Google unveils free turn-by-turn directions for Android devices

[strunke]

Google unveils free turn-by-turn directions for Android devices
---


Congrats, Google: you’ve finally rolled out a mobile feature that’s got me ooh-ing and ahh-ing. In advance of the Droid launch, Google has publicly dished on its new turn-by-direction service, Google Navigation, which will be available on Android 2.0 mobile devices. It’s currently, of course, in beta—this is Google we’re talking about, after all—but also in typical Google fashion, it’ll be free when it’s released.

Based on Google Maps data, Google Navigation is pretty much exactly the kind of turn-by-turn navigation solution that you’d expect Google to develop. In addition to existing Google Maps features like traffic information and satellite views, Google Navigation also mixes in plain English searching, searching by voice, and Street View integration that actually allows you to see what your turns will look like.

The real strength of the Navigation features is that it’s backed by Google, which can leverage its search prowess to allow for nifty features such as asking for directions to “the museum with the King Tut exhibit.” It can also easily help you find places to stop along your trip, should you want to pause for some food. The Navigation app can also apparently collect speed and distance information to build a more accurate picture of live traffic, much like the Dash GPS device that Research In Motion acquired.

So, what does this mean for iPhone users? According to Reuters, Google Engineering Vice President Vic Gundotra said the iPhone 3GS is technically capable of running the Navigation application, but he didn’t confirm or deny whether it would show up on the platform. Given the relationship between Google and Apple of late, the chances seem iffy. But with most iPhone turn-by-turn apps currently expensive add-ons, I’d guess a built-in solution would be appealing to Apple—especially now that it’ll have to compete with Android’s new functionality. One thing's for sure: the once-slick Google Maps on the iPhone is going to look outdated pretty quick.

A free turn-by-turn directions app for mobile phone is also a shot across the bow of the wireless carriers, most of which offer their own turn-by-turn direction apps that require a monthly fee, such as AT&T Navigator, which is also available for other cell phone platforms. It’s another indication that the growing prominence of smartphones is shifting the balance of power in the mobile space from carriers to device providers.

The video below features a demo from a Google product manager who looks like he took about half of an Apple course on presentations. At present, the Navigation system only works in the U.S.

YouTube - Google Maps Navigation (Beta)

Google unveils free turn-by-turn directions for Android devices | Phones | iPhone Central | Macworld

[Kalimotxo]

what was that loud crash?

...oh... it's garmin and tomtom's stock hitting the ground.

[strunke]

Originally Posted by Kalimotxo

what was that loud crash?

...oh... it's garmin and tomtom's stock hitting the ground.

Hahaha, possibly....

If they can move it to other devices and not have the carriers lock down it's GPS hardware....

I guess there still will always be a place for device based maps....i mean this wouldn't work in the out back or country where there is no reception to download the data....

[bobolito]

LOL! Why would this hurt TomTom and Garmin? After all, this is only for Android devices. I doubt the iPhone will get it since Apple is getting ready to launch their own maps. It will be several years and several lawsuits before you see Android take over Palm, Blackberry, Symbian, Apple, etc. if ever. Plus, not everyone finds a turn-by-turn app on your phone very convenient, due to the fact that incoming calls and music players are hard to use while navigating at the same time. Those people will find that having a dedicated GPS unit is better. So yeah, my point is for Garmin and TomTom to suffer from this it will take much more than Google Navigator being free.

[Kalimotxo]

Originally Posted by bobolito

LOL! Why would this hurt TomTom and Garmin? After all, this is only for Android devices. I doubt the iPhone will get it since Apple is getting ready to launch their own maps. It will be several years and several lawsuits before you see Android take over Palm, Blackberry, Symbian, Apple, etc. if ever. Plus, not everyone finds a turn-by-turn app on your phone very convenient, due to the fact that incoming calls and music players are hard to use while navigating at the same time. Those people will find that having a dedicated GPS unit is better. So yeah, my point is for Garmin and TomTom to suffer from this it will take much more than Google Navigator being free.

Garmin dropped about 16% today. TomTom dropped 21%. This news certainly didn't help them.

But I do agree with you on the fact that a turn-by-turn app isn't appealing to everyone to meet their GPS needs. The dedicated GPS devices will remain the best option for backpacking, taxi drivers, etc. But this google app will satisfy the casual GPS user, like myself, who might use it once or twice a month.

[viewfly]

CNET notes that Google and Apple are in fact working to bring the application to the iPhone, although no details of a launch timeframe have been released.

"However, Google is working with Apple on bringing it to the iPhone, and it's not ruling out licensing the software to makers of portable navigation devices used in cars throughout the world, said Gundotra, vice president of engineering at Google for mobile and developers. The process involving Apple is slightly different from the usual App Store submission process, because Maps is a built-in iPhone application, he said."

For me, I still prefer to have a device in my car, and keep my phone mobile for other uses.

However, the google appls does have some nice unique features, different from Garmin.

Look here for a video demo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGXK4...layer_embedded

Probably will be an increase in car accidents though.....

[crood]

A standalone GPS has several solid advantages:

1. Larger Screen than is practical on a phone.
2. One time fee. Google may not charge for the app, but a data plan is required for the app to work. Yes, you have to pay for map updates, but updating maps is hardly something you need to do very often.
3. Device can stay in your car, so there's no forgetting it.

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by crood

A standalone GPS has several solid advantages:

1. Larger Screen than is practical on a phone.
2. One time fee. Google may not charge for the app, but a data plan is required for the app to work. Yes, you have to pay for map updates, but updating maps is hardly something you need to do very often.
3. Device can stay in your car, so there's no forgetting it.

Yes it does, however I had an experience recently that will prevent me from ever giving up my Google Maps on my little cellphone screen.

We were recently in a mountain lodge in the Smoky Mountains, near Gatlinburg. We arrived real late due to a landslide blocking I40. The Lodge was located up through some mountain roads, sas soon as we were about to turn from the main highway, the car's navigation system announced "you are about to enter an area were turn by turn navigation is not possible, please follow the the direction of the arrow". Not only was following the direction of the arrow difficult, it was not very accurate going up the turns, the road forked many times.

Throughout all of the 2.5 miles of twisting and turning up a steep incline, Google Map on my cell phone gave pinpoint accuracy on every hairpin turn and brought us right to the lodge.

My husband, who thinks I have too many "unnecessary things" on my phone, became a fan of Google Maps after he saw the road in daylight. Every place we went after he set the car's navigation, he always asked me "What does your Google say?".

The same situtation happened in trying to find a restaurant in Gatlinburg, the car's system quit and Google Maps brought us right to it.

I for one, am looking forward to Google's Turn-By-Turn.

[crood]

That's great, but I've been to plenty of ski areas where cell coverage is nearly non-existent and a real GPS works fine.