We have some great news for our Australian and New Zealand readers as Google has just announced that you can now join in on the Navigation fun. With the holidays just around the corner, you don’t have to worry any longer about getting lost while heading to see or avoiding your family.
New features include:
- Search instead of type. Maps Navigation is integrated with Google Search, as well as Google Voice Search. That means you don’t need to know your destination’s exact address, or even its name. You can search instead: try saying “art gallery sydney” instead of “Museum of Contemporary Art”
- See where you’re going. You don’t have to download imagery or data or store it on your phone. It’s always connected to the Internet, which means you can access satellite views of your route or preview your destination in Street View.
- Explore along the way. Once you’re on your route, you can search for anything along your route: petrol stations, restaurants, museums, hotels, parks, anything you can think of. Some common searches, like petrol stations, are built in as layers you can turn on and off. Because Google Maps Navigation is integrated with Google Search, you can search your surroundings just as easily as you search the Internet.
- Steer clear of traffic. Maps Navigation displays live traffic conditions on top of your route: red means heavy, yellow means slow, and green means clear sailing. If traffic is looking bad, you can find an alternate route. Road traffic is available in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Wollongong and Newcastle.
- Seamlessly in sync. Simply sign in to Google Maps on your desktop, click the star next to any result on maps.google.com.au and that place will automatically be starred on your phone, making it easy to remember (and navigate to!).
Don’t have a car? Don’t worry, Google has also included walking navigation which is beta so if you feel conditions are unsafe, you should use that feature at your own risk. If your device is running Android 1.5, we hate to break it to you, but you’ll need to be running Android 1.6+ to take advantage of these new features. How many of you have been waiting for this feature?
Via: Google Australia, Androinica
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It still needs a bit-of work… I live in Sydney, 1 or 2 suburbs out from the CBD – on the Southern side of Sydney Harbour.
I typed in “Opera House” into the search & Google Navigation would have taken me on a 10Km journey across the Harbour bridge for a few kilometres, do an about turn, drive down the Harbour tunnel & stop directly underneath the Opera House.
Technically, Google Navigation did it’s job, but I feel sorry for any tourists that want to see one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks…
Works great here in New Zealand. I’ve been using the brut Google Maps hack which served me well, but it definitely had it’s share of bugs – awesome to be able to just use stock navigation now. Thanks Google
Next let us use Google Instant mobile and mobile browser Android Apps search also (both are currently U.S. only)
Works great here in New Zealand. I’ve been using the brut Google Maps hack which served me well, but it definitely had it’s share of bugs – awesome to be able to just use stock navigation now. Thanks Google
Next let us use Google Instant mobile and mobile browser Android Apps search also (both are currently U.S. only)
Woohoo! Excellent! Means I won’t have to fork out subscription fees to whereis
I have spoken to shop assistants , phone support etc until I am blue in the face.
Still I have NO answer to my Question.
The Question is How much of my 2GB data plan will be used IN TOTAL for a trip from Brisbane to Sydney using Google Maps on the HTC DESIRE HD on a $59 2GB plan
AS THESE MAPS ARE BASICALLY DOWNLOADED ON THE RUN, HOW IS ONE SUPPOSED TO KEEP TRACK OF THEIR DATA USED ( AS EXPLAINED BY PH SUPPORT) ON A 900+ KLM JOURNEY.
RIDICULOUS