Google Maps Now Offer Real-time Arrival Estimations

If you are going somewhere and need to get there as quickly as possible, Google Maps can now offer you some assistance.

Google Maps has upgraded and now allows users to see an estimated arrival time based on real-time traffic conditions. When you go to Google Maps and search for directions to wherever you are going, you will now have a few options. You will be shown several different routes on the map with arrival times based on if there is no traffic, as well as different routes with arrival times based on the current traffic conditions at that time.

"In areas where the information is available, this new and improved feature evaluates current traffic conditions and is constantly being refreshed to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date estimate possible," wrote Szabolcs Payrits, the software engineer for Google Maps, in a post on Thursday, March 30.

Some people might remember that in the past Google Maps had something similar to the estimated travel-time based on traffic conditions. It used to say something to the effect that if there was traffic, it could take this long to arrive at your destination. However, these estimated times were based on historic traffic data. Now, Google Maps will be much more helpful with the real-time traffic updates.

"We hope being able to plan your travels based on current traffic information saves you time and perhaps even prevents some road frustration," Payrits wrote. "Happy driving!"

Sources: PCMag - Google Maps Directions Gets Real-Time Traffic and Google Blog - Find out you trip duration based on current traffic

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Google Makes Traveling a Breeze

If you are one that loves to travel, then you are most likely fully aware of the immense amount of resources that that are available to you through the internet. There are tons of things on the internet that can assist you with your travels, but it is best not to overlook one of the more basic sources of information and that is Google.

Google's search box is capable of putting incredible amounts of information at your fingertips without ever going to another website. Have an inquiry about the weather where you will be traveling? Type in the name of the place where you are going along with the word weather and you can get the current temperature and conditions for that day as well as a four day forecast.

Google also offers you instant currency conversions. Type the amount of money and the currency in the Google search box and you will get an instant conversion to dollars, unless you specify another currency. You can do all of this without having to ever go to a currency converting website.

Google searches also allow you to track flights without the need of going to the airline or airport's website. Type in the name of a plane and you will get results on tracking the craft from one location to another and about departure time and arrival time.

Want to access the World time instantly? Oh yeah, Google can do that too. Type in "time Sydney" or "Sydney time" and the current time in Sydney, Australia is given. Google Maps is also an incredible resource. Type in your destination and hit search and, after clicking on the right destination, you will receive a map on the right side of the screen and pictures on the left. You can even get the famous "Street View" if you want it.

By clicking "Search Nearby" in Google Maps, you can find almost anything you desire that is around your destination. Whatever you type in will pop up with a distance measure from your location. Searching for hotels gives you the names of the places as well as check-in and check-out times, photos and the hotel's address and phone number.

Need help with a foreign language? Try out Google Translate. Simply find the language in the drop down box which you want translated and the language you want it translated to, type in your word and hit "Translate". It's as simple as that.

So the next time you are planning on traveling, keep things simple. Use Google and the tools provided there and I guarantee that your trip will go as smoothly as possible.

Source: Yahoo! News - Some tips for using Google for travel information

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Google Adds Bike Routes to Google Maps

Seems like Google is always adding something to their search engine and this time they've added to Google maps. The new feature, Bike Maps, allows you the option to get directions not just for traveling by car, foot or public transit, but for traveling by bike as well. If you're riding your bike to a destination, you're more than likely not going to go to the same route you would if you were driving a car and Google is looking to serve those people.

"We wanted to include as much bike trail data as possible, provide efficient routes, allow riders to customize their trip, make use of bike lanes, calculate rider-friendly routes that avoid big hills and customize the look of the map for cycling to encourage folks to hop on their bikes. So that's exactly what we've done," said Shannon Guymon, the product manager for Google Maps.

The over 12,000 miles of bike trail data came from Rails-to-Trail's Conservancy's database at TrailLink.com. The group, which is a nonprofit organization located in Washington DC, has been collecting the information since 2000 and has gathered maps, pictures, descriptions, and listings for over 30,000 miles of bike trails. According to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, biking has become more popular lately because it's healthier and less expensive than other options.

Google incorporated the data into its routing algorithm, included metropolitan areas with designated bike lanes and roads that were recommended by other cyclists, and took into consideration how busy certain roads are. Oh yeah, and there is the matter of hills.

"Our biking directions are based on a physical model of the amount of power your body has to exert given the slope of the road you're biking on Assuming typical values for mass and for wind resistance, we compute the effort you'll require and the speed you'll achieve while going uphill. We take this speed into account when determining the time estimate for your journey, and we also try hard to avoid routes that will require an unreasonable degree of exertion," said Google software engineer John Leen.

Google Maps for bikes launches today and as you can see from the picture above, all you need to do is choose "bicycling" instead of one of the other options ("by car" is the default option), when you go to look for directions.

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Google Store View Coming to Google Maps?

With Google Maps' Street View, you can view almost any street in America or almost any major city in the world, but what if you can go inside the buildings? That possibility may become a reality with the rumored Google Store View.

The blog Search Engine Land received an email from a New York city candy shop, Oh Nuts, which claimed a Google representative came inside and took pictures of the store and its products. The reason is supposedly because Google is working on a new feature, which is tentatively being called Google Store View.

While no one will confirm whether or not this really happened, the store did send in photos from store security cameras, which show someone walking around the store with a camera and tripod, taking pictures. When contacted by Switched.com, Google would only say, "We are always experimenting with new features for Google Maps. We have nothing further to announce at this time."

If this really happens, it could change a lot of things about the way we shop. Customers could browse stores without leaving their homes, which is good for customers, not so much for businesses. Also, it would allow people to browse stores in locations they aren't familiar with or plan to travel to ahead of time. The other problem is the privacy concerns that often pop up with Google Maps. If people are worried about views of themselves outside of various places, you can bet they're going to be upset that they're being followed inside. Never mind the fact that it would take a lot of work on Google's part to get every store in the country to allow the photography.

While it's quite possible Google is experimenting with the idea, don't expect it to happen anytime soon. If the woman taking pictures inside the store really is with the company, her equipment doesn't really look like something they'd use for this type of venture. Also, it's a long road between one little candy shop in New York and the entire United States or even the entire city of New York.

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