Google announced a free, turn-by-turn GPS navigation application for the new Android 2.0 smart phone platform.
The Droid is the first device with Google Maps Navigation, providing turn-by-turn voice guidance as a free feature of Google Maps. So all those paid navigation apps (Navigon, TomTom, CoPilot, MapQuest, GoKivo and Sygic Mobile) are at an immediate disadvantage.The service is powered by Google and connected to the Internet—also, this free navigation feature is constantly updated,
Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0 offer lots of nice features, including: the latest map and business data, search and search by voice (in English), traffic view, satellite view, Google street view, and car dock mode.
Search in plain English. No need to know the address. You can type a business name (e.g. “starbucks”) or even a kind of a business (e.g. “thai restaurant”), just like you would on Google.
Search by voice. Speak your destination instead of typing (English only): “Navigate to the de Young Museum in San Francisco”.
Traffic view. An on-screen indicator glows green, yellow, or red based on the current traffic conditions along your route. A single touch on the indicator toggles a traffic view that shows the traffic ahead.
Search along route. Search for any kind of business along your route, or turn on popular layers such as gas stations, restaurants, or parking.
Satellite view.View your route overlaid on 3D satellite views with Google’s high-resolution aerial imagery.
Street View. Visualize turns overlaid on Google’s Street View imagery. Navigation automatically switches to Street View as you approach your destination.
Car dock mode. For certain devices, placing your phone in a car dock activates a special mode that makes it easy to use your device at arm’s length.
Here’s video presentation of Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0
The DROID have already been announced by Verizon and is expected to hit the shelves across the US on 6 November.
