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Apple will shut down HopStop's mass transit services in October
Apple kept HopStop's mass transit directions and guides running (with notable exceptions) long after it bought the company back in 2013, but you won't get to rely on them for much longer: Cupertino has revealed that it's shutting down HopStop come October. There's no explanation, but it doesn't take much effort to understand what's up. Apple had already discontinued all but the iOS and web versions of HopStop's apps, and you'll find much of HopStop's technology in iOS 9's mass transit directions. Simply put, there's not much incentive to keep the older tech running. This won't make you very happy if you still lean on HopStop to get around town, but you have at least a few alternatives if Apple Maps isn't your cup of tea. [Image credit: Shutterstock]
Google Maps real-time transit info is now available in more places
Public transportation info has been in Google Maps for quite some time, but today the feature is seeing some handy improvements. First, when you select a transit option in the app, you're served a a list of options that will not only show you the next bus or train, but how long you'll be playing Candy Crush if you miss it alongside some alternative options. The details are updated in real time and you can expect to leverage the tool in more places, too. Google added partners to the list in six new locales: UK, Netherlands, Budapest, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle. While public transit info was available for those spots, you can now access real-time info as well. The folks in Mountain View say today's news brings schedules for over 2.5 million stations, stops, terminals and more worldwide. Heck, you'll even be able to see when your train leaves on your wrist.
Indian Railways launches RailRadar, lets you track trains via Google Maps
Indian Railways has just made it a little easier for rail travelers with a new web app called RailRadar, which uses Google Maps to track trains on a real-time basis. This is certainly welcome on one of the largest rail networks in the world -- it operates more than 10,000 trains everyday -- though the service is only available on 6,500 trains for now. To find out where your train is, simply search for its name or number and RailRadar will spot it for you. You can also find trains by entering the name of the station. Blue highlights indicate trains that are on time while red means it's behind schedule. If you click on a train, it'll show its entire route from start to finish. The logical next step would be for this to be on smartphones like how it is in Japan, though we're not sure if that's in the cards just yet. [Thanks, dil]
Garmin, Navigon GPS apps now consider mass transit, remember where we parked
Third-party navigation apps still tend to fall apart when the keys are out of the ignition -- try to cut back on car use and you're often kicked over to another app with its own set of rules. Both Garmin's StreetPilot Onboard app and its Navigon equivalent are getting a much more holistic experience through respective upgrades due this fall. Android and iOS users alike can soon buy an Urban Guidance pack that factors buses, subways and other forms of public transportation into their on-foot routes. The playing field is leveling off for drivers willing to stretch their legs, too: iPhone owners with Navigon's app get the same last-mile walking directions and parking finder as their Android counterparts. StreetPilot iPhone app users are left out of this last addition, but they'll see compensation in the form of an optional Panorama View 3D mode and the Google Street View they're about to lose from Maps in iOS 6. The updated titles will still cost $30 for Navigon-only regional packs, $50 for editions with US-wide maps and $60 for all of North America, although you'll need to spend $5 more ($3 during the first two weeks) for Urban Guidance and $10 for the Panorama View 3D pack.
Google Maps notches one million public transit stops worldwide, celebrates with an update
It's no secret how useful Google Maps can be when traveling in an unfamiliar locale -- especially in regards to public transportation. The folks in Mountain View have tallied over one million stops for bus, train, subway and tram systems in about 500 cities around the globe with the software. To celebrate the achievement, Google has released an update to its Maps for Android app. Version 6.10 adds some tweaks to the Transit Lines layer in order to display just one individual method of transport and updated the station pages to display needed information like departure time and lines of service in a more accessible fashion. Also among the new additions are modifications to region highlighting, My Places and Location History. Now, when you enter a city name or zip code, the boundaries of that particular region will be marked for visual reference. For a full rundown of the latest version, hit the first source link below or sprint on to the second to grab the update. Update: Oh look, Mountain View's even tweaked the icon, which we've added after the break.
Google brings NYC subway alerts to Maps, makes public transit a little more bearable
Google has offered up New York City subway information via Maps for some time now, but as anyone who's navigated the 100-plus-year-old transit system will happily tell / complain to you, such information is only so useful without info on the requisite service changes -- a lot of work goes into maintaining something that old. Google's upping its game by bringing services changes to Maps for Android and its web-based counterpart. Clicking on one of the 468 stations in Maps will bring up relevant maintenance information, as well as step-by-step instructions for navigating around it. Until Boingo rolls out WiFi to more stations, however, you might want to check your status before going underground.
Update to Google Maps improves battery life, public transit options and more
A new version of Google Maps has hit the Android Market today, which simultaneously brings fresher location tracking within Latitude and better battery life -- two welcome improvements that seem contrary to one another. There's also a couple goodies included for the transit-minded folks, as Navigation has been updated to better estimate location when GPS signal is lost, and the number of route options for public transit users has been increased from three to four. Sure, the changes are rather incremental, but who's honestly going to argue with greater battery life? Not us, that's for sure.
BYD opens North American HQ in LA, electric bus headed for LAX
China's BYD Motors has been edging its way into the North American auto market for some time, but it's now firmly planted itself here by opening its new headquarters in Los Angeles. That bit of news also just so happens to coincide with the announcement of a new partnership with Hertz Car Rental, who will be using BYD's all-electric, long-range eBUS to shuttle passengers at Los Angeles International Airport -- BYD's cars will also eventually find their way into Hertz's LA rental fleet. The press release is after the break.
Live transit updates in Google Maps help you plan your romantic bus-catching sprint
Brooklynites on their way to the latest Reggie Watts show have long had real-time bus-tracking information, but public-transit aficionados in six other cities now have one less reason for BK envy. With the latest version of Google Maps, even the least cool citizens of Boston, Portland, Ore., San Diego, San Francisco, Madrid and Turin can see not just when their bus or train is scheduled to arrive, but when it actually will. Selecting a stop on the map displays "live departure times" and service alerts, thanks to Google's data-sharing partnerships with city transit operators. That won't always guarantee fewer delays or less waiting, but will help riders budget their time, and maybe find those precious seconds necessary to post more Tumblr pictures of "ironic" Hitler-kittens.
Brooklyn bus riders get real-time bus tracking via cellphone
New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority launched a pilot program a few months back that offered bus riders some real-time tracking information, but it's now expanded things with a whole new program on the B63 route in Brooklyn. That service is currently accessible via a mobile-friendly website or text message, and smartphone users can also scan simply snap a picture of a barcode (presumably a QR code) at a bus stop to immediately check in on the location of the next five buses that will arrive at the stop. What's more, unlike the previous program, this new system is based on an open source platform developed with the help of OpenPlans, and the MTA is actually encouraging developers to dig into the API and develop their own solutions -- which could certainly get interesting as the program is expanded across the city (the Staten Island bus line is next up). Head on past the break for the MTA's press release, and hit up the link below to try out the service right in your browser.
FTA awards $16.6 million in grants for fuel cell bus research
While we were jealously hung up on South Korea's working electric bus system, Christmas apparently came early for a couple of lucky US fuel cell bus research projects -- in the form of $16.6 million in Federal Transit Administration grants. Pasadena based Calstart snagged almost $10.2 million and will funnel 70 percent of the funds to developing the first phase of a low-cost, longer lasting fuel cell power system. Calstart will then spend its remaining $2.9 million in partnership with the Chicago Regional Transit Authority to develop and test the viability of fuel cell bus fleets in cold climates. The Center for Transportation and the Environment in Atlanta was the other project to hit the federal money gravy train. It received a hefty $6.4 million to spread across six different projects that dabble in everything from developing fast-charging 35-foot fuel cell buses, to similar lithium ion versions, to improving existing hybrid bus platforms. Federal pork for fuel cell DSLR development regrettably missed the cut. For the full scoop hit up the press release after the break.
New Jersey transit looks to add WiFi to its rail lines and stations, New Yorkers to pretend they didn't hear that
A New Jersey Transit spokesperson has announced that its seeking a company to install WiFi on its rail lines and at its train stations. The installation would make New Jersey one of the few major transit systems in the country to have WiFi on its 165 stations and 12 lines. The spokesperson also said they hope to get the installation under way quickly, and to have the hotspots available to riders by next year.
NYFI aims to implement free WiFi on Long Island Rail Road and Metro
Mmm... the smell of gratis wireless broadband in morning. Even Starbucks agrees, you just can't beat it. One smell we could stand to live without is the stench left on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro after a few too many party people hitch a ride following a long Sunday in the city pub, but having free access to the world wide web while riding will make the act of dealing a whole lot easier. All jesting aside, NYFI (described as a "well financed neutral host WiFi provider"), has recently submitted a proposal to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York (MTA) to "build and operate a new WiFi network on Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road trains." Unlike similar ideas thrown around in the Big Apple, this setup won't require users to be subscribers of a cable service or any of the many religious cults going around these days. Head on past the break if you actually care to know how it'll be financed (hint: you don't), and be sure to push whoever you have to push to ensure this gets passed. Got it?
Hybrid2 public bike concept promises to help power city buses
Hybrid bikes are one thing, but designer Chiyi Chen looks to have something far grander in mind for his Hybrid2 bike concept, which he says could one day help power fleets of city buses. To do that, the hybrid part of the bike (a regenerative braking system) wouldn't be used to help power the bike itself at all, but would instead store the energy in an ultracapacitor that'd then feed the energy back into the grid when its parked at a special bike stand, which would in turn be used to help charge the hybrid electric buses. Not one to overlook an ingenious little detail, Chen has also devised a special card RFID card that would not only be used to unlock the bike, but keep track of the energy that each rider generates -- build up enough credits and you can ride the bus for free. Intrigued? Head on past the break for a video overview from the man himself.[Via Inhabitat]
Google Maps Public Transportation option gets tested, loved
Let's face it -- we love it when our mobile makes our lives easier, and according to a quick and dirty review over at Gadling, that's exactly what the Public Transportation piece of the updated Google Maps app does. Upon straying out into San Francisco with only clothing, an iPhone 3G, a few coins and a destination address, reviewer Grant Martin was able to figure out exactly what steps / stops needed to be taken, how long the journey would take and how costly it would be. All without visiting a website or hunting down a route schedule. Overall, he was pretty jazzed about the possibilities, though he does caution that the actual mass transit systems you use could inevitably let you down. Any of you given this a go? Love / detest it?
