Google has added a 'Saved Locations' feature to Google Maps, complete with labels and auto-completion. Once signed into Google Maps, the service will begin auto-saving all addresses you type in (this is toggle-able from preferences). Clicking the Saved Locations option in the upper right of Google Maps takes you to your list of addresses where you can begin entering your own, including a label for each such as 'work', 'home', etc. Once a label has been applied to a location, Google Maps can recognize and auto-complete the label as well, saving you from having to re-type all those addresses. Auto-completing even works when searching for businesses, as in the example provides in their blog's announcement post: typing a business search like 'pizza near work' can expand the label 'work', provided you've entered one.This is a really slick and time-saving feature, and it'll be great to see if Google takes it a few steps further some day. I would love it if Google Maps could tie into my Gmail account and offer the ability to auto-complete addresses from my contacts. So if I begin to type 'beer near John Doe', Google Maps can be the facilitator for even speedier alcohol consumption. Ah, the wonders of technology.
Mike Sego posted on the Google Blog yesterday that a slick new 'reply by chat' feature has been added to Gmail. Now, if you want to reply to a message and the original sender is online, a 'reply by chat' button will be right next to the now old 'n busted regular reply button. To top things off, the chat history will be saved right in line with the conversation. Awesome.
