Google Maps Navigation officially comes to Android 1.6

You might've thought that Google was positioning its industry-changing Google Maps Navigation as a value proposition for Android 2.0 and beyond, but yeah, not so much -- instead, they've gone ahead and backported it to 1.6 (alias "Donut") which means that T-Mobile's myTouch 3G and G1 plus other 1.6-equipped devices across the land can get in on the action. In the case of the memory-starved G1, that's especially surprising, and a heartening sign that the world's first retail Android device still has some fight left in it. It's available from the Android Market now, so go ahead -- try to get yourself lost. We dare you.

[deanc Posted Nov 23rd 2009 10:01PM]

@(Unverified)

I have cyanogen 4.2.5 on my G1. No issues with the install of Google Navigation or Voice. Both worked as advertised, installed directly from the market.

[Atara9 Posted Nov 23rd 2009 5:52PM]

Oh that's fine, that's fine. Guess I have to wait til Eclair comes. :(

[rhervert Posted Nov 23rd 2009 6:40PM]

Downloaded to my G1 before I left work, tested on the way home (25 miles). Works great!

[K0DEAN Posted Nov 23rd 2009 6:49PM]

This was supposed to be waaaay up at the top. Go Engadget's new commenting system!! So much for this problem being fixed..

[cdubb9800 Posted Nov 23rd 2009 6:55PM]

memory-starved G1 thats why we root it lol

[OldSoul85 Posted Nov 23rd 2009 7:39PM]

Just when i was about to switch back to my TouchPro2...........................My MyTouch3g lives to see another day

[atariq Posted Nov 23rd 2009 10:33PM]

nicee, no more trying to look at google maps figuring out where I am and where I turn next while I'm driving

[Demios Posted Nov 24th 2009 3:59AM]

@(Unverified) I own two G1 phones. I test my apps on both, one is rooted and runs custom firmware, the others is vanilla. I was contemplating rooting my vanilla one to add maps to it.

[esco Posted Nov 23rd 2009 11:03PM]

this application is straight awesome guys. I just got my update, and I'm workin' it on the G1. Little slower than I'd like, but who cares...its free!! and its really good too! Made a quick video: http://www.themanly-man.com/2009/11/googlenavapp/

[saayedalam Posted Nov 23rd 2009 11:35PM]

what about iphone ?? :(

[JayMonster Posted Nov 24th 2009 10:33AM]

@saayedalam Maybe it will come to the iPhone when it is able to run the navigation app and take a phone call at the same time?

[baizhangg Posted Nov 23rd 2009 11:59PM]

doesn't work for ADP :(

and this is in google mobile help forum:

"I think it's pretty clear at this point that if you're on a userdebug (test-keys) build of Android OS, you won't be able to install Maps at this time. We're working on getting this problem resolved, and I'll post an update when I have more information.

Tom"

[MojoRising Posted Nov 24th 2009 12:58AM]

@baizhangg

Really? I've got a standard HTC 1.6 build on my ADP1 (14721 test-keys) and was able to download and run Google Maps with navigation. The only difference that I can think of is that I had previously loaded the updated Google Maps app from the Market rather than just have the stock Maps from the firmware build.

[Xavior Posted Nov 24th 2009 12:14AM]

Can only be useful in urban area, this app dies when 3G not covered. Well, we don't actually need a GPS if there's only one road.

[deinfinityx Posted Nov 24th 2009 12:35AM]

@Xavior I've used it on edge, in fact every time I have used it, so i fail to see how it dies on 3G unless you are talking about CDMA.

[flipchik0037 Posted Nov 24th 2009 5:01AM]

@Xavior i live in a 3g coverage area but rarely use it because it sucks the life out of my G1. It works great on edge and it's not slow at all.

[JayMonster Posted Nov 24th 2009 10:17AM]

@Xavior Spoken like a true Apple Fanboy (or maybe a TomTom rep?) ... one that knows not what he is talking about. You do need a connection when you enter your route, but the Google Maps Navigation caches the route, so even if you lose your connection totally during use, the app will continue to work.

[baizhangg Posted Nov 24th 2009 1:06AM]

@MojoRising

it's strange, I have the same: DRC83 14721 test-keys... Does it matter where you are: inside US or outside? I'm currently out.

[baizhangg Posted Nov 24th 2009 1:08AM]

@MojoRising

it's strange, I have the same: DRC83 14721 test-keys... Does it matter where you are: inside US or outside? I'm currently out.

[MojoRising Posted Nov 24th 2009 1:19AM]

@baizhangg

Ah - I'm inside US. Best I can tell the actual Navigation service is US only. I don't even think Canadians are getting it.

[JayMonster Posted Nov 24th 2009 7:48AM]

Just another reason I prefer "Google Experience" versions of Android over bogged down skinned phones (Sense, TouchWiz, MotoBlur).

[JXCGunrunna Posted Nov 24th 2009 9:58AM]

@JayMonster

Sense is awesome and i like it better than stock and thats coming from a Droid user. It's too bad that it just takes so long to get updates to it.

MotoBlur isn't bad but TouchWiz is shit.

[JayMonster Posted Nov 24th 2009 10:13AM]

@JXCGunrunna I guess as the saying goes, "different strokes..." I understand why WinMo was skinned, but I don't see the point (from a user perspective... I understand why HTC would want to "differentiate" their phones). You can get the same "look" of Sense with a different theme and a few widgets and not be bogged down by a full skin that takes up resources and slows down your experience.

[liquidmonkey Posted Nov 24th 2009 11:12AM]

whats that THUD sound?!?!?
oh yeah right, its the sound of GARMIN and TOMTOM stocks hitting rock bottom.
will be amazed if they are still in business by summer 2010!

awesome work google!!!

[Martin C Posted Nov 24th 2009 11:55AM]

That's great news for 1.6 users. Hopefully they can get this on the iPhone at some point too. :)

[happyred Posted Nov 26th 2009 8:40AM]

Of course, there are no readers of this site outside the US are there?
Engadget is one of the most popular tech sites in the world. Please remember that when announcing stuff.