How Android’s Earthquake alert system works Your phone’s accelerometer, the same sensor that knows when you rotate the screen, can detect the early tremors of an earthquake, known as P-waves.

With the right app (try Digital Field Compass for Android, or for a more full-featured experience, Gaia GPS for iPhone and Android), you can use your phone as a navigation device, no GPS required.

The Google Map App on Android phones will soon get a major upgrade which will allow it to render map images a lot faster, incorporate 3D buildings, offer offline caching, and use the compass to ...