Users running smartphones with Google Android 1.6 or higher got a welcome surprise this morning. Google added turn-by-turn voice guided navigation to Android devices for UK and Ireland. Up to now this feature has only been available in the US.
As mentioned earlier, all Android devices running version 1.6 or higher will be able to download Google Maps Navigation Beta from the Android Market which will enable the new navigation features.
The new turn-by-turn voice guided sat nav is sure to make an impact in the navigation market. Nokia recently announced that its OVI maps were also free so now we have two major smartphone manufacturers offering free maps. The iPhone on the other hand will see you forking out a fair bit of cash for a TomTom sat nav app.
Key features in Google Maps Navigation include search, voice search, streetview, satellite view and 3D maps. Google Maps Navigation is free to download and subsequent updates are also free because the up-to-date mapping data is constantly refreshed on Google Maps itself.
What’s more it also has support for live traffic updates, an on-screen indicator glows green, yellow or red based on current traffic conditions along your route and a single touch on the indicator toggles a traffic view that shows the traffic ahead. There is also a car dock mode which displays a simplified home screen with large finger friendly controls to make it easier to use when driving.
Can’t wait to try this out, whenever I get my HTC Desire that is, ( Dam Icelandic Volcanoes! ) but I’, sure it’ll be great
What do you guys think?
Let us know in the comments
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