iOS 6 is rumored to be code named Sundance, continuing Apple's tradition of naming iOS releases after ski resorts. This according to MG Siegler at TechCrunch. Siegler also triple confirms the newly updated Maps app is coming in iOS 6, though he thinks the hype surrounding how good it is might be hyperbole.

Specifically, while the 3D functionality is cool, it’s also not something people are going to use regularly. Think of it like Google Street View — cool, but how often do you actually use it when compared to the regular Google Maps product? (Having said that, I still expect Apple’s 3D maps to be cooler than Google Street View.)

He's also heard whispers that Siri might be getting API access, meaning App Store apps could interface with it at some level. As to Siri on the iPad, just like iMore conjectured back in March, he's led to believe Apple is still working out the user interface.

After all, Apple is using the technology for the Dictation functionality found on the new iPad. They’ve just been working on what Siri for iPad will look like, I’ve been led to believe.

Lastly, he speculates iTunes 11, which he says Apple has been trying unsuccessfully to rewrite for a while now, may be getting close to a revamp and may bring some type of Spotify-like functionality. (Yes please.)

Siegler generally has good sources at Apple and has reported correct information in the past. None of the above sounds really farfetched either, and some of it matches what iMore and other sites have also been hearing.

And to think, WWDC 2012 is just exactly a month away...

Source: TechCrunch

A couple of years ago Steve Jobs called a Town Hall meeting at Apple and rallied the troops by saying the next iPhone, which was to be the iPhone 4, would be an A+ update and take it to the turncoat Google and their Android operating system. According to our sources, a similar sentiment is being expressed by Apple in Cupertino again this year, but with a decidedly different twist. Instead of just hitting Google and Android in the market place with better hardware and software, and in the courts with patent litigation, they're going to hit them where it really hurts.

While the exact numbers are hotly debated, it's long been said Google makes more money off iOS than they do off their own Android operating system. The reason for this is simple -- mainstream iOS users tend to use the web and apps more than mainstream Android users, and iOS is filled with Google services. The built-in Maps app is powered by Google and provides sponsored search results. The built-in Safari web browser defaults to Google Search and serves Google Search ads. When iOS users use those services, Google makes money. Regardless of whether or not iOS or Android is winning in the market place, Google is winning in the wallet.

And Apple wants to end that.

Removing Google from Maps is an easy step in that direction. As reported by 9to5Mac earlier today, and as we've confirmed from our own sources as well, iOS 6 will come with an updated Maps app that removes the Google backend and replaces it with an Apple backend.

This isn't without precedent. Both Apple and Google used to use Skyhook for Wi-Fi router location mapping, and both have now switched to in-house databases. Google used to license map tiles and has since re-drawn them themselves. Apple has bought 3 mapping data related companies, and could have either re-licensed or redrawn tiles by now as well.

For the end-user, the interface is the app, and switching out backend pipes is far more transparent than altering front ends. Mail is Mail regardless if it's being fed by iCloud or Gmail. The same holds true, in large part, for Maps.

So in this case, the goal is more interesting than the process -- to remove Google as much as possible from iOS.

Realistically, Google Search will be tougher to replace since Google enjoys an almost monopoly sized share of the search space. But it may not be impossible to displace. Apple is already intermediating Google Search with Siri and that will likely continue.

Google isn't in the search business, it's in the data collection/advertising business. It doesn't make money when you search its index, it makes money recording your information, aggregating it, and brokering deals for it. Search isn't the product it sells. We are. If Apple steps in and makes the queries on our behalf, and returns them on Google's behalf, Google is cut out of the important parts -- the money.

All of this is in stark contrast to January 2007, when then Google CEO Eric Schmidt took the Macworld stage with then Apple CEO Steve Jobs to celebrate the Apple/Google iPhone partnership. That was before Google pulled a 180 and turned Android from a low-end Windows Mobile and BlackBerry competitor to an iPhone competitor. That was before Apple started suing Android manufacturers and Steve Jobs threatened to go "thermonuclear".

And that's before Apple decided to stop helping Google's revenue stream, data stream, and perhaps bolstering their stock profile, by giving them built-in access to iOS users, and Apple branded data deals.

Now, Apple isn't just fighting back by making the best iOS software and iPhone hardware they can, and by trying to legally force Android manufacturers to stop copying Apple. With iOS 6 on the upcoming iPhone 5 and rumored 7-inch iPad, they're fighting back by removing as much of Google as they can as well. By denying Google access to iOS eyeballs and data.

If history is any indicator, both new devices will sell incredibly well, and tens of thousands of new customers, and hundreds of thousands of newly updated customers, will be funding and feeding Google less than ever before.

This time Apple's fighting back by hitting Google where it really hurts -- in the wallet.

iOS 6's built in Maps app will no longer call on Google Maps as its back end, but will instead host an Apple-made solution. Map's will retain a Street View-style option  and 3D building functionality thanks to their acquisition of C3 Technologies, with other mapping data coming from Placebase and Poly9. The design will be similar to the current Maps app, with a minor icon tweak, but will offer a "cleaner, faster, and more reliable experience". This according to 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman, and confirmed by our sources.

Apple has already started to ditch Google Map data in iPhoto, so this isn't exactly a huge surprise.

We're expecting to out first glimpse of iOS 6 and hopefully some confirmation of that Google Maps is gone at WWDC this summer.

Source: 9to5mac

It looks like Apple's new iPhoto for iOS app isn't pulling data from the tradition source, Google Maps, but is using custom Apple made tiles informed by OpenStreetMaps. 512 Pixels' Stephen Hackett noticed the difference almost immediately, as did The Next Web's Matthew Panzarino. OpenStreetMap later confirmed it on their own blog:

Yesterday Apple launched iPhoto, its photo management app, for the iPad and iPhone… and we’re rather pleased to find they’re the latest to switch to OpenStreetMap. [...] The new iPhoto for iOS, however, uses Apple’s own map tiles – made from OpenStreetMap data (outside the US).

The OSM data that Apple is using is rather old (start of April 2010) so don’t expect to see your latest and greatest updates on there. It’s also missing the necessary credit to OpenStreetMap’s contributors; we look forward to working with Apple to get that on there.

Given the strains in the Apple/Google relationship as of late, it's really shocking to see them putting something like this together.

Apple has also acquired numerous mapping solution companies such as PlaceBase, Google Earth competitor Poly9 along with a 3D mapping company called C3 Technologies, so it's not hard to imagine we'll see more custom maps from Apple in the future.

Source: 512 Pixels, TNW, OpenStreetMap

If you ever wondered how to share your current location or any particular location you fancy when using the Maps app, it is very easy to do. It can also be a very powerful way to help your friends find you or find a location that interests them that you want to share.

• Open the Maps app
• Let it locate you or if you want to share a different location, search for it in the top right corner search box
• Once your location is shown on the map, click on the push pin

• A box should open with a red circle on the left and a blue arrow on the right
• The circle on the left is for street view; the arrow on the right is for more information
• Click the arrow on the right, it will open an information page on the location selected

• You now have a few options, Directions to Here, Directions from Here, Add to Contacts, Share Location and Add to Bookmarks
• We want Share Location

• You then have three options, Email, Message, Tweet
• Select whichever method you want to send the location by, in this example we are using Email
• This opens up the email send box, you will see an attachment already there ending in .vcf.

• Fill in the recipients address and that’s it
• When the recipient receives the file, they can open it on their iOS device and it will show them the same info page

• The link to the map will show the exact location and from there, you can get navigation details from your current location.

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com.

Going on vacation or just to someplace new and curious how to print out Maps driving directions so you can keep a hard copy handy? While the built-in iOS Maps app lacks turn by turn navigation, it does give you a visual map of your route and a list of directions. If you're driving through an area with dodgy data service, or you're just old school and want a physical copy, it's easy to print out that list of directions. They can then be handed to your passenger without the need for them to have your iPhone in their hand and it saves your battery life too.

• First of all, you must have a printer that supports AirPrint
• Open your Maps application and enter your start and end positions

• Press the Route button
• The route will then be calculated and displayed graphically

• Tap on the curled up map options icon in the bottom right corner of the screen

• Select Print

• Select your printer
• Select the number of copies you want

• Hit Print

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com.

TeleNav, one of the largest back-end providers of GPS navigation services for smartphones and other in-car turn-by-turn navigation systems, has announced the upcoming release of a free HTML5-based voice-guided GPS navigation service that works on your iPhone through the Safari Mobile Browser.

“This is an enormous amount of added value for any mobile, location-based website or app focused on travel, shopping, local search, deals and more,” said Sal Dhanani, co-founder and vice president of products for TeleNav. “With one line of code, you can give your customers one-click access to premium, voice-guided turn-by-turn directions to any location, including hotels, restaurants, merchants or deal locations. Customers never need to leave your app.”

As mentioned, the service will be completely browser-based allowing it to run on just about any smartphone, including the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Developers will have the opportunity to add just a single line of code to their existing website or apps, which will allow users to jump directly into the browser for turn-by-turn navigation from within any app, or directly from Safari itself.

If all goes according to plan, we should start seeing it in apps come 2012.

Source: TeleNav

According to Mark Gurman over at 9to5Mac, Apple has acquired a third mapping company, this time 3D specialists C3 Technologies.

Sources say that C3 Technologies CEO Mattias Astrom , C3 Technologies CFO Kjell Cederstrand, and lead C3 Technologies Product Manager Ludvig Emgard are now working within Apple’s iOS division. The leading trio, along with most of the former C3 Technologies team, is still working as a team in Sweden (interestingly, the division is now called “Sputnik”), where the C3 Technologies company was located prior to the Apple acquisition.

They specialize in making 3D maps from photo data using declassified missile-targeting technology. Apple previously bought map data companies PlaceBase and Poly9, and while they still rely on Google for the actual maps in OS X and iOS, it's not hard to imagine some fantastic new Map app just may be in our future.

Here's a video showing how C3 works.

Source; 9to5Mac

Starting with iPhone 3GS, Apple began including compasses (technically magnometers) in their iOS devices. To activate the compass and get directions that actually have a sense of direction:

• Open up Google Maps
• Double tap the location button in the bottom left corner of the screen

This enables the digital compass, and while active it will rotate the onscreen map to match the direction you’re facing. Again, this tip will only work with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and all iPads, as these models have a built-in magnometer.

Have any other tips or tricks for getting better navigation? Let us know!

Daily Tips range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com. (If it’s especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we’ll even give ya a reward…)

Want to know how to find the closest sushi restaurant, or pizza, or who to call to make a reservation when it's your anniversary and you completely forgot to make a reservation? Never fear, the native Google Maps app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is here! We'll show you how it can save the day -- or at least save yourself from pizza famine -- after the break!

1. Launch maps
2. Get your current location by tapping the arrow button at the bottom left.
3. Using the search field at the top right, type in the type of food you want, the name of the restaurant you're looking for, or anything you can remember about the address. For example, I’m in New York City near Broadway and Reade Street and I’m in the mood for Pizza. Typing “pizza” will then search the environs for the nearest pizza joints and drop a pin on their precise locations.
4. Tap the pins to get more information. You can click the small blue chevron to bring up more information about your chosen pizza place, and if it has a Google Streetview icon on the left, you can even see the place and its surroundings!
   
5. Tap the link to the homepage of the restaurant, or if you're on an iPhone, simply tap of the phone number to call it right up (so they can have your pie hot ‘n ready for you when you get there).
6. Finally, tap the “Directions to Here” button at the bottom of the info page and select if you are driving, taking public transit or walking with estimated time it takes to get there.

That's it, a few simple steps to find the food, Starbucks, burger joint, pizza place, or 5-star restaurant of your choice, all right on your iOS device! If you have any other Maps tips, let us know in the comments!

[Special thanks to Master from the iPad live chatroom for this tip!]

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com. (If it’s especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we’ll even give ya a reward…)

School's out and it's time for a break from work. Curious which are the absolute best apps and games to take with you on your much deserved summer vacation? Odds are you'll want to share your adventures, brush up on local attractions, and stay connected while you're having fun. Luckily there are tons of apps available in the App Store that makes organizing and sharing your vacation from your iPhone super simple.

Whether you want informational apps for your own use or social apps to share, we've got you covered. Read on for TiPb’s top 10 most recommended, most must-have summer vacation apps to get your started.

• Top 10 apps for new iPhone owners
• More top apps

Gowalla

For regular everyday check-ins, I typically use Foursquare. But for trips, Gowalla wins hands down. It acts as somewhat of a "digital passport". They offer stamps and pins for completing trips and checking in at certain places (similar to Foursquare badges).

You can also upload pictures and comments on places that you've traveled to. Sometimes you'll pick up items when you check into places. You can either drop them elsewhere for someone else to find (and to become a founder of a place), or you can choose to add them to your pack where they'll permanently stay. I'll typically drop items I've picked up more than one of and save more rare and unique items in my pack.

Gowalla also allows you to share check-ins and pictures to Twitter and Facebook as well which makes it even easier to let your friends and family follow along with your adventures.

Free - iTunes Link

Instagram

I use Instagram on almost a daily basis but it's especially cool for sharing pictures on vacation. Not only does it upload your images to a plethora of services (Twitter, Facebook, etc) - you can also add all kinds of cool filter effects to your photos before uploading them.

I've always found uploading photos directly to Facebook to be hit or miss. I always use Instagram now. It's fast and connects to all the services I want to share to. The user interface is simple and uploading a photo only takes seconds, which is great when you're constantly on the go and just want to share a quick snapshot.

Free - iTunes Link

TripAdvisor

While you may have already loaded some GPS and navigation apps, you'll also want to make sure you have additional information about certain places. TripAdvisor is a great app to find out about hotels and attractions. You can read and write reviews straight from the app. I know we've saved ourselves some heartache by checking user reviews for certain hotels and restaurants before making our decision.

It'll work regardless where you're at so this is a great one to have on board for virtually any type of trip. And don't forget to write reviews for future travelers as well!

Free - iTunes Link

Beautiful Planet HD

No matter where you're traveling, Beautiful Planet has tons of pictures, facts, and descriptions of the most amazing travel destinations on Earth. I've found a lot of really cool destinations just by browsing through the app in my spare time. While on vacation, you can not only learn about the places you're visiting, but find other really cool areas to check out.

This app is perfect for vacationers that want to spend a lot more time outdoors than they do indoors. I also recommend this to travelers who don't necessarily have a strict itinerary and really want to spend more time exploring than anything else.

$1.99 - iTunes Link

Navigation and/or information apps

No matter where you're going, some type of GPS app should be on the top of your list. I personally prefer Garmin StreetPilot when I travel but you'll want to pick the GPS app that covers the areas your traveling to. That's why I'm not picking a technical "favorite" for this category. What you will want to use will differ based on where you're going. Just pick one that covers the area you're traveling to the best.

You can also look at specified navigation apps as well. I live on a lake and love the water, so I picked up an app called Marine&Lakes. These types of navigation apps are great for specified areas and a lot of times contain attractions or areas that you'd never otherwise discover.

Prices will vary depending what apps you choose to use.

Your top summer vacation apps?

So there you have them, our top 10 best iPhone 4 apps to get you started. Be sure to check out our Picks of the Week and iPhone App and Games Forum for more recommendations, and if we missed any of your favorites leave them in the comments below!

About to embark on a much needed, well deserved vacation and wondering how to find lodging close by? Hotels, motels, beds and breakfast places, the Google Maps app can help you easily locate tons of possibilities. Follow on after the break and we'll show you how!

Let say you are planning a trip to San Francisco and need to find places to stay that are closest to the airport.

1. Where will you be? - Instead of using iOS’s location services in the Maps App, type in the city name in the search field.
   
2. Refine the details - Once the Google Maps App resolves the city name and drops a pin, you can then type the word “Airport” in the search field (in case you don’t recall the name). I know that Berkeley is the airport I’m heading to, so next I pinch and zoom to the pin for Berkeley Airport.
3. Search!- search for “Hotel” to find a hotel that is nearest to the Airport. I’ve chosen La Quinta Inn Berkeley.
   
4. More info - Click the info chevron and select if you want to call them direct or visit their website to make a reservation.
5. You can finally click the “Directions to Here” button at the bottom of the info page and select if you are driving, taking public transit or walking with estimated time it takes to get there.

Any other great vacation planning tips to share? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks to Master from the iPhone Live chatroom for the tip!

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you'd like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to news@tipb.com. (If it's especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we'll even give ya a reward...)

While the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad come with built in, Apple made Gmail, Maps, and YouTube native apps, Google also provides Google made Gmail, Maps, and YouTube web apps. Apple native apps gain all the benefits of being part of the OS, including attachments, uploads, contact integration, etc. but Google updates their web apps quickly, gives you labels, stars, and ties them into the rest of your Google info, and keeps the experience the same regardless of the device you're using.

Do you have a preference? Do you prefer Apple's design and the unique iOS look and feel of Mail, Maps, and YouTube, or you prefer the Google vibe and want everything to look like the web regardless of where you're accessing it from?

Apple vs. Google. Native vs. Web.

Vote in the poll and give me the details in the comments!

Did Apple just let an iOS 5 (or iOS 6) feature out of the bag during their location data Q&A? It sure looks like it if you examine the answer below:

Apple is now collecting anonymous traffic data to build a crowd-sourced traffic database with the goal of providing iPhone users an improved traffic service in the next couple of years.

Steve Jobs added more during his interview with Mobilized:

We mention the traffic service and I think that is all we are going to mention at this point in time before we have something to announce. [...] We are building a crowdsourced database based on traffic and that is what we are saying.

Apple is collecting location data for Wi-Fi routers an using that to build out their home-grown replacement for Skyhook. Was Apple referring to a network traffic database? If so, what for?

It's possible "traffic" could mean road traffic, which would imply improvements to the Maps app, possibly including turn-by-turn navigation. Apple built their own Maps app wrapper for Google maps way back in iOS 1 (iPhone OS 1) and while they've added Street View and a few other features over the years, they haven't really kept pace with Google's own maps app on Android, especially Google Maps Navigation. They have, however, rolled their own location database, and bought map companies PlaceBase and Poly9, and have been rumored to be updating iOS Maps for a while now.

Hopefully we won't have to wait too long to find out!

Update: Per comments below, it does make more sense as a network traffic optimization feature. Drat. There goes my turn by turn! [Thanks Ren!]

We've heard rumors and gotten questions about whether the iPad 2 gains any GPS functionality when tethered to an iPhone 4 and, based on our tests (see the video above) -- yes it does, albeit a little dumbed-down. GPS functionality seemed to be working in both Maps and Navigon, but it clearly doesn't work half as well as the 3G enabled iPad with assisted GPS built-in. Still, if you've decided on purchasing the 3G enabled iPad 2 primarily for its GPS capability, you may want to consider tethering an iPad Wi-Fi to iPhone 4 as an option.

Keep in mind the test was conducted on an iPhone 4 running iOS 4.2.1 using MyWi to create a wireless hotspot, however the results should be the same when using an AT&T or Verizon iPhone 4 (running iOS 4.3 or 4.2.6 respectively) with the Personal Hotspot feature baked-in. Results should be similar on the original non-3G iPad as well, and make sure you have location services enabled on both devices for it to work properly.

So although this technically works, we wouldn't suggest using it as a full in-dash GPS unit by any means. If you want to do things like location-aware tweets it should work like a charm by roughly pinpointing your location when Wi-Fi router mapping isn't an option.

If you have a Wi-Fi-only iPad then pair it up with your iPhone 4 and let us know how it's working for you in the comments below!

[Urbanape via Daring Fireball]

Gogo Navigator supports real-time turn by turn navigation throughout the United States and Canada at a decent price. I recently looked at Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone which is currently priced at $34.99. While the app had a great interface and offers turn by turn navigation, I found it had one huge down side. StreetPilot does not store maps natively. This means if you're out of range of a signal you won't be able to access maps since they can't pull from the servers.

Gogo Navigator uses native maps for navigation. Regardless whether you have a signal or not, you can still get turn by turn directions. They offer maps in regular view as well as real-time 3D view. You also have the features you'd expect from a good GPS app like favorites and places of interest (POI). Gogo Navigator is currently priced at $29.99 in the app store which is a great deal for a decent GPS app. It's a much lower price point that most and I found it did the job just as well as some of my other GPS apps. Hit the jump for some screens!

iTunes Link

Trying to figure out how to get your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad Calendar event locations to show up in Maps? If you will be traveling a lot being able to click on your Calendar and quickly pull up Maps is very helpful and can make all the difference in getting to your destination. This easy to follow tip will show you exactly how you can do that and get to where you need to go without worry!

To get your Calendar event or appointment location to open up in Maps:

1. Launch your Calendar app
2. Find the event you want to add the location to
3. Tap Edit in the top right
4. Tap Notes on the bottom of the list
5. Enter the address for the event
6. Tap Done in the top right
7. Tap Done once more in the top right
8. When its time for the event click on the event one more time and under notes you can now tap on the address and it will open up in the Maps app and you can choose to navigate to the address

Now not only will you never forget an event, you're much less likely to get lost on your way there. Hope this has helped out some new users! If you have any questions or extra tips please let us know in comments. If you need any extra expert help, check out the TiPb Forums!

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you'd like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com. (If it's especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we'll even give ya a reward...)

Do you want to save a location that you've found on Google Maps? After searching for a place on Google Maps, you can save the results to Bookmarks or Contacts so you can easily come back to it later. Stay with us after the break and we will show you how.

Start

1. First, Search for the location in the search box.
2. When you find the location you want, select the ' > ' icon
3. At the bottom, select 'Add to Bookmarks'
4. Type in a 'location name'
5. Click Save.

To find the location later.

1. Select the ' book ' icon in the search box.
2. Select Bookmarks

You can also save a location to a contact for later viewing.

1. After selecting the ' > ' icon on a location.
2. Select 'Add to Contacts'
3. Here, you can either 'Create a new contact' or 'Add to existing contact'
4. Select the Contact, you want to save the location to.

To find the location later.

1. Select the ' book ' icon in the search box.
2. Select Contacts, and select the contact you want to view.

BONUS TIP: If you press and hold on any spot on the Map, you will 'drop a pin', which you can then save as a bookmark or to your contact.

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com. (If it’s especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we’ll even give ya a reward…)

Heading out to family and friends for the holidays and curious how to easily find their addresses in the iPhone, iPod touch, or Maps app? Well here is a great tip to make navigating a little bit easier, and we'll show it to you after the break!

If you are like me you don't memorize anyone's contact information anymore. You simply enter their phone number, email address, website, and address into your contacts list on your iPhone and then, whenever you need it, you just tap on it. Luckily Apple ties iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad Contacts into the other apps, like Maps!

First, if you haven't done so yet, make sure you've entered address information for the Contacts you will be visiting. Then:

• Open the Maps application
• Select Directions on the bottom menu
• Select the Start box and choose "Current Location"
• Select the End box and start typing in the contacts name
• Select the contact once it appears
• Let it load and click on Start at the top right

Bonus tip: If you're in Contacts, you can tap right on the address to switch to Maps and see where they're located.

Now you can be on the way to your destination without having to type in the address manually. Let us know if you plan to use this feature as you hit the roads this holiday season.

Daily tips will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you'd like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com. (If it's especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we'll even give ya a reward...)

TechCrunch went through the fine print and noticed that, with iOS 3.2 (iPhone 3.2 for iPad) Apple switched from using Skyhook and Google's location database to using their own, home spun, solution.

When reached for comment, Skyhook wouldn’t specifically talk about their relationship with Apple, but they did say that “everyone who has a platform wants to own as much of the location stack as possible. Location data is going the be huge and owning it is going to be the next big war in mobile.“

Indeed. Now roll Apple-acquired PlaceBase and Poly9 Map layer brain-trusts into the equation, and what will we get?

[TechCrunch]

According to the Sun, Apple has purchased Quebec-based Poly9, a mapping API provider for Apple, Microsoft, Yahoo!, MSNBC, and NORAD.

Poly9's website has been shuttered, their employees moved to Cupertino.

Last year, Apple bought PlaceBase, a company that specialized in API for layering data sets over maps.

Since there's only a few companies that actually own the maps themselves, Apple still isn't going into the map business -- but they certainly look to be doing a lot to make their implementation of maps better and more powerful.

iOS 5 anyone?

[MacDailyNews, image via designrevolution.org, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

How does a photographer use his iPhone to get the job done and what iPhone apps help get him through his day? TiPb’s iPhone at work contest aims to bring you just such slices of the iPhone life. Here’s JustinHammondPhoto's answer and as a small token of thanks we’re sending him a $20 iTunes gift certificate. If you want to see your name up on the TiPb home page and get a gift certificate all your own, head on over to the TiPb iPhone Forum and share your story now!

I'm a professional photographer from Massachusetts. I have the wonderful job of photographing some of the most beautiful women in the world in the coolest locations all over the country. Models, celebrities, NFL Cheerleaders, it goes on and on. My work has been in magazines, advertisements, Maxim, websites... the works! I love my job!

I honestly realized for the first time when reading this contest how much I actually use my iPhone on a day to day basis for what I do. It's a lot! Especially now that I have my iPhone 4, it's been even more. Here's when:

• I own a studio, but I'm very often on location shooting, which means no wifi (on the beaches, bars, outdoors, etc). So having a 3G connection is great. I often pull up Safari in the middle of a photoshoot to come up with a pose idea, or sometimes girls want to show me a picture of a shot they really love so it's easy to Google image search some ideas! It helps out a lot during a shoot!

• Also, because I do travel to photoshoot, I'm always using Maps! Maps is so crucial to getting around because I barely know areas well. It's definitely got me out of so many jams or has even helped find shooting locations! I remember this one time I was doing outdoor shooting and I pulled up my map and noticed a large pond nearby so we walked toward where it was and got some really beautiful shots by the water at a place I would have had no idea about if it didnt show up on the gps.

• It works great in times of urgency! Even last night, the "model light" on my strobe died (lights the model so you can auto-focus on her when there's low light/lights off). Well, I pulled out my iPhone, opened the new trusty video camera, turned on the new amazing light from the iPhone, and my assistant held it to the model! It was perfect! I was so happy about having the new iPhone 4 last night.

• Also with the new video feature, being HD, I have decided to do some "behind the scenes" videos that I will be posting in the near future of my photo shoots. This is really great for my website and facebook page as a lot of models/fans follow my work, and it's real fun at photoshoots. I am beyond excited about that. I may even start video blogging and doing tips/pointer videos for photography.

• I also use it for networking with models and clients or even friends with my photography. I save all of my edited photos to my iPhone so when I am out and about, when someone asks what I do, I just open up Photos and show them my work right from my phone - they look amazing on the new retina display! It really allows me to have a portfolio with me at all times. Such a perk in the industry! It's like carrying my book with me in my pocket!

Then obviously the basics! Calendar for booking shoots/remembering what I have to do that day, and Email for keeping up with everything going on in my life in and outside of photography.

iPhone tip: Always keep it charged/charge every night! I use my iPhone so much, so my battery tends to go fast. I do have multiple chargers to make sure I am never without it. The iPhone really is my personal assistant. If it could only bring me coffee and water and move around lights, I wouldn't need to hire my real assistant anymore!

Favorite apps: Safari, Calendar, Mail, Photos, Maps. These are my most important and all Apple created! Thank you Apple!

You can see some of Justin's work at Justin Hammond Photography. Are you a photographer? If so, what apps do you use to help you with your job?

Hey, maybe free Google Maps Navigation for iPhone is what Steve Jobs and Eric Schmidt were confabbing about over quinti-venti-lattes? Okay, maybe not but as part of the UK Google Maps Navigation roll out, they did once again say the envy-worthy, currently Android-only service would indeed be coming to the iPhone...

...they just still haven't said when.

Psst, fella, we've got this huge iPhone OS 4 update coming this summer, how about then?

[via MacUser, thanks Chad!]

Today's top 5 is directed towards iPhone users who travel for work, for fun, or for a little bit of both. From booking to preparing, finding your way to finding your food, and keeping yourself entertained while go, the iPhone really does have plenty of apps for all of that. Just like our other top 5 must-have iPhone app posts, all of these applications are available in the App Store. For the full run down, follow us after the break!

TripIt

Tripit [free - iTunes link] is an iPhone front-end to the free TripIt.com online service. With TripIt, once you book your online hotel and flight information, you just forward them the email and they automagically create a itinerary for you include flight times, airport maps, hotel maps, etc. Basically, all you travel has belong to them -- but they'll package and present it to you in a hyper convenient and consolidated manner.

If you're a hardcore traveler, TripIt.com also provides a pro version with added functionality.

Alternative: WorldMate [free - iTunes link] or [$14.99 - iTunes link], recommended by Alli.

Appigo Todo

Making a list and checking it twice isn't just for Santa's once-a-year trip, it's for everyone who needs to keep track of what to pack, where they want to go, and what they want to see. Appigo's Todo Lite [free - iTunes link] is a great starting point for task and list manager, and if you need more, there's a full version of Todo [$9.99 - iTunes] with a feature set that syncs with just about everything.

Alternatives: If you prefer to keep your lists in note-taking apps, check out our top 5 iPhone note apps roundup!

AT&T Navigator or NAVIGON MobileNavigator

If you're driving rather than flying, turn-by-turn navigation and your sense of direction is anything other than perfect, turn-by-turn navigation is a must and there are two major types for you to choose from -- online vs. on-device and subscription vs. paid outright.

AT&T Navigator [subscription - iTunes link] provides online maps and if you only need them for a summer road-trip through areas with good AT&T coverage, you can pay $9.99 grab it and go. (Powered by TeleNav, you can find other carrier-branded versions, like Rogers Navigator in Canada, in international App Store).

If you're going off-grid, however, you'll have to go offline and NAVIGON provides everything from the 1.5GB North America [$79.00 - iTunes link] to (for example) just the US East Coast ($29.00 - iTunes link]. They have a variety of international versions as well.

Alternative: whmurray recommends the built-in Maps app, which isn't turn-by-turn but is GPS-enabled and powered by Google.

ZAGAT To Go

Yes, it's complete overkill and yes, there are a numerous free/cheap ways to find restaurants with your iPhone but once in a while when you're traveling you just want to do it in style and that's ZAGAT To Go [$9.99 a year - iTunes link]. You get ratings and reviews from ZAGAT's famous guide, and an offline mode so you can download it all to your iPhone, iPod touch (or iPad -- it's a universal binary!).

Alternative: Yelp [free - iTunes link] was suggested by Jamesus.

iPod

It's built right into your iPhone and iPod touch (separated as Music and Video) and can keep you entertained with music, audio books, TV shows, movies, and podcasts everywhere from the airport to the airplane, hotel to restaurant. You can either transfer your own media from home before you leave or use the iTunes Store app to buy and rent the latest from Hollywood or download the best free content on the go. When Apple said the iPhone was the best iPod they'd ever made, they weren't exaggerating. (Sure, the iPad gets 10 hours of video out of its battery, but it's still not easy to pocket as the iPhone!)

Alternative: If you've got a SlingBox at home and want to keep up with your local sports teams or favorite shows while you're out of town, SlingPlayer Mobile [$29.99 - iTunes link] will transport your TV to your iPhone anywhere you have a Wi-Fi or 3G signal.

Conclusion

Well there you have them, our top 5 iPhone travel apps. Did we many any of your favorites? Be sure to check out our iPhone App and Games Forum for more of our members' recommendations, and leave yours in the thread -- or in the comments below!

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPad, he showed off the Apple designed but Google fed Maps application, and the Google-ownd YouTube app. He even named Google during the Maps demo. Much has been made about a falling out between Google and Apple, how Steve Jobs dislikes Eric Schmidt, and how the iPhone would turn to Microsoft's Bing for default search and maps going forward.

if the iPad, running iPhone 3.2, is any indication, nothing much has changed yet. Of course, Eric Schmidt said during the Google conference call that their relationship with Apple was "stable", and Apple COO, Tim Cook said during Apple's call that while they compete in some areas, they partner in others.

So everything quiet on the Apple/Google front, or just quiet before the storm?

Of course, there was no sign of Google Voice integration, but we're sure they'll figure out an up-scaled WebApp in no time...

A new job listing shows Apple is looking for an iPhone Software Engineer to work on the Map and MapKit framework team, which is also responsible for the Compass app and other location-based services on the iPhone and iPod touch:

The iPhone has revolutionized the mobile industry and has changed people's lives and we want to continue to do so. We want to take Maps to the next level, rethink how users use Maps and change the way people find things. We want to do this in a seamless, highly interactive and enjoyable way. We've only just started.

While Google's massive data hose currently powers the iPhone and iPod touch Maps.app, it was Apple who wrote the interface, and in classic Apple fashion, to end users the interface is the app. This means Apple is also free to modify not only that interface, but add, remove, and swap around data hoses in the background.

Add this job listing to previous news that Apple quietly acquired Placebase, a would-be Google Maps competitor, back in July, and it certainly looks like Apple is planning something interesting (and less dependent on Google?) for future Maps.app updates.

iPhone 4.0 speculation anyone?

[Apple via MacRumors]

Every week a few of us from team TiPb, bloggers and forum crew alike, will bring you our current favorite, funnest, most useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they're iPhone (or iPod touch) related, they're fair game.

So who's on deck this week and what are our picks? Find out after the break!

Chad's Pick: Reeder

I love Google Reader. The web interface is nice, but I desperately want an app to sync it with. I have found the perfect app; Reeder. Why? It looks great, has the fastest sync there is and the interface is fast and clean. At only $1.99, this app is a steal! [$1.99 - iTunes link]

James' Pick: iPod

One of the reasons that I purchased my first iPhone is that I have always been looking to converge all of my devices into one. I travel every week for work and carrying around an iPod, a digital camera, a cell phone and a portable DVD player can be a real pain while trying to go through the security line at the airport. With all of my cords, etc. I almost always get stopped and searched. Now while it seems I am picking the iPhone in general, I most use the iPod function. While being stuck on the runway, delayed at O'Hare, or long cross country flights, I need my music to help me get through the flight. If music isn't what I want to do, I can always catch up on my latest TV shows and movies. [Built-in]

Justin's Pick: Maps

I know everyone frowns on picking built in apps, but I haven't tried any new apps worth talking about so my pick is the Map app. In the past few weeks it's helped me, more than once, navigate new roads after getting fed up with traffic and turning off the highway onto some random street. Plus, I've used the traffic feature to avoid some routes in the first place. Besides TweetDeck, Weather, and Facebook it's probably my most used app. [Built in]

Matt's Pick: Notifications

I've never regularly used an RSS reader, because I would add a lot of feeds, then when I'd open it, I had all these things to read and that little number badge would be in the hundreds staring at me from my springboard. I happen to be one of those people that if there's a number badge on an app, then it needs to be resolved immediately. So I deleted the app. Resolved, right?!? The resolution to my issue was using the Notifications app. This allowed me to set up certain RSS feeds to be checked and Push notifications to be sent to me. Notifications doesn't only do push for RSS, but Twitter, Gmail & more, This allows me to pick and choose which RSS articles (or whatever) to view when they pop up instead of putting them off for later. [$2.99 - iTunes link]

Leanna's Pick: Bejeweled 2

PopCap Games sure knows how to feed into my addiction of puzzle games. A few months back they successfully took over my life with Peggle and now I'm addicted to Bejeweled 2, more specifically, Blitz mode. Bejeweled Blitz is a one minute speed version of the classic game that is also available on Facebook. With Facebook Connect, Bejeweled Blitz is now with me everywhere I go! Not only is this game terribly addicting, but it looks and sounds amazing as well. [$2.99 - iTunes link]

Rene's Pick: Instapaper (Pro/Free)

I learned a while ago that I had time to either read, or write -- not both. Luckily, technological advances like RSS and Instapaper have let me squeeze in some honest-for-pleasure reading again, if only newsy/opiniony web matter. Still, with drop-dead simple bookmarklet integration on the desktop (find an article, hit the bookmarklet, it's saved), and transparent syncing between desktop and dedicated iPhone client, no longer is my day filled with "boy I wish I had time to read that non-iPhone-related post" but rather a single tap on Instapaper and it's now "boy I hope I have time to read this non-iPhone-related post later!" (I purchased the Pro version to support the developer, but there's also a free version if you want to try before you support) [$4.99 - iTunes link] or [Free - iTunes link]

Crackberry Kevin's Pick: BlackBerry Bold 9700

[Er, thanks Kevin. We think. Check it out on CrackBerry.com if you must... - Rene]

Your Pick?

You're part of team TiPb too, so what's your pick? What app was your absolute fav last week? Let us -- and everyone -- know in the comments!

[This is a TiPb AT WORK App vs. App Interlude! Last week, we ran our Remote Desktop/VNC Showdown, with Jaadu edging out Mocha for the victory. But which forum voter and blog commenter won copies of the winning App? Congratulations MSZATNY and GOS

This week, while the TiPb iPhone Forums vote on THE TWIST Casey steps in to look at Earthscape and it's major-league new rival, Google Earth! They're both FREE, but if you comment below (and make sure you leave a valid email address in the comment form -- it won't be made public, but it will be used to contact you), you'll still have a chance to win an iTunes gift certificate from TiPb! Check out the full contest details, then grab your iPhone and get ready to get things done -- the TiPb AT WORK Interlude: Earth vs Earth is on!]

Google has a certain love affair with the iPhone. Yeah, we know Android is Google’s baby but that doesn’t stop them from putting out top-notch applications for the iPhone. The Youtube App and Google Maps are both best in class and Gmail and Google Reader on Safari are setting the bar for web-based applications. So though Android is all Google, they're still not ready to leave the iPhone.

Case in point, the release of Google Earth on the iPhone. Anyone a bit surprised that they released one of their more unique products on the iPhone before it got even as much as a sniff for Android? Luckily, as iPhone users we don’t have to worry about the politics of the situation and we get to enjoy the app for what it is.

But Google Earth isn’t the only player in town. Earthscape has been around, is free (used to be $9.99), and works admirably. So in this arena of mobile Earth based apps, is Google Earth the young challenger or the new champion?

Read on to find out in this special edition of App vs App!

Design & Input

Google Earth

Google Earth is a well designed app, which isn't surprising considering its coming from the guys from Mountain View. The control layout is basic but purposeful, there is a My Location button, an Info button, a Search button, and a Compass feature that can redirect you to due north. There's enough to be usable and nothing to distract you.

The core design of Google Earth lays in the control and all around power of the iPhone. There are a lot of multi touch gestures that behave according to whichever gesture you use. This leads to a greatly intuitive UI and a fairly low learning curve. Using multi touch allows the map to take center stage in the app with no dock or tabs blocking the focus.

Frankly, if you know how to navigate the iPhone, you’ll do well with Google Earth. Zoom in, Zoom out, Rotate, and Pan are all controlled by gestures that are similar to those system wide on the iPhone. There is also a two finger drag that can tilt the screen up and down. The accelerometer is also used by portraying the bird’s eye view of the map when faced flat and a 3D view when tilted up. A very neat feature.

Earthscape

Earthscape is also a full featured ‘Earth’ maps program. Though instead of fully using the iPhone’s multi-touch and accelerometer to its advantage, it chooses to offer numerous options on a dock. You get options for My Location, 3D mode, Camera, Search, Info, and an Earthscape button. I found this method to be less intuitive considering I wasn’t exactly sure what each button did which in turn slowed down usability.

To be sure, Earthscape still supports multi-touch. Zooming in and out is familiar and panning is all but second nature (there is no rotate feature). Also, the accelerometer is put to minimal use, only flipping the map to landscape—the dock remains static—and the map doesn't turn into 3D mode upon tilting.

Verdict: I prefer the Google Earth method of relying on the iPhone’s multi-touch and accelerometer. Earthscape's choice of a dock just isn't as easy to use.

Usability

Google Earth

So once you enter the Google Earth, you are given a bird’s eye view of whatever location you choose. It’s kind of like Satellite View on steroids: offering a better overview of the ‘world’ and its terrain than anything Google Maps has to offer. However, it does away with the street names so you’ll have to instead focus on City Names, State borders, and Wikipedia Entries for your information.

I really enjoyed the Wikipedia Entries that showcase cool tidbits on local landmarks. You definitely learn a lot more about your area when you click on the Wikipedia ‘W’ and have the page open within the app.

The maps on Google Earth also seem to be recently updated. There are a couple new buildings that have sprouted up in recent years that are now viewable on Google Earth. The maps are also clear renderings of the area with seemingly accurate colors and geography.

As mentioned before, browsing Google Earth is simply a cinch. You don’t have to re-learn any icons or gestures because it uses everything that you're used to with your iPhone. You’ll definitely be surprised at how flawless everything works and how well it performs.

However, Google Earth does have a tendency to crash on my iPhone. I found this to be an unavoidable problem and something I just dealt with. To offer an iPhone app that’s nearly better than the desktop version? Bravo, I’ll take the crashes in stride…for now.

Earthscape

Earthscape works well and if Google Earth didn’t exist, it’d be a great app to show off to your friends. But it simply can’t keep pace with Google Earth on two big, big features. Controls and Maps. Controlling Earthscape just doesn’t make as much as sense as it does on Google Earth. The cluttered dock takes a bit of time to get used to and the icons aren’t as easily recognizable. Though I may just be getting spoiled with how Goolge Earth does things, I’m surprised at the decision to use on-screen inputs rather than multi-touch and accelerometer based controls.

Also, the maps are a little bit older than those on Google Earth. The buildings that exist in Google Earth are nothing but a plot of land on Earthscape. The maps also don’t zoom in as close nor offer the clarity of Google Earth. There is also some choppiness in the images, some maps don't line up properly.

What is unique about Earthscape is that it offers a few more features than Google Earth. There is a Camera button that allows you to take cameras and plot them with geotagging. You can also see nearby pictures from the Earthscape community. Earthscape definitely offers more social networking options than Google Earth.

Earthscape also suffered the same crashing issues as Google Earth and includes Wikipedia articles for fun and interesting facts around the area.

Verdict: Google Earth just works better. Earthscape is a great app that offers some social networking features but its maps and usability simply cannot compare to Google Earth.

Final Thoughts

In all, Google Earth simply outclasses Earthscape. Though Earthscape was the first to come to the market, it simply does not utilize the control mechanisms that make Google Earth seem so effortless. Also, the map quality and zoom levels on Google Earth are far superior than those of Earthscape and for an app based on maps, that simply can’t be ignored.

Both apps have limited real-life use other than the cool tech “show off” factor for friends. Though Google Earth and Earthscape don’t offer the pure functionality of Google Maps (they both don’t have any street names or basic directions) there are still some neat features like Wikipedia Entries and Pictures (on Earthscape) that make them fairly unique.

For both apps, use on Wi-Fi was preferred but 3G and EDGE performance was commendable. However, the 3D view for both was much too taxing on the iPhone and it caused multiple crashes, and let’s face it, the 3D view is what makes Google Earth and Earthscape cool to begin with, so if you can’t get that right, you’ve already lost half the battle.

For pure usability, they both work well enough. Their features are fairly impressive and you do get a great looking glass view of the world with both. But in the end, Google Earth simply translates too well on the iPhone for Earthscape to seriously challenge it. The multi touch gestures, use of the accelerometer, and detailed maps make Google Earth the app to get.

App vs App Winner: Google Earth

Google Earth Rating:

Earthscape Rating:

We've all known that Nike+ was supposed to come to the iPhone, we've just been waiting a bit longer than expected. So what has been cooking over at the Nike+ factory? A lot of great features and smart implementation, Nike+ definitely uses the iPhone's technology to its advantage to create a better user experience and offer a better feature set.

Because of the capabilities of the iPhone, a lot of the stuff that Nike+ used to run on the Mac and on the Web are now being run on the iPhone itself. You're able to keep track of all the classic stats and maybe even map out your route with GPS. Taking in all these screenshots, Nike+ and the iPhone has the looks of a winner.

ReadVia

I love Google Maps, I use it on my computer, in a browser. But when we were doing the iPhone, we thought "wouldn't it be great to have maps on the iPhone." So we called up Google and they had done a few client apps in Java on some phones, they had an API that we worked with them a little on, and we ended up writing a client app for those APIs, and they would provide the backend service. And the app we were able to write, since we're pretty reasonable at writing apps, blows away any Google Maps client, just blows it away. Same set of data coming off the server, but the experience you have using it is unbelievable, way better than a computer. Just in a different league than what they've used in a client...

[via]