Android 2.0 gets Google Maps Navigation Beta [Video]

[talkbackdroid]

While we may have caught up with the main features of Android 2.0 earlier this week (http://androidcommunity.com/google-out-android-2-0-eclair-video-20091027/), Google have been keeping one surprise. Google Maps Navigation Beta (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/announcing-google-maps-navigation-for.html) is an update to the company's free GPS app, initially exclusive to Android 2.0 devices such as the Verizon DROID by Motorola (http://androidcommunity.com/verizon-droid-by-motorola-launches-video-20091028/), adding in turn-by-turn directions, vocal prompts, speech-recognition and more.

http://androidcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/nav-gallery-26.jpg

The software - which is likely to strike fear into the hearts of standalone PND manufacturers and GPS software providers - hasGoogle search is built in; you can tap in - or, by holding down the search button, search by voice - an address, landmark or business and get a list of results. Points of interest (such as gas stations) along the route are also given priority in searches, while both satellite mapping and Street View imagery is shown.

You can place shortcuts to commonly-accessed destinations on the Android 2.0 homescreen, and of course there'll be integration from the Contacts. There's also a new UI more suited for in-car use, which has larger icons and a predominantly voice-controlled menu system.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGXK4jKN_jY[gallery][via (http://www.slashgear.com/google-maps-navigation-beta-for-android-2-0-turn-by-turn-car-ui-more-video-2862051/) SlashGear]

Full story (http://androidcommunity.com/android-2-0-gets-google-maps-navigation-beta-video-20091028/)

[djunio]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGXK4jKN_jY&feature=player_embedded#at=16

[OKC-G1]

NOW there is something actually worth talking about with 2.0

[djunio]

NOW there is something actually worth talking about with 2.0

I know, finally and I think the framework for flash will be in there as well.

[konzern]

the guy paused alot like dora the explorer but im looking forward to this!

[HavocG1]

the guy paused alot like dora the explorer but im looking forward to this!

LOL! Been waiting for this, though. Question though...if this is on the Droid, and the Droid is on VZW, will owners need to purchase the VZ Navigator service???

[bmcclure937]

Awesome!! :D I think stock 2.0 is going to be pretty damn slick, I can't even begin to imagine the ROMs that will be built based off of 2.0. And I wonder when a SenseUI HTC device will be based off of 2.0.

This Google Navigation is very impressive!! And FREE :) This is, hands down, the best device that Verizon has ever offered... mainly because it is not Nazi-locked and required to use all of Verizon's proprietary services. I am utterly shocked that Verizon allowed this, since they charge $x/month for VZW Nav on their other devices and Google Nav is FREE :D

[djunio]

Probably, but this supposed to be a free addition to google maps.

[Derrick]

Google just keeps on impressing and innovating.

[Ward]

Sweet now if only my battery would last from Mountain View to San Leandro, we'll be in business! :p

[notxel21]

Sweet now if only my battery would last from Mountain View to San Leandro, we'll be in business! :p

LOL!!
Ward comes out of hiding! :eek: :D

[jiangsheng]

Sweet now if only my battery would last from Mountain View to San Leandro, we'll be in business! :p
Come on, get a car charger.

[bmcclure937]

Possibly the dumbest thing about the Moto car holster, according to reviews, is that is does not have a charger built in. How difficult would it have been for Moto to include 2 metal contacts on the back of the Droid so when it is placed in a cradle, car holster/mount, etc it would be able to charge?

That would have been an awesome feature of the holster and would keep your Droid juiced up while using it as a GPS to navigate in the car. Now you will have to worry about plugging in a charger and placing it in the car mount :(

Also, I have not seen any videos or reviews yet on what occurs when you are using the Google Navigation and you receive a call on the Droid... I know you can run simultaneous apps, but do you think you could be on-call and still receive voice notifications of your next turn. I am sure the people at Google have thought all of this through, but they were just concerns that came to mind.

Navigation and loading data for traffic and POIs and whatnot will surely drain your battery, so hopefully an elegant solution will arrive for charging while in the car cradle.

[franklinmall]

I finally figured out how to add addresses and look up businesses on the web and synchronize them to my Navigator's "Favorites". If anyone is interested here is the link (http://signin.telenav.com/tnsso/sso/home.do?callback=http%3A%2F%2Fmy.telenav.com%2Fmyt n%2FMyAddressPages.do%3Fact%3DmyaddressList): http://my.telenav.com