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Google Maps Navigation Available On Android 1.6 and higher | Android in Canada Blog

Google Maps Navigation Available On Android 1.6 and higher

by Billy on November 23rd, 2009

At the end of October 2009, Google released a free turn-by-turn GPS application called Google Maps Navigation. At that time, the app was available for Android 2.0 devices.

Today, Google expanded the availability of Google Navigation to devices running Android 1.6 and higher:

Google Maps Navigation is an internet-connected GPS system with voice guidance and automatic rerouting, all running on your mobile phone. Using Google services over your phone’s data connection brings important benefits to GPS navigation users, like using Google search (typed or spoken) to enter your destination; fresh map, business, and traffic data; and satellite and Street View imagery along your route.

The expanded release also includes the new Layers feature that allows users to overlay geographical information over the Google Map. Users can check out Google Maps Navigaton on the Android Marketplace.

Available In Canada?

As awesome as Google Maps Navigation looks and sounds, there are two points keeping it out of Canadian hands:

1.) Google Maps Navigation is still in Beta and only available in the USA.

2.) Our Android devices need to be running 1.6 or higher and relying on our wireless carriers for that update has been less than optimal.

Google Maps Navigation is most likely going to be available in Canada soon, but at this time all we can do is wait, which Canadian Android users seem to always have to do.

google-maps-navigation

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Posted under: Android Apps, Android Firmware, News, Rogers/Fido, Telus Android

  • You can get it working in Canada following the directions at http://navlauncher.madcowsolutions.com/viewtopi...

    The Nav Launcher application is a very handy tool for invoking Navigation.
  • I installed the update on my Rogers HTC Magic (rooted and running a 1.6 ROM - well worth it, by the way), and the new Maps has the layers, but turn-by-turn Navigation just tells you it can't find a route and closes (though it shows the route beneath the dialog box), even if you are trying to navigate between two US locations. It may behave differently when you are physically in the US, but for now the only new thing the works in Canada is the layers (which are kind of neat).

    I think the issue is that Google is still using Tele Atlas for maps in Canada, not their own, so they don't have the licensing for turn-by-turn. Hopefully that will change soon.
  • bjtheone
    Solid 1.6 ROMs have been out for months, Sense, Hero, and ION based. Waiting for Rogers to release an update is going to mean being at least 6 months behind, and older devices will never get OTAs.
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