Google plays the next card, goes offline Maps on Android

[Wednesday 06 June 2012

Google plays the next card
goes offline Maps on Android
by Klaus Wedekind and Thomas Leidel

Google is not impressed by Apple's cold shoulder and not make his service "maps" for Android users even more attractive. In future, which are based in cities around the world and offline. True navigation is still not possible, but the update is a big step in that direction.

Maps is one of the most important and popular services, Google for mobile users offers. Therefore, the search engine giant also delivers improved resistance to keep users amused - at least, as long as they have a terminal with the operating system from Google. As it stands, rival Apple will announce next week at its developer conference WWDC that the new version of its mobile operating system iOS 6 instead of the free Google Maps project OpenStreetMap uses.

This is not a big loss for iPhone and iPad owners have since maps on IOS devices from Google recently been treated but often neglected. And they came this way or that do not benefit from the latest aüßerst useful improvement of maps.

As Google's official blog announces maps available in the future that is more than 100 countries and available online - at least as area. Strictly speaking, users can load up to ten maps in advance on their smart phones and tablets (if there is enough space available, of course) and then use without an internet connection. Even details are to be saved, but "only as many as you need so you can make good use of maps," said Brian McClendon, chief developer of Google Maps, to n-tv.de.

Offline mode previously hidden feature

Google wants to unlock the new offline feature in the coming weeks. Anyone who wants to can not wait until then, on a hidden feature access with which you can use Maps on Android already offline. This one goes into the app under Settings to "Google Labs" and there is in "pre-cache" is checked. You can then in Berlin, Paris or another city tap on any point and use the "save cache in advance" in the white window select. Maps will then store the card in a radius of 16 kilometers.

google Street View will also improve further and allow users to build virtual inspection of areas of the known camera vehicles (except cars, there is already snow-fellow and boats) can not be worn. To the "Street View Trekker" was developed , able to carry piggyback on the Google employees with the construction of the 12 camera on his back to the most remote locations - such as the Grand Canyon or the mountain ranges of the Himalayas.

In addition, Google has announced that it will fit well on Android devices, the views of major cities in the online world with Google Earth 3D models. By the end of the year, wants companies Sun metropolitan areas with a total of about 300 million people offer in three dimensions - but not yet revealed which European cities in the