Google Maps returns to iPhone

Google Maps returned to the iPhone Thursday, quickly becoming the top free app download from the Apple App Store.

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Google Maps returns to iPhone

SAN FRANCISCO, AFP: Google Maps returned to the iPhone Thursday, allowing users to replace a glitch-ridden Apple program panned for omitting key landmarks and sending people in wrong directions.

Google Maps didn't take long to capture the top spot among free iPhone apps. The app reached first place just hours after it reappeared. It quickly garnered some 8,000 reviews, almost all of them earning five stars.

"People around the world have been asking for Google Maps on iPhone. Starting today, we're pleased to announce that Google Maps is here –  rolling out across the world in the Apple App Store," said Daniel Graf, director of Google Maps for mobile, in a blog post.

"It's designed from the ground up to combine the comprehensiveness and accuracy of Google Maps with an interface that makes finding what you're looking for faster and easier."

Graf said the new mapping app is available for the iPhone and iPod Touch using iOS 5.1 and higher, in more than 40 countries and 29 languages, including Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.

"It's a sharper looking, vector-based map that loads quickly and provides smooth tilting and rotating of 2D and 3D views," he said.

The maps disaster marred the image of a company which seemed to have the Midas touch for hugely successful new products like the iPhone and iPad.

Apple was forced to make a highly embarrassing apology in September for its own maps application in the new iOS 6 operating system used by the iPhone 5, and urged customers to use rival programs while improvements are made.

"Google Maps for iOS" was a top trend on Twitter, and users and analysts immediately welcomed the news.

replace – to get rid of someone or something, and to put a new person or thing in its place  เลิกใช้และนำสิ่งใหม่มาใช้แทน
glitch – a small problem or fault that prevents something from being successful or working as well as it should ความบกพร่องเล็กน้อย
-ridden – affected by something in a harmful way; full of something unpleasant or bad
pan – to severely criticise something such as a play, film/movie, product, etc. วิจารณ์อย่างรุนแรง
omit – to not include  เว้นไว้, ข้ามไป
key – very important ที่สำคัญ
landmark – a building or place that is easily recognised, especially one which you can use to judge where you are สถานที่ที่เป็นจุดสังเกต
garner – to obtain; to get ได้รับ, รวบรวมได้
review – an article in which someone gives their opinion of a something บทวิจารณ์
designed from the ground up – given a completely, or very significant, new design
combine – to mix or be put together รวมกัน
comprehensive – complete and including everything that is necessary ที่ครอบคลุม
accuracy – the state of being exact or correct; the ability to do something skilfully without making mistakes ความแม่นยำ
interface – the way a computer program, mobile device, etc. presents information to a user or receives information from a user, in particular the layout of the screen and the menus อินเตอร์เฟส,  การติดต่อประสานระหว่างเครื่องคอมพิวเตอร์กับผู้ใช้ เช่น แป้นพิมพ์, จอภาพ ต่างก็เป็นตัวประสานกับผู้ใช้ทั้งสิ้น
vector-based – of graphics/images that remain clear and sharp even when increased in size
tilt – to (cause to) move into a sloping position กระดก
rotate – to move in a circle around a fixed central point, or to move something in this way หมุน
disaster – an extremely bad situation ความโชคร้าย
mar – to spoil something ทำให้เสียหาย
image – an opinion that people have about someone or something ภาพลักษณ์
Midas touch – the ability to earn large amounts of money from whatever business you do, from an ancient king who was said to be able to change things into gold by touching them
embarrassing – making you feel ashamed, nervous or stupid น่าอับอาย, น่าอับอายขายหน้า
apology – an act of saying sorry คำขอโทษ
operating system – a set of programs that controls the way a computer, a mobile device, etc. works and runs other programs ระบบปฏิบัติการซึ่งควบคุมการทำงานของคอมพิวเตอร์
urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
rival – a person, group, team or business that competes with another คู่ต่อสู้, คู่ปรับ, คู่แข่ง
analyst – a person whose job involves examining facts or materials in order to give an opinion on them  นักวิเคราะห์