NaviGadget

Google Maps Navigation on myTouch 3G – first impressions

Nov 23, 2009 gps navigation, phones, reviews, software

Google just made their Google Maps navigation application available for Android 1.6 devices – which includes my T-Mobile MyTouch 3G.

To get the latest version what you need to do is go to the Android Market Place from your phone and find Google Maps. It should say “update available”. As you may have guessed you need to install this version. It will change the appearance of the little icon and you’ll have to agree to some new terms and read some warnings about the how it is beta and you need to keep your eyes on the road and stuff.

On the way back home from work I gave this a try and here is what I thought at the end:

• it works
• trip duration was almost dead on – it considered traffic accurately on an unusually congested day
• text-to-speech is a bit robotic but still very clear
• phone is noticeably sluggish while running this app
• answered a call while navigating – couldn’t go back into app and mute it – very annoying
• phone was warmer possibly because both the GPS and screen was on for the whole 40 minute drive
• switching to street view at the destination was a nice touch

That’s all – I didn’t really play around with the other features.