To recall, the now called Live View feature was shown off in a demo during Google I/O 2018. With the option enabled, users would see a small semi-circular Google Maps navigation on the bottom while most of the screen is taken up by a live view of the world. The feature shows helpful options like arrows, banners with street names and pointers to help users find their way. While we are yet to test the feature personally, it could be a good option for users who don’t want to wait for the GPS to lock on. Do note that the Live View option pops up only when using the walking option for navigating.

“With a beta feature called Live View, you can use augmented reality (AR) to better see which way to walk. Arrows and directions are placed in the real world to guide your way. We’ve tested Live View with the Local Guides and Pixel community over the past few months, and are now expanding the beta to Android and iOS devices that support ARCore and ARKit starting this week,” Google says in a blog post. Alongside the new Live View feature, Google is also adding some new options to Maps. Users will now be able to take a look at their flight and hotel reservations in one place, even when offline. This new feature can be accessed from the Your Places option, through the hamburg menu on the upper left corner of Google Maps.  

Telecom operator Ncell has begun preparations to bring satellite-based connectivity to areas of Rasuwa still cut off from mobile service following the devastating Bhotekoshi floods. The initiative aims to reconnect communities that have had no telecom access since the disaster struck.

To get the necessary equipment into the affected region, Ncell is arranging chartered flights, since ground access to several of the hardest-hit areas remains difficult. Technical teams are being sent alongside the equipment to begin setup as soon as it arrives on site.

According to the company, roughly 20 locations across Rasuwa remain without any telecom coverage. Ncell has indicated that further details about how the satellite service will be rolled out are expected within the next few days.

The scale of the damage has been significant. The floods destroyed more than 60 kilometers of Ncell's fiber-optic links and knocked out 27 mobile towers spread across Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Dhading districts. Of those, 24 sites have already been brought back online as repair crews continue working through the affected areas.

Ncell says its technical staff are continuing repair and restoration work around the clock as the company works to bring full connectivity back to the region.