Google Maps for Android adds transit departure times, Latitude friend suggestions

One of Google's favorite pastimes is shoehorning bits of new functionality into Google Maps for Android, probably because... well, because it can -- updating a package on its own mobile platform is a heck of a lot easier than, say, getting Apple to add a feature to its Maps app. To that end, version 4.3 has just rolled out with three major additions: aggregated (and color-coded) business reviews broken down by topic, transit system departure times, and suggested friends for Latitude. We'll admit, we occasionally forget that Latitude exists, so this seems like a timely addition to get it back into the spotlight -- and if you live in New York, Chicago, or another city with a sprawling bus and subway system, we're sure you'll be amped about the schedules. Now if those times were actually correct, that'd be really mind-blowing.

[bufbarnaby Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:09PM]

This is Euge !

[bufbarnaby Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:10PM]

Ilove Google.

[cr3amy Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:12PM]

That's actually really, really cool

[jschaeff Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:21PM]

@cr3amy just got my N1 today so this is cool....

[matthidinger Posted Jun 22nd 2010 9:13PM]

Hmm, this only shows estimated schedules so it's probably going to be rather useless for public transit.

On the other hand if you're holding out for WP7 and plan on taking mass transit, feel free to follow the progress of my Bus Tracker app :)

http://matthidinger.com/archive/2010/06/18/bustrack-windows-phone-7-app.aspx

[MrMakeIt Posted Jun 22nd 2010 10:50PM]

This is great for someone like me who travels to Chicago occasionally. I hate bothering my friends and having them help me figure out which trains to get on. And when I eventually travel to NY, I'll feel confident that I can actually get around.

Thank you Google!

-Droid Incredible

[Bailers77 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:19PM]

Chris - so in a city like Chicago, which app is more useful. The android update to maps for estimated time, or the iPhone app that CTA puts out? It would be really cool if google could integrate real time information from CTA or New York transit like the do with road traffic times.