Google updates WinMo Maps client - Full routing a step closer?

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Google have released an update to their Windows Mobile Google Maps client, which now gets a bump to version 1.7.1.4.

As well as a number of small enhancements to the UI and better compatability with devices such as the HTC Kaiser, route planning is now also available, with each turn marked on the map.

While full routing (with automatic rerouting, voice direction etc.) is not yet included, the fact remains that it is now possible to use Google Maps as a very basic (but free, except for data costs) navigation application... Will Google take it that one step further to include full turn by turn routing? I hope so! :(

You can get the latest version of the application by pointing your device at http://www.google.com/gmm.

Enjoy! ;)

P

PS Thanks 'jimbouk' for the heads up!

[Guest jimbouk]

2002 posts AND a news item... and no free devices!

[Guest Confucious]

2002 posts AND a news item... and no free devices!

Should have been at the summer meet last year ;)

[Guest mandt]

I would have been at this years one, if it had happened......

Congrats Jimbo ;)

[Guest jimbouk]

Thanks... I was supposed to be at the meet... and Mrs JimboUK double booked me!

Then I was at an Orange Partner camp with Paul in Cadiz and he didn't take the opportunity to give me any free devices... I am starting to give up hope (only just starting mind)...

Thanks guys.

[Guest tsutton]

Now that's an useful addition! Downloading...

[Guest tsutton]

Interesting... "Track Location" doesnt work. It doesnt start up the GPS.

Rebooting phone...

Edit - reboot did the trick.. it was looking at the old software for some reason. I guess it was cached...

After the reboot, the menu has different listing and the "Track Location" is now "Show my location"

Edited November 13, 2007 by tsutton

[Guest Sonicr360]

Guys, quick Q

Never used this product before, so thought I would give it a try.

Seems to work, can find locations, but I dont seem to be able to get the images that are shown in this post (ie: green fields, roads, houses, ect)

What am i doing wrong ;)

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Change map view type to 'Satellite' ;)

P

[Guest johncody]

This version still doesn't fix the annoying problem of installing the app in main memory EVEN when you specified "Storage Card" ;)

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Yeah, infuriating!

P

[Guest johncody]

Yeah, infuriating!

P

It actually is because I have found that with my WM6 dash if the "Program Memory" gets less then around 15MB, it will go into an endless loop of reboots - and the only way to fix it is to do a hard reset, which I don't think anyone enjoys ;)

And even when you go through the trouble of moving the GM program folder to the storage card and create a new shortcut, GM still creates and maintains it's 1-2MB cache in main memory.

Edited November 13, 2007 by johncody

[Guest WILBUR]

this app infuriated me - why it refuses to let you zoom in using return or the centre button on the direction pad i'll never know - it says volume up does it but the jog dial on my Vario III just shift the screen up/down. - don't they do a compare and contrast with the windows live search equivalent and take the best ideas? Also missing are options to change the cache location.

- shame 'cos it loads maps faster than windows live

[Guest Gerald.D]

I don't understand what's going on with their database though.

Used to be excellent. There are probably 20 pubs and bars within a 3 minute walk of my house. It now only lists 2.

Some of the ones it no longer lists even have "We're on Google Maps" stickers in their windows!

I guess it's a Navteq issue though - MS Live Search is useless at the moment as well.

[Guest pd.ryder]

Will it install over the previous version, maintaining POI's etc and previous routes?

[Guest arvind]

Brilliant man !!!

[Guest pd.ryder]

Will it install over the previous version, maintaining POI's etc and previous routes?

To answer my own question ;) -- no, it won't.

[Guest mmmaiki]

The version I have is 1.7.1.4. Is that the newest one, or is the new update more recent?

Another annoying thing--the about screen at program startup, where you have to click OK.

I'd much prefer if it went directly to the last map, when opened, without that opening screen. Any way to configure it to skip that screen?