Google Maps Navigation comes to Canada and mainland Europe, remains free as a bird
By Vlad Savov 
posted June 9th 2010 6:01AM
posted June 9th 2010 6:01AM
Update: The full list of countries has been made official now:
Google Search by Voice has also been confirmed, it's rolling out in French, German, Italian, and Spanish versions today -- with iPhone and BlackBerry compatibility to boot!"Today we're launching Google Maps Navigation version 4.2 in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland for Android devices 1.6 and higher."
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
GO GO ANDROID!
@potretr Ohhh, I am tired of counting the benefits of android!!!
@potretr
This will be even better when my HTC Hero gets updated past 1.5!
@Daz
Xda developers. my friend. you can have a faster 2.1 overlooked CPU to 768 mhz and jit enabled right now
@Daz
Sigh.. Yes, that will be the day, won't it? Stupid HTC *grumble*
Where do you live in the US Sprint has had 2.1 on there website since may. And engadget posted a thing last week that the euro hero 2.1 was releasing this month
@nooruls143 Me too, my friend, me too
@nooruls143
Isn´t so that a data connection is required in order to use Google Maps from a mobile phone? Meaning, isn´t so that without an unlimited/flat rate data plan using Google Maps from a mobile phone can generate LARGE bills due to the derived connection costs? Could engadget.com ellaborate on that? If this statement is correct, the term "free" in "free as a bird" sounds relative.
@mediasverdades Well, yes, you have to be connected to the internet, however it doesn't transfer that much data. A 200 MB plan should be easily more than enough, depending on how much you travel of course.
Oh and... yaaay! No more hacked Maps version! :)
@potretr
but when will it come to iPhone?
never :(
@mediasverdades
It caches your route (and any detours necessary) initially, so as long as you don't use the fluffy features (street view, layers, etc.) and just stick with the navigation, the data usage is relatively low.
If I remember correctly, I measured consumption a while back during a trip from KY to TX and I only pulled down 10MB during the whole ride down just using standard navigation. On the way back, I enabled all the other stuff and it was closer to 50MB. Either way, nothing to cry about.
@potretr
Google should be ashamed of stopping supporting of iPhone just because they decided to compete with Apple and then blame Apple on not giving internal device information without users' consent.
@potretr So let me get this right. The Google app, even on the new iphone, will not have this feature? Why is the new iphone not this advanced yet?
i think free bird is taken. it's free as a chicken!
YES finally
@Xstream
unfortunately i'm in a country in Europe where the service hasn't been enabled, so i'm asking you guys: what is a good GPS app for turn by turn directions? (i'm new to Android)
@BogdanGC Try CoPilot, iGo MyWay or Navigon, but stay away from apps like Ndrive and Sygic unless you want alot of inaccuracy. Of course these aren't free but then again the best never is. As for Google Maps... I live in Germany and the data expenses required while traveling to neighboring countries is ridiculous. Just easier to have maps on SD with the aforementioned GPS apps. If you don't plan on going anywhere then Google Maps is ok.
Well this is good and all, but how does this help Australians like me?
@camroncake
Agreed. Would love to run the untainted Google Maps on my Nexus One (thus no longer requiring Google Maps [brut])
@camroncake
There are roads in Austrailia?
Mostly Kangaroo paths me thought.
@camroncake
Yeah, hurry up google!
@Unverified User
We call them roads because not all of us ride kangaroos. Some of us prefer to use koalas on each foot as a skate.
@(Unverified)
Civilisation, in my Australia?
Its more likely than you think.
@camroncake
Kangabangers.
I Like! Hope the iPhone gets some of this magic, too!
@meilon Really doubt it.
@meilon Ya. Given Apple's recent foray into advertising, I don't think charity is high on Google's list of attitudes towards Apple. But then again, the whole Android project is some sick twisted charity project so who knows:)
@lookseehear
http://www.macuser.co.uk/news/277093/google-brings-free-satnav-to-uk.html
@lookseehear HAHA
Ok so I set my destination to the UK and it tell me to swim Atlantic :S
@DefPoet So take a short swim, act as if you're drowning and then sue Google.
For years we've heard how advanced the Europe and Japan cell-phones are. We have been lied to!
@SiXiam nokia had good navigation for years and its now free, its hardly behind internet-based navigation from google
@SiXiam when we can buy things by swiping our phones over something or watch digital television. than we have truly caught up
@SiXiam European phones are about the same as American phones. What we Europeans often do have is the ability to buy unlocked phones so we're not really bound to 1 our operator wich is a huge advantage. European networks are also better if I see what sprint has to offer as 3G and 4G.
Japanese phones are different though... we (americans AND europeans) are at least 10 years behind them. For example: while everyone is heating up about payments with iPhone trough some external card reader, the Japanese already pay with their phones in stores, on public transport,... for YEARS.
@MaTdg Japanese phones are different but not necessarily more advanced in terms of specs eg. cpu, memory, gpu etc. Camera has always been better than ours though. It's kind of strange its they like they want to differentiate themselves from the rest of the world and makes things really exclusive.
@SiXiam
In the UK we got 3G in 2003. But we do all use the same mobile phones since there are a small collection of manufacturers who sell worldwide.
Although we generally don't pay for mobiles over here unless you want an iPhone.
Thank you google !!!
Yup i got it on my Desire, good stuff (UK) :D
Where should we find the update? Is this a google maps update?
@fractalbit
Navigation has already been built in. They just have been disabled server wise for some countries. If you have the latest update it should have been activated automatically
@commenter7 Thanks for the info. So turn-by-turn navigation still a no go for Greece. Maybe next time...
@fractalbit
I would love to see Google make the effort and start including public transportation as well. Buses, metros, trains. That would be outstanding!
Love Google Maps. I use it almost every day. :-)
Great! Works in Denmark now!
@ma4dk Obviously not working very well! Now, when will I get paid Android apps? We've been waiting for a while now..
@Damg2rd Well, but it works. Although the English pronunciation of the Danish roads is very bad.
But I also miss the paid apps - bring it on Google. Soon.
@Damg2rd Pressure your Government some, main reason some countries don't have paid app are due to the laws you have that prevent it from happening
@z0phi3l You got some source for that or you just guessing? Been very interested in why it happens, yet noone seems to know.
The real update should have been having proper 3D buildings - I mean look at it, the buildings are flat and anaesthetically pleasing!
Man. This just makes me want to get rid of my 8330 and get on with the Milestone just that much more. :(