WebProNews

Google announced today that it has updated Google Maps features for the iPhone. This includes the addition of:

- Street View
- Public Transit
- Walking Directions

"The most eye-catching one is Street View," says Mobile Maps software engineer Joe Hughes. "Apple's silky-smooth implementation makes it a joy to pan around the world. You might wonder why you'd want to look at panoramas of the world while you're already out in it, but I've found it handy for getting an idea of what to look for when going somewhere new. In somewhere like New York, it's also a great way to get your bearings when you pop out of a subway station in an unfamiliar part of town."

The public transit feature includes over 100 cities around the world, offering schedules for transportation systems, and this number is likely to grow as more systems elect to participate.

The walking directions feature could certainly be of great use when you're on the go as well. "In a time of congested roads and fluctuating gas prices, driving isn't always the best way to get from A to B, so why limit your options?" says Hughes. "Now when you get directions, you can switch between driving, walking, and public transportation directions (where available) with a single tap."

As an added bonus, you can email info about your location to friends, which can definitely come in handy when you're trying to meet somebody somewhere. To get all of the new features, you have to go to iTunes and update your phone's software. Now some are wondering when these features will become available for Android.