Location, location, location
Google has pushed out an update a piece for mobile users of Docs and Maps, improving the existing service, in the former instance, and adding a new feature to the latter.
Maps now let users download the map data in a limited area, saving the need for a constant Internet connection when using Maps. The 'download map area' option is accessed from a Places page, and will pull map data in a 10-mile radius of the selected landmark. Not only is this a great feature for mobile users without large data allowances - PAYG customers, for instance - it could also be useful in areas where reception is poor, or simply unreliable, such in the countryside, or cities with a lot of tall buildings.
Obviously when using downloaded maps offline, mobile users aren't able to access the many other features of Google Maps, such as navigation, and local search. However, used with an active data connection, the offline maps simply reduce the amount of data needed to use Maps in a given area, making the app more responsive to commands, thus improving the user experience.
Google Docs, meanwhile, has had its sorting and sharing abilities spruced up. It's now possible to order documents by date modified, name, or last opened, and narrow them down to different subsets of all those available. Sharing documents is no different to as done with the desktop browser, and a link can be copied either to the clipboard, or sent directly via email.
The Docs update is available for both iOS 3.0 and Android 2.2 or newer users, while offline maps is currently only available on Android, as a Labs feature. Windows Phone 7 users as usual, left out in the cold.
