The PDA version release of Google Maps a couple of days ago made a really big noise on various PDA dedicated sites. Msmobiles even gave their article a title “The best news for Windows Mobile in year 2007 : Google Maps for Windows Mobile released !!!”. Well, I do not know, I probably would not be so optimistic … 
But anyway, I also wanted to try this new software from Google and here are some early comments:
- a bug for a start - despite the fact that I chose to install GoogleMaps to Storage Card on my Artemis, the application file (593 KB) was copied to Program Files/GoogleMaps
- the maps show quite fast in different views
- map details seems to be identical with the PC version (obviously …)
- Google Maps needs internet connection to work - i.e. off-line browsing of downloaded maps is not possible
- I could not find the place where maps are stored (most probably it is Application Data/GoogleMaps); I also did not find where to change this location
To be honest, GoogleMaps are not going to stay long in my PDA as I do not really find any use for such software. But anyway, try it yourself …
Leden 4, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Google maps works incredibly well and fuss-free on my XDA Orbit (same phone as P3300).
It works immediately afters downloading, with no need to run a third-party “GPS intermediary” like “gpsgate”. It just finds the internal GPS for itself and starts hunting for satellites, as soon as you choose “my location” (words depend on which version you are on).
You do need a low-rate data tariff, because only a small cache-load of maps are stored on your phone. The rest are downloaded fresh each time. If you are paying for data, then travelling fast can cost you plenty. And if travelling fast, you cannot be zoomed in too close or the image of where you are does not have time to load before you are somewhere else ! But if at walking speed, you can be zoomed right in, and see the same lamppost or road marking you are walking past in real time ! Astonishing.
The only bug I found is that if you lose the internet for too long (eg in a rail tunnel for longer than a minute or so) the application offers you a “quit” option with no alternative to retry. But it takes no time to fire it up again when you emerge from the tunnel.
Chris, Sheffield UK