Andre Yoskowitz
24 Nov 2009 13:55
Google has announced today that the free, turn-by-turn Google Maps Navigation GPS app is now available to Android 1.6 users, giving G1 and myTouch users the ability to use the GPS from their smartphones.
Until today, Navigation had been available only on the Droid, which uses Android 2.0, officially. However, G1 and MyTouch users running hacked ROMs did have access. Cliq users still cannot use Navigation as Google has not given over-the-air 1.6 or 2.0 updates for Cliq users.
Notably missing, however, for G1 and MyTouch users is the ability to use the "navigate to" voice command. You must manually type your destination, instead of being able to say "destination, grandma's house," and have the software do the rest of the work.
The main addition to Google Maps that Navigation offers is "layers." You can add satellite view, street view, transit lines and even Wikipedia articles on locations as "layers" to your map. The service will also give you free turn-by-turn directions at street level.