Google to offer turn-by-turn navigation on Android devices

Posted by Katherine Hannaford on Wed 28 Oct 2009

Is Google being evil, or just generous?

Android 2.0 (otherwise known as Eclair) has just been formally introduced by Google, and while Android fans around the world are cheering, there's a large number of people who'll be feeling pretty angry today. TomTom, Garmin, Navman - we're sorry for your loss.

Hidden inside Android 2.0 is Maps Navigation, a beta function which features turn-by-turn directions for drivers. It works within Google Maps, and will be free on all Android 2.0 mobiles. The directions will be viewable in satellite and Street View modes, with Street View showing the exact lane your car needs to be in, Engadget is claiming. Up until now, users haven't been able to use their Android mobiles as sat-navs, thanks to the lack of turn-by-turn directions, although several apps are available for downloading which offered this service.

Addresses can either be typed in, or spoken aloud, and even questions can be computed. Gizmodo gives the example of "that museum that has the King Tut exhibit", which apparently Google Maps understood.

Understandably, some people may be wary about using a mobile phone as a sat-nav, for fear of lost connection. Fortunately, once you've input an address, the maps cache so even if you lose signal you'll still be able to get directions to where you need to be.

Google's very considerate of your needs when driving, so they've added a new interface for Maps which will offer larger text and images, along with voice search. It will detect when it's placed in a car dock, and will make the necessary changes to the interface automatically.

Link: Google Android (via Gizmodo)

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