Google Now Offers Alternative Flights On Delayed Or Cancelled Flights

The Android Community reports a two new features added to Google Now. The main new feature is that Google will suggest alternative flights or options when your flight is delayed or cancelled. If Google detects your flight is delayed or cancelled, Google “can suggest alternate routes or…

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Apple Maps Represents 70% Of UK Mapping Traffic According To UK Cell Data Provider

According to a report released by U.K’s largest mobile network operator, Everything Everywhere (EE), Apple Maps represents a crushing 70% of mapping traffic across it’s whole network. The report reads: Traffic on the new Apple Maps now represents 70% of mapping traffic on the 4G…

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Google’s Still Lagging On Mobile Search Warnings

No one applauded louder than I did when Google introduced their warning in search results for faulty redirects in June of this year, and then, warnings for Flash earlier this month. It’s definitely a step in the right direction for Google — and for searchers, who have had to endure less than usable…

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Cortana Expands To Other Markets, Becomes “Xiao Na” In China

There’s increasing evidence that Microsoft’s personal assistant Cortana is being positioned as a key differentiator vs. Android and iPhones. A new TV commercial (below) purports to compare Cortana to Siri, with a mock Siri voice saying “I can’t do that” a number of…

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Google Maps “Explore” Feature Shows What’s Nearby Along With Reviews & Travel Times

Google Maps announced a new “Explore”  feature yesterday for its Android and iOS app. The new feature offers a “local guide” that adapts to wherever the user may be. According to the release: Now, whenever you want to discover places in your area, simply tap the new Explore…

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It Will Take “Act Of God” For Relcy To Win In Mobile Search

Last week TechCrunch profiled a “stealth” startup called Relcy, which is seeking to build a “native” search engine for mobile. The post mentions the company has raised $9 million in funding so far. In an interview with the site, founder Rohit Satapathy says his company is…

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Bing & Cortana To Get Academic Search Integration At A Whole New Level

Microsoft shared details about their future plans for deeply integrating academic data/search into the Bing search engine. Starting this Fall, Microsoft said they “will be able to point the way to a wealth of information from the academic community.” Microsoft explained that currently…

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Google Goes All-In With “OK, Google” Hands-Free Search

The evolution of voice-controlled search into a virtual personal assistant took another step forward with Google’s announcement that all Android-powered devices (KitKat or above) will now respond to the “hotword” OK, Google. Users can initiate a search or control and carry out any…

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WATCH: Microsoft’s Cortana Keynote At SMX Advanced 2014

You’re probably pretty familiar already with Siri and Google Now, the personal assistant-type technologies from Apple and Google, respectively. Each has its own approach to the idea of providing information and answering questions without needing a traditional search box and search query. You…

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Google Bringing App Indexing To All Android Apps

Among the numerous announcements at the Google I/O developer conference this morning Google said it was expanding its app indexing program to all Android apps and developers.  App indexing allows for deep linking of app content from mobile web search results. Previously Google had only been…

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Virtual 3D “City Tours” Coming To Apple Maps In iOS 8

One of the features in the forthcoming iOS 8 is apparently called City Tours. These are animated flyovers of various cities in Apple Maps. Mostly a novelty, they’ll take users on a 3D tour of key buildings and landmarks in a city. Google Maps/Earth have allowed developers to create animated…

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Up Close @ SMX Advanced: What Advanced SEMs Should Be Doing About Mobile

Every year is the year of mobile, and 2014 hasn’t been a disappointment. Mobile screen time now exceeds TV in the United States. Fifty percent of paid-search clicks on Google will come from mobile devices in 2015, according to one forecast. So what do advanced SEMs need to know about mobile, and…

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MSFT: No Plans To Monetize Cortana Yet, But We Do Want Her To Be Pervasive

It’s far too early to consider monetizing Cortana, Microsoft’s new virtual personal assistant, but the company is already thinking about how to scale her across different devices, platforms and around the world. Those were two of the key points from Microsoft’s keynote…

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Microsoft’s SMX Advanced Keynote: Cortana Makes People More Likely To Search

We’re ready to get started on day two of SMX Advanced, and today’s opening keynote promises to talk about the future of search. Microsoft’s Marcus Ash (Group Program Manager for Windows Phone) and Rob Chambers (Group Program Manager, Applications and Services Group) will be here…

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Starwood’s “SPG For Glass” App Brings Hotel Search To Google Glass

Starwood Hotels & Resorts is the latest travel brand to land on Google Glass. The company has launched a Glass app called SPG for Glass that’s now available for Explorers in the official Glassware app directory. Starwood becomes the first major hospitality brand with a Google Glass app….

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Google Updates iOS Search App To Include “Smarter” Voice Search Cues & Customized Alerts

The Apple-focused website 9to5Mac.com reported today that Google’s iOS Search app has been updated to version 4.0, with new voice search cues and customized alerts from Google Now. With the updates, the app’s new voice search cues offer more conversational-styled search queries….

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