Google Maps for Android adds bike routes, sharing, dedicated navigation icon

If you're running an Android phone and you're lucky enough to be using 1.6 or above (our deepest apologies, CLIQ owners), we might recommend you pop open the Market and score the latest version of Google Maps that just launched today. What's new? It adds support for bicycle routing (something they've had on the desktop for a while now) and sharing of destinations via the usual array of mediums like email, Facebook, Twitter, and so on, but the most significant change might also be the smallest: the addition of a dedicated icon for Google Maps Navigation. The product is still in beta, but this seems like an early sign that it's starting to come of age -- and on a more practical level, this obviously makes it quite a bit easier to launch right into a route when you saddle up in the car. Anywho, Motorola, about that CLIQ update?

[viditbhargava Posted May 11th 2010 8:23PM]

@ssgadget Completely agree guys. Android keeps getting better. I am waiting for the Froyo upgrade to my Nexus One...rumored to be announced on May 19th. :)

Froyo with Flash 10.1 will (it already does as demoed) completely rock on Nexus One.

[kEiThZ Posted May 11th 2010 8:25PM]

I just wish Google would bring Navigation to Canada. I am waiting here patiently with my Nexus One.

[Gold Mamba Posted May 11th 2010 8:40PM]

Getting real tired of you dodging me Motorola. WHERE'S MY MONEY MAN?!

[therodt Posted May 12th 2010 4:20AM]

@Gold Mamba omg I laughed out loud...

[cherubdawg Posted May 11th 2010 9:48PM]

@DannyJLG Thanks for your reply. I tried your suggestion and it doesn't work for me. "Navigation to your destination is not available." It's the same message I get when I give the voice command "Navigate to 123 Street st."

Hey, if that shortcut method works for you, then the voice command should work too. It should be much more convenient than the shortcut method. Try it out and let me know.

[MidwestTechGuy Posted May 11th 2010 10:45PM]

I live in the Chicago area and bicycle everywhere. I hold a USA Cycling racing license and there are few roads that scare me to ride on. However I mapped out three of my favorite routes; each from near O'Hare, then to Elgin, Bollingbrook, and through the city to near Cellular Field. Only the Cellular Field route was close to being OK. Google picked a longer route but it would have worked with a fair amount of safety. The other two routes were ridiculous. Once was downright dangerous putting riders on a divided highway with a 50mph speed limit on poor pavement. No one in their right mind would take that route.

Since everything Google does for consumers is free, their main ad slogan really should be, "Google, You Get What You Pay For."

[Johnny Rockets Posted May 12th 2010 12:14AM]

Just updated on my Nexus One running Desire's Sense UI.

Works great!

Good times to be an Android user indeed!

[EightBitHeroics Posted May 12th 2010 12:56AM]

Just for anyone who has the same issue, I had to restart my Incredible to get the Navigation icon to show up. Never had to do that with any other apps, but give a shot.

[therodt Posted May 12th 2010 4:22AM]

@EightBitHeroics so envy that fone...My G1 is sputtering bad...

[wlanguide Posted Jun 9th 2010 3:11AM]

Learn how to track a cell phone location on Google maps here:
http://cellphonetrackers.org/tracking-mobile-phone-locations-with-google-maps-for-mobile.html

Hope it helps