Google Maps Navigation officially comes to Android 1.6
By Chris Ziegler 
posted November 23rd 2009 2:23PM
posted November 23rd 2009 2:23PM
posted November 23rd 2009 2:23PM
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And I just got done hacking this onto my G1 last week!
Eh... already rooted my G1 and got Navigation on it.
ust say though its the best GPS app Ive ever used.
I just got done hacking it onto my G1 15 minutes ago.
I know man, me too. I'm gonna try out the official and see if there's anything different from the droid's =P
Me too. The official one seems exactly like the hacked version.
I am just about to go buy a G1 and hack it to put Navigation on there.
This puts Android in a very awkward position. So Android 2.0 will never come to the G1/myTouch 3G and developers will have to make all their apps compatible to both 1.6 aswell as 2.0?
I hope Google knows what they are doing...
Well, its easy to make your apps compatible with both versions, and eventually 1.6 owners will move onto new hardware. I suppose at some point, devs that need 2.0-only features will have to just move on, but 1.6 still works for most dev's needs, i would imagine.
-Taylor
Who said 2.0 won't be released for the g1?
Where does it say that G1 and MyTouch won't get 2.0? All this means is that we're getting Google Maps Nav now. In fact, I believe there is something on the internets out there with a T-Mobile exec saying that Mytouch will get 2.0, but maybe not G1. Ahh, here it is: http://androidandme.com/2009/10/news/android-2-0-coming-to-t-mobile/
Ya, Google said it would be hard to do, but they never definitively said it wouldn't happen. In fact, from watching cyanogen's progress, the only thing holding it back from getting 2.0 now is that Qualcomm hasn't released the drivers for it.
I hope Google knows what they are doing...
Im pretty sure they do.
I know you only need to change a few headers, as it's Java. But most developers overlook such details, especially for existing applications. Not to mention big companies which release their app and then never support/update it afterwards.
Also, I was never sure the G1 would be updated to Android 2.0. But I never read that it was in the works either.
Since there is really only 1 2.0 device on the market (the droid) most devs are making there apps compatible with both 1. and 2.0. Actually, android apps are forward compatible so if you build your app on the 1.6 platform it will be compatible with 2.0 and future versions of android.
Look by next year the G1 will be pretty much obsolete. If T-mobile releases a G1 replacement, for say $129, I'm sure people will upgrade.
Then again, Android keeps getting faster and I'm sure there could be a 1.9 release to get enough 2.0 features to the point that users will be fine until they are ready to upgrade hardware. The market has already conditioned us to do hardware upgrades every 2-3 years (hence why the contracts are 2-3yrs) since the networks turn over around then (4G/LTE will be here in 2011). So getting some of 2.0 into 1.6-1.9 will satisfy the masses to stick with Android--which is Google's main goal (not selling max # of units).
As for hardware switching: Apple's done it (iPhone to iPhone 3G) and it worked for them.
You're making a pretty big leap, here. This is not evidence that a 2.0 backport isn't coming. Google has been releasing Maps updates ahead of system updates for quite a while now, this is nothing new.
Hah, damn. All that work I did to hack it onto my G1 and a week later its official!? Silly google, heh.
-Taylor
Damn, ya, I worked for hours to get it working on my fiancee's phone(for some reason hers just would not accept it)
Man, I was JUST going to do it the other way harder way... THANKS GOOGLE!!
Motorola is killing Folks.
http://reviews.cnet.com/2719-6602_7-291-2.html?tag=page;page
isn't it much easier to upgrade everybody to the latest and greatest version?
@ (Unverified):
Google previously stated that memory limitations of the G1 would prevent it from getting any updates past 1.5. We were lucky to get the upgrade to 1.6, it doesn't seem like we'll be so lucky with 2.0. Guess I'll just have to live with it until I'm ready to upgrade to the newest model. Though that will certainly be easier now that Google Nav is available on 1.6.
So what? It took them long enough to finally copy the iPhone.
Huh? iPhone doesn't have that functionality. In fact, even their paid navigation apps aren't anywhere near as good as this free one.
Not exactly -- the iPhone doesn't come bundled with a free turn-by-turn navigation app.
It think this guy is just a masochist and wants to get downranked into oblivion. :)
Awesome! I've had the "hacked" version of the 2.0 navigation on my G1 for a couple of weeks now, and it works very very well. The actual maps application is a lot faster than the previous versions, too. I thought it would be really slow on the G1 but it's better than any other android navigation app out their right now.
It's a great service. Enjoy it folks.
Never tought Google will bring it to Donut. HTC users with Sense UI most wait until there on Android 2.0.
Yeeeehawwww! Go G-1! Its like seeing the classic coming back in the battleground and still have that former glory shining through!
Come on HTC, can't wait for 2.0 on the Hero!
Need to go check XDA. Maybe this will work with my port of Android on my Touch or Touch Pro.
Next. iPhone?
Apple might reject it too! for some stupid reason probably. Apple store not properly placed on map by a few feet?
iPhone apps aren't allowed to provide turn-by-turn navigation. A year or two ago, Apple and Google were friendly enough that Google probably could've gotten an exception; but not now.
(Especially since the iPhone is on AT&T, who want you paying $10/mo for their navigation service.)
John, care to explain the TomTom and Navigon apps then? Yes, the general SDK agreement prevents turn by turn apps, but that doesn't mean there can't be a turn-by-turn app.
Also, remember, the Google maps app doesn't come through the App store, it is part of the standard apps on the iPhone, so it probably isn't subject to the general SDK anyway.
Doesn't it make sense that a Google phone featuring the Google Experience would have an extended Google feature set?
Apple and Google are competitors in this space, I think iPhone owners should be happy they have any Google products at all included with their phones.
It's great to see Google back-porting features to older hardware and OS versions. As an iPhone user, I'm excited to see Google building up its product so well; good, well-fought competition is a win-win situation for consumers regardless of platform choice.
Damn.
I had the G1, but it got stolen and I picked up the CLIQ as a "Side-Upgrade" to something better.
Boo it having 1.5. Boo!
Woah, the Cliq only has cupcake? That sucks...
LoL. What a Joke.
The SE X10 is going to be awesome! :)
SEX x10 does sound pretty awesome.
And hey, with this, you won't need a sextant on your sex10.
baaaaang GO GO GO !!
Now if we could just get 1.6 on the Cliq... Please!?
Why not on other platforms as well, indeed. WinMobile, Symbian and iPhone come to mind. Google did google maps for those after all.
yea i'm thinking the same thing. i'm a faithful WinMo user and i really want in on this action. i've used the bing gps tracking on my TP2 a couple times but not nearly as good as a standalone gps, mainly because it has no audible instructions and i have to keep looking at the screen to see if i passed my turn. i'm REALLY hoping they do release it though cause i was going to get a standalone gps around christmas time but i can wait and see with fingers crossed for now.
Come on Google. 1.5 1.5 1.5. A T-Mobile Pulse will look a lot better unlocked at $126
I was about to root my G1 when I noticed a maps update. Dohohoho