A report on Engadget earlier today claimed that Google’s turn-by-turn Navigation tool for its Android Maps app had magically “just started working” in beta form on UK Android phones, without even requiring a software update.
We’ve just fired up our Android 1.6 HTC Magic, and look, Maps Navigation does indeed work! There’s a brief warning about the software being a beta, then… it works!Quake in your boots, European satnav manufacturers…
Here are a few screens, showing Maps Navigation up and running on our Vodafone UK Android 1.6 Magic this very morning. And yes, you get full voice directions from a robotic lady.
It’s pretty hard taking screenshots of a GPS app on your PC, seeing as you need to be hanging out of the window to get a GPS satellite fix, so that’ll have to do for now. Let us know if you’ve got Maps Navigation magically working on your Android phone as well today.
If there’s sufficient demand I’ll risk making my neighbours laugh at me by standing in the road with my phone and a video camera, if you lot want to see a video.
UPDATE:
Here’s Google’s own official announcement.
Motorola’s latest flagship dual-core Android monster is a massive, original powerhouse, that’s a big improvement on previous MOTOBLUR mobiles – but still isn’t a total winner.
A slim and glamorous phone from Sony Ericsson, with the sharpest display around. It’s no powerhouse and the screen’s not the biggest out there, but we don’t mind. Because it’s cute.
LG’s first glasses-free 3D phone is a heavy, fat monster, with a clever 3D effect that works rather well. As a smartphone, though, it’s heavy and underwhelming.
A very shiny thing from Sony Ericsson, with a 3.7″ screen and Android 2.3.3 inside. But is it exciting enough to win fans in today’s spec-obsessed market? Can man live on one core alone?
INQ’s Android phone is an interesting “boutique” piece of hardware, packed with unique interface customisations that go far beyond the headline Facebook integration. We like it a lot.
snas
/ April 21, 2010You cannot take screenshots with the phone?
Sure it will be nice to make your neighbours laugh.
Peterdk
/ April 21, 2010Great, wondering if it also works now in the Netherlands.
Screenshots will do just fine this way. :)
agentoakley
/ April 21, 2010Works fine for me! Pretty scary robotic lady though!!!
Peterdk
/ April 21, 2010Hmm, not working on a Dutch Android. I guess our robotic overlords don’t master Dutch yet.
Rob
/ April 22, 2010It’s working a LOT better than I thought it would. It runs as smoothly as my TomTom One (I’d heard that it wasn’t supposed to update quickly enough to be usable) so is totally usable.
It also doesn’t use up as much data as I thought it would. On a 30 mile journey it used about 500k of data.
The directions also seemed to be pretty accurate, although the the voice mis-pronounced a lot of place names – good for entertainment.
Gary C
/ April 22, 2010It’s astonishing. I finally took it out for a drive and it’s, well, just like a proper GPS.
Susie
/ April 23, 2010Tried it out properly for the first time today, and works amazingly well.
Much quicker + slicker than my tomtom and directions were fab, love how it tells you exactly which exit + road to be on as well as the turn to make.
Made me lol at some of the pronunciations as well!
Michele Possamai
/ June 9, 2010Can’t get a fix inside but I’ll test it on my way home from work today..
now come on, give us that video, and don’t forget to capture your laughing neighbours on film as well, it’s nice to see you get laughed at :-P
It’s for a good cause ;-)
Bristolboy
/ June 9, 2010Very useful – used it in Northern Ireland and worked a treat. Using my phone is much easier than carrying a separate Sat-nav!