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I have been searching all overr and I'm yet to see am amswer for my question? So I've cdcided to post it on the best site for htc phones. is there a way aside from the app, Pinpoint to show where you are? I mean like what I want to do is have google maps app be able to save my location and adress using the gps and allow me to save it to a contact so that this way next time I want to get to my aunts house for example I can just go to her info click adress and voila. It has a route sshowing me the route.
A strange sense of deja vu washed over me reading this, I was thinking exactly the same thing a few hours ago.
Being able to save GPS information for contacts would be something of great importance considering the devices capabilities, apps like AndNav2 could then use contact GPS co-ordinates for quick navigation, the same could be said of google maps and other applications that use GPS information.
Ageless Stranger said:
Being able to save GPS information for contacts would be something of great importance considering the devices capabilities, apps like AndNav2 could then use contact GPS co-ordinates for quick navigation, the same could be said of google maps and other applications that use GPS information.
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Click to collapse
Can't you just save an address to the contact and then click on get directions? Or does the location have no street address?
Well yeaah that too. I was thinking of that but the thing is, my cousins house doesn't show up through maps. But it tells me the coordinates using GPS and yeeah it can still give me directions like that. Soo yeah, its sort of a half and half.
For locations without street addresses, you can still map them using lat/long coordinates. Just enter the coordinates into the address field as x,y. For example, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave would be entered as 38.89767967065576, -77.03656196594238
The My Maps Editor application might be of some use too. Basically it lets you display and edit custom maps (which means overlaid graphics on actual google maps) on the G1. Since these overlays are static, it won't route you from an arbitrary location. However if you want to see a hiking path from say a fixed street address out to a lake in the middle of the woods, this could help.
http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2008/12/your-maps-in-your-hands-for-holidays.html
jashsu said:
Can't you just save an address to the contact and then click on get directions? Or does the location have no street address?
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Click to collapse
AndNav2 uses OpenStreetMap for it's navigation and metadata retrieval, and currently the UK post code search is limited to a few post codes (Zip codes). Most of my contacts won't show up. It will get better in time.....
Thanks Jashsu. Really, Like That really does help and is a very good substittue for an app. But yet another, question, Is It just my phone or Is it Google Maps, THat has a bug, When i know im home and i just want to mess around and activate gps and see my location. And it shows me some where 20 blocks away, lol i hate that!!!!
Elloco305 said:
Thanks Jashsu. Really, Like That really does help and is a very good substittue for an app. But yet another, question, Is It just my phone or Is it Google Maps, THat has a bug, When i know im home and i just want to mess around and activate gps and see my location. And it shows me some where 20 blocks away, lol i hate that!!!!
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Click to collapse
it's a google maps issue, which really screws with me when tryin to use Locale. i had a situation set to put my phone on silent if it is between 2 am and 12 pm AND i am at home, but since it thinks i'm about 1/4 mi away it hasn't worked yet.
tubaking182 said:
it's a google maps issue, which really screws with me when tryin to use Locale. i had a situation set to put my phone on silent if it is between 2 am and 12 pm AND i am at home, but since it thinks i'm about 1/4 mi away it hasn't worked yet.
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Click to collapse
The more powered off the gps is when you attempt to access it (and also the worse your direct view of the sky is) then the longer it will take to get a good gps lock. If you habitually turn the gps function off (or you have a program that automatically does it) then every time you turn the gps on, it has to perform a cold start. This means it will take between one and five minutes to get a bead, depending on the number of satellites your phone can see at the time.
If you use gps often then don't turn it off. The amount of power saved by fully unpowering the chipset is not worth the amount of power it consumes fully cold starting every time you need it (not to mention the time wasted waiting for it to get a bead).
If you used the gps function and then left the gps-using application or put the phone into standby, the gps chipset remains in standby. The next time you access the gps, it will be considered a warm start and will take between 1-30 seconds, depending on various factors.
I decided to take the GPS and maps on my HD7 WP7 for a spin today. I'm usually more articulate with my words. I feel I'm well versed in grammar but the only word I had for the shock of maps was garbage.
I really miss google maps and Bing mobile or even my co-pilot. Talk about a limited app in functionality and value.
I couldn't tell for the most part whether my phone was connected via GPS or using aGPS. The circle was always pulsating from tiny to the whole screen.
A lot of the missing features have already been noted but I just never realized how useless it was. It just got me craving my HD2.
I really hope Google releases Google maps for WP7 so that MS can wake up.
Other than the maps it seems my GPS location is always off more than a couple feet. Is anyone else experiencing this?
I agree, Maps could use some work. Good news is that Maps is part of the big January update.
I think the Bing map has gotten a lot better in a short time.... I have no complaints myself and I've had quick and steady locks.
I'm looking forward to navigation via the update, but I'm happy at this point.
Sent from my HD7 using Board Express
Same here. My Maps is accurate and on point every time. And the smooth little animations are awesome as well. for me its a much better experience than I had on my hd2 and samsung vibrant. I believe if your having problems with the maps on hd7 there must be something causing it.
Yeah Bing Maps on WP7 is very poor. I'm out in Mumbai at the moment, where Bing's map data is nearly useless, but even in NY, it's atrociously poor. GPS takes time to update, but that's ok if the map displays fine. The "minimalist" UI doesn't display anything (no one zoom view will give all the names for the roads shown on the map).
What use is it to see a bunch of criss-crossing lines (see below) if I don't know what they are? Especially if you're navigating in a new area and are looking for cross-streets, landmarks, etc., the WP7 Maps UI paradigm is highly counter-productive (vs. Google Maps, or even Bing on other platforms, which show traditional, much more useful, maps).
amb9800 said:
Yeah Bing Maps on WP7 is very poor. I'm out in Mumbai at the moment, where Bing's map data is nearly useless, but even in NY, it's atrociously poor. GPS takes time to update, but that's ok if the map displays fine. The "minimalist" UI doesn't display anything (no one zoom view will give all the names for the roads shown on the map).
What use is it to see a bunch of criss-crossing lines (see below) if I don't know what they are? Especially if you're navigating in a new area and are looking for cross-streets, landmarks, etc., the WP7 Maps UI paradigm is highly counter-productive (vs. Google Maps, or even Bing on other platforms, which show traditional, much more useful, maps).
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Click to collapse
Switching out of Ariel/Satellite view might really help there
You want to live in the UK - Bing totally rubbish compared with good old Google Maps on my old WM.
Searched for my local takaway and it couldn't even find it - really frustrating!
Come on MS get your act together!
CD (UK)
I live in NJ and I have no Issues with Bing maps. No doubt Google maps spoiled me, but Bing is good too. I am sure they would improve on these in their next iteration. C'mon guys, you got to know it only gets better from this point. MS has learnt a huge lesson with their Windows Mobile. They realized that if they don't keep up, other OS will walk all over them. With their first iteration of this OS, it's smooth like butter... and Everything works as its suppose to. Now they would start refining stuff...
I Agree!
alabij said:
I decided to take the GPS and maps on my HD7 WP7 for a spin today. I'm usually more articulate with my words. I feel I'm well versed in grammar but the only word I had for the shock of maps was garbage.
I really miss google maps and Bing mobile or even my co-pilot. Talk about a limited app in functionality and value.
I couldn't tell for the most part whether my phone was connected via GPS or using aGPS. The circle was always pulsating from tiny to the whole screen.
A lot of the missing features have already been noted but I just never realized how useless it was. It just got me craving my HD2.
I really hope Google releases Google maps for WP7 so that MS can wake up.
Other than the maps it seems my GPS location is always off more than a couple feet. Is anyone else experiencing this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The indicator showing where you were pulsating from tiny to your exact location to the entire screen was your signal; it has nothing to do with the phone, or the maps.
Paul Nur said:
The indicator showing where you were pulsating from tiny to your exact location to the entire screen was your signal; it has nothing to do with the phone, or the maps.
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Click to collapse
I don't know what you mean by it has nothing to do with the phone. The signal is the phone. My point in my OP is that when I stand at a point in an open space it pulsates. Common sense tells me that if the bubble is a dot then its using GPS; if its a big circle the size of the screen it's using AGPS or not enough satellites are locked.
Of all the phones I've had if I stand in an open space and I'm stagnant and aquire a GPS signal I'm locked. my devices will never loose the satellites or switch to AGPS. My HD7 seems to do that.
The quality of the hardware and the algorithm the OS or the chips use determines the quality of the signal other than the obvious being my physical location.
It might be a software issue though. It is version 1.0...
Sent from my HD7 using Board Express
alabij said:
I don't know what you mean by it has nothing to do with the phone. The signal is the phone. My point in my OP is that when I stand at a point in an open space it pulsates. Common sense tells me that if the bubble is a dot then its using GPS; if its a big circle the size of the screen it's using AGPS or not enough satellites are locked.
Of all the phones I've had if I stand in an open space and I'm stagnant and aquire a GPS signal I'm locked. my devices will never loose the satellites or switch to AGPS. My HD7 seems to do that.
The quality of the hardware and the algorithm the OS or the chips use determines the quality of the signal other than the obvious being my physical location.
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Click to collapse
I can't wait for the first update. It will be a good judgment of how future updates will look and how much power MS is putting into this new product.
Sent from my HD7 using Board Express
Hi,
Anyone has problem with Maps like mine? My Maps app only has 2 icons: "Me" and "Search". I don't have the "Direction" icon, so I can't search for direction, and the "Search" function doesn't work as well When I click search, it returns me to the Bing Search, not Maps search.
arthoang said:
Hi,
Anyone has problem with Maps like mine? My Maps app only has 2 icons: "Me" and "Search". I don't have the "Direction" icon, so I can't search for direction, and the "Search" function doesn't work as well When I click search, it returns me to the Bing Search, not Maps search.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
haven't run across that.
I'm in the UK and I too have not been impressed with Bing Maps. It's fine if you are ona main road but I had to go to a side street of Brick Lane last week and not many of the streetnames were showing up on the map. The streets were there, just no names.
Bing and Google Navigator on WM did not support trun by turn Navigation in the UK, I hope this improves under WP7.
Come on Tomtom, Garmin Co-Pilot, pull your fingers out!!!!
arthoang said:
Hi,
Anyone has problem with Maps like mine? My Maps app only has 2 icons: "Me" and "Search". I don't have the "Direction" icon, so I can't search for direction, and the "Search" function doesn't work as well When I click search, it returns me to the Bing Search, not Maps search.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same with me. My biggest complaint so far is the search feature. I typed in "KFC" as in Kentuck Fried Chicken and it said "No Results" lol. Really??
And tried a local store and in showed me results in another part of the country.
I can be patient for the update but still prefer google maps.
Got the same issue and no clue about how solve it. If you find one could you msg me?
Btw I tried to reset the phone and NOK
Oh and I forgot how much I hate how when typing a location it doesn't start auto-suggesting like Google Maps does. Instead it forces you to type what your searching for letter by letter 100% correctly. And you better hope you do otherwise you're like me I spelled the street name "Britiania Rd" with 2 t's like "Brittania Rd" and ended up 150 miles away from what I was actually looking for. And it didn't even give me the choice to choose between the two!!!
Not sure how everybody else feels... I don't see a need to cry about everything, but I'm ASSUMING that since MS put out such a cool version of Bing Maps for the iTurd that they will do the same if not better for their own OS.
But at the same time I'm hoping for a Google hook-up too. I'd like to see a Google Hub where you can add the G-services you use... Maps, Gmail, Calendar, voice, Picasa, etc. Being able to access my "places" on GMaps would be kinda handy... but then again I have it saved on Bing too, so yeah... c'mon MS.
If this is the wrong place for this question please move it.
I had My Maps Editor for Android on my old phone and used it to record locations that were of interest to me (work stuff like job location or substations and local offices.) Now I see that it no longer exists. I still need to edit My Maps when I'm on the go. T-Mobile doesn't have the best coverage in MS or even have good roaming. Sending My Location to Evernote I'm able to work around not having My Maps Editor by editing when I get back home. Not having a signal it makes the My Location greyed out. Is there a program that allows saving a Location even offline?
I'll look around and see if I can find an app that does this but I'm not aware of one. Also, you posted in the right section
I have My Tracks but it looks a little bulky for what I want. It can send to My Maps and can edit it. I just don't need a route.
After doing a little test, using My Tracks is going to be the solution I go with. Too bad though because using My Location from Google Maps, a program I use all the time, would have been perfect. It only takes a little editing on the PC to make it like I want it to read.
Well the test was skewed. I couldn't reproduce the results lol. I downloaded Inserty and it allowed me to post to my Evernote my location (with some acuracy.) Still can't edit the maps. Not even going to maps.google.com which should. It won't allow real web browsing on that site for some reason.
Ok, so I was really excited when Google discussed at I/O the ability to save map data for certain areas to be able to access it with our Nexus7's without a data connection. Obviously on a tablet with no 3G/4G/LTE/etc. connectivity, this is a requirement to be able to use it as a GPS device.
When I got mine, I saved my entire home region. It seems to cap out around 85MB in size, so you can't just save the entire country, which is fine. I also noticed that the amount of space required seems to be tied to the size of the map you make, and has nothing to do with the amount of streets, cities, etc. (aka data) for that location (ie: New York City takes up the same amount of space as Nowheresville, MT). This was a little confusing, but OK.
Anyway, here is my issue. The other day, I took my Nexus7 for a road trip, and tried to use the Navigation app. It was able to show me where I was in real time, and give somewhat-detailed street information which was nice. However, it doesn't actually know how to GET anywhere. In other words, if you try to give it a destination, it fails, requiring Internet access. I tried addresses, cities, business names (who are actually on the map) as well as just clicking somewhere and asking it to provide a route. Nothing.
So I ask this: what good is offline map storage if you can't actually DO anything with it?
Don't get me wrong, I understand that this is a new feature and might not be fully developed. But based on the Google I/O presentation, they made it out to be much more functional than it is. Something along the lines of "Going to a different city? Just preload your Nexus7 with the map for the area and you're good to go!". Sure, if all you want is a static map and want to try and figure out directions yourself, I guess that will work. But it certainly doesn't provide anywhere near the functionality required for an offline GPS device.
Unless of course I'm missing something - but I doubt it.
I agree and I don't think you're missing something. For the size of the data it downloads for a given area, I believe it has all the address so I why can't one do a search of somewhere?
Might have something to do with apple taking aim at local search functions with their lawsuits? Finding that information would probably require accessing the function in question.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
nooomoto said:
Might have something to do with apple taking aim at local search functions with their lawsuits? Finding that information would probably require accessing the function in question.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Possibly, but I doubt it. AFAIK, the "local search" issue was with Samsung allowing users to run a search query which would also perform the search on local apps, files, etc. It had nothing to do with map searching, which would fall under a completely different scope. And the app supports it, but just seems to require Internet to make it work.
Also, while Samsung seemingly took it out of one/some of their devices with an OTA update, they later said this was an accident, and have pushed a fix out to put it back.
I given up with Offline Maps, really it just the same as having a paper map that only covers a limited area, instead I've been using NavFree, does navigation, address search, points of interest all without a data connection.
The Apple/Samsung lawsuit is 100% unrelated to offline search in maps. Google it, do some reading, and you'll see what I mean. I have GPS Copilot installed for any offline needs I may have.
Yeah dude google maps offline is a joke. You'll need to
1) start your destination somewhere you are connected to wifi
2) wait for google maps offline to not suck so bad
3) use a different app
Or just root your phone and tether...that's what I've been doing for years.
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA Premium HD app
nooomoto said:
Or just root your phone and tether...that's what I've been doing for years.
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA Premium HD app
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Click to collapse
That doesn't solve the problem, it's simply a work around.
Sure, if you have wifi or tethering you can get online and get live maps/route data. But that doesn't negate the fact that Google Maps Offline is seriously flawed. It should work without needing to be online, otherwise what's the point of saving offline map data in the first place.
phonic said:
That doesn't solve the problem, it's simply a work around.
Sure, if you have wifi or tethering you can get online and get live maps/route data. But that doesn't negate the fact that Google Maps Offline is seriously flawed. It should work without needing to be online, otherwise what's the point of saving offline map data in the first place.
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Click to collapse
It's much better than not having the map at all. If you have a GPS (like the Nexus 7 does), you still see yourself on the map where you are. The only thing missing is the blue line to your destination. It's limited, sure, but it's a lot better than not having a map at all to see your GPS location on.
+1 for NavFree though. If you need navigation (like in cities you aren't familiar with), this is a lifesaver, even if it eats battery rapidly and is very slow (at least on my Galaxy S).
I'm sure Google can/will release offline navigation in time (possibly along with entire country map downloads), but probably not until Apple pushes them to by releasing their own offline navigation.
jabsys said:
I given up with Offline Maps, really it just the same as having a paper map that only covers a limited area, instead I've been using NavFree, does navigation, address search, points of interest all without a data connection.
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Click to collapse
I used the offline maps with directions when i started out on a data connection and then immediately turned it off. I started the n7 navigation with it tethered to my phone, once navigation has established its route, I disconnect my data and the directions continue to work.
This worked for me. It may not work for you, I do apologize if I waste your time.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
I use offline maps quite a bit.
Navigation is usually useless for most of the back country roads I'm on. Having a map and GPS showing me where I am in relation to where I need to be (pre-set waypoints) is awesome and is better than nothing.
Another app I use often is Maverick with pre-cached satellite maps. I'd dump Maverick if Google Maps had offline satellite and topo maps.
jabsys said:
I given up with Offline Maps, really it just the same as having a paper map that only covers a limited area, instead I've been using NavFree, does navigation, address search, points of interest all without a data connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for showing me this app! That's perfect, and just what I'm looking for. Looks like it will work amazingly!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
I wish apps could use the cached data from Maps, but so far each app I've tried appears to download it and cache it directly. No idea if it's even possible to to, but it'd be nice if all apps could access the cache and use it.
As for the OP, this has been discussed since Maps first released.... It does not have the engine or routing data to do offline navigation. Maybe it will in the future, but it does not today.
try Co-pilot GPS from the market. It's free, and it downloads maps and stores them on the phone. If you have any svox classic voices purchased you will get the more advanced street names as part of the turn by turn verbal directions. I haven't tried this version yet, but it looks great and for free you have nothing to lose.
nooomoto said:
Or just root your phone and tether...that's what I've been doing for years.
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tether to what? I already pay $70 a month for internet at home I am sure as hell not gonna pay for more data
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
IMO, for a FREE navigation app, I think you get a little more than you paid for...
The Turn-by-Turn directions require a data connection initially. But once it has downloaded the directions, you can use it offline and still get the voice directions - I tested it out on Saturday. You want to leave it connected a few minutes so it can cache all the map tiles along the route. If you don't let it finish caching the route, there will be places where you can see the route and get voice nagivation, but the streets won't show up.
If you deviate from the route, however, you will lose any navigation until you get back on the suggested route. You can see your route on the map, but there won't be any streets showing up at your location - even if you have chached the entire area in maps. If you zoom out you can see the suggested route. The voice nagivation will try to get you to turn around and go back since it can't recalculate the route. It needs more than just a map to calculate the route. It doesn't read a map the way you or I would to get directions...:silly:
I had maps and navigation running at the same time, and when I left the suggested route I switched over to maps (leaving navigation running in the background) and could see the streets I was on. A bit crude but it worked...
Once in range of the suggested route, the voice navigation will pick back up again and continue from there, and the streets will show up again.
I really hope Google eventually allows client side navigation, instead of server side requiring a data plan or wifi.
I've used Google Navigation on my tablet by calculating a route prior to disconnect from wifi, and their Navigation is hands down the best available for Android.
I've tried other Navigation apps, and they're super slow compared to Google, especially when it comes to re-routing or telling when you turned. Google almost re-routes you instantly when you go off route, other apps sometimes take a full minute before they set another route. Plus, Goole's street naming is fantastic for audible directions.
Offline maps is something, but off line route planning will be the ultimate offering.
I don't see how this could be too difficult to enable. Sure, maybe there are patent issues to work out (possible, but unlikely). But this functionality is already present in cheap GPS devices. The maps themselves take up a lot of space (a couple gigs on average for the entire US on a dedicated GPS unit), but if we download an 85MB region map, all the streets/addresses should already be built in. So it comes down to getting the routing engine to work offline. I'm not sure how big or complex this is, but IMHO it should be a simple addition.
And yes, it's "free" so we are getting what we pay for, but still.
As I mentioned earlier, my biggest disappointment was that Google made it out to be a fully comprehensive update to Google Maps, when it really isn't.
phonic said:
I don't see how this could be too difficult to enable. Sure, maybe there are patent issues to work out (possible, but unlikely). But this functionality is already present in cheap GPS devices. The maps themselves take up a lot of space (a couple gigs on average for the entire US on a dedicated GPS unit), but if we download an 85MB region map, all the streets/addresses should already be built in. So it comes down to getting the routing engine to work offline. I'm not sure how big or complex this is, but IMHO it should be a simple addition.
And yes, it's "free" so we are getting what we pay for, but still.
As I mentioned earlier, my biggest disappointment was that Google made it out to be a fully comprehensive update to Google Maps, when it really isn't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would love to know Google's reasoning behind server side routing only. I've searched around, but can't find a definitive answer. I always figured they stay clear from allowing off-line routing because you'll lose out on real-time traffic condition, weather, accident updates, etc.
I have a few Maps Widgets that I use all the time for common destinations. At some point in the last month or so I realized that the complete address isn't being passed into Maps and I'm curious if I broke something.
For example, if I created the Widget to point to "123 Main St, Anytown, PA 12345" what the navigation actually starts towards is just "Main St, Anytown, PA 12345" and it picks a block at random... So I might get sent towards "[900-1000 block] Main St, etc". Usually that's not enough of a difference to matter but last night it picked something 30 minutes from my real destination. Not good...
I didn't really notice when this started exactly because they are all common destinations and I often don't really pay attention once I'm close. When I leave work and pick the one for home I'm really just curious if the interstate is backed up and I should take the back roads but I don't REALLY pay attention to the directions.
Anyone else? Just me? Did I break something?
Thanks!
P.S. Trying to Google this leads only advice on how to get the most out of Maps... "Top 26 Secret Tips for Google Maps on Android" and that sort of thing so if this is known then my apologies for "wasting time".
Edit to add: PPS: I have deleted and recreated the widgets to no success.