Android Google Maps an improved experience

[Andor]

the Android team at google have written a nice concise blog post listing the features of Google Maps on Android and the G1.

“If I want to see a restaurant or building up close, I can switch to Street View and view a panorama from street level,”

“I can even turn on Compass mode to let me look around the panorama by moving my phone up, down and to the side,” he said. “It's like popping up a virtual periscope anywhere you want to check out what's there with your own eyes.”

“For instance, if I find a restaurant that I like, I can save it to my contacts and then later on call it or Map it with one touch,” he said. “In the future, when I do another search with Maps, I might even see this contact again as a suggested search result alongside past queries.”

You Tube

I know Google Maps has been around for a while now, and most of you know it's many uses, but this is a nice little reminder of what Android and the G1's hardware and functionality can really make strong use of them.

http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/200...roid-maps.html

[benji]

I like the iPhone location icon better -- it pulsates those red rings around the dot, instead of the blinking red center inside the dot. While they both do the job, the iPhone one is slicker

[almightyA]

does the google maps have an automatic 'locate me' that the iphone/itouch have?

[tarpshack]

Originally Posted by almightyA

does the google maps have an automatic 'locate me' that the iphone/itouch have?

From my understanding, yes. The G1 will be able to find it's location using its GPS.

I keep hearing about Google Maps and Street View and Compass mode. What I want to know is if it'll have turn by turn directions and spoken navigation (like a TomTom for example). I would assume the phone is capable, but I haven't heard the functionality mentioned.

[benji]

Google Maps doesn't have the turn-by-turn/spoken like TomTom. TeleNav is rumored to be working on a solution for Android to be offered as an add-on through T-Mobile for the G1. I imagine if Android takes off, CoPilot, TomTom and others won't be to far off. I'd be happy with TeleNav, I've seen it in use on AT&T and it sure beats CoPilot on my WM device.

Originally Posted by tarpshack

From my understanding, yes. The G1 will be able to find it's location using its GPS.

I keep hearing about Google Maps and Street View and Compass mode. What I want to know is if it'll have turn by turn directions and spoken navigation (like a TomTom for example). I would assume the phone is capable, but I haven't heard the functionality mentioned.

[smallking]

That's very good !

[tarpshack]

Thanks, Benji. Sounds like there won't be an application that comes on the device out of the box that will do the spoken directions. Hopefully someone comes out with an application. That would be very useful to me.