Google Maps update for Android

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freitasm

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#73056 8-Dec-2010 09:37

It seems the next Google Maps mobile update will bring some new features, including smaller optimised maps, and a larger cache, which will download in advance maps for the areas most frequented travelled through.

This will allow Google Maps mobile to be used even when offline.

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#414457 8-Dec-2010 09:42

Not to mention 3D rendering for buildings (possibly US/Canada-only initially).

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ArtooDetoo

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#414471 8-Dec-2010 10:05

freitasm: It seems the next Google Maps mobile update will bring some new features, including smaller optimised maps, and a larger cache, which will download in advance maps for the areas most frequented travelled through.

This will allow Google Maps mobile to be used even when offline.

Good news... makes it much more useful to me.

Thx for the heads-up.

Cheers,
R2D2

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#414477 8-Dec-2010 10:10

I am liking 4.7 a lot especially the Navigation. In fact I now use Navigation more than Co-Pilot Live since it's much easier to search out a destination in GM Nav than in Co-Pilot live.

Of course if I end up in an area with no cellular service I do have a fallback.

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fahrenheit

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#414502 8-Dec-2010 10:44

The voice in Navigon has spoiled google nav for me. If I could get rid of the american robot and use the well spoken English lady from Navigon, I'd happily use the new google nav.

langers1972

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#414518 8-Dec-2010 10:55

fahrenheit: The voice in Navigon has spoiled google nav for me. If I could get rid of the american robot and use the well spoken English lady from Navigon, I'd happily use the new google nav.

That's where OVI maps is so much better than Google, can be used offline and also can download multiple regional navigation voices (even use your own) and maps onto SD card

Since moving to Android it's the one thing I think that's better on Nokia OS, by a country mile actually

ArtooDetoo

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#414522 8-Dec-2010 10:57

fahrenheit: The voice in Navigon has spoiled google nav for me. If I could get rid of the american robot and use the well spoken English lady from Navigon, I'd happily use the new google nav.

Download the Svox English lady TTS voice. Well worth it, and you just make her the default so your text to speech apps will use her dulcet tones instread of the original 'Murican' default woman's synth. On my system, she spoke with a US accent even though I'd specified UK English, the only time an English accent was heard was in the speech sample in settings.

So goodbye Pico, hello Svox Classic.

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R2D2

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fahrenheit

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#414537 8-Dec-2010 11:07

ArtooDetoo:
fahrenheit: The voice in Navigon has spoiled google nav for me. If I could get rid of the american robot and use the well spoken English lady from Navigon, I'd happily use the new google nav.

Download the Svox English lady TTS voice. Well worth it, and you just make her the default so your text to speech apps will use her dulcet tones instread of the original 'Murican' default woman's synth. On my system, she spoke with a US accent even though I'd specified UK English, the only time an English accent was heard was in the speech sample in settings.

So goodbye Pico, hello Svox Classic.

Cheers,
R2D2

Thanks for the tip.

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Linuxluver

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#414736 8-Dec-2010 19:18

fahrenheit: The voice in Navigon has spoiled google nav for me. If I could get rid of the american robot and use the well spoken English lady from Navigon, I'd happily use the new google nav.

You can change the voice. Mine is definitely not American-sounding.

I think it's in the Language (or Voice?) settings in the phone's Settings.

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fahrenheit

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#414741 8-Dec-2010 19:33

Linuxluver:
fahrenheit: The voice in Navigon has spoiled google nav for me. If I could get rid of the american robot and use the well spoken English lady from Navigon, I'd happily use the new google nav.

You can change the voice. Mine is definitely not American-sounding.

I think it's in the Language (or Voice?) settings in the phone's Settings.

I can change it in the settings from the robot american to the robot brit, but the navigation just ignores it. Perhaps its something quirky on my phone.

ArtooDetoo

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#414744 8-Dec-2010 19:45

fahrenheit:
Linuxluver:
fahrenheit: The voice in Navigon has spoiled google nav for me. If I could get rid of the american robot and use the well spoken English lady from Navigon, I'd happily use the new google nav.

You can change the voice. Mine is definitely not American-sounding.

I think it's in the Language (or Voice?) settings in the phone's Settings.

I can change it in the settings from the robot american to the robot brit, but the navigation just ignores it. Perhaps its something quirky on my phone.

I shared the same symptoms as you, so my phone must be as quirky as yours.

The Svox lady is certainly more real sounding than the Pico version, that's for sure.

Cheers,
R2D2

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Zeon

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#414763 8-Dec-2010 20:41

Think I have the new version of Google Maps on my Desire. there are 3d representations of the buildings (I'm in Seoul) but can't say much about caching (trying to find hotel and jumping on random WiFi networks lol).

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Axe

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#414791 8-Dec-2010 21:46

Sightly off topic, but has anyone got Brut maps working on their Android?
I have been trying but it's not installing, and I'd really appreciate being able to use GPS without data.
I have a 2degrees Ideos if that makes a difference. Thanks

Con

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#414806 8-Dec-2010 22:27

I have Google maps working well on my Hero on eclair 2.1 ( Brut )

I have no idea how to cache and use off line, especially when travelling overseas where you are using expensive data and navigation is very important...

Help welcomed...

Elpie

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#414837 9-Dec-2010 01:03

Con: I have Google maps working well on my Hero on eclair 2.1 ( Brut )

I have no idea how to cache and use off line, especially when travelling overseas where you are using expensive data and navigation is very important...

Help welcomed...

Offline maps is a feature of Froyo. AFAIK, its not available for 2.1.

ArtooDetoo

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#414848 9-Dec-2010 07:14

On reflection, I don't know if the Google Maps update is really contributing much with its caching of oft-used routes since it's really hard to imagine why you'd need GPS to navigate to places you travel to frequently. The whole concept sounds odd.

What would be of real value, as a poster above notes, is when you're somewhere where roaming charges are killer, to have maps for the region on your device. Navigon takes this approach and it works brilliantly. Hopefully Google will re-write its app to follow that model - it would truly be a killer app for Android.

Not holding my breath though.

Cheers,
R2D2

Edit: Although we're talking about 2 different things here - Maps and Maps Navigation - they're inextricably linked but the nav function has more value for me personally. I believe there are other maps apps which allow you to store on your device areas you intend to travel, so Google's advantage here might only be in that it's free.

When I travel next, I will be using Navigon and leaving data off.

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