Just this morning Google began showing off it’s beta Navigation product, which I highlighted a little in the Motorola / Verizon Wireless Droid announcement. It is an excellent announcement and will be available for all Android devices running Android 2.0. Of course, it’s in Beta format, which is typical of Google, so we’ll see how long it remains in Beta.
Of particular note Garmin’s and TomTom’s stock prices have taken a particularly bad beating since the announcement. As of this post, they are down 17% and 19% respectively.
Google Maps Navigation (Beta)
Google Maps Navigation is an internet-connected GPS navigation system with voice guidance. It is part of Google Maps for mobile and is available for phones with Android 2.0.
Google Maps Navigation uses your phone’s internet connection to give you the latest maps and business data. But that’s not all that’s different about Google’s approach to GPS navigation. Watch the below video to learn more.
Features
- Search in plain English (watch video). No need to know the address. You can type a business name or even a kind of a business, just like you would on Google.
- Search by voice (watch video). Speak your destination instead of typing (English only): “Navigate to the de Young Museum in San Francisco”.
- Traffic view (watch video). An on-screen indicator glows green, yellow, or red based on the current traffic conditions along your route. A single touch toggles a traffic view which shows the traffic ahead of you.
- Search along route (watch video). Search for any kind of business along your route, or turn on popular layers such as gas stations, restaurants, or parking.
- Satellite view (watch video). View your route overlaid on 3D satellite views with Google’s high-resolution aerial imagery.
- Street View (watch video). Visualize turns overlaid on Google’s Street View imagery. Navigation automatically switches to Street View as you approach your destination.
- Car dock mode (watch video). For certain devices, placing your phone in a car dock activates a special mode that makes it easy to use your device at arm’s length.
Again here is the Video:
