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Google releases WeatherNext 3, its most accurate AI weather model yet

Google DeepMind and Google Research launched WeatherNext 3, a deep-learning forecasting model that outperformed rival AI systems from Microsoft, Nvidia and ECMWF, as well as traditional forecasts from the US National Weather Service and ECMWF, on the Operational WeatherBench benchmark. Google says the model will soon power weather data shown in Search, Maps and Gemini, and will also be offered to researchers and developers through its cloud platform.

MapQuest hits No. 1 on US App Store after refusing to rename Lake Ontario

MapQuest climbed from No. 8 to the top spot on the U.S. App Store this week after declining to comply with an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as 'Lake America,' a change Google Maps and Apple Maps both adopted. Sensor Tower estimates 632,000 U.S. downloads since the order, while MapQuest claims over 1.5 million installs across the U.S. and Canada combined.

Android Auto beta hints at darker Google Maps color scheme

A teardown of Android Auto beta version 17.6.663424 reveals Google testing a new color palette for Google Maps, with a darker map background and a dark-gray turn indicator replacing the current light background and teal accent. The change also appears in dark mode, where the map surface would become even darker and the turn indicator would drop its teal tint for gray.

Apple Maps now shows Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' for US users after Trump pressure

Apple has updated Apple Maps to display Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' for users in the United States, following Google's earlier change to its maps. The renaming stems from an executive order President Trump signed after US-Canada trade talks collapsed, with Canadian users still seeing 'Lake Ontario' and the rest of the world seeing both names. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Trump personally contacted Apple to push through the naming change.

Apple Maps renames Lake Ontario 'Lake America' for U.S. users after Trump order

Apple has updated Apple Maps to display Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' for users located in the United States, following an executive order Trump signed on August 27. Canadian users will still see 'Lake Ontario,' while people outside both countries will see both names listed. Google made the same change last week, citing its policy of following official U.S. government naming databases.

Google offers free tool to blur home images in Street View

Google Street View publicly displays detailed exterior shots of homes, including house numbers, parked cars, and yard layouts, accessible to anyone who searches an address. Google has long allowed users to request blurring of this imagery, but the feature is hidden deep within Google Maps and rarely used because most people don't know it exists.

Google adds flight tracking, hotel booking to AI Mode in Search

Google is rolling out three new travel tools inside AI Mode in Search: a built-in airfare tracker that lets users set price-change alerts, a hotel search-and-compare tool that supports direct booking through partners like Booking.com, Marriott, Hilton and Expedia, and a feature to help travelers understand the value of points and miles. The rollout begins in the US in English, with global expansion planned.

Google Maps Adopts 'Lake America' Name for Lake Ontario Before US Government Finalizes It

Following an executive order from President Trump renaming Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' amid US-Canada trade tensions, Google Maps updated its US listings over the weekend to reflect the new name. This happened even though the official US Geographic Names Information System database, which Google says it follows, has not yet updated its base map to show the change.

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