Google Maps Android Now Does Walking Navigation Directions!

Google Maps just keeps getting better.  Now you can finally have the app navigate you while you're on two feet, for those times when you venture out of your car!  The app also adds a neat option where it will navigate you using the Street View imagery Google has been busy collecting - please note, this functionality requires a separate download. Search market for "Street View on Google Maps" or just use the QR code below.

Walk this way - Official Google Mobile Blog: "Walking Navigation lets you use GPS navigation with walking directions that are more direct and use pedestrian pathways when we know about them. To try it now, choose the “Walking” option from the Navigation icon. Walking Navigation has a few changes that help when you’re on your feet. For example, your phone will vibrate when you need to make a turn. You can even turn off voice guidance and just use these notifications while soaking in the sights and sounds around you. To help you orient yourself with your surroundings, the map will rotate with you as you turn the phone, and walking mode uses satellite view by default. Use it like a virtual compass with satellite imagery to look ahead or help pick out landmarks along the way."

Download "Street View on Google Maps"

Google Maps

Barnes & Noble Updates NOOK Android App To Make It Faster, Plus Other Improvements

Links on "Barnes & Noble" | Facebook: "We just released NOOK for Android version 2.2 which now includes faster access & action in the library, four line spacing choices, the option to hide the status bar, and other performance enhancements."

Cablevision Launches Optimum Android App, Lets iO TV Customers Remote Schedule DVR, Browse TV Listings

Cablevision just launched a very useful app in the Android market! It lets Optimum Online iO TV DVR customers search program listings from their phone, and also schedule recordings on the go!

Optimum App Now Available Free On iTunes App Store, Android Market For Optimum Online And iO TV DVR Customers: "Key features of the new application include:

• The ability to search upcoming TV shows by cast, title, genre, description or keyword.
• Browse comprehensive current TV listings by time, channel, or category.
• Record either single episodes or an entire series onto any DVR in the home.
• Delete recorded shows, or cancel upcoming recordings on any DVR in the home
• Swipe to record or delete with a single click.
• Supports multitasking on both platforms (Apple: iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS with iOS 4)."

New Version of Google Voice Adds Android Widgets For Fast Access To Voicemail, Texts, More

The new widgets give you faster access to Google Voice functions.  There is a one that will give you instant access to the full Google Voice app, there is an icon to quickly compose text messages, a third that gives you the ability to change your calling preferences (e.g. use Google Voice for all calls, international only, etc) and the fourth and probably most useful is the "do not disturb" widget, which sends all calls direct to voicemail (don't forget to turn it off when you're done!)

Google Voice Blog: Fast Access to Google Voice with Android Widgets: "Mobile is all about getting super fast access to what you’re looking for and Google Voice is no exception. So, today we’re releasing an update to the Android app, which gives you immediate access to your Google Voice Inbox and settings via two new home screen widgets.

The Google Voice Inbox widget brings your most recent voicemails and text messages to your home screen. You can now quickly flip though messages in your Inbox with the widget, and selecting any message preview will open it in the Google Voice app."

Blip.tv Android App Lets You Watch Hundreds Of Shows, If You Have A Samsung Vibrant Phone

Adding to the Android fragmentation, blip.tv has launched a new Android app in partnership with Samsung.  The app lets you watch blip.tv shows in high quality, but for now, it only works on the Samsung Vibrant phone or other Samsung Galaxy S phones.

The good news is that this looks like a temporary thing; you can sign up on blip.tv's website to be notified when the app is available for all Android phones.

blip.tv (since 2005): "Great news! The blip.tv Android app is available on your Samsung Vibrant!

Using the app, you can watch all of your favorite blip.tv shows while taking advantage of the Vibrant's high-resolution screen.

In a new collaboration with Samsung Mobile, blip.tv has created a new Android application for consumers who buy the new Samsung Galaxy S portfolio of mobile devices. The free app, exclusive to Samsung Galaxy S owners, will feature top series hosted by blip.tv. Show categories on the app include featured episodes, drama, comedy, music, documentary, tech, music and app reviews."