Google Maps for Android has been updated to version 4.4 and brings an enhancement to the Places feature. Now listed as a separate application in its own right, Places allows you to search quickly and easily for specific venues or services, such as restaurants, petrol stations, cash machines, etc:

Google have released a new tool which aims to enable enthusiasts and 'normal' users to create Android applications without the need for any development skills or experience. Applications are built visually rather than by writing code manually - read more on the Google Labs web site: http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/about/

The Mobile version of the YouTube web site (m.youtube.com) has been relaunched with support for HTML5 (in suitable browsers such as Android devices and the iPhone) adding such new features as touchscreen support improvements, playlists, search, 'like' and 'dislike' buttons and more.

Read more on the Official Google Mobile Blog - http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/

One of the new features available in the latest version of the Android operating system (version 2.2, or "Froyo") is a new service called "Chrome To Phone" which enables you to send any link you are currently viewing in Google's Chrome web browser on your desktop directly to your Android phone, enabling you to carry on reading while on the move.

The solution requires an extension installed on the desktop, and also an application on the Android device. You also need to log into your Google account using the same login on both the desktop and the Android device.

The desktop extension and Android app can both be downloaded here - http://code.google.com/p/chrometophone/downloads

Once installed on the desktop, an additional icon is added to the menu bar with an icon of a mobile device:

Google have officially announced the next version of the Android operating system, version 2.2, codenamed "Froyo".

The SDK has also been updated to enable developers to test their applications on the new platform (http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html)

Although no date has been confirmed as to when we can expect to start seeing devices running the new version of the operating systems, the list of new features is impressive, including:

Wave, Google's online email, instant messaging and collaborative document sharing portal is now available for anyone to create an account for and start using.
Watch the video below for an overview of the features available and head on over http://wave.google.com to sign up for your account. If you already have a Google Apps account you can sign in with your existing login now.

Version 4.1 of Google Maps for both Windows Mobile and the Symbian S60 platform is now available for download. This update brings Search by Voice functionality enabling you to verbally instruct your device to search for both specific locations or points of interest.

The free satellite navigation package for Android that has until now only been available in the US, has now been released for the UK and Ireland. An update to Google Maps (version 4.1.1) can be downloaded free from the Android Market for devices running Android 1.6 or later.

Navigation features include 3D views, turn-by-turn voice guidance and automatic re-routing. The most up-to-date maps can also be downloaded via the device's Internet connection as well as access to traffic data not to mention satellite and street views.

Google Reader has been available for a number of years now, but for some reason I have not used it until now: always having an RSS client on whatever device I am using at the time; but the ability to add and remove RSS feeds from a single administrative point and have those feeds updated across multiple platforms via a web browser is a very attractive feature.

In order to use Google Reader you must sign up for an account, but registration is free and does not necessarily require that you have any other form of Google account - only a valid email address is required.

Once registered, feeds can be added to your account via your web browser:

Google have released version 4.0 of their free Maps application for BlackBerry, offering Voice Search, Buzz integration, Personalised Search and Stars. You can read more on the Google Mobile Blog - http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/04/google-maps-40-for-blackberry-a...