Try to manipulate the screen capture to use maps instead of GPS continuous connection.

6. Limit buy music, directly from the application device

It sounds a bit "ki bo", but the online purchase on any other phone plus the spring of 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 together.

7. For a short time Autolock

After use is complete, the machine will switch to standby mode faster, more energy efficient when you leave Autolock time shorter. Go to Settings -> General -> Autolock for editing.

8. Using 3D program less

By using a 3D application, the graphics chip will be more active. Unlike email or web browser, run an application as the CPU, GPU and monitor activities continuously.

9. Set a longer Push Mail

In contrast to Autolock, set a longer Push Mail will scan the machine is not online much. Should be set to "Push" by Hour or "Manual"

10. Always ready to charge

Carried by a charger, cable to charge anywhere. If so exhausted, the battery life will decrease markedly. Note, do not charge while the battery has not expired.

You can also apply these steps to prolong battery life for mobile phones like Android, Symbian

An Update on Android Market Security

On Tuesday evening, the Android team was made aware of a number of malicious applications published to Android Market. Within minutes of becoming aware, we identified and removed the malicious applications. The applications took advantage of known vulnerabilities which don’t affect Android versions 2.2.2 or higher. For affected devices, we believe that the only information the attacker(s) were able to gather was device-specific (IMEI/IMSI, unique codes which are used to identify mobile devices, and the version of Android running on your device). But given the nature of the exploits, the attacker(s) could access other data, which is why we’ve taken a number of steps to protect those who downloaded a malicious application:

1. We removed the malicious applications from Android Market, suspended the associated developer accounts, and contacted law enforcement about the attack.
2. We are remotely removing the malicious applications from affected devices. This remote application removal feature is one of many security controls the Android team can use to help protect users from malicious applications.
3. We are pushing an Android Market security update to all affected devices that undoes the exploits to prevent the attacker(s) from accessing any more information from affected devices. If your device has been affected, you will receive an email from android-market-support@google.com over the next 72 hours. You will also receive a notification on your device that “Android Market Security Tool March 2011” has been installed. You may also receive notification(s) on your device that an application has been removed. You are not required to take any action from there; the update will automatically undo the exploit. Within 24 hours of the exploit being undone, you will receive a second email.
4. We are adding a number of measures to help prevent additional malicious applications using similar exploits from being distributed through Android Market and are working with our partners to provide the fix for the underlying security issues.

For more details, please visit the Android Market Help Center. We always encourage you to check the list of permissions when installing an application from Android Market. Security is a priority for the Android team, and we’re committed to building new safeguards to help prevent these kinds of attacks from happening in the future.


Posted by Rich Cannings, Android Security Lead

Tweet your Hotpot ratings in Google Maps for Android

(Cross-posted on the Hotpot Blog and the LatLong Blog.)

Whether it’s Google Places with Hotpot or Google Latitude, we’re working on helping you connect the people you care about with places you love. Now, when you’re rating your dinner spot using Google Maps for Android, you can share your review with even more people by posting it to Twitter.


Post your ratings and reviews to Twitter
When you rate and review places like restaurants or cafes from Google Places, you can share valuable recommendations with your Hotpot friends and across Google’s products – in search results, on google.com/hotpot, and on Place pages. But we wanted you to be able to share your recommendations even more broadly. So today, you can start sharing your ratings and reviews with your followers on Twitter directly from your Android-powered device.

When rating on the go using our rating widget, just choose to Post review to Twitter and connect your Twitter account. You’ll get a preview of your tweet and will be able to post your ratings and reviews moving forward.

Post your ratings and reviews to your Twitter followers.

Check-ins: ping friends and search for places
Starting last month, you could share information about the place you were at, in addition to your location, by checking in at places using Google Latitude. Starting today, if you see nearby Latitude friends on the map and want to ask them where they are, you can quickly “ping” them instead of having to text or call. They’ll receive an Android notification from you asking them to check in at a place. And when they check in using your request, you’ll get a notification right back so you know which place to go to meet up with them.

From a friend’s Latitude profile, ping them (left) and they’ll receive a notification (right).

You’ll also be able to more easily check yourself in at the right place. Sometimes there are a lot of nearby places around you, and the right one is missing from the suggested list of places to check in. You can now quickly search for the right place using the Search more places button.

Search for the right place to check in if it’s not among the suggested places.

To start posting Hotpot ratings to Twitter and pinging Latitude friends, just download Google Maps 5.2 from Android Market here (on Android OS 1.6+ devices) everywhere it’s already available. Please keep in mind that both Latitude friends need version 5.2 in order to use the new “ping” feature. Learn more in the Help Center.

Posted by Adam Connors, Google Maps for mobile team

Select tablet or netbook?

Tablet PCs are more portable, operating system, consistent with a touch screen and the small size while netbook can help entrepreneurs run applications from the Windows Professional.

One year appeared on the market could be not enough for many users to answer questions should use the netbook or tablet computer for their own needs. While in 2010 is considered to be the year of the netbook tablet have started slow in both sales and number of new models appeared recently.

The tablet form on the market as Apple iPad or Galaxy Tab certainly better than a netbook for mobility and battery life. However, a laptop computer running Windows has its own advantages.

Here are some comparative advantages of these two series for each purpose, the need to use the user easily select accordingly.

Why netbook better

Performance and applications

There are many computer models now support tables Adobe Flash in its browser but mostly to see the content than the ability to interact with users. If you like games like Restaurant City or FarmVille on Facebook, a netbook will certainly serve better.

For those who use iPad to travel to places never previously set foot, so to the best of Apple tablet in the house and replace it with a mini laptop or netbook. Some airlines and hotels use flash web content, something that Apple devices can not be displayed.

Although IOS and the repositories Android are becoming larger, but the programs running on Windows has a long history of development options and provide large scale significantly better. One of the main software VPN (Virtual Private Network) encryption key for the operating system desktop. VPN is a requirement for companies to allow employees to access the personal database.

Feature set

Only a few samples of tablet PCs equipped with SD card reader (most use the microSD card replacement) and even very few models have USB ports. On the other hand, are most netbooks come with handy card reader, 2 to 3 USB ports and VGA output. Even, even if your USB tablet driver is compatible with external devices is not as Windows or Mac OS.

Virtual keyboard is always a long story when comparing between netbook and tablet. However, it is clear that a keyboard will be more convenient for people to write a email or a presentation. Furthermore, despite multiple tasks, but still only tablet that can display one application at a time while the netbook can simultaneously display multiple windows to track.

Storage capacity

Tablet use flash memory storage, faster and more secure than magnetic disk drives in netbook traditional. However, storage is the main problem of current tablet when most models are only the largest capacity is 64GB, while popular netbooks around 250GB hard drive. Except for about 20GB of space for Windows, users are still more than 200GB for storage.

Netbooks more attractive prices

Due to popularity, netbook is now available at attractive prices than ever before. Current price for a stable model used in Vietnam to around 6-7 million. Meanwhile, the first iPad also cost at least more than 10 million, to form stable cheap but not as high as Archos also has about $ 8 million.

Reason tablet dominance

Duration good battery life and the ability to immediately

Like other smart phone models, computers rarely been off the table would only be put on standby status to save power. This makes the device status can return to work almost immediately. The tablet can send / receive email or text message for 24 hours a day. Battery life is also better than the netbook for about 10 hours of continuous use.

Costs for applications

Most IOS Android applications and are priced from just 1 USD to 20 USD is very easy for users to buy used. Meanwhile, the proprietary Windows programs can cost several hundred dollars for a professional.

Multi-touch screen

Some recent models such as the Lenovo IdeaPad S10- has equipped multi-touch screen. However, the look and functionality on the Windows operating system can not be compared with Android, IOS or Tablet BlackBerry OS on the ability to use touch screen and user interaction.

OS suitable for smaller screen netbook

Not only is the mobile platform created for touchscreen devices. The OS has been using a tablet interface, icon or software controls are consistent with the small screen to the user to easily manipulate and get acquainted.

You can read more 5 reasons to buy a computer table

Conclusion

If users travel frequently and regularly to check email, web browsing and social networking players, tablet PCs are great choices. On the other hand, netbooks may provide the convenience, more flexibility when transferring photos from camera to computer and business customers need VPN or professional programs.

Mobile editing in Google Docs now in 45 languages

Last November, we launched the ability to edit mobile docs in English. Today we’re excited to announce that you can now edit your docs on the go in 44 more languages.

To begin editing, visit docs.google.com in your mobile browser, and select a document to edit. Switch from view to edit mode by pressing ‘Edit’ to turn on the mobile editor and start typing away. As a reminder, mobile editing is available on Android (2.2+) and iOS (version 3.0+) devices. You can learn more about Google Docs for mobile on www.google.com/mobile. As always, feedback in the comments and on the forums is appreciated.


Posted by Carmen Wilkinson, Software Engineer

Honeycomb Buzzes On In

Yesterday morning, a tasty treat arrived on our campus. And what better way to welcome Honeycomb to the Android family than with redecorating the lawn of Building 44 a bit?



Posted by Andy Rubin, VP of Android Engineering