Traffic On Google Maps Gets Personal

Google has upgraded their traffic reporting service within Google Maps to include real time data from real people stuck in the rat race. If you have Google Maps open on your iPhone or Andriod device your heading and speed can be sent to big Google Maps brother. It aggregates this data from little minions all around the US and is supposedly is very effective. It even collects data on secondary roads so you can settle the age old debate of whether or not to take the back roads. Google calls this crowdsourcing. I thank those who are gracious enough to give up their privacy for my benefit. Check out the entry on Google's official blog explaining the feature in detail.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/bright-side-of-sitting-in-traffic.html

Here is more information from Consumerist about the secondary road information.

http://consumerist.com/5346170/google-aims-to-answer-the-question-but-if-i-get-off-the-highway-wont-it-just-be-worse

Google-AT&T-Apple fight over Net calls draws FCC interest

It appears Google has apparently "Apple'd it up" in regards to the Skype application on Andriod. According to this article from USA today Skype's full blown application has been denied on the Andriod platform. Users are made to use Skype Lite which essentially connects the call via the traditional phone network and soaks up cell minutes. I don't have an Andriod device to test this with but it's an insteresting position for Google to take during the Google/Apple/AT&T battle.

"Android users get Skype Lite, a watered-down version of the original that routes calls over traditional phone networks — not the Internet. As a result, long-distance calls are still cheap or free, but cellphone minutes are gobbled up every time a Skype Lite call is made."

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2009-08-20-google-internet-calls-apple_N.htm