Google Maps Navigation launches
October 28, 2009 by Rich Owings
It’s official, Google has launched a free turn-by-turn navigation app – Google Maps Navigation. It’s in beta, and is only available for Android 2.0 phones (e.g., Verizon Droid), but I can already say that this is a huge change for the GPS navigation industry.
Here’s some of what is available…
- Aerial imagery
- Street View with your route overlaid on it
- Voice search
- Live traffic
What we don’t know is how good the implementation will be, how well routing will layer onto Street View and aerial imagery, and how good their traffic data will be. We also don’t know if this will be ad-supported and if so, how that will be implemented. So there’s lots of questions, but there’s plenty of eye candy, um, screenshots at the link above, and a video below, so check it out.
Ok. Millions of questions here. The answers will tell me if I should get a Droid now or wait for the next version.
Does the phone get the signal from a GPS signal or cell signal? What if you are not in a cell phone coverage area, will it still work? Are the maps in the cell phone or does each area have to be downloaded as you travel through using a cell phone connection? Can we enter in multiple stops or locations for a long trip? Can we enter in GPS way-points for hiking? Can we import hiking trail layers? Can we create our own kml layers to use on a trip?
Thanks for the help.
The Droid does have a GPS receiver, but it can also use cell towers. A map of your route is downloaded to the device, so even if you lose reception, you’ll still have the map, as long as you don’t go off route. I don’t think it supports multi-destination routing. I’ll try to make use of it on the trail when I get chance.
Thanks. Is there a way to use the free map editor to place points on the map separate from the traditional Google maps?
Don’t know. Unsure how well contacts are integrated.
Do you think this service will eventually make it to the automobile Nuvi GPS units.
I can’t imagine that happening, unless Google buys Garmin.