AVForums

Our philosophy in our forums, reviews, podcasts and feature videos is to promote audio and visual excellence by gathering and sharing the best information and resources available.

Help

To begin please visit our help section »

Not a Member Yet?

It only takes a minute to start enjoying the benefits of AVForums membership, and it's free!

Member Log in

Google Navigation App - For Free! - will it come to the iPhone?

Post Reply
Old 28-10-2009, 5:32 PM   #1
Member
 
highpriest's Avatar
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Winchester
Experience Points:
2,172, Level: 10
Points: 2,172, Level: 10 Points: 2,172, Level: 10 Points: 2,172, Level: 10
Activity: 0.4%
Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4%
Thanks: Gave 53, Got 32
Posts: 512
Google Navigation App - For Free! - will it come to the iPhone?

iClarified - Apple News - Google Launches Its Own Free Navigation App

Currently in beta and only for the Android platform but please let there be an iPhone version

Cheers
HighPriest
  Quote
Old 28-10-2009, 5:40 PM   #2
UEF UEF is offline
Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: London
Experience Points:
7,132, Level: 20
Points: 7,132, Level: 20 Points: 7,132, Level: 20 Points: 7,132, Level: 20
Activity: 2.7%
Activity: 2.7% Activity: 2.7% Activity: 2.7%
Thanks: Gave 26, Got 228
Posts: 1,731
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free!

Nice idea, it's a dead duck if it relies on mobile loading of apps though. You need a cache for most trips around the UK.
  Quote
Thanks from:
tpic (29-10-2009)
Old 28-10-2009, 5:59 PM   #3
Veteran Member
 
Autopilot's Avatar
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Region 2
Experience Points:
20,515, Level: 34
Points: 20,515, Level: 34 Points: 20,515, Level: 34 Points: 20,515, Level: 34
Activity: 4.9%
Activity: 4.9% Activity: 4.9% Activity: 4.9%
Thanks: Gave 461, Got 719
Posts: 5,384
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free!

Quote:
Originally Posted by UEF View Post
Nice idea, it's a dead duck if it relies on mobile loading of apps though. You need a cache for most trips around the UK.
From the report i read this morning, the plan is to cache map data. Not sure how it will work though, i.e. if you can pre download areas of the country (ala Nokia Maps) or if it will just be on a journey by journey basis. But hey this is Google, you know they will get it right. The idea of using street view is very interesting too.

The likes of TomTom must be worried (although TomTom own's Tele Atles maps which Google uses, so it wont lose out completely).

Last edited by Autopilot; 28-10-2009 at 6:01 PM.
  Quote
Old 28-10-2009, 11:14 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
jerryq7777's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2004
Experience Points:
8,829, Level: 22
Points: 8,829, Level: 22 Points: 8,829, Level: 22 Points: 8,829, Level: 22
Activity: 0.4%
Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4%
Thanks: Gave 93, Got 256
Posts: 2,586
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free!

Both TomTom and Garmin shares have dropped 20% since this news broke.
  Quote
Old 28-10-2009, 11:59 PM   #5
Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Experience Points:
7,986, Level: 21
Points: 7,986, Level: 21 Points: 7,986, Level: 21 Points: 7,986, Level: 21
Activity: 1.1%
Activity: 1.1% Activity: 1.1% Activity: 1.1%
Thanks: Gave 68, Got 15
Posts: 561
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free!

The problem with this in the uk is your internet connection while on route as not all parts of the uk have 3g to download the maps quicky enough while driving, what happens then? Dont get me wrong i love the idea and its free lets just hope an iphone app is out very soon and it all works fantastic
  Quote
Old 29-10-2009, 1:38 AM   #6
Veteran Member
 
hutch's Avatar
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Perth, Australia
Experience Points:
28,783, Level: 41
Points: 28,783, Level: 41 Points: 28,783, Level: 41 Points: 28,783, Level: 41
Activity: 4.2%
Activity: 4.2% Activity: 4.2% Activity: 4.2%
Thanks: Gave 335, Got 689
Posts: 5,105
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free!

Loving the idea of this especially for free! Street View when you get near your destination is a great feature

Not a fan of the maps not being stored locally though, this is going to hammer the data connection and for those of us not on an unlimited plan it could be very painful....
  Quote
Old 29-10-2009, 9:44 AM   #7
UEF UEF is offline
Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: London
Experience Points:
7,132, Level: 20
Points: 7,132, Level: 20 Points: 7,132, Level: 20 Points: 7,132, Level: 20
Activity: 2.7%
Activity: 2.7% Activity: 2.7% Activity: 2.7%
Thanks: Gave 26, Got 228
Posts: 1,731
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free!

Quote:
Originally Posted by paulm34 View Post
The problem with this in the uk is your internet connection while on route as not all parts of the uk have 3g to download the maps quicky enough while driving, what happens then? Dont get me wrong i love the idea and its free lets just hope an iphone app is out very soon and it all works fantastic
To be fair, map data itself is very light, assuming you just want roads rather than aerial photography. Using a compressed, lightweight format you could probably use it in most places. But I like the fact that my 6 year old TomTom Navigator has pretty much every road loaded on.
  Quote
Old 29-10-2009, 10:03 AM   #8
Veteran Member
 
Autopilot's Avatar
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Region 2
Experience Points:
20,515, Level: 34
Points: 20,515, Level: 34 Points: 20,515, Level: 34 Points: 20,515, Level: 34
Activity: 4.9%
Activity: 4.9% Activity: 4.9% Activity: 4.9%
Thanks: Gave 461, Got 719
Posts: 5,384
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free!

Quote:
Originally Posted by UEF View Post
To be fair, map data itself is very light, assuming you just want roads rather than aerial photography. Using a compressed, lightweight format you could probably use it in most places. But I like the fact that my 6 year old TomTom Navigator has pretty much every road loaded on.
Very true, even over GPRS basic map data for the area you are in should be perfectly do-able. Loads of pics, info and videos on Engadget now. It's going to preload map data for your entire route before you set off, so it can cope with signal black spots. You will just need a connection for the initial routing/planning stage. There are already sat nav apps that do this pretty well. At least you know you have the very latest map data. That said, i would also welcome the extra piece of mind that knowing all your maps are there already. But with all this live cloud computing business, people in rural/remote area's might have problems, we will just have to wait. As for satellite and street view, well they have no choice but to download on a demand basis, pre-loading significant amounts of that would takes a huge amount of storage, gig's and gig's.

One good thing about Google maps is that they use both TeleAtlas and Navtaq maps, so it will be interesting if that means better over all map and route performance.

It was obvious Google were going to do this at some stage, lets hope it does come to the iPhone and soon. But it could be exclusive to Android for a while, as Google want to push the OS and it will certainly help with that. And Android 2.0 looks **** hot. I love my iPhone, but more and more i can see me jumping over to Android at some point.

Last edited by Autopilot; 29-10-2009 at 10:06 AM.
  Quote
Old 29-10-2009, 10:21 AM   #9
Prominent Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Staines
Experience Points:
14,120, Level: 28
Points: 14,120, Level: 28 Points: 14,120, Level: 28 Points: 14,120, Level: 28
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 112, Got 123
Posts: 3,213
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free!

Shouldn't this post be in the Android section since the iPhone version is only 'wishful thinking' at the moment?
  Quote
Old 29-10-2009, 10:26 AM   #10
Veteran Member
 
hutch's Avatar
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Perth, Australia
Experience Points:
28,783, Level: 41
Points: 28,783, Level: 41 Points: 28,783, Level: 41 Points: 28,783, Level: 41
Activity: 4.2%
Activity: 4.2% Activity: 4.2% Activity: 4.2%
Thanks: Gave 335, Got 689
Posts: 5,105
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free!

I think we can all safely say that this is going to come to the iPhone sooner rather than later
  Quote
Old 29-10-2009, 10:30 AM   #11
Prominent Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Staines
Experience Points:
14,120, Level: 28
Points: 14,120, Level: 28 Points: 14,120, Level: 28 Points: 14,120, Level: 28
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 112, Got 123
Posts: 3,213
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free!

Quote:
Originally Posted by hutch View Post
I think we can all safely say that this is going to come to the iPhone sooner rather than later
I won't argue with that, my only point is we're discussing a piece of s/w available on android while keeping it in the apple app section


Doesn't make sense to me!
  Quote
Old 29-10-2009, 10:33 AM   #12
Veteran Member
 
hutch's Avatar
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Perth, Australia
Experience Points:
28,783, Level: 41
Points: 28,783, Level: 41 Points: 28,783, Level: 41 Points: 28,783, Level: 41
Activity: 4.2%
Activity: 4.2% Activity: 4.2% Activity: 4.2%
Thanks: Gave 335, Got 689
Posts: 5,105
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free! - will it come to the iPhone?

Point taken, thread title edited accordingly
  Quote
Thanks from:
alchemistkevin (29-10-2009)
Old 29-10-2009, 10:47 AM   #13
Veteran Member
 
Autopilot's Avatar
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Region 2
Experience Points:
20,515, Level: 34
Points: 20,515, Level: 34 Points: 20,515, Level: 34 Points: 20,515, Level: 34
Activity: 4.9%
Activity: 4.9% Activity: 4.9% Activity: 4.9%
Thanks: Gave 461, Got 719
Posts: 5,384
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free!

Quote:
Originally Posted by hutch View Post
I think we can all safely say that this is going to come to the iPhone sooner rather than later
Why so sure? Not saying you are wrong, it may well do and i hope it does, but other features have been held back from Apple to make the competing Google Android more attractive, it would make perfect sense (and a good business move) to try keep it on Android for a while too. Android partners like HTC will certainly be happy to have it exclusive to Android too. Might be wrong.
  Quote
Old 29-10-2009, 6:50 PM   #14
Member
 
highpriest's Avatar
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Winchester
Experience Points:
2,172, Level: 10
Points: 2,172, Level: 10 Points: 2,172, Level: 10 Points: 2,172, Level: 10
Activity: 0.4%
Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4%
Thanks: Gave 53, Got 32
Posts: 512
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Autopilot View Post
As for satellite and street view, well they have no choice but to download on a demand basis, pre-loading significant amounts of that would takes a huge amount of storage, gig's and gig's.
True but unless O2 pull their finger out and actually do something about their ridiculously poor data coverage, I think it's safe to assume that on-demand downloads of map, satellite or street view information is never going to work all that well.

Quote:
One good thing about Google maps is that they use both TeleAtlas and Navtaq maps, so it will be interesting if that means better over all map and route performance.
I read somewhere that Google have managed to map vast areas of the US themselves and are increasingly relying less and less on TeleAtlas and Navteq maps. Search for major US cities, for example, you will only see "Map Data (c) 2009 Google" at the bottom.

Quote:
It was obvious Google were going to do this at some stage, lets hope it does come to the iPhone and soon. But it could be exclusive to Android for a while, as Google want to push the OS and it will certainly help with that. And Android 2.0 looks **** hot. I love my iPhone, but more and more i can see me jumping over to Android at some point.
Does Google actually earn anything (apart from advertising of course) from each phone that is sold with Android?

I wanted to go with Android but it was the hardware that held me back. I hate HTC hardware with a passion The Moto Droid looks nice though.

Cheers
HighPriest
  Quote
Old 29-10-2009, 11:56 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
akki007's Avatar
Join Date: Mar 2005
Experience Points:
8,165, Level: 21
Points: 8,165, Level: 21 Points: 8,165, Level: 21 Points: 8,165, Level: 21
Activity: 0.3%
Activity: 0.3% Activity: 0.3% Activity: 0.3%
Thanks: Gave 32, Got 143
Posts: 1,482
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free! - will it come to the iPhone?

Google working with Apple to bring its Navigation services to the iPhone | iPhone Help !
  Quote
Old 30-10-2009, 8:40 AM   #16
Veteran Member
 
Autopilot's Avatar
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Region 2
Experience Points:
20,515, Level: 34
Points: 20,515, Level: 34 Points: 20,515, Level: 34 Points: 20,515, Level: 34
Activity: 4.9%
Activity: 4.9% Activity: 4.9% Activity: 4.9%
Thanks: Gave 461, Got 719
Posts: 5,384
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free! - will it come to the iPhone?

That's a misleading title, there is nothing in it that's not already known. There is no actual confirmation of anything, just vague company statements ands speculation.

I also read an article last night speculating that it will cause problems for Apple because it will mean companies like tomtom will be breaking one of apples rules about not replicating iPhone core functionality. And also that Apple do very nicely from the sale of these expensive apps.

Last edited by Autopilot; 30-10-2009 at 8:49 AM.
  Quote
Old 01-11-2009, 12:51 PM   #17
Veteran Member
 
Autopilot's Avatar
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Region 2
Experience Points:
20,515, Level: 34
Points: 20,515, Level: 34 Points: 20,515, Level: 34 Points: 20,515, Level: 34
Activity: 4.9%
Activity: 4.9% Activity: 4.9% Activity: 4.9%
Thanks: Gave 461, Got 719
Posts: 5,384
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free! - will it come to the iPhone?

Explains why the have been selling copilot so reletively cheap. They have probably known this was coming for a while and wanted to grab some market share while can, it will hit them harder than tomtom.
  Quote
Old 01-11-2009, 1:17 PM   #18
Prominent Member
 
ROBIN50N's Avatar
Join Date: Dec 2007
Experience Points:
7,134, Level: 20
Points: 7,134, Level: 20 Points: 7,134, Level: 20 Points: 7,134, Level: 20
Activity: 1.1%
Activity: 1.1% Activity: 1.1% Activity: 1.1%
Thanks: Gave 231, Got 280
Posts: 3,000
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free!

Quote:
Originally Posted by highpriest View Post
True but unless O2 pull their finger out and actually do something about their ridiculously poor data coverage, I think it's safe to assume that on-demand downloads of map, satellite or street view information is never going to work all that well.



I read somewhere that Google have managed to map vast areas of the US themselves and are increasingly relying less and less on TeleAtlas and Navteq maps. Search for major US cities, for example, you will only see "Map Data (c) 2009 Google" at the bottom.



Does Google actually earn anything (apart from advertising of course) from each phone that is sold with Android?

I wanted to go with Android but it was the hardware that held me back. I hate HTC hardware with a passion The Moto Droid looks nice though.

Cheers
HighPriest
yes they earn, htc or whoever have to pay for the use of google made apps like youtube. they was a big thing recently about modders includeing them in there roms.
  Quote
Old 02-11-2009, 9:33 AM   #19
Distinguished Member
 
RobM's Avatar
Join Date: Dec 2006
Experience Points:
36,059, Level: 46
Points: 36,059, Level: 46 Points: 36,059, Level: 46 Points: 36,059, Level: 46
Activity: 40.9%
Activity: 40.9% Activity: 40.9% Activity: 40.9%
Thanks: Gave 854, Got 1,712
Posts: 10,761
Re: Google Navigation App - For Free! - will it come to the iPhone?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Autopilot View Post
Explains why the have been selling copilot so reletively cheap. They have probably known this was coming for a while and wanted to grab some market share while can, it will hit them harder than tomtom.
I don't think it will have a massive impact... the data coverage in this country isn't good enough to support this for everyone, everywhere, all the time. It will have an impact on the type of user who would buy Sat Nav for occasional use, or people who try Google Nav in cities with decent and consistent data coverage.

But a lot of people will still need a fully offline Sat Nav solution that they can rely on 100% of the time, with no fear of navigation stopping when they lose their data signal.
  Quote
Post Reply



Thread information and display options
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off