The latest Google Maps Web App: Open to All

The amendments to Google Maps that Google confirmed at its I/O conference last month is not in the preview stage anymore. The latest version of the maps is now available for all to use without any invitation. Visual tweaks, customized results and more transportation selections are yours for the taking.

In one of its tweets, @Google Maps stated users are just needed to "sign up" to use this latest app. Just hit the blue button and explore this new version.

This latest one has a few improvements and to run this you need to have the latest browser as well as a bit of horsepower to take benefit of them. You can also switch to a 3-D Google Earth view instantly along with pop-up showcasing 3-D buildings. The maps themselves have been amended and elucidated as well.

Transit data trouble free through the slick little interface. It showcases and informs you about where and when to catch the next bus or train. Restaurant reviews, street views or previews are also available on this smart Maps app.

Although it is currently available on the Android platform but very soon you will explore it on your Apple device too. Apple already has a map of its own but it will also feature this latest app on its gizmo soon after approval.



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What are the Uses and Benefits of Hashtags!

Although hashtags are typically associated with Twitter, these are now nothing new for other social media networks. Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest and many other social media sites are already using it.

The # symbol is generally used to denote or highlight keywords or any specific topic. This small cross hatch symbol is a very powerful tool that enables the user to navigate the social media landscape. It has now become an essential part of the digital space as they are so frequently used in creative styles to promote events, ideas and products.

Twitter: The Twitter hashtag is a great way to follow any conversation which is of your interest. Moreover, it is also a good way to start off with a Twitter conversation. The hashtags on Twitter simply collect all the tweets and organizes them in a streamline so that a person can understand and follow it. One can follow the streamed conversation by clicking on the hashtag link.

Instagram: For photo enthusiasts, Instagram is a great platform which is available on iOS and Android devices. With the introduction of hashtags in this app, it has become much easier to find and make pictures available. One can caption the image with a hashtag or can comment with a hashtag. Now, anyone can see all the photos with the same tag just by tapping on the tag. One can also hashtag any contest or event so that it reaches to a large number of users whenever they search with the same tag.

Facebook: The web is buzzing with the latest launch of hashtag by Facebook. This self-indexing tool that searches anything and highlights any topic is now an indispensable tool on this most popular social network site. This new functionality on this site is grabbing the attention of the users currently. Though it has not reached to all the users yet but users will soon follow it to find out specific topic or to get engaged in certain conversation.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn, the most popular professional network site has added the hashtag feature too that enables the job seekers to increase their chances to search an ideal position or profession. It works exactly in the similar way it does on Twitter and makes it easier for potential employees to get connected to key companies that they are eyeing.

Benefits of using hashtags for brands:

• It helps you to create awareness for your brand.

• It makes it easy to track what others are talking about your brand.

• You can keep track of your online reputation in the market.

• It lets you monitor and measure your reach.

• It makes your posts easier to search.

• It lets you keep an eye on all the conversations around your chosen keywords/topics so that you can understand where your company is being mentioned.

Several other networking sites are adding this feature currently. The adoption of hashtag by all the most popular social networking sites is also a response to three major aspects: their use by major advertisers, customers and the necessity to provide ways to sieve through mountains of social chatter and swiftly cut through the clutter.

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Top 10 Mobile Chat Apps That Beat SMS

In the recent time, the number of messages being sent on various apps has taken over SMS for the first time ever. According to a survey, till 2012, around 19 billion instant messages were sent using chat apps, compared to 17.6 billion SMS texts.

The top ten apps being used these days beating the text messages are:

1) WhatsApp:  WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app that let the user to exchange messages without any charge. It runs on iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and Nokia. It is said to be the granddaddy of the mobile messaging app space. Even with the continuous entry of the myriad messaging newcomers, this stupendous app appears to be continuing to build usage momentum.

 2) WeChat: This smart app generally offers multimedia messaging options, with support for emoji/stickers and video. The app runs smoothly on Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Symbian platforms and supports English, Chinese, Indonesian, Portuguese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Russian languages.

 3) Line: Call and message as much as you want with this latest app, Line. It is a new communication tool that let you make free voice calls and messages whenever and wherever you are. Around 190 million users worldwide across 231 countries are using this app to communicate.

4) Nimbuzz Messenger: Another great app ever invented is the Nimbuzz Messenger that combines the power of web and smartphone both into one. It enables you to make affordable international calls, send messages, share files on any other handset. It is available on all the popular platforms including Android, iOS, Blackberry, Symbian, Java, Windows and Mac.

 5) Skype: Now with this advanced app, Skype talk with your fingers. No matter in which part of the world you are, by maintaining your privacy it connects you with your friends and family with free instant messaging. Millions of users are now using it to get in touch with their loved ones.

 6) ChatOn: Stay connected with your buddies or group of buddies through this advanced app ChatOn. It is well supported on most of the platforms. In most of the Samsung mobile phones, you get this impeccable app preloaded. You can post messages and check out your buddy's comments.

7) BBM: To exchange between BlackBerry users only, BBM is one of the best inventions. It will soon be available on the iOS platform too. However, you can carry on a real-time conversation with friends and colleagues in several different locations or carry on numerous conversations simultaneously.

 8) Facebook Messenger: Facebook Messenger mobile app is as similar as the Facebook chat on a desktop. It allows the user to chat either one to one or in groups. You can share pictures, texts or voice recordings and also emoji to make your conversation interesting.

9) Viber: Viber is a VoIP app that is becoming more popular with each passing day. You can not only message through it but also communicate using VoIP for free bypassing your mobile network. You can make unlimited calls and text messages to other Viber users. Registration via your mobile number is not required to make calls.

10) GTalk: A number of apps have come in the market in the current time but GTalk is one of the oldest and most excellent communication tools. This instant messaging service allows both texts as well as voice communication. You can stay connected with your friends and family anytime and can see the actual availability and status of friends online.

All these latest apps have taken over the market and changed the way of communication. Mobile texts have lost somewhere with the introduction of these apps which are much cheaper and easy to access. No matter in which part of the world you are, you can easily connect with your loved ones and can interact and see them which is not possible via SMS.

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Mobile Applications for Hotels: Significant Need of the Hour!

According to a survey, 38% users use their handsets to organize a trip. Almost 60% admitted that they have downloaded travel apps on their gizmos, 62% of the travelers said that they have used their widgets to search restaurants while traveling, 51% used it to know about the flight status, 46% searched for the attractions and 28% have checked into a restaurant, hotel or attraction using their cell phones while on a tour.

As per another survey, it has been revealed that regular business travelers who make trips minimum five times in a year possess a Smartphone. Almost 50% of regular leisure travelers have Smartphones that they use for various activities such as searching restaurants, check in hotels and other places etc.

There are enough reasons for the industry to use mobile applications. In fact, there are many who are using it and gaining huge success out of it.

These days, the most important and a must have thing for a hotel is to have a dynamic website from where one can know about it in detail and access all the required information within minimum clicks. Next is the mobile app that let the hotel to connect with the guests more closely. The good thing is, the cost of developing these apps has decreased as compared to previous years. Now even if you do not own a luxury hotel or a chain of luxury hotels, you can create your app for the growth and development.

As they say – ‘What is visible, sells'. After app development, you need to promote it wisely on each platform so that people get to know about it. Having a mobile app also increase the brand value of the hotel. Customers understand that the hotel is up-to-dated with the latest technology and hence must be offering high quality services too.

 Now, the important question - which platform you should choose to develop the app? Android or iOS? Well, nothing to worry about it as the answer is in your website analytics. Go through it and find out that how many people from which platforms are coming to your website and start with the one having the most number of users and then move to the rest of the platforms.

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