Comments on: Google Releases Free Turn By Turn GPS For Android, iPhone Soon?

By: howardalexander

howardalexander — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:11:19 +0000

You're telling me. Not only a kick in the pants but given that the Tom Tom app is not that good, is not as GPS sensitive as most other GPS apps, has a ridiculous price for the TOM TOM cradle to supplement the app, has crap results for MOST searches for business, restaurants etc.. and has not had a significant update to incorporate anything useful like live traffic I'm somewhat gutted. Still I didn't buy the cradle having already felt ripped of by TOM TOM and if the google maps navigation is either free or cheap I'll be happy. I think a lot of people have been waiting for this feature of google maps – with it's current functionality it lends itself to being more powerful and sophisticated than any other mapping app out there.

By: Prailor

Prailor — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:59:07 +0000

Sweet app, i hope it makes it to Canada sooner then later, im guessing that it will only work with cities that have the streets views done already, so a couple majot cities, with nothing in between.
Free would also be great, thought about getting the tomtom app, but you can buy an actual tomtom for that price.

By: xaroc

xaroc — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:30:07 +0000

Nice. I really have high hopes for this. I tried the $99 TomTom maps from the App Store (i used my own kinda free trial) and it didnt thrill me to much, but google is always a superstar in their field. Cant wait

By: Shorty_dammit

Shorty_dammit — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:03:49 +0000

I'd still rather use Waze. The only downside is that right now we've got to build the maps ourselves. But once we've got maps done, Waze's other features make it a better choice.

By: bcb

bcb — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:47:44 +0000

the features look fantastic! but, another problem – for those on carriers with ridiculously expensive data roaming charges (can you say, “Rogers” ?) – this will be of limited use because it relies on a data connection.

So even if available on the iPhone, if you're traveling in the US and use this app, it might cost an arm and a leg to navigate to your destination because of Rogers' extortionary data charges when outside of Canada. There will still be some use for dedicated nav units or nav apps with built in maps because of this, for some people.

Within Canada of course no problem (yay 6GB data plan), assuming Google comes out with Canadian support – currently the beta only works for US. and of course with an unlocked phone and local SIM card w/data, I suppose the problem can also be avoided…

at least hopefully it will drive the prices down of things like the TomTom app and others on the iPhone, this is an obvious feature to add to Google Maps app. competition is good for all of us!

By: djelimon

djelimon — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:47:38 +0000

A massive kick in the pants to anyone who had an iPhone turn by turn gps offering as well which is at least a couple companies.

As an iPhone user this is great!

As a potential developer I thought the approval process for the AppStore was supposed to avoid this kind of situation.

By: rorypiper

rorypiper — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:19:57 +0000

That would be awesome!

A huge kick in the pants to anyone who paid $99.00 for the TomTom app, though!!