Google Maps for Android updated to 4.4, adds dedicated 'Places' for searching nearby

Ready to suck down your sixth Google Maps for Android update in the past six months? Good. Version 4.4 has just been shoved out into the bright, hopeful world that we call home, with this one bringing about an easier way to find places around you. With the update will come an entirely new logo, as a dedicated 'Places' icon allows users to quickly look up nearby places in a Yelp-esque manner. If you tend to search for similar things regardless of where you are, you can load up your own personalized categories to make finding frequent searches that much easier (think "gas station" or "In N Out"). There's also Place Pages, which now shows the operating hours of listed businesses, compass direction and distance from your location. It's available now for all Android phones using v1.6 or newer, and if you're rocking a BlackBerry, you can expect the Place Page to head your way soon.

[EPA2000 Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:19PM]

holy balls, that's awesome

[who said what Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:24PM]

@EPA2000

This one really is a valuable update. The iPhone map app really looks dated in comparison. Even the Mapquest iPhone app is way ahead of it and it's free!

[ChechenTDG Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:31PM]

@EPA2000
Google maps for android keep getting better and better.

[Cameron Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:40PM]

@who said what

Why oh why can't Apple just suck it up for a sec and ask Google to pretty please update its maps app for iOS? I'm feeling pretty jealous over here - got this sexy-lookin' iPhone 4, but my Maps won't talk to me. :(

[jareth86 Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:42PM]

@EPA2000
Android's map app has 10x the feaures that the iphone's has, yet pinch to zoom on the iphone version is 100x smoother and more accurate than it is on android.

And the annoying part, is that I'm not entirely sure why this is. Come on google!

[who said what Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:43PM]

@Cameron

Use Mapquest... it's way better. Also, I don't think Google did the map app for Apple. It was Apple that made the app using Google's map services. So it would be up to Apple I guess to update the app.

[labrat Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:43PM]

@EPA2000 I do miss the all black look on my N1.
Which there was an option to switch it back to black!

[oseary Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:50PM]

@Cameron

Either will anyone else--you're holding your phone incorrectly.

[derek533 Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:53PM]

@Cameron

Neither will the person you're talking to either

I kid I kid

[lcw Posted Jul 27th 2010 1:04PM]

@Cameron agreed... maps on iP4 has zero integration and very lackluster in features... doesn't even have good link once you find a business/restaurant/etc... i hope either google comes around for an iphone app, apple/google play nice, or apple develops their own map app... but something has to happen... even Blackberries have a better google maps than the iphone...

[teesquared Posted Jul 27th 2010 1:06PM]

@EPA2000

Sweeeeet!

posted from my froyo powered N1

[Ezye1313 Posted Jul 27th 2010 1:13PM]

@teesquared

I'm sure most of the "adults" on this site could care less what you post from. Thx

[Seven2k Posted Jul 27th 2010 1:21PM]

@EPA2000

oh yeah....GOOGLE ITHINK I LOVE YOU!!

[EightBitHeroics Posted Jul 27th 2010 2:12PM]

@Ezye1313

Thank you.

[Celz Posted Jul 27th 2010 6:12PM]

@labrat Whites too bright.. Black is where its at

[bufbarnaby Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:20PM]

Why I love my Droid...Google has done so many improvements over short time.
In the Winmo days , you got what you got and that was it !
On to FROYO !!!

[Steven Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:21PM]

Yes, I downloaded this yesterday on my Evo. And it is pretty nice.

[VAVA Mk 2 Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:23PM]

@Steven
And of course, it's stll free :-D

[DefPoet Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:42PM]

@VAVA Mk 2
almost every google makes is free
The sole purpose of anything google does is to get people online to search and see ads Give up a little personal data and you get the best implications in the respective field most of the time*
Google doesn't always get it right but they do most of the time

[VAVA Mk 2 Posted Jul 27th 2010 1:10PM]

@DefPoet
I agree and love Google services. Data mining sucks, but then again I reiterate, we pay for awesomeness somehow.

[bufbarnaby Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:21PM]

Froyo for Droid Aug 6 I am hearing ?

[Mamacita Posted Jul 27th 2010 1:14PM]

@bufbarnaby

ive been hearing around the same for the Evo...sounds good to me!!!!

[theone87 Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:22PM]

Little slow on this one.. it was updated yesterday afternoon.

The maps update is great though.. thanks Google!

[Apple Google Microsoft Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:24PM]

Ok when's the brut version coming out?

[mjkxxl Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:24PM]

This type of upgrading at a such a breakneck pace (Six updates in Six months) that makes Google such a great company. It is always nice to see these updates come through!

[threpac Posted Jul 27th 2010 8:43PM]

@mjkxxl

except engadget paints any updates on or to android in a bad light.

[whySoSerious Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:25PM]

Google... making awesome apps even more awesomer.

[Jamma Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:51PM]

@whySoSerious

reboot your phone, and wait- it took a few minutes to appear on my desire.

[Robhimself Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:25PM]

Anyone else not have the places icon? I don't seem to have a widget or program shortcut for it.

[neeko18 Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:33PM]

@Robhimself have you updated Google maps recently?

[Omenege Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:37PM]

@Robhimself yeah I can't find it either. I have my maps icon in a folder, maybe it couldn't put it there and freaked out. But its not in the widgets or apps menu either like you mentioned.

[zumbigod Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:48PM]

@Robhimself
Reboot your phone. It works with the incredible at least. It shows up as a program shortcut, not a widget fyi.. :)

[scorpeo Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:48PM]

@Robhimself, you have to reboot your device, I have the EVO I had to reboot.

[Omenege Posted Jul 27th 2010 1:18PM]

@scorpeo Yeah, I got the Evo also, and after rebooting it showed up. Very cool.

[Robhimself Posted Jul 27th 2010 1:18PM]

Got it thanks

[Mamacita Posted Jul 27th 2010 1:24PM]

@Omenege
i have the evo too and had to reboot to see it in the apps

[mike1650 Posted Jul 27th 2010 1:45PM]

@Robhimself

Turn your phone off and back on and it will be there.

[rstoplabe14 Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:25PM]

Updating now! I love this, Free Turn by Turn from Google, beat that Apple!

[iroq d mullet Posted Jul 27th 2010 1:11PM]

@rstoplabe14
what's more awesome that turn by turn directions? free turn by turn directions, yes, but did you really have to go there with the "beat that, apple"? can we at least try not mentioning apple in every android article?

[Phil A Posted Jul 27th 2010 2:42PM]

@iroq d mullet

Agreed. Oh, and isn't Google's turn-by-turn powered by your internet connection, not your GPS? I read somewhere (maybe here) that it doesn't work without internet service...

[zsmorr Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:21PM]

@Phil A
That is somewhat true, maps aren't stored on the device, so you need it needs to keep pulling down the map data. Although this really isn't a problem as long as you don't completely lose your phone signal. I have used it on my Evo even when roaming with 1X speeds it was working fine.

[rstoplabe14 Posted Jul 27th 2010 6:29PM]

@iroq d mullet yeah, I kind of have to point out the flaw on the iTurd on every chance I get. ;)

[neeko18 Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:25PM]

Android just gets better and better. Finally updated my Rom on my Evo and i love having full flash support.

Now an update to GM is an added bonus.

[magadget Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:26PM]

I hear the drones drooling. TAKE ALL OF MY DATA! Now.

Then it explodes when rooted.

Ahhh, good times.

[VAVA Mk 2 Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:40PM]

@magadget
What do you think other search providers do? How about iADs. Not saying it's right, but pretty much a lotta data services do data mining now to target ads. It's what allows things like this awesome free navigation app to be awesome and free. Everything has a price, sadly :-(

[bufbarnaby Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:27PM]

I just love my phone with speech to text and the Nav and all of it works so well. And yes , free. That`s why I`m koo-koo for Google !

[AJerman Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:27PM]

Come on Darren! We don't go to In-n-Out here, we go to Cookout!

[freddyace Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:28PM]

Like Mapquest from AOL for the iPhone?!

[freddyace Posted Jul 27th 2010 8:38PM]

@freddyace I was just point out how much the iPhone map app sucks, no free turn by turn, no places feature. Wish It had the google maps app especially with the sweet voice activates search.
Finally we have an option in Mapquest that doesn't cost a crazy $50

[Slimnutz Posted Jul 27th 2010 12:28PM]

Best new feature-
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bvzq7RSCcE5KR3Wi9W0HxA?feat=directlink