Earlier today, Google released a firmware update for its Nexus One phone, which fixes a few bugs whilst also bringing some pretty major features.
The first change is that Google Goggles will now be available directly from your Nexus One, under the All Apps menu, with Google saying, "Just use your Nexus One camera to start searching the web." Google Maps has undergone an update, bringing it to version 3.4, with the following changes (according to Google"s Nexus One blog post):
- Starred items synchronized with maps.google.com – access your favorite places from your phone or computer.
- Search suggestions from your personal maps.google.com history – makes it easy to search places you"ve searched for before.
- Night mode in Google Maps Navigation – automatically changes your screen at night for easier viewing and driving.
Perhaps the biggest improvement, however, is that the Nexus One now supports a pinch-to-zoom gesture in the Browser, Maps and Gallery applications. This is a pretty major feature for users of the phone, who will no doubt get a lot of use out of it. Lastly, Google fixed some 3G issues, meaning it should now have somewhat improved connectivity.
The firmware will download over the air if you own a Nexus One, meaning you should see a notification in the phone"s status bar when it"s ready to be installed. If you don"t, be patient – Google hopes that everyone will have the update by the end of the week.