Google has finally added turn-by-turn directions to its Android mobile maps application in Australia, meaning you can effectively use your mobile phone as a GPS and receive spoken instructions.
Despite Maps originating in Google’s Australian office, we’ve got this option long after the US and other countries. You can search using general terms as well as specific addresses, and use voice search rather than typing. Walkers can even set a special mode where the phone vibrates to tell you when you need to make a turn.
While having one less device to carry is appealing, bear in mind that using a mobile phone as your GPS will chew through your data allowance. The amounts involved aren’t necessarily huge, but it’s a risky option if you don’t have some sort of data plan in place and are paying OTT casual rates.
Thanks to all the readers who wrote in to point this out and especially to Adam for the screen grabs.
Google Maps Navigation comes to Australia [Google Australia Blog]
Scott
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 3:56 PMUmmm your “necessarily huge” link leads back to here. :)
Angus Kidman
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 4:01 PMFixed now.
Scott
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 4:22 PMFaster than a speeding bullet!!!!!!
Lostincanberra
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 4:36 PM#motofail?
Of course, we users of the ‘wonderful’ Motorola ‘Quench’ (pronounced ‘dropkick’) will be enjoying our enhanced customer experience marooned on the little island of Android V1.5
It is a nice little island. Doesn’t get used for much. Currently being towed out to sea (it is nice and portable). Unfortunately, I don’t know quite where it (the island) is going as the new version of the mapping application doesn’t seem to be installing… On the plus side, I do have an object handy that can be used as an anchor.
I hope everyone ELSE enjoys using the new application. Sorry if I sound envious/peeved/discombobulated/all-of-the-above – because I am.
GPS User
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 5:30 PMAbout time, in fact perfect timing. I was about to buy a new GPS, now I dont need too. Woohoo!
Jaime Gibson
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 8:23 PMAny chance this means this function will be coming to iPhone any time soon?
Matt
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 9:22 PMI truly cannot see why that would be the case…
chris
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 11:31 AMIf you are worried about data use, stick with the brut mod maps app. It can cache maps on your SD card. But really, it’s not a big issue. According to my phone, it’s tens or hundreds of Kilobytes, not megabytes so shouldn’t make a big dent in any data plan.
William
Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 7:03 AMI have spoken to shop assistants , phone support etc until I am blue in the face.
Still I have NO answer to my Question.
The Question is How much of my 2GB data plan will be used IN TOTAL for a trip from Brisbane to Sydney using Google Maps on the HTC DESIRE HD on a $59 2GB plan
AS THESE MAPS ARE BASICALLY DOWNLOADED ON THE RUN, HOW IS ONE SUPPOSED TO KEEP TRACK OF THEIR DATA USED ( AS EXPLAINED BY PH SUPPORT) ON A 900+ KLM JOURNEY.
RIDICULOUS
Free ? hmmm one wonders
This fundamental question in regards data usage for gps should be transparent to say the least
can anyone shed some light