Google Maps for iOS gets offline navigation

Following updates on Android, Google Maps gets a new bunch of features. These include offline maps support, which lets you save a portion of the map onto your iPhone or iPad. The new update also lets you get turn-by-turn navigation, business hours, and contact details while offline. These maps will stay on your device for 30 days. Unfortunately, mass transit, walking, and biking directions still need to be accessed online.

Maps on iOS update also now gets gas prices and the ability to see when local businesses are busy throughout the week or on a given day.

Source: The Verge | Download: Apple App Store (Free)

Kickstarter investigates US$3.5 million failed project

Kickstarter is taking a look into a massively funded and failed ZANO drone campaign. They hired an investigative reporter to look into why the project didn’t push through. Over 12,000 backers paid over US$3.5 million to fund this small autonomous drone. It was supposed to be released in January of this year but the release date came and went without any word from the company, Torque Group Ltd, and it ultimately shut down last month, leaving backers without any compensation for their support.

Kickstarter hired Mark Harris to get the details. According to Harris, “[Kickstarter] would like to uncover the story of Zano, from its inception to the present…” He’ll also look into Kickstarter’s role in the project and how it could have helped the both the creators and its backers. Kickstarter will see the final story before publication but they have “no right” to make or suggest changes to the story. He anticipates publishing his story maybe mid next month.

Source: Slash Gear

Change your Facebook profile to show you’re a ‘Star Wars’ fan

The marketing efforts for Star Wars: The Force Awakens are relentless to say the least. With the movie coming out this week, Facebook is cashing in on the popularity by letting you change your profile picture temporarily to have either the red Dark Side cross-guard lightsaber or the blue Finn lightsaber. You can just click this link and try it out or check the link on Star Wars’ Facebook page. The direct link seems to be working from mobile for me, in case you want to check that out.

Source: Tech Crunch

Securifi's Almond 'smart' routers now integrate with Nest products

Smart appliances and connected home technologies have been an exciting fork of technology but the disparate platforms as well as the need for an app for each device has made them quite hard to handle.

With a recent software update, Securifi's Almond and Almond+ routers have become capable and powerful control points for various sensors in the Nest family including the Nest Thermostat, the Nest Smoke Detector and the Nest Cam security camera. Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Philips Hue smart home products are already supported by Almond routers, which now makes it one of the best hubs for connected home.

Source: The Verge