Diaries of a Nokia Fan Boy

And it comes at last! Google’s game-changing Maps Navigation software, that was only available for Eclair (Android 2.0) before, is now officially available on Donut (Android 1.6). Great news for those who’s devices don’t have stable Eclair code yet, like the HTC Magic!

-Nokia FanBoy

Official Google Mobile Blog

Well here’s some game changing news – Google is releasing a free, turn-by-turn, voice guided navigation client.

I’m sure we’ve all used Google Maps on our respective devices, and I’m sure we’ve used them with a purpose they were not intended for: navigation. A number of people have been complaining to me that Google needs to pick up the pace and release a navigation client a-la TomTom or Garmin. Well it appears they finally have.

Google Maps Navigation is coming out with Android 2.0, however knowing the online hacking community I’m sure earlier versions of Android will have it too. The new features introduced in the new software are pretty cool:

• Google search (obviously)
• Turn-by-turn directions
• Voice guidance, including street names
• Aerial map and satellite view
• 3D aerial satellite view
• Street-view of your next turn or destination
• Constantly updated maps (Vancouver was updated with Street-view during the summer)
• Taking into account of traffic conditions (sadly I believe Vancouver is out of luck on this one)
• Route caching in case you lose signal (but if you deviate off route, then you’re again out of luck)

Besides these, Android 2.0 will support device-wide voice commands, so finding a good coffee could be as easy as saying “navigate to a coffee shop near me”.

All of this is nice, and the features will certainly be game changers for many people (I know I’m going to be trying this out), however I’m a little worried about re-routing. For instance, I don’t like using Garmin because the re-routing takes so long that once its done I’ve missed the turn already, while TomTom and some others seem to be good in that sense.

There are also some down sides. For instance, if you do not have a data plan on your phone, then you’re out of luck since downloading and storing maps on the phone is out of the question. Sadly, this means that for me this can’t be the only guidance system either as I like to travel to the states and do not wish to pay the high data charges.

Most interestingly is the effect this is going to have on the GPS industry. With TomTom and Garmin stocks down already, this will be an interesting year or two.

Make sure to check out the video in the read link.

Update
Video of the interface in use, and official website:

-Nokia FanBoy

official website
via: Engadget (read)