Google Maps Adds Real-Time Public Transit Info

Good news, New York City-based commuters: Google Maps added Wednesday real-time subway departure times for the seven lines that have such data available. These include the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and Times Square - Grand Central shuttle. The Metropolitan Transit Authority's other lines require an expensive overhaul before they'll be able to provide real-time data.

Metrorail riders in Washington, D.C., will also now receive up-to-the-second service alerts via Google Maps. That'll be handy for capitol denizens, who will be able to use the app to find routes that avoid any unplanned delays or schedule changes.

Public transit-goers in Salt Lake City, Utah, can also now receive bus and tram information in real time.
"With these updates — part of the millions of live transit schedule updates we process every day — you get instant access to the latest information right on Google Maps, making trip planning a cinch," reads a Google blog post on the update.


All Google Maps users on desktop, Android and iOS platforms can access the new transit information immediately. The MTA also recently released an official app which provides the same real-time New York City subway information as Google Maps now shows. Just remember, New Yorkers: Most stations don't have Wi-Fi or data access, so check your route before you head out!

Do you use Google Maps to plan your urban commutes? What are you other favorite public transit apps? Share in the comments below.

Image via iStockphoto, ymgerman

Facebook Pages Manager Updated To Version 1.1

Facebook Pages Manager for Android devices has just been updated, introducing three new features to the service.

Facebook Pages Manager was released to users in New Zealand, Canada and Australia last month, becoming available to the USA and the UK a few days later.

The first version of the application allowed Facebook page administrators to make posts, reply to comments and direct messages on the go using their Android devices.

Version 1.1 of the Pages Manager app, which is available from the Google Play store, adds three new features:

• Promote your Page posts to get more people to see them in the news feed
• Schedule your post to be published on a future date
• Create events from your Page.

The update means that page administrators will be able to easily manage their business pages on the go, or if there is not a desktop device immediately available.

What do you think of Pages Manager Version 1.1?

Facebook For Android App Updated With Improved Photos, Sharing, And Voice Messaging

The Facebook Android app has been updated with new features concerning photo viewing, sharing abilities and voice messaging.

Faster photos are now available on the app. Simply when opening the app on an Android device, the photos will appear more quickly.

The sharing functionality of the app has been improved. Users of the app have the ability to share their friends’ stories to different Timelines, groups, and pages. Android users were previously only able to share friends’ stories on to their own Timeline.
Also, Facebook for Android now has voice messaging which can be accessed within the app. Users of the Facebook Messenger app just a couple of weeks ago were given the ability to send voice messages. This was then applied to iOS and Android devices. Similarly, the social platform made VoIP calling available to users in the U.S. on iOS devices.

A major upgrade took place for the Android version around a month ago as version 2.0 was labelled as being ‘twice as fast’ in most general areas of the app.

The update of speed for Android came after a similar update of the iOS version of Facebook. Both apps had received complaints from users about the speed of it, meaning that Facebook chose to rebuild the apps from scratch with that issue in mind.

Do you have the Facebook for Android app? What do you think of the upgrade?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

LinkedIn Now Allows Profile Edit On Mobile Phones

LinkedIn have now released an update to their mobile app which will allow users to edit their profile on the move.
The update to the iOS and Android app was one of the most requested features for users of LinkedIn and has now become available.

LinkedIn said in a blog post that: “Now you can update your profile with a new headline, add recent skills, or add a new position so your professional identity is always up to date.”
Enrichments to inMail and “Who’s viewed your profile” for premium members have been introduced due to the update to the iOS and Android app which also adds support for the iPhone 5.




LinkedIn recently updated the interface to debut an all new profile which highlights activity and displays information in a more visual style.

Have you been waiting for this update? How important do you think this is?

Facebook Testing Automatic ‘Photo Syncing’ Feature For Android Phones

Facebook is testing a new feature that automatically syncs the photos you take with your Android phone to your Facebook account.
Appropriately called “Photo Syncing,” the feature syncs your photos and stores them privately, allowing you to later go into Facebook and decide which pictures you would like to share.
Similar to a feature already available in Google+, on a Help page for the service Facebook says that the feature is currently only a test, and is available for some people who are using the newest Facebook for Android app.
Facebook syncs the pictures you take “as soon as you take them,” however, the app also takes into account the battery level on your phone and your sync settings before it starts uploading.


For instance, you can set the application to only sync photos while you’re connected to Wi-Fi network, rather than potentially running up a huge data bill by synching all your shots over your cellular network. Photos that are synced via cellular network are synced at a smaller size (around 100k), to cut down on the damage it does to your data plan.
Your can check to see if you have the feature available by tapping ‘Photos’ on your Timeline within the Facebook for Android app and seeing if there is a ‘Photo Synching’ option available.
If you don’t want to sync photos when you take them you can also turn the feature off within Facebook for Android.
What do you think about automatically syncing the photos you take to Facebook? Is it something you would want to do? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Spotify Launches Preview of Revamped Android App

Spotify is on fire with announcements these days. Fresh off of the news that the music-streaming service is partnering with companies such Coca-Cola and will build branded apps for them within the platform, the company is rolling out a preview of its new and improved Android app.

Spotify for Android is getting a new design with easier navigation and a feature that allows you to check out friends’ profile pages. Although it won’t be live in the Google Play store yet, it is available for download as a preview app starting now.

Among other new features of the app that runs with full support for Android 4.0 are more artist imagery in high resolution, faster navigation and a related artist view tool.

“That’s not the end of it,” Spotify said in a press release. “We’re working hard on adding further features, including folders and Last FM scrobbling, before the app goes live in Google Play.”

SEE ALSO: Spotify Details Strategic Partnership with Coca-Cola

To gain access to the Android preview, set your phone to allow installation from “Unknown Sources” by going to the Settings, Applications and then Unknown sources menu. When finished, click the button below to get the update.

Many many are expecting a Spotify iPad app soon, and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said during a press conference on Wednesday that it’s “in the works.”

In addition to recently announcing partnerships with various brands, last week Spotify launched a tool for music fans and web editors to embed playlists, songs or albums to a website or blog for free. The Spotify Play Button was designed to give users a way to legally share music online.

Spotify also recently announced plans to keep the service free in the U.S. indefinitely. The company initially granted U.S. consumers access to the platform with no restrictions for six months. For those who didn’t sign up for a premium package — ranging from $4.99 to $9.99 a month — the site would be limited to 10 free hours of streaming music each month. It’s unknown how long the streaming service will remain free in the U.S.