Google's been iterating its Maps client for Android devices at a positively ridiculous pace lately, burning through versions
3.4 and
4.0 in a span of just a few days last month -- but hey, March is upon us, which apparently means it's time for another fresh cut. This time around we're looking at 4.1, though the mere 0.1 bump in the version number really doesn't do this thing justice -- they've redesigned the results screen, added a swipe gesture for moving between results, served up a new Latitude widget for the home screen, and brought in support for multiple Google accounts (for seeing different Buzz follows, for instance). The icing on the cake, though, is a new live wallpaper for Android 2.1 phones that's a live map of your location, which sounds absurdly awesome -- assuming it doesn't beat your battery to a bloody pulp with constant GPS access, of course. It's available now from the good ol' Market for devices running Android 1.6 and up, so if you're on a device that's still stuck on Cupcake, feel free to shake your fist angrily at the sky a couple times. Interestingly, Google specifically says that the live wallpaper feature works on "Android 2.1+" devices -- a sign that the next major build is around the corner, perhaps?
posted March 18th 2010 1:16AM
@inertone tried it, tried killing off all the other apps, still no dice. Tried it a few hours later, still nothin. Nobody else?
@DWad
First time I tried launching it, I got the "Force Close" dialog and closed it. Second time I tried it, got the FC again, but before I had a chance to hit close I noticed the screen had updated itself in the background -- Maps was slow to launch, but wasn't totally hung, so I canceled the FC. Works fine now - must be some initial install thing (unpacking itself maybe?)
@gregleg I've always thought the maps were so slow to open (makes me sad...) but after updating, it seems a tad bit slower. Until i get my 2.1, there's nothing in this update that i care about. Even then though, i probably won't use the live wallpaper for anything but a novelty.
Just updated.
Uk navigation next plz Google kthxbai!
how do i manually update to 2.1 from 2.0.1 on my droid?
@theonlysmr wait 12 hours
@theonlysmr
And when he says, "wait 12 hours," he means 12 days.... or months. You never know with Verizon and Motorola. They keep pushing the update release dates around. I dont think they have released a droid update on time since it came out!
@WindowsPhone
I hope no one minds if I speak for the group when I say: Shut the fuck up.
@jon
many thanks
@theonlysmr
also stick that gay ass window phone up your ass cause there aint any windows phone thats better than an android one except for those few windows moblie 7 phones but theres only like sayy less than 10 so shove that thing up your butt casue i think you like it
btw i have klingon friends so BRING IT (@windows phone)
So when is google going to update webOS version?
@miles4000
hahaha probally never and sorry iphone
under the table deals are what drive the iphones maps but palm doesnt have the money therefore sorry
video please for the rest of us w/o Android phones...
*Shakes fist angrily at HTC* Where's my 2.1 update for the Hero?!?
Okay, now I really want the Supersonic.
@ViperVin all these new phones make me look at my g1 with shame. and it hasn't even been a year since i've had it!
Still haven't fix the bug of not being able to clear the data cache. Wtf if they're going to force you to store apps in rom then let us delete the cache. Stop adding on feature and fix the bugs.
But I am dissapointed, because my N1 cannot updates the Maps, here in my country .my . Now on official ERE27 software, I already manually upgraded the Maps from 3.4 to 4.0. Now, 4.1 .. where I can get the .apk file? :)
TQ.
@bahathir
Install old maps .... install 4.1.0...
@rj7855
FYI, Map is pre-installed in Nexus One (N1). Also I cannot find any Maps' updates in Market from my country. Yes, I realized the updates only available in certain countries pnly...
Thank you.
Additional info
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google+Mobile/thread?tid=738c113becaafdb5&hl=en
Lets get 2.1 tomorrow Mr. Droid!
@WastedxYears
Technically, its today, but i am just up really late
*Looks at my Moto CLIQ and sighs dejectedly*
Some day my friend, some day....
2.1+ flash support
why is it so blooming hard to find google products in the market? still can't find gesture search.
No Buzz layer on the Maps live wallpaper. What a missed opportunity.
Killing my N1 freezing up....wtf
Also that live wallpaper map destroys the smooth transition. Its all jumpy with that now.
By live does it mean you can see cars going down the street in real time?
@Ezye1313
Yes, but you have to run the camera app first.
;^)
It would be the sprinkles on top of the icing of the cake if the live wallpaper would show your current route. You can set it to use standard, satellite, or terrain view, and enable traffic. You can not get it to show a route. I most often know where I am, I do not always know where I'm going.
Live background is pretty sweet. Having problems opening up Google Maps though. Had to Force Close a few times, but now it seems to be working properly....I hope.
Curse you Rogers.
I WANT MY 1.6*!
*or 2.0 or 2.1. Just get me off this Cupcake!
Here is a video (it's not my video) showing what maps wallpaper looks like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNSWTzG7WHI
Sweet. Now, Google, please take a couple engineers and give us a version of Listen that WORKS! Updates often fail and the scrub-bar is worthless.
to bad the new google maps update 4.1 has bugs.... i updated and everytime i open google maps it makes me "force close" i had to delete the updates inorder to use google maps....
It runs fine for me but has anyone tried the multiple accounts support? The option in the More menu is not there.
I recently rolled back the Android map to the stock version that came with 1.6 because I was getting AdWords pop-ups. Maybe I'm hurting myself but I didn't pay $200 and T-Mobile's monthly data rate so I can see Google's ads on my frickin' *phone*.