Google Maps: A mess of unwanted features

Google Maps is one of the most commonly used service which is offered by Google. It gives a platform to its users and allows them to navigate and travel in a more convenient way because it highlights important locations to help its users.

Google is improving these services and is continuously adding new features to make this app more user-friendly and efficient. A newly introduced tab “Explore” is designed to browse nearby locations easily. This tab allows its users to search nearest restaurants, cafes, gas stations and groceries etc.

As Google is updating its app, a new feature is going to be introduced to its users in which Google will recommend places according to the personal preferences of the users and they will get updates of new and upcoming places of their interest so that they don’t have to use other applications to look for updates.

Google is planning to use AI technology with the help of Augmented Reality update in which users will be prevented from getting lost by identifying various street signs and landmarks which would be linked to Google street view.

Another feature is being introduced by Google Maps in which users will be allowed to pick best places to dine in with friends and family and users would be able to share that place with others as well.

Google is introducing these features to make its services more reliable and versatile, but people are not interested in these features because these features are already introduced by social media websites. Google Maps is losing sight of what makes it useful because users want their navigation and arrival time not more than that.

Some of the features are useful like reminding people where they parked their car and helping them in finding the nearest filling stations, but majority are all those features already offered by other apps.

These features don’t help making the competition intense with other networks like Snapchat added extra features but lost its focus as a result.

America wants to win the global race to 5G

The White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy has already issued a statement asserting that America wants to be the first to launch 5G wireless internet technology. As the first country to initiate 4G, America again wants to stay ahead in the race. They believe that the path to global domination in this information age lies in excelling at wireless technology.

The White House recently issued a memo stating the need for a new wireless connectivity strategy and asking for reports on the progress. The memo is on the lines of Federal Commission of Connectivity’s (FCC) policy for 5G. The US has been pursuing a wide 5G strategy for some years now. Under President Obama’s regime US was the first country to allocate spectrum. But since then other countries like Spain and South Korea have surpassed the United States in spectrum auctions.

The US has decided to get back on the saddle. The memo demands report in 180 days from various Executive Branches regarding the future spectrum requirements. After 270 days, various departments including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the FCC will deliver a “long-term National Spectrum Strategy” that hits a number of targets: 

•  Increase spectrum access, security and transparency
• Create flexible spectrum management models, including standards, incentives and enforcement mechanisms
• Develop advanced technologies” to improve spectrum access and sharing
• Improve the global competitiveness of U.S. “terrestrial and space-related industries”

Chairman FCC, Ajit Pai introduced some rules months ago for a new spectrum policy as well. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said:

“We are ripping up what came before and starting with a new wireless policy sometime late next year. But the world isn’t going to wait for us. Other nations are moving ahead with strategies they are implementing now while we’re headed to study hall.”

The authorities are focused in their efforts to make America win the global race to 5G and maintain its dominance over the world.

China’s ByteDance surpasses Uber as the most valuable Tech Startup

Uber, at $72 billion, was the most valuable startup. But now a Chinese tech startup known as ByteDance has left Uber behind and is the world’s highest value tech startup. Forbes and Bloomberg recently reported that new deals and incoming investments have raised ByteDance’s value to $78 billion.

ByteDance operates a range of digital media platforms, but it is best known for Toutiao,  its AI-based news aggregator that has become one of China’s most-used apps with over 120 million users, and short video platform TikTok,  which recently gobbled up Musical.ly which ByteDance acquired via a $1 billion acquisition last year.

ByteDance aims at going global with apps like TikTok. It already has 500 million users in TikTok. It plans to step out of China with its other platforms too. In China it has already toppled down corporate giants like Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent. Tech giants in the US have also noticed the uproar of ByteDance. Google plans on creating a Toutiao type news app for the people of China while Facebook is all set to compete with TikTok through their own app call Lasso.

This lead might be short lived because Uber is planning on going public which would take its valuation to $120 billion. If any such thing happens you know where you’ll hear the news first. That’s right, on this blog!