The popular real estate app gets a robust update with improved search and social sharing features.
Real estate search engine Zillow has refreshed their mobile application for the iPhone. A new sign in feature lets you sync findings and favorites from your iPhone with your Zillow.com account for easier access when you return to your laptop or desktop.
You can also share search results from the iPhone app with your social network. So, when you’re out house shopping, you can constantly let your Facebook and Twitter friends know every single house you’re looking at. That way they can know when to make surprise visits after the big move.
Cupertino-based company rumored to be launching mobile ad network.
Apple has informed iPhone/iPod Touch application developers that they can’t include location-based advertising within their apps. The move has intensified rumors that Apple is planning to launch its own mobile advertising network.
Google clearly seems to be the target here. Google recently acquired AdMob, one of the most popular mobile ad networks. Will Google “retaliate” by closing down options for Android developers? It doesn’t seem like that type of policy would match their m.o. What’s more, by owning AdMob, it’s difficult to see why they would feel threatened by other competitors.
LinkedIn updated their iPhone app this week. Here’s a visual tour of what to expect.
The homepage features icons that enable users to easily navigate the app:
One of the coolest things you can do is find people near you on LinkedIn. Just make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone. When you’re out networking, this is an easy way to automatically add new people to your network.
The app also lets you view items you’re more familiar with on LinkedIn.com, such as updates from your network:
eBay is seeing a big payoff for getting into the mobile game early. Their iPhone app has been downloaded by 6 million users and they see 175,000 visits a day via mobile apps.
This year, half a billion dollars of transactions were made on eBay via mobile. And it’s not just “safe” inexpensive items as people are trying out the apps. Mobile eBay purchases included designer handbags and a $75,000 1966 Chevrolet Corvette.
“Mobile is changing the way people shop this holiday season,” said Lorrie Norrington, president of eBay marketplaces. “We see consumers taking advantage of that freedom to find great holiday gifts and deals without sitting at their computer or being stuck at the mall.”
The app is free and available in the Android Market. It provides access to 15 million local business listings.
Here’s what you can do with it:
- Submit reviews on the go
- Share merchant details, reviews and tips via text, e-mail or Twitter
- Search and sort your city via auto-identification of your location using GPS
- Search by keyword, category, distance, cost and Citysearch rating
- Access leading Citysearch content such as user and editorial reviews, editor’s picks and featured merchants
- Save time and money with the Tip Calculator and Split the Bill features
Bing has finally and smartly released a mobile search app for the iPhone. And it’s pretty durn sweet, if you ask me.
The homepage of the app features a daily photo with hotspots, just like going to Bing.com on a desktop browser. You can navigate the app horizontally or landscape, and the user interface is well-designed.
My favorite part is the Map, which is so smooth. When you zoom in or out, or navigate in any direction, it will hold your current place and then do this fade-in thing that’s quite nice. It’s also in line with the new direction Bing Maps is going on the desktop browser version.
Google has updated their mobile app for the iPhone. And yes, Apple has actually approved this one.
Here’s what to expect in this update:
- redesigned search results display
- shows more results at once
- opens web pages from the results within the app
- style your Google Mobile App in any shade
- choose your spoken language or accent
- Mandarin and Japanese are supported languages for Voice Search
Today, Satya Nadella Senior Vice President, Online Services at Microsoft unveiled new Bing features at an event in San Francisco. The updates involve Bing Maps, the Bing Mobile App and a new Bing Toolbar. There was also
- Streetside imaging – yes, that’s Microsoft’s version of Google’s Street View. It’s smart for Bing to compete with the Google monster on this one.
- Twitter integration – see real-time updates based on location
- Local Lens – indexes local blogs and tries to associate them with a physical location
A few weeks ago, Bing made its mobile application available for BlackBerry Storm devices. Now, the BlackBerry Curve is getting the mobile app treatment from Bing.
If you buy the new BlackBerry Curve 2 (8530) from Verizon, the app will come pre-installed in the device. If you have a different model Curve or carrier, then you can download the app at m.bing.com/download.
It’s the end of another eventful week in search blogging, and once again there are several Google updates just piled up waiting to be written about. So, we’re saving everyone some time and just compiling them into one post. Check them out:
Google News has a new sitemaps interface. You have six months to adopt the new sitemap.
Google Books now has a magazine search page.
Via Google Search’s new music search, you can now access exclusive songs hosted by MySpace and Lala for artists such as Lady Gaga and Arctic Monkeys.
