i thought we were listening to the woman until i read this ... :O is that guy lars?
Patty Reiser
· 1 month ago
I agree the background noise is totally overwhelming. Just kills the quality of the video.
bob ama
· 1 month ago
Americans are such whiny loudmouth gobshites....
mattrs
· 1 month ago
Yes....paid services can go to hell.
Kim Mance
· 1 month ago
Great post and *awful* video. Seriously, no quiet room available somewhere?
jonathonhewitt
· 1 month ago
That was a terrible video! The lighting sucked and the noise made it to where I did not even want to watch the rest of the video.
mandad
· 1 month ago
The funny part is that the Windows Live application for Windows Mobile has had this feature for years (and has come in handy to me quite a few times), and it works very well. I guess it is the wide availability that makes this a bigger deal.
scott
· 1 month ago
O Rly? Windows Mobile had Street View integrated with a GPS for free? NO. They don't even have that on the web. Windows Mobile itself has not ever been free either.
This is a market changing event.
r0cketman22
· 1 month ago
Windows Live Search on my old BlackBerry was the best navigation app I've used so far. Maps on my iPhone pales in comparison.
blueskyguy
· 1 month ago
I agree with Sjors. I couldn't hear the guy actually describing how to use Google Maps Navigation, which made watching the video useless.
Satya Murthy
· 1 month ago
wow - sure looks the end of "paid" services!
Adam Saunders
· 1 month ago
I'm not sure. It's a cloud service, and mobile internet access is far from true 100% coverage. The element of sods law will mean you'll lose connectivity just when you need it the most :)
Scott
· 1 month ago
Only they've been saying it caches your route at the start, so intermittent coverage is not an issue.
Adam Saunders
· 1 month ago
I've not heard them talk about route caching.. I must have completely missed that. Will have to watch the vids again..
Still doesn't help finding your way out of a black spot though :)
Adam Saunders
· 1 month ago
Got it. So as long as you never deviate, or start in a black zone, its ok. That should cover most eventualities.. Thanks for pointing that out.
r0cketman22
· 1 month ago
Wow. Slick and quick.
Cheryl Lawson
· 1 month ago
Google kills Tom Tom?
Duy Tran
· 1 month ago
Get ready for GPS bilboards and route via business sponsored routes
dainathomas
· 1 month ago
amazing .. nice feature .. sure it will be handy ... but the women speaks alot ..:)
Best, Daina
Eva
· 1 month ago
Yes Google kills Tom Tom
kachingkaching
· 1 month ago
this is the end of paid services //bye tom & garmin
So now google will know where you go, and what you do on your way there. I love the google services, and have a g1, but it is getting a little scary how much data google has on me. Pro Acai Max Review
Name
· 1 month ago
You are just now scared? Now that is scary!
bufori
· 1 month ago
You think you're that important that people care where you are or what you're doing? :P
karlwilson
· 1 month ago
So now google will know where you go, and what you do on your way there. I love the google services, and have a g1, but it is getting a little scary how much data google has on me. Pro Acai Max Review
Michal Sławiński
· 1 month ago
Nice one.
The Wandering Foodie
· 1 month ago
I'm trying to figure out what we will have to pay for in the future . . . Food, clothing, transportation, entertainment, and products. Anything delivered through a medium will become free and ad-supported. He who gets the most viewers wins. ASCAP is dead.
andytgeezer
· 1 month ago
I think it's a brilliant system. I love the new google maps on Android it's such a big improvement and gives Google a very powerful bargaining chip in the mobile arena. Brilliant move on their part, and although it would suggest Google are spreading themselves thinly, they are still proving that they have lost none of the flavour. Brilliant release of maps, and compliments the new version of Android very well, showing that Google are serious about the mobile arena.
Santosh
· 1 month ago
Google Maps with navigation feature will change the dimension in the market. The competitors will have to come up with something new as google is gradually becoming a monopoly in every sector.
Jernej
· 1 month ago
Very good!
Anees Younis
· 1 month ago
This seems awesome! I am not a driver myself and have never really cared for standalone GPS devices or indeed Apps of that nature on my iPhone. Having said that, if it was free for the iPhone and embedded nicely into the existing Google Maps App then I would definitely download this and play around with it!
Somehow I feel Google that may make Apple get down on their knees for this, following their much publicised altercation over a certain Google Voice App for the iPhone. But as an iPhone user I think it will be on the platform sooner rather than later, and it's definitely something that will add value. I think TomTom and Garmin and all the other players in the market will subsequently have to take a long, hard look at their revenue models.
jamesrichter
· 1 month ago
Agreed, something free is great! However, you are taking a big hit to quality when you are comparing google maps vs Navteq & tele-atlas data. Googles strategy is to crowd-source and use government maps to update their database. Navteq and teleatlas use specialized equipment and have people on the ground verifying for quality. Google does not.
Scott
· 1 month ago
Ah the ol' Brittanica defense. ;)
As someone who has used Google Maps for routing purposes since Google Maps has existed, there is no "hit to quality" to speak of. It is astoundingly accurate. As far as having people on the ground, perhaps you haven't heard of Street View. I guarantee he's not there ONLY taking pictures!
ryaninc
· 1 month ago
I am seriously excited about this. And, one of the coolest thing about it, is that when ads eventually make their way into the app, I think it could be a good thing. Say you're driving past a Starbucks and the app pops up an ad letting you know that iced coffee is 50% off today. That is advertising I can see being not only un-annoying, but actually pretty helpful!
Jamie Riddell
· 1 month ago
Wait, did I just see the words, "Right now, Google Maps Navigation works only on Android" - do I see the first bona fide USP for Android? I think So..
fabian
· 1 month ago
Oha
lynzo
· 1 month ago
ugh yeah that woman is putting me off what he's saying, grr. apart from that, can't wait til this is abail on blackberry :)
Shervin
· 1 month ago
Simply... Wow!
Henry
· 1 month ago
Great article in my opinion,it is an incredible system And Google Maps with navigation feature will change the dimension in the market thanks for the post
illustratorblog
· 1 month ago
I have Palm Pre and enjoy being whore travel with free Spring Navigation :D
linuxos77
· 1 month ago
Very very cool, but there is a tradeoff.... In Google Maps the maps are not stored on your device (like they are in stand alone GPS unit), but are instead streamed in via Google. So.... if you're in an area without data coverage (or poor data coverage), you loose your maps, points of interest, etc. So, I'd be nervous to rely on this in rural areas. Otherwise this looks real cool.
Mia Bostic
· 1 month ago
good point! I have google maps on my Moto Q but when I venture into the middle of no where it's useless!
jonathonhewitt
· 1 month ago
This will improve over time as cell phone and wifi coverage area's are broadened.
Mia Bostic
· 1 month ago
Look guys, when buying the tom tom and Garmin GPS systems you're not paying for the maps necessarilly but you're paying for the platform and device you're using them on!
You still have to BUY this Anroid phone in order to use it which is relative to the costs of a new GPS system.
Don't let Google fool you!
jonathonhewitt
· 1 month ago
Google is not trying to fool anyone, this will just make it to where you don't have to buy a phone and a garmin, you just buy the cell phone, which most people buy anyways.
Scott
· 1 month ago
I think you're being fooled by Garmin/Tom Tom into buying 2 pieces of hardware (phone/GPS) when you could save 50% and just buy one.
And only one of them gets you internet functionality built into the GPS. No more POI or street updates needed ever again!
Mia Bostic
· 1 month ago
Since Google has economic interests in the Android I doubt they will allow it to be on other phone but we'll see.
jonathonhewitt
· 1 month ago
They will offer it first on the Android but it will be brought to other popular phones such as the blackberry, iphone next.
Atish
· 1 month ago
This will be on iPhone soon. Google announced. It is working with Apple to bring this to the 30 million iPhones in N. America & Europe.
Timo Luege
· 1 month ago
People will still want to have a decide in the car. Maybe in the future TomTom devices will be cheaper because *they* won't have to pay for the maps anymore. Keep in mind that TomTom and Garmin normally buy the maps from third party providers.
dog sitter
· 1 month ago
I can feel the tomtom execs shaking as I read this :)
Fred Miller
· 1 month ago
Bring It To iPhone Already...
Brandon101
· 1 month ago
Great news - I just hope they improve the actual Maps engine that drives it. I've had countless bad experiences with Google Maps, both on the web, and on iPhone. I had a client that fought for over a year to get the address correctly represented in Google Maps. Incidentally I live on the same street and had the same issue - Google Maps literally did not recognize our address. I've heard of similar horror stories, so it seems fairly widespread. Hopefully that will be improved as this rolls out to the masses.
I'm excited about this, too, especially as an Android user. But it seems time-after-time there's a tendency of people to overestimate the impact that niche products (and, yes, this Google Maps update is currently niche as it is only one one phone that isn't for sale yet) have.
Name
· 1 month ago
I DON'T GET IT!!
when Microsoft does it, it is evil, it is monopoly! when Google does it, it is cool!?
how STUPID can this google cheerleading can go?
History repeats itself: first as a tragedy (Microsoft) second as a FARSE (google)
Joe Davis
· 1 month ago
That's precisely what I was thinking. But there is a subtle difference here.
Microsoft is generally accused of using their OS marketshare to distribute their industry-killer applications. Google is using the overwhelming popularity of their industry-killer apps to get everyone to buy devices with their OS. It's a subtle difference--and no less evil--but it's there.
As for the app... worthless for me. If it's as accurate as Google Maps on my Blackberry, it'll put me within a 5-mile radius of my actual position. I only use Google Maps on BB when I'm in a metropolitan area with significant cellular coverage.
Name
· 1 month ago
we should stop finding excuses for the Information Gigoloogle!
FARSE!
dukeoconnor
· 1 month ago
@Joe Davis: "Google is using the overwhelming popularity of their industry-killer apps to get everyone to buy devices with their OS."
Maybe, but Google says it'll be available for other platforms as well. Microsoft is not like other companies. They used their OS monopoly to first kill Netscape, made IE the dominant browser by making it part of Windows, then made many parts of the Web available only to Windows users by ignoring Web standards. Microsoft has proven that they are unworthy of trust.
Craig
· 1 month ago
And the iPhone app will hit, when?
Charbarred
· 1 month ago
If this ran on my current Android phone, it would probably suck the battery out a long time before I actually arrive at my destination.
Scott
· 1 month ago
That's what a car charger is for, just like with any other GPS unit.
walidmrealtor
· 1 month ago
Nice! I hope the transition for mobile platforms is seamless and quick! I have some ideas regarding how I'd like to integrate this for my clients.
Michael
· 1 month ago
You still need a GPS-enabled device which means that many users would prefer the one-off cost of a specific sat-nav device as opposed to a monthly phone subscription. Good news for those with advanced phones that can run the software, but there's still enough people out there that don't want/need the monthly expense.
I never really saw much wrong with good old-fashioned maps myself.
Anthony Clauser
· 1 month ago
That video is useless with the woman way louder then needed.
almostwitty
· 1 month ago
One huge problem - data coverage.
I've been in situations where I'd rely on Google Maps to navigate me around in a car or while walking, but couldn't actually get any data on my phone because I was out of network.
So Google Maps Navigation would work well - albeit slowly - in data-saturated areas, but out in the sticks (ie between cities?) No chance.
matron
· 1 month ago
I have a blackberry tour with sprint GPS and google maps/directions (browser). For some reason Google has been changing the routing (I wanted a residential address in LA, it pointed me 30 minutes away to a children's hospital). Plenty of things to work out before it has the solidity of a traditional product. Neither is amazing for me.
Daniel
· 1 month ago
It truly is game changing. Way to go Google! I'm waiting on a new world currency based on Google stock...
bitlockers
· 1 month ago
Great, can't wait to get it for the storm!
Name
· 1 month ago
Note to self: if there is a loud c.unt in the background, you should probably record elsewhere
numpty
· 1 month ago
Given how inaccurate Google's maps and directions can be in the UK and Ireland (it hasn't even managed to get the street name right for my last two residential addresses), I don't think I'd be trusting this thing to navigate me anywhere anytime soon.
Name
· 1 month ago
I don't know what is so thrilled about. Nothing is for free. All the stuff in the future m will be more expensive because they have to pay huge ad fees to google.
Mike Boyd
· 1 month ago
Why am I not surprised! Google releases yet another amazing product!
interviewquest
· 1 month ago
What wireless providers are offering phones with android?
timsuh
· 1 month ago
I have a TomTom Go 930 & T-Mobile G1. We'll see how long it takes before I only carry around an Android device.
glenn ags
· 1 month ago
dammit woman!
calvin32
· 1 month ago
what the hell is all that noise?????? Holy shit - really?
calvin32
· 1 month ago
That is the most annoying video I have ever seen and HEARD. What the hell just happened there?
paulinelaila
· 1 month ago
um wow, last time i checked Google Maps was pretty normal. Now the features are just getting better and better. Great service by a great company. Keep it up! google sniper
Jay
· 1 month ago
Sorry to say, but this is so silly: How can you post a video with a woman talking so loud in the background. It does not make any sense, I hardly can hear the guy talk.
Senderok Allen
· 1 month ago
Background noise or not, that video is historic and I will remember watching it and the wow exclamations I made for a long time. I have questions however...
1) Isn't it illegal to hold a cell phone device while driving? Isn't the whole point of Nav devices having a large enough screen pinned to the dashboard behind the wheel? Hands-free presentation would be half the issue here.
2) I don't mind the data being in the cloud because I travel between continents and don't need or want to store any given country's huge data file on my phone anyway...but what amount of data are we talking about coming down over a mobile phone?! In most countries telecoms charge by the MB and free plans, for instance in the Ukraine, are just a GB per month after which you have to buy a new SIM card. Garmin + TomTom don't face a threat in the near future internationally if we're going to assume that Google's "free" service assumes that you have unlimited mobile data downloading (are Americans really now getting unlimited GBs for a low monthly mobile phone bill)?
But I am still amazed by that historic video and the announcement.
Kina
· 1 month ago
Fantastic!Finally a great navigation that is easy to use with cool useful features for free! The fact that is available on Android phone makes it even more appealing, since the phone uses open source. Great achievement google! Bye-bye overpriced limited navigation products!
K. v. Stockhausen
· 1 month ago
Fantastic!Finally a great navigation that is easy to use with cool useful features for free! The fact that is available on Android phone makes it even more appealing, since the phone uses open source. Great achievement google! Bye-bye overpriced limited navigation products!
Madeline
· 1 month ago
Sure, but the platform you choose to use it on (a high-end smartphone most likely) is going to cost you hundreds of dollars in the first place, and then charge you ridiculous monthly data fees on top of it, whereas a Garmin unit is a one-time purchse for a couple hundred (probably the same cost as the cell phone would be) and if you want, there is a one-time fee for lifetime map updates.
I tried to purchase an HTC Hero this weekend that runs Android (contrary to popular belief, Droid is not the first and only phone to run it -- HTC has 3 or 4 models that do, and have, for some time), but Sprint would have required upgrading my phone to the Hero (or the Palm Pre, the Intinct, any high-end phone like that) from a $69.99/month plan to a $129.99/month plan, with additional lines costing $19.99/month apiece instead of $9.99. That's a huge difference over the life of a 2-year service contract (and then you realize 2 years from now these phones will be ancient and you'll want to upgrade again, where they will invariably make you upgrade your plan again for more money and fewer features), when I could just stick with my $200 Garmin and $150 lifetime updates for, well, life.
Kristoffer
· 1 month ago
Couldn't even watch it cause of the woman in the background. Jeeze, I would hate to have to work next to her all day!
Guest
· 1 month ago
Pretty cool, but how is it possible to know where you are when you are in the black hole. if traffic is heavy or if there is no service where you are going. Then that would be impossible. I'm guessing that when reading street signs come into play.
JenInBoston
· 1 month ago
I made it 34-seconds through this video. Good, Lord! Trying to hear the narration over the lady in the background, who was obviously *already* in the middle of a conversation with someone else, is annoying and impossible. Seriously, I cannot actually hear the guy talking about the map app. Next time you want to make a demo video, for heaven's sake at least go out in the hall or find a quiet corner!
Agi
· 2 weeks ago
What about areas where you do not have data reception?
jdm engines
· 5 days ago
It is amazing how much impression google has been able to make, by putting out great, free products.
All Comments
:O is that guy lars?
This is a market changing event.
Still doesn't help finding your way out of a black spot though :)
Best,
Daina
http://kaching-kaching.info
http://blastoffpress.com
http://evolvhealthy.com
Pro Acai Max Review
Pro Acai Max Review
Somehow I feel Google that may make Apple get down on their knees for this, following their much publicised altercation over a certain Google Voice App for the iPhone. But as an iPhone user I think it will be on the platform sooner rather than later, and it's definitely something that will add value. I think TomTom and Garmin and all the other players in the market will subsequently have to take a long, hard look at their revenue models.
As someone who has used Google Maps for routing purposes since Google Maps has existed, there is no "hit to quality" to speak of. It is astoundingly accurate. As far as having people on the ground, perhaps you haven't heard of Street View. I guarantee he's not there ONLY taking pictures!
in my opinion,it is an incredible system
And Google Maps with navigation feature will change the dimension in the market
thanks for the post
You still have to BUY this Anroid phone in order to use it which is relative to the costs of a new GPS system.
Don't let Google fool you!
And only one of them gets you internet functionality built into the GPS. No more POI or street updates needed ever again!
It's right there next to the graph.
I'm excited about this, too, especially as an Android user. But it seems time-after-time there's a tendency of people to overestimate the impact that niche products (and, yes, this Google Maps update is currently niche as it is only one one phone that isn't for sale yet) have.
when Microsoft does it, it is evil, it is monopoly!
when Google does it, it is cool!?
how STUPID can this google cheerleading can go?
History repeats itself: first as a tragedy (Microsoft) second as a FARSE (google)
Microsoft is generally accused of using their OS marketshare to distribute their industry-killer applications. Google is using the overwhelming popularity of their industry-killer apps to get everyone to buy devices with their OS. It's a subtle difference--and no less evil--but it's there.
As for the app... worthless for me. If it's as accurate as Google Maps on my Blackberry, it'll put me within a 5-mile radius of my actual position. I only use Google Maps on BB when I'm in a metropolitan area with significant cellular coverage.
FARSE!
Maybe, but Google says it'll be available for other platforms as well. Microsoft is not like other companies. They used their OS monopoly to first kill Netscape, made IE the dominant browser by making it part of Windows, then made many parts of the Web available only to Windows users by ignoring Web standards. Microsoft has proven that they are unworthy of trust.
I never really saw much wrong with good old-fashioned maps myself.
I've been in situations where I'd rely on Google Maps to navigate me around in a car or while walking, but couldn't actually get any data on my phone because I was out of network.
So Google Maps Navigation would work well - albeit slowly - in data-saturated areas, but out in the sticks (ie between cities?) No chance.
Nothing is for free. All the stuff in the future m
will be more expensive because they have to pay huge ad fees to google.
1) Isn't it illegal to hold a cell phone device while driving? Isn't the whole point of Nav devices having a large enough screen pinned to the dashboard behind the wheel? Hands-free presentation would be half the issue here.
2) I don't mind the data being in the cloud because I travel between continents and don't need or want to store any given country's huge data file on my phone anyway...but what amount of data are we talking about coming down over a mobile phone?! In most countries telecoms charge by the MB and free plans, for instance in the Ukraine, are just a GB per month after which you have to buy a new SIM card. Garmin + TomTom don't face a threat in the near future internationally if we're going to assume that Google's "free" service assumes that you have unlimited mobile data downloading (are Americans really now getting unlimited GBs for a low monthly mobile phone bill)?
But I am still amazed by that historic video and the announcement.
The fact that is available on Android phone makes it even more appealing, since the phone uses open source.
Great achievement google!
Bye-bye overpriced limited navigation products!
The fact that is available on Android phone makes it even more appealing, since the phone uses open source.
Great achievement google!
Bye-bye overpriced limited navigation products!
I tried to purchase an HTC Hero this weekend that runs Android (contrary to popular belief, Droid is not the first and only phone to run it -- HTC has 3 or 4 models that do, and have, for some time), but Sprint would have required upgrading my phone to the Hero (or the Palm Pre, the Intinct, any high-end phone like that) from a $69.99/month plan to a $129.99/month plan, with additional lines costing $19.99/month apiece instead of $9.99. That's a huge difference over the life of a 2-year service contract (and then you realize 2 years from now these phones will be ancient and you'll want to upgrade again, where they will invariably make you upgrade your plan again for more money and fewer features), when I could just stick with my $200 Garmin and $150 lifetime updates for, well, life.