Over the last year, we’ve devoted a lot of time to introducing and discussing Google Apps. Today, we’d like to mention a few developments outside of Google Apps that might be of interest to everyone at Simmons.

The first is a significant upgrade to Google Maps. This update will incorporate information from Google Earth directly into Maps, bringing users 3D visualizations of locations. In addition, Google has improved mapping for different modes of transportation, including public transit, which will certainly help us find our way around Boston.

Google has also doubled down on map personalization. If you’re logged in to your Google account, Maps will learn your likes and dislikes, and incorporate place ratings from your friends. You can get the full rundown of new features straight from Google.

In their endless quest to integrate media across platforms, Google has also introduced Google Play Music All Access, a streaming music competitor to Spotify and Pandora. While the product name might leave something to be desired, the service looks to be easy to use and priced similarly to other streaming services. Find out more here.

Beyond these changes, Google is constantly developing and integrating products, many of which are available in Google Apps for Education. We’ll do our best to keep you informed of changes and new features as they come online.