When it rains, it pours, huh, Google? Not even a week after announcing the
big multitouch update for its own Nexus One, Google has turned loose a new version of
Google Maps that enables pinch-to-zoom support on the
Droid. Of course, it was no secret that Android 2.0 had the framework in place to support this kind of stuff -- Moto enabled it all by its lonesome on the Euro-spec
Milestone -- but it looks like this could be the watershed moment where multitouch finally becomes a must-have feature on Android devices across the board, as Moto CEO Sanjay Jha recently
suggested would happen. The new version 3.4's available as a software update in the Market right now, so grab it if you've got your Droid handy.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted February 5th 2010 1:43PM
and thus the balance of the universe is restored.
@WestCoastG Balanced indeed. You have to wonder if the onslaught of android multitouch goodness is a response to Steve Jobs' tirade about "Don't be evil".
Either way, Moto/Google has a happy Droid user here!
@WestCoastG
It's been pointed out that exactly 6 months ago a certain Google employee left the board at Apple...which would probably have come with all sorts of 6 month to a year type NDA contracts.
@WestCoastG
I like the google maps...absolutly I do.
But, for longer trips in unknown areas,
I still prefer having my TomTom 720
sittin' on the dash. Keeps heads up
on the driving surface without having
the grab the phone and taking me eyes
off the road..
@WestCoastG
Not really...Nokia maps is actually better by far my friend.
@Tekky
The problem with Nokia maps is that their US maps are totally outdated.
I dont know about Europe but they are useless for US data
I tried that once to find a Bank of America ATM and it showed be the nearest one 15 miles away when I have atleast 5 of them near me.
@WestCoastG
I would be fine with just getting this multitouch update and calling it all good enough without 2.1 for now... but really... no night mode for navigation? How do they make a maps specific update and not include that?
@RowdyReptile The update does have night mode, but it only works in navigation mode.
@Tekky And yet their phones aren't. :-(
@nerdherd
uh, not seeing it... I am currently navigating, tried covering the light sensor, checked for a setting... am I missing something?
@Tekky
Nokia ???? Yer joking.......right ????
You've never driven in the states, if
you're gonna stick with that statement
Phones = great product
Maps = not so good
@NaterGator Or a indirect response to "Please remove the word 'Android' from your app's *info page*, otherwise we will need to reject your app".
@ChillyCat
The Droid, Nexus and any Android phone with version 1.6 or newer have Google Maps Navigation. This app does exactly what your Tom Tom does and gives Voice guided turn by turn navigation. You also get all the benefits of it being online, like search, up to date maps....etc...etc.
@RowdyReptile I think it's based on the time of day. Not sure at what time exactly it switches over to night mode. I tried it at 9:30pm and it worked then.
@ChillyCat i agree. i have a Garmin Colorado (satellite nav) and my handy dandy lovely Google Nexus One.
I sold my Garmin after using my iPhone for Navi until I was in Monterrey Bay in the hills and had no signal on my iPhone, nor on my friend's Sprint phone. We were lost for about 2 hours. Not good. I went online and bought a Garmin. You can't beat a Sat. Navigator for when leaving the city and going to remote areas.
@WestCoastG When G, released the OTA update for their 'other' phone: http://bit.ly/nexus-one-official-ota-details , I was wondering when will it arrive for the Droid?.. Well, today, we have some answers and its all great!
@ChillyCat
Longer trips in unknown areas? Isn't that the purpose of GPS? I don't think anyone needs a GPS for short well known trips. lol
Also, if using Google maps, why would you grab the phone and take your eyes off the road?
Bout time :-)
Now i wish the moment got at least official 2.0
@Napsterking
My G1 is running Multitouch Google Maps, and Multitouch Gallery on a custom CyanogenMod FW. It may be possible for the moment if you dig the xda-dev forums
That screen is just beautiful. Now we can finally use it!
So, if I were to go into Verizon this weekend and drop 500 on a Droid am I going to have buyers remorse?
I originally was going to wait for the Nexus One, but I kind of like the fact the droid has a keyboard (even though it isnt the best).
I know this is kind of off topic, but as a Storm owner I'm really tired of waiting, but now that there is multitouch on the phone, I think I'd be happy with it--at least in theory.
@Rick James Just wait a little longer for something with N1 specs and a keyboard... don't go back in tech specs to a DROID :P
@Rick James
Wait.
@Rick James
Yes you will have remorse, get the Pre Plus instead :-)
@Rick James
I think you're going to have buyers remorse. I have a Droid and every time I see "Android" in a headline my buyers remorse grows because Android is evolving so fast both in hardware and software. I think that the snapdragon in the Nexus One is more future-proof than anything on the Droid. Plus the Droids keyboard really isn't really better than the software keyboard...sometimes I use the software keyboard instead of the hard one because I like it more.
@goatlover
Aren't those are for girls?
@flanders Moms aren't girls!
@Rick James
Wait just a few more weeks because the nexus one itself will be on Verizon... If you go to google.com/phone theres even a greyed out option for a nexus on verizon. Just wait for it.
@bill cant fart
Some are, some aren't, if you know what I'm saying ;-)
@Rick James
I sure hope that multi-touch isn't the one feature upgrade you were waiting on before making the plunge.
Nice to have - sure. Critical - absolutely not. I rarely use it on my iPod Touch. It is the most overhyped feature on phones today. That an capacitive screens.
@Rick James
I don't think you'll have buyers remorse. There is always something better around the corner but I gotta say I don't think the Nexus one is it. I have my Droid rooted with the Bugless Beast Mod (Google it or check out at alldroid.com)
Overclocked to 800Mhz or 950Mhz...the Droid runs cool, smooth and just as fast and responsive as a Nexus One.
The Droid has a graphics coprocessor, unlike the Nexus One. You can also root the Droid and overclock it to almost 1GHz and have it be stable, and auto-underclock to save battery life. The hardware keyboard is most definitely better than the on-screen, plus it doesn't take up screen space while typing. I love my Droid, and 2.1 will make it even better. To me, nothing better's even been announced since nothing else has a keyboard.
@bjsguess
I wasn't really waiting on multi-touch for web browsing or maps. I really wanted a multitouch keyboard because not having multitouch on the Storm's keyboard is a huge annoyance. I want to stick with Verizon and I'm pretty sure that I want to go to Android since I don't have any real compelling reason to stick with the BB ecosystem. I think BB's are great, but I'm not a business power user.
Its just really hard holding onto a Storm, but I really appreciate everyone's feedback. I thought about the Pre Plus, but I wouldn't be surprised if Palm announced new hardware sometime this year. I love what I've heard about WebOS, but I'd rather get a phone with more solid build quality.
@Rick James I'd say go for it. There is always going to be new tech right around the corner. Once the newness wears off a little and you become comfortable with the platform you can toss a custom ROM on it and overclock it. Have mine at 950mhz now running cool and stable, and it benchmarks about the same as the N1.
With no better physical keyboard phone on the horizon, I would make the purchase again today if I could. The KB isn't perfect, but you get used to it really quickly. I wouldn't trade it for an N1 today if I could. It makes a big difference in shell/terminal and emulators.
The AMOLED screen on the N1 is defnitely nice, but the Droid has a more accurate color gamut and better visibility outside, so that is a wash for me I guess (not that anyone is going to do any real image work on a phone).
The Droid is great, but I like the dev community that has grown around it, so I have other reasons to support it. Take that potential bias into account when considering my opinion. (the N1 has a great community as well in XDA-Dev, but it's not as boutique as the alldroid group).
@Rick James
No you wont have remorse. Why?
Droid does...
Gorilla Glass, screen protectors GTFO!
Excellent resolution ( all of a sudden we forget that it has twice as much as iPhone cuz N1 is out?)
Basically same screen size as N1
Snesoid much? Gaming much? Yeah baby full gaming with keyboard.
2.1 will be on it shortly with 10.1 flash
Im pretty fast on my keyboard now. And yes a physical keyboard is always better than onscreen. Don't let these specwhores sway you differently.
@Rick James
Wait for the Nexus One, It may not have a physical keyboard but its a damn good device.
@Rick James I just left ATT and my iphone for the Droid.
I love it. It's a better geek phone - you can really tinker with it and make it do things your way. Unfortunately you DO need to tinker with it right out of the box because some of the base applications and settings are just dumb (like their SMS app. It's awful. But it's very easy to replace on the app store).
Other cons: itunes ovciously doesn't sync (use 3rd party software). And with DRM on itunes movies you can't download a rental for a plane/train/car trip....
And that Verizon network is ZIPPY! Full download speed is comparable to ATT, but it's ping is WAY faster.
@Rick James I concur with xFenixKnightx pretty much exactly. The Nexus One may be out, but I'd still rather have the Droid because of the keyboard. Overclocking and custom ROMs basically bring feature/performance parity while waiting for Google/VZ to release 2.1 officially to the Droid. I installed Bugless Beast a few days ago and definitely appreciate it.
@xFenixKnightx
That Gorilla Glass is scratch proof isn't it?
@doc69 Yuppers
@xFenixKnightx
I made the dip and got the Droid... I bought it sans contract. Hopefully that wasn't a dumb decision. The girl at Verizon thought I was an idiot for paying 559 for a phone versus saving the money and getting it on contract.
FINALLY, now where's 2.1?
@flanders
in Nexus 1, welcome.
@flanders EXACTLY! i thought that droid was going to get 2.1 weeks ago!
@flanders It's coming. Keep thine pants on. Or it you wanna hack it up you can root the droid and have it today.
Alas, the one true crutch, the lack of multitouch in the browser, remains.
@RockNStuff
Simply download one of the browsers that do have multitouch.
@RockNStuff Multitouch in the browser is nice but not necessary. On the keyboard however it's necessary.
waitaminute! where is that? there's a koreatown?!?!?