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Google's latest acquisition should make Maps a bit better
Urban Engines has been analyzing city traffic and how people get around. So, naturally, it'd make sense if the company was acquired by an outfit interested in making its maps more efficient. That's where Google comes in. The search giant has bought the Urban Engines with the sole purpose of improving Maps. "Location analytics is an important focus for both Urban Engines and Google, and we're excited to combine forces to help organizations better understand how the world moves," the announcement post reads. It's a little early to tell exactly what Urban Engines will bring to the table for Maps, but based on its history, perhaps better routing around traffic jams is a pretty safe bet.
Urban Engines app can help people catch buses and trains in big cities
It can be downright nightmarish having to squeeze and force your way into trains or buses during rush hours in big cities. A company founded by former Google employees called Urban Engines says its app can help you look for alternate routes, or even help you get around if you're not familiar with the area. For one, it can work without mobile data in some locations (which makes it a good choice for those who regularly use the subway), so long as it has an offline map of the place. Right now, the app comes with the offline maps of 10 North American cities: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver and Washington, D.C.
Cities use online ticket tracking to save you time on the subway
Many commuters know the agony of mass transit at rush hour; it's no fun to skip packed buses and subway cars when you're already desperate to get home. Urban Engines clearly shares in that pain as well, as it's rolling out an internet service that uses commuting patterns to spot choke points in public transportation. Ticket purchases, pass card swipes and similar behavior create an activity map that reveals just where and when the delays are; it's easy to tell that there need to be more buses at 6PM, or that the lines are too long at the subway turnstiles.
