There’s a new version of Google’s Maps app on the Android Market, which introduces a few new features – most notable “indoor” mapping for people who, well, occasionally get lost in shopping centres and airports. Here’s a snippet from Google explaining who might want to use this:
Google Maps 6.0 for Android brings the freestanding map directory to the palm of your hands — helping you determine where you are, what floor you’re on, and where to go indoors
As well as that slightly odd feature, Maps 6.0 includes a refreshed user interface that comes with a more attractive pull-down menu, plus there’s yet another redesign of the standalone Places app…
…so it’s not a huge amount to get excited about. Not sure this really deserves the big 6.0 tag, but there you go. Read more about the new changes to Maps over on the Google Mobile Blog.
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.
JB
/ November 29, 2011Looking forward to trying to navigate indoors surrounding by tonnes of metal….am I missing the point here but GPS doesn’t work indoors…
Cue loads of one star reviews in the Market saying things like ‘Epic Fail – the maps don’t work inside’
MarkG
/ November 30, 2011Which is why Google have been building extensive maps using Wifi hotspot triangulation and Mobile mast triangulation for the last couple of years…
The only epic fail here, are the idiots that don’t understand this…
Dan
/ November 30, 2011Plus of course they introduced pre cached maps which I’d assume also helps.
JB
/ November 30, 2011Mobile masts triangulation is all well and good when the mast density is such that you have an appropriate degree of accuracy.
3 relatively far apart masts will give a degree of innacuracy that means it is difficult to use when driving along nice and straight roads let alone when walking in and about buildings where 5 metres here or there can make all the difference.
Likewise wi-fi triangulation is good providing those wi-fi hotspots have their positional data stored/recorded by google – unfortunately wi-fi hotspots are not all pervading and your position relative to that hotspot is approximate – i.e. you might be within range of a hotspot but other than signal strength (which is very approximate) there is no way of accurately measuring your position.
Rob Tomson
/ December 3, 2011This version seems to remove the option to use “Labs” features, specifically the ability to pre-cache 10 mile square map tiles. Which was very useful for travelling to foreign cities and avoiding huge bills. It was certainly more useful than maps of US shopping malls and airports.