Damn, Google Maps for Mobile rocks

by on November 28, 2007

I was just reading feeds, saw this item by Om Malik, tried out the new Google Maps and was absolutely floored.

It nailed where I was without using my phone’s GPS.

Freaking awesome.

  • Yeah, I agree. It put me across the street (about 1000yds) but it definitely works as an alternative to... well, nothing since VZW turns off GPS in Blackberries.
  • The Spouse installed it on his Blackberry Pearl. It put him about three blocks from his actual location. Not bad, but also not necessarily helpful in times of real need - e.g., if you're in an unfamiliar neighborhood and/or can't see the street signs.
  • Wonder if this is why Apple did not support GPS with the iPhone. This method uses a lot less power and can be fairly accurate depending on where you are located.
  • Great. Now you know where you are... next step is how do you share that location information with a web service like Facebook? Or better still how do I share that with a search engine?

    We've had a solution for all of this for over a year now. (www.5o9inc.com)

    Cheers,

    Peter
  • Rachel: I disagree. Yesterday when I left San Francisco State University I got into a neighborhood I was just totally unfamilar with and I couldn't see any of the usual SF landmarks, so couldn't get my bearing. This feature would have been VERY useful in getting the map into the right neighborhood, so to speak. Usually it's not too hard to find a street sign and get oriented from there.

    Peter: I'd love to know more.
  • My iPhone says "Safari can't download this file" SUCKS!
  • Rocky: you're so funny! iPhones can't install software.
  • I remember you complaining about those security prompts on N95, when using Google Maps and other java apps. Here's a way to get rid of them:

    http://blogs.s60.com/java/2007/11/control_your_...
  • I wonder if some time in the future when I sync my iPhone with iTunes if it will put down this functionality for the Google Maps already on board...
    hmmm.
  • The new Google Maps works fine on my BlackBerry Curve 8320, although it was off by about three blocks. Still, without using GPS, that's pretty good.

    However, I also tried to use it on my BlackBerry Pearl 8120. It downloaded fine (WiFi on cellular phones really is great), but when I clicked the Google Maps icon, it froze the phone and I had to remove the battery to reboot.

    A friend of mine with the same 8120 also experienced the same problem.

    The 8120 uses the latest operating system, 4.3.x, while the 8320 uses 4.2.x (until there's an upgrade early next year). So, I assume there's a problem either with the 4.3.x software or with Google's software.
  • Tom B
    "I wonder if some time in the future when I sync my iPhone with iTunes if it will put down this functionality for the Google Maps already on board…"

    Probably. Macsurfer had a link about G Maps on iPhone yesterday. The code's been written.
  • jon kennedy
    Are you sure you didn't disable the GPS, may be your standing below a cell tower. It didn't work on my t-mobile phones.
  • AnonCoward
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