Google Maps Update 3.3.1

Google has released yet another update to their very popular and rapidly growing Maps application for Android 1.6 and up.  Of course this is the same Google Map Navigation app with the turn-by-turn voice guided navigation first made public for the Motorola Droid and Android 2.0 and later built for Android 1.6 devices.

So, those of us still stuck on Android 1.5, this isn’t for you.

If you are still with this post, that means you are interested in seeing what the update brings.  Mostly, it brings down the hammer on using this app outside the US.  It also includes the 3.3 update for Labs with a number of different features including:

• display a scale bar on the map, to get an idea of how far apart things on the map are
• show a terrain layer, to help plan your hike or cross-country ski trip
• search for popular categories, so you never have to type in “Vietnamese restaurant” or “bowling alleys” again
• turn the blue My Location dot into a compass arrow that shows the direction you’re facing when stationary
• add a Layers button to the screen so you can quickly toggle layers like Traffic, Satellite, Latitude, and Transit Lines

Also it has a what’s nearby search for shops, restaurants and other businesses which is nice.

This is a welcome inclusion as well, and really, this should have been there all along, but I’ll let it slide.
Read more at Google LatLong Blog

Related posts:

1. Google Navigation on any Android 1.6+ Device
2. Android Google Maps App Update Includes Pinch-to-Zoom for DROID
3. Google Maps 4.0+ for Android 1.6+ now with more Buzz.