Google Maps Beefs up Traffic, More than Just Highways 23
Google Maps on the Pre may not have all the features we'd like (hello Street View!), but it does show traffic. The Official Google Blog, who lets us know that "arterials" (that's major roads to you) have been added to the already-existing US highways, so you now have more traffic information.
Here's a bonus - if you're one of the many people who shrugged their shoulders and has the "Background Data Collection" setting set to ON in Location Services, then you are letting Google know how fast you're moving on a given road if Google Maps is open, which in turn gives them crowdsourced data on traffic conditions.
Of course, location privacy and the Pre has been a contentious issue of late, so Google takes care to let you know that they're anonymizing and deleting this data. Sadly, their instructions for opting out of providing them this information could use a clarification (they recommend turning location services off completely rather than just the Background Data Collection option).
In any case, more traffic info is good news. Now if we could just get some Latitude and Street View action, we'll start feeling a little better about Google Maps and the Pre.
23 Comments
Hmm! I hadn't realized it until now but between my Where app and TeleNav, I hardly use Google Maps at all! Works fine for my tastes, but then again I only had it on a 1st gen iPhone then a Centro...
I'm not sure if it's actually delayed or just wrong. I'm definitely hoping that microsoft brings bing maps to the pre. their traffic is always correct. i use a bookmarked web page to view bing traffic instead of google maps.
Where is Bing Mobile (formerly live search) for the Pre? Bing is a much better maps/ directions application. When driving there's actually an arrow that shows you which direction you are heading and the list of directions changes automatically after you have successfully completed a turn, rather than having to manually cycle through the directions. Bing mobile is definetly the one application my Pre needs, and that I miss most from my windows mobile phone.
Have you tried the built-in Sprint Navigation app?
I only use it to look for shortcuts which works pretty well.
I just use the Sprint navigation. I have only had to use it once and I realized I knew where I was going before I got there so I didn't need it in the end, but it seemed very responsive and accurate when I used it. Am I missing something by not using other apps for navigation?
I want what the google maps on bell does :)
I prefer Sprint Navigation because (a) I can get real driving directions instead of having to manually cycle through each turn in Google Maps; (b) Sprint Navigation talks to me; and (c) I think Sprint Navigation performs a little better.
Because of this, I actually wish that Sprint Nav was more integrated into the phone's applications and interface instead of Google Maps. For example, when you look up something in Where you only have the option to Google it, not Nav it. The same goes for the areas in PalmOS where you tap an address.