Google Maps has been going beyond simply mapping streets lately as they’ve been able to map NFL stadiums and the Grand Canyon earlier this year. You would think that would be enough to earn a pat on the back from the majority of the tech world, but Google is announcing they’re taking Google Maps where most people haven’t gone before: mountains.
Google Maps now allows you to explore a number of the most famous mountains on Earth, which includes Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Aconcagua in South America and Mount Elbrus in Europe. Each of these mountains belong to a group of peaks known as the Seven Summits, which means they’re the highest mountain on each of the seven continents.
The imagery that is now a part of Google Maps was captured by a lightweight tripod and a digital camera equipped with a fisheye lens, and of course actual people scaling these huge mountains. We’re sure the trip was as easy as going down to the local grocery store and picking up a pack of ice on a hot summer’s day.
Google will also be hosting a Google+ hangout at 10 a.m. PT to tell their tales of adventure, romance and intrigue they experienced during their time mapping the Seven Summits.
One of the key new features is the ability to search through your Google contacts. All you have to do is sign into your Google account and then just type the name of the contact into the search field. The app still gives preference to locations but if you wait a while the contact name will appear.
Google has also added quick search for local places by adding categories such as restaurants, bars, cafes, fuel stations, etc. Lastly, you can now choose between kilometers and miles as your preferred distance unit.
The update is now available in the App Store. Unfortunately, there is still no iPad version of the app available.
Liam Neeson thriller “Taken 2″ captured the No. 1 spot on movie box office charts over the weekend with a brawny $50 million take from theaters in the United States and Canada.
“Taken 2″ stars Neeson as a former CIA agent kidnapped during a vacation in Istanbul. The movie added $55 million from some 50 international markets for a global opening of $117 million including Korea where it opened earlier, distributor 20th Century Fox said.
The strong debut for “Taken 2″ pushed last weekend’s winner, family flick “Hotel Transylvania,” to second place. The movie about a hotel run by Dracula earned $26.3 million from Friday through Sunday, according to studio estimates compiled by Reuters. Comedy “Pitch Perfect” snagged the No. 3 slot with $14.7 million.
North American (U.S. and Canadian) sales for “Taken 2″ were more than double the original film’s, which opened in January 2009 with $24.7 million and ultimately grossed a surprising $227 million around the world. The movie lifted Neeson to the ranks of Hollywood action stars, leading to roles in movies such as “Clash of the Titans” and “The Grey.”
“This so exceeded our expectations going in,” said Chris Aronson, executive vice president of domestic distribution at 20th Century Fox, noting that Fox had anticipated something “in the mid-30s range” after what he called a “sluggish market” since the summer.
“The come in at $50 million is really remarkable, and a testament to this character that Liam has created,” Aronson told Reuters.
The executive noted that the audience was almost evenly split male-female, and also played strongly across age groups, with more than half over the age of 25.
Fox co-financed the film with Europa Corp, the company run by “Taken” writer and director Luc Besson, and contributed $36 million to its budget, Aronson said. Reports have put the total budget at about $50 million.
“Hotel Transylvania” won the weekend battle for pre-Halloween family filmgoers, leaving new Walt Disney Co movie “Frankenweenie” in fifth place. Through two weekends, “Transylvania” has grossed $76 million in the domestic market.
“Pitch Perfect,” about a college all-girls singing group moved up the charts as it expanded nationwide following an impressive limited opening last weekend. The movie stars Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow.
“There’s a lot to be said about this little engine that could,” said Nikki Rocco, president of domestic distribution for Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp, noting that the film only cost $17 million.
“It’s on the road to very nice profitability for Universal,” she said, adding that the studio expected “word of mouth, which we know is great” would help the film develop legs beyond its core, targeted audience, which, Rocco said, “loves it.”
Rounding out the charts, time-travel movie “Looper” earned fourth place with $12.2 million domestically. Sales for the movie starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt reached $40.3 million for the two-week run.
Disney’s “Frankenweenie” grossed $11.5 million at domestic theaters. The black-and-white stop-motion film directed by Tim Burton tells the story of a boy who brings his beloved dog back to life using Frankenstein-like science. The movie cost $39 million to produce.
News Corp’s 20th Century Fox studio distributed “Taken 2.” Sony Corp’s film studio released “Hotel Transylvania” and “Looper.” “Pitch Perfect” was distributed by Universal Pictures, a unit of Comcast Corp.
Lindsay Lohan was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident early this morning after allegedly clipping a pedestrian in downtown Manhattan … TMZ has learned.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Lindsay was pulling in to park her Porsche Cayenne near the Dream Hotel in downtown NYC when — at a very low speed — she allegedly hit the knee of a 30-something year old guy. That was around shortly after midnight.
We’re told one of Lindsay’s passengers in the SUV got out and checked the vehicle for damage, and then LiLo and co. went inside the hotel.
We’re told someone called police while Lindsay was inside … and when she walked out of the hotel — around 2:30AM ET — officers arrested her.
According to our sources … Lindsay was booked for leaving the scene of an accident — a misdemeanor — and then released with a desk appearance ticket … meaning she did not have to pay bail before release.
We’re told alcohol was not involved.
We’re told the alleged victim was hospitalized … however, he was not knocked down or dragged, and didn’t have any visible injuries.
This arrest could absolutely trigger a probation violation in Lindsay’s jewelry theft case because one of the conditions of probation is she OBEY ALL LAWS.
Even without a conviction, Judge Stephanie Sautner — the judge in the jewelry theft case — could haul Lindsay’s butt into court if there’s probable cause to believe she committed a crime.
UPDATE: Lindsay is telling friends she never knew she hit anybody and it wasn’t until she came out and got arrested that she knew anything was going on.
As for the story about one of the passengers in her SUV checking for damages, she says it never happened. Nobody ever got out of the car.
Lohan says it’s “really fishy” the guy has no visible injuries and she feels she’s the victim of a set up. She’s not going to let the incident go and is planning on fighting it to the end.
