Google Navigation = Death of GPS Makers
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Is Google Navigation the death of Garmin, Magellan and TomTom?
Google has just released its free navigation software for mobile phones running Android 2.0, much to the chagrin of the big names in the GPS game. While folks like Garmin and Magellan have plenty to fear, even companies that use an iPhone app have to be worried too, because this, like most things Google, is just so much cooler than anything out there.
The new Google Maps Navigation software is everything you would expect from Google. First and foremost, it can turn any Android 2.0 device into a turn-by-turn GPS navigator, guiding you to any address you want. It can understand your voice, too: just speak the name of your destination instead of typing it (how much safer is that?), check traffic along the way, or use the car dock that automatically sets the phone into navigation mode, ready to hit the road.
Is Google Navigation the death of Garmin, Magellan and TomTom?
Google has just released its free navigation software for mobile phones running Android 2.0, much to the chagrin of the big names in the GPS game. While folks like Garmin and Magellan have plenty to fear, even companies that use an iPhone app have to be worried too, because this, like most things Google, is just so much cooler than anything out there.
The new Google Maps Navigation software is everything you would expect from Google. First and foremost, it can turn any Android 2.0 device into a turn-by-turn GPS navigator, guiding you to any address you want. It can understand your voice, too: just speak the name of your destination instead of typing it (how much safer is that?), check traffic along the way, or use the car dock that automatically sets the phone into navigation mode, ready to hit the road.
Anyway, this seems pretty nifty and intuitive. I wonder how they're able to get real time traffic updates or rather what kind of analysis they use to measure traffic density.
if there was any patent issue with any of the bazillion navigation systems in existence, there wouldn't BE so many navigation systems
we all knew this was coming at some point and it's looking great
an annoyance for me here is how he says 'not having to' download maps onto the device is a feature and a good thing
which it is if it only meant that you didn't have to dedicate the space for it
but it also means that you have to have the internet connection in use ALL THE TIME
and the android phones in active 3G mode eat batteries like a grue
yes, you can have it plugged into your car, but why should you have to?
it could just download the bitmaps for the route once and disconnect
and what if you're on foot or biking?
i really REALLY love android, but it's greatest strength is also it's greatest weakness..
being so closely tied to the internet has it's drawbacks when you're not in a position to keep it charged
Let Apple compete with a $0 price tag. See how well that goes.
>> ^jiyanibi:
Dear Mr Google Man With the Dead Eyes, plz to make this for the iPhone! Kthxbye!
Apple and Google had a falling out over maps on the iPhone, so don't expect this to ever show up on that device. Apple is attempting to go it alone for maps now, which might be a poor result considering how good Google Maps was on the iPhone. What it will hurt are commercial GPS apps on the iPhone.
In the meantime, for reasons shole stated this will NOT be the death of normal GPS. A standalone device can be had now for $100-$150 when an Android phone is significantly higher priced not to mention the monthly fee. Your standalone device will literally work in the middle of nowhere and your Android is tied to your mobile cell coverage. No signal = no maps. Standalone GPS devices were hot items for Christmas because of convenience, low cost, and they have significantly better battery life than your average smartphone.
I can only hope though it also improves the quality of said standalone devices, which have their own problems like charging far too much for map updates and/or clunky + slow interfaces that respond as well as attempting to swim through mud. If Google released a non-Android GPS that did what this demo does in a say a $200 device, THEN Garmin/Tomtom can start to panic.
an annoyance for me here is how he says 'not having to' download maps onto the device is a feature and a good thing
which it is if it only meant that you didn't have to dedicate the space for it
but it also means that you have to have the internet connection in use ALL THE TIME
and the android phones in active 3G mode eat batteries like a grue
Close but not quite. It means you have to use the internet connection WHEN RUNNING GOOGLE MAPS. Personally I think it would be nice if gmaps would use cached data when no data service is available, but it doesn't. If I fire up gmaps in a deadzone on my blackberry, it tells me there's no service and does nothing. It ought to cache the road map if not the satellite imagery.
Most of these features have been available in google maps mobile for a year or more now. Turning off satellite view reduces your downloading pretty significantly and ought to keep your battery from going dead too quickly.
I can't over just how hilariously disinterested the presenter appears to be.
Hey, he's a software guy. Being antisocial is part of the package. Don't hold it against us.
Tomtom is scared, Garmin is not. Street routing is something they added on, not their only reason for being.
=] - And I'm an iPhone!!
gO_Ogle - OH SHUT UP!!!
Google: All your place are belong to us.
I'm happy to see that the importance of moving zig is something that defies partisanship, and brings together minds on both halves of the political spectrum.
>> ^quantumushroom:
Google: All your place are belong to us.
I'm happy to see that the importance of moving zig is something that defies partisanship, and brings together minds on both halves of the political spectrum.
It's all for great justice.
>> ^sixshot:
>> ^Gallowflak:
>> ^quantumushroom:
Google: All your place are belong to us.
I'm happy to see that the importance of moving zig is something that defies partisanship, and brings together minds on both halves of the political spectrum.
It's all for great justice.
So...has to be connected to the internet...so does the phone say "loading loading loading" while trying to get all this information downloaded
Oh but it has voice recognition software...
Let my conspiracy theorist out and I say...
The voice recognition software can monitor your every word...say the word "Bomb" and it triggers the GPS location tracking software, that is built into every cell phone, continues to monitor while sending your route and current voice communications to big brother to monitor you further. And of course that's possible since it needs to be connected to the internet! Woohoo.
Oh but package that into a cool new device that you absolutely MUST have and its all okay. How about I just stick with my current GPS that ISNT connected to the internet, which does just fine and dandy. Besides it has a larger screen and why would i need a picture of the place where I am when I could just look out the window? Oh yeah, the government might want to track every mile you drive for tax purposes in the near future. You know because they will allow electric cars to finally flourish which would negate the high taxes we pay on gasoline.
The App Store is a big reason to go with an iPhone. I've been thinking about getting one sometime in the next few months, but this video has given me pause... I'm not overly familiar with Android phones, and now I'm going to have to look into them before making my decision.
Since the new Motorola Droid from Verizon runs the open source Android OS there are/will be tons of apps.
Maybe someone will eventually come up with a simple sdk so you can create your own.