Google to bring free turn-by-turn navigation to the iPhone

[ccwong]

Only ifon?? What about Symbian, Android & Winmo..unfair liao likedat

Symbian already has free turn-by-turn navi from Nokia already mah (via Ovi maps).

In US and UK recently, Google has offered free turn-by-turn navi for its Android mobile platform. For the rest of the world, it's probably only a matter of time.

While the map being hosted online is expensive if you do not have an unlimited cellular data package and problematic if you lose your cellular connection, the benefit is your map will always be up-to-date.

Google map = up-to-date ?!

I doubt on it, at least in Malaysia....

[tympg]

I thought you can plan and Google can 'catch' the route... so just plan ahead before leaving home....

Ha? How ah? Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of realtime turn-by-turn navigation?

[tuah]

I thought you can plan and Google can 'catch' the route... so just plan ahead before leaving home....

Ha? How ah? Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of realtime turn-by-turn navigation?

I think plan ahead is not so "user-friendly" compared to "Search & Go".

[nyem]

I thought you can plan and Google can 'catch' the route... so just plan ahead before leaving home....

The route calculation is done server-side and my guess is it can only plan and cache 1 route at a time. Once you've arrived to your destination you'll need another connection to the server for another route planning.

This is similar to waze, if you're off-route it'll trigger a connection to the server to recalculate new route.

[simseair]

Google map = up-to-date ?!

I doubt on it, at least in Malaysia....[/quote]

I don't think the big boys will give details like the kampung, new village or felda tracks. This is where the local trackers are important.

[uncle wong]

Google Dashes Hopes of Free iPhone Turn-by-Turn GPS( Daniel Ionescu

Apr 23, 2010 9:00 pm)

Google has denied the latest rumors that the search giant will bring free turn-by-turn GPS navigation on the Apple iPhone, although the features could come in the future to other (unspecified) mobile platforms.

Reports surfaced on Thursday quoting a Google executive speaking about plans to bring free turn-by-turn navigation to other mobile platforms, including the iPhone, during a London press conference launching Maps Navigation for Android phones in the U.K..

"We did not say we would bring it to iPhone, we said to date we've had it on Android and that in the future it may come to other platforms but did not confirm this will be coming to iPhone at all," a Google spokesperson told PCWorld.

In Android 2.0, Google introduced Maps Navigation, which includes 3D maps, turn-by-turn voice guidance, and automatic rerouting -- all at no cost for the user. Available initially only in the U.S., the software does not store the maps on your phone, but uses the Internet connection to display routes.

However, Google clarified on Thursday a few unknowns about its free navigation software for Android. Maps Navigation pre-caches an entire route, and it needs a data connection only when it calculates the directions. So, while driving to your destination, if you lose the connection temporarily, the route progress will still be displayed as long as you stay on the initial route.

Free turn-by-turn navigation for mobile phones is getting increasingly popular with customers, to the detriment of traditional GPS device makers like TomTom or Garmin. Next to Google's Maps Navigation, now available in both U.S. and U.K., Nokia introduced in January its own free GPS software for several of its devices, and by now has been downloaded more than 10 million times.

Source : PC World

[Inggo]

my iphone was swim in the soap to soak overnight and does not arise again
miss you ifone

[yc1437]

For nokia fon there is the free OVI maps, found that my home town Serdang, Kedah also have very detail map in OVI, more kampung road charted than MFM

Only ifon?? What about Symbian, Android & Winmo..unfair liao likedat

[drsec]

Just wondering, can someone found a way of reverse compiling a map (say Garmin). I am sure it can be done. If it has been found, boy wouldn't it save a lot of investment collecting the raw data.

[moeyhc]

Bro drsec,

I'm sure there are ways to reverse engineered these maps.... but,.... wouldn't this be copycat? There are just too many 'Easter Eggs' in these maps to avoid being caught. I think it can be done but commercially not practical.... Cheers!