Google Maps gets cozy with N95's internal GPS

Google Maps is good -- some might say great, actually -- but one of the biggest beefs from the get-go was its inability to use GPS receivers, and when it finally "supported" them, many didn't work. Symbian-Guru had obviously been circling the Google Maps camp like a hawk (as have many N95 owners), waiting for the day that the Nokia superphone's integrated GPS would work. Don't get us wrong, Nokia Maps is a fine application, but Google Maps has a certain mystique about it (traffic and satellite imagery, perhaps?) that make it worthwhile, too. Anyhoo, there's a native version of Google Maps for the N95 available immediately, featuring the aforementioned GPS support plus a direct save-to-contacts feature that's sure to see some heavy use. Grab it now!

[Via Symbian-Guru]

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 12:03PM]

Biggest disapointment with TomTom Nav6 for my Treo 750. No global coverage, just US/Europe. Gimmie Google Maps Aps!

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 12:35PM]

Google Maps works great with the GPS on my AT&T Tilt

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 12:51PM]

How do you integrate GPS with Google Map in the Tilt? There is no option to open GPS under Google Map. Thanks in anticipation.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 1:09PM]

True, GMaps for mobile always supported built-in/external GPS. Use it on my Trinity too.

The only thing new could be that direct save-to-contacts feature, never tried it, but I guess I can tap the number and save to contacts from the phone application, but that doesn't even require GPS to work.

Engadget Mobile should get out of its iPhone hole and play a wee bit more with Windows Mobile devices.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 2:58PM]

Works great with my Kaiser too although not always with a pretty GUI for say calling up a local business as in the iPhone commercial. Menus, buttons, and menus.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 5:11PM]

Youngerguy30, go to Options -> Track Location Settings and make sure "Set by Windows" is clicked off, then click on Track Location and it will use the Tilt's internal GPS.

NuShrike, Microsoft's Live Search allows you to click phone numbers the detail, that's one of my man beef's with Google Maps too. Nothing is hotlinked in the details.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 12:40PM]

Just in time! My new Nokia n95 US edition arrives Tuesday, and I was really hoping this would work. Thanks GOOG!

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 1:29PM]

Google Maps is the best!

[teradome Posted Oct 12th 2007 9:02PM]

True dat!

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 9:03PM]

Double true

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 2:41PM]

I think Microsoft's Live Search for mobile is better than Google Maps. The interface is good and it can do a lot more than Google Maps.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 2:56PM]

Same with Yahoo! Go, and all with more features than Google Maps. All support internal GPS which is great. However, Google Maps is still the fastest at scrolling around, of the bunch.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 3:12PM]

I love that this is now a native Symbian app. So much faster. I just tested on my N75 with external GPS and works very well.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 3:28PM]

To be more accurate, it's been ported Symbian S60 v3. It works perfectly fine on my E90 with it's build-in GPS.

But to my dismay, unless there is a method of downloading the maps in advance, this application will not be terribly useful unless I'm near a stationary wifi hotspot. There is basically no such thing as an unlimited data plan in Canada, and this app chews up the bandwidth like there's no tomorrow. Therefore I cannot use it while in a car, or anywhere mobile.

That highlights the biggest benefit of the Nokia Maps app - the ability to download maps in bulk. At least for a Canadian :-)

-Pete

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 14th 2007 11:22AM]

@Pete

Exactly! With Nokia Maps, you can download the maps in advance and save them on your memory stick but with Google Maps you must download them on-the-go, which is a huge downside.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2007 11:13AM]

so how long do we have to wait until google maps can be cached or downloaded in advance ?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 10:55PM]

I like google maps for the maps and interface but...

1) the traffic information is terribly inaccurate and never timely

2) the search for business function has limited functionality often returning entries several states away.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 13th 2007 8:42PM]

This is for more than just the N95. I've got it working on my N93 right now and I've heard it's working on a multitude of S60 3rd edition phones.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2007 3:45PM]

Nice. The western half of Fort Worth Texas.