Video: Google Maps Navigation – Voice guided GPS directions on Verizon’s Motorola Droid
By Will Park on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 7:21 PM PST In Android, Applications, GPS/Satellite Navigation, Motorola, New Hardware, Verizon
Google (NSDQ: GOOG)’s announcement of turn-by-turn GPS navigation this morning was big. Verizon (NYSE: VZ)’s Motorola Droid announcement was bigger. Combine those two into an orgy of Android 2.0 and Droid goodness, and you’ve got the makings of a truly impressive smartphone. Just how good is Google Maps Navigation? Why don’t take a video tour of the new turn-by-turn GPS navigation feature from Google, by way of the first Android 2.0 phone to support Google Maps Navigation, and find out?
What you’ll see in the video below is Google’s solution to serve up turn-by-turn directions to your smartphone, even if it lacks a digital compass. As a bonus, Google Maps Navigation will show you your route in Google Maps’ satellite view or street view. Judging by our initial experience, Google Maps Navigation might be just the thing to finally unseat dedicated GPS navigation devices. It’s that good.
While this will be initially only available for USA, the writing is on the wall for subscription models like the one Nokia offers in its Maps.
Wonder if the entire reason for releasing this on the Droid is due to the fact that Android will not let you exceed 256mb of storage/install space for apps. Most navigation apps exceed 1gig of space because they house the maps for offline use when a data connection is not present. Major slip up on Motorola’s part. I’ll wait until it comes to iPhone or some other manufacturer gets it right with onboard storage large enough to carry many apps of higher quality.
Advertising based on geo location is coming too. This move by Google is less about maps and more about advertising. They will be able to offer Google Ads based on geolocation. Not right now…but once mass market adoption is achieved.