Google Maps for iPhone receives its first update

Google Maps for iPhone has received its first update since being launched to replace the beleaguered Apple Maps. This update will give users of the app the ability to search for Google Contacts from within the app, even if they are not listed on the phone. New location categories make it easier to search for businesses. Some of the new categories include restaurants, bars, cafes and gas stations. Since President Carter failed to get Americans to use the metrics standards, users now have the option of choosing between kilometers or miles.

Google Maps for iPhone has been one of the top apps downloaded from the App Store since its launch, aided no doubt by the myriad problems that Apple has had with its own mapping application. It must be considered somewhat of an embarrassment for Apple to replace Google Maps on the home screen in iOS 6 with its own mapping app only to have Apple iPhone users obviously prefer the software produced by one of Apple's main rivals. After all, Apple Maps has been called "life-threatening".

Google Maps for iPhone is available now from the App Store as a free download. Fans of Google Maps are still waiting for the company to produce a version for the Apple iPad. And yes, Google Maps is optimized for the larger screen of Apple iPhone 5.

source: GoogleMaps via TechCrunch