Google Navigation

BenEadir

Hi all,

I haven't been able to find a Google Navigation thread on the Android forum so thought I'd start one. (I'm sure someone will link to one just to prove me wrong!)

I'm trying to use Google Navigation as my main in car GPS and I've managed to figure out how to make a destination a "Starred" location so I can store and return to it at a future time.

Two questions are bugging me which I hope someone here can help with:-

1. Is there any way to label or name a starred location? Instead of using the address which Google labels the location e.g. 18-22 XXX Street, I'd like to name the starred location "Jimmy's Takeaway Pizza". Any ideas how I can do this?

2. I run around with my kids at weekends going to various sports events and often use Google Maps on my laptop to identify where I'm going and using the right click "What's Here" option to get the GPS co-ordinates. I was always able to enter these on my old Garmin GPS system but can't seem to find a way to enter the GPS co-ordinates into Google Navigation. Any ideas how I can do this?

I hope this thread can become a collection of useful Google Navigation tips for everyone!!

Cheers,

Ben

ongarite

BenEadir wrote: »

1. Is there any way to label or name a starred location? Instead of using the address which Google labels the location e.g. 18-22 XXX Street, I'd like to name the starred location "Jimmy's Takeaway Pizza". Any ideas how I can do this?

Edit and rename your starred locations here:
https://www.google.com/bookmarks/l

heebusjeebus

I was looking to do the exact same.

Thanks ongarite

smackyB

Instead of using the "what's here" feature and taking note of the co-ords,try using the chrome-to-phone extension for the chrome browser. When in google maps, simply drop a marker and then hit the send to phone button on the extension. That should open up google maps on the phone automagically!

BionicRasher

BenEadir wrote: »

2. I run around with my kids at weekends going to various sports events and often use Google Maps on my laptop to identify where I'm going and using the right click "What's Here" option to get the GPS co-ordinates. I was always able to enter these on my old Garmin GPS system but can't seem to find a way to enter the GPS co-ordinates into Google Navigation. Any ideas how I can do this?

A few ways to do this
1. enter the GPS co-ordinates in the search bar on the phone and it will find it for you
2. use the 'whats here' option on the PC and send it to yourself in an email (see the option to 'send' under 'more' when you right click on a location. It send you an email and you can click on the link to view this on the phone
3. use Chrome to Phone app (its in the market) in Google Chrome browser to send the map to your phone - find the spot on the PC and just click send to phone and there you go.

BenEadir

Thanks tui0hcg, the "Send" option works a treat. Much appreciated.

Ben

BionicRasher

I find the Chrome to Phone app is great as all you do is click one button and it sends it directly to the phone from the PC - works great also if you are looking at a website on the PC and want to see it on your phone - one click sends the page straight to the phone. You can even set it up to open automatically as soon as it gets to the phone

niallb

How about adding your current location so that you can find it again?

It's a real problem that the full use of the application seems to require a laptop logged in to a google account!

I've always had a few hiccups with Navigation since my google account is a google apps account,
but I still can't see an easy way to do this.

I'd expect to be able to do one of the following on a GPS:
1) Menu -> Save current location
2) Long hold, popup menu, save location

Am I just missing something obvious?

Professey Chin

it should just go straight to your location when you start up the app

niallb

Ultimate Chin wrote: »

it should just go straight to your location when you start up the app

???

Yes. It does.
I want to know how to save my current location so I can find it again when I am somewhere else!

Professey Chin

niallb wrote: »

???

Yes. It does.
I want to know how to save my current location so I can find it again when I am somewhere else!

Oh. I misunderstood completely

Just press on the location on the map so the pop up appears, then press on the pop up and press the star in the top right corner

BenEadir

Ultimate,

Here's one for ya!

Can I go into Google Maps on my PC, zoom into a location and designate it as a Starred Place so that when I jump in the car and launch Google Navigation it will appear as one of the listed Starred Places?

Ben

listermint

Incidently, on this.

Has anyone noticed how excessively poor the battery performs even when plugged into the 12V HTC charger in the car. Google Navigation appears to eat more battery than the charger can keep up with it. It just constantly goes in a downward curve.

Also gets very hot with Charge and GPS and screen on for more than 1 hr.

BionicRasher

BenEadir wrote: »

Ultimate,
Can I go into Google Maps on my PC, zoom into a location and designate it as a Starred Place so that when I jump in the car and launch Google Navigation it will appear as one of the listed Starred Places?
Ben

You sure can - really quick way of getting directions - zoom in use the 'whats here' option on the PC and then star it
It will show in your starred place in a matter of seconds on the phone:)

SkySter

listermint wrote: »

Incidently, on this.

Has anyone noticed how excessively poor the battery performs even when plugged into the 12V HTC charger in the car. Google Navigation appears to eat more battery than the charger can keep up with it. It just constantly goes in a downward curve.

Also gets very hot with Charge and GPS and screen on for more than 1 hr.

I had the same problem. I used a cheap car charger I got on ebay and it did not supply enough charge. I bought an official HTC one and problem solved. If you check power it should say charging AC. If it does you should be ok.

k123456

tui0hcg wrote: »

You sure can - really quick way of getting directions - zoom in use the 'whats here' option on the PC and then star it
It will show in your starred place in a matter of seconds on the phone:)

Hi I tried this and is not working, prob. something i am doing wrong

k123456

Question on caching of maps to phone


Imagine I am abroad and dont want to use data (turn3g off) , say I want to navigate from Madrid to Girona

Using a wifi connection, (in Ireland before I leave), can I download the route to phone , looks like I can only do this using Maps, rather than navigation ?

I arrive in Spain and switch off 3g, will the navigation work and better still , will it reroute me if I go slightly off course, miss a turn ?

BionicRasher

k123456 wrote: »

Hi I tried this and is not working, prob. something i am doing wrong

Click on map (on the PC that is)
Choose 'Whats Here'
the map will then either show a little green arrow or the place marker
Click on arrow or place marker and you will see a little star next to the address
click the star and that is then saved to your starred places
it will show on your phone almost instantly

BenEadir

tui0hcg wrote: »

Click on map (on the PC that is)
Choose 'Whats Here'
the map will then either show a little green arrow or the place marker
Click on arrow or place marker and you will see a little star next to the address
click the star and that is then saved to your starred places
it will show on your phone almost instantly

Then click on https://www.google.com/bookmarks/l and change the name from gobbledegook Longitude and Latitude numbers to something that means something to you.

This little thread is becoming quite the Wiki for Google Navigation knowledge eh???

Ben

BenEadir

k123456 wrote: »

Question on caching of maps to phone


Imagine I am abroad and dont want to use data (turn3g off) , say I want to navigate from Madrid to Girona

Using a wifi connection, (in Ireland before I leave), can I download the route to phone , looks like I can only do this using Maps, rather than navigation ?

I arrive in Spain and switch off 3g, will the navigation work and better still , will it reroute me if I go slightly off course, miss a turn ?

k123456 you might need something like this for offline navigation http://www.mapdroyd.com. Haven't used it myself but can't imagine it's as user friendly or up to date as Google Navigation but might be a good backup option if you lose your 3G connection or want to leave it turned off.

BTW, depending on what network you are on data roaming within Europe is no longer as punitive as it was. I get 50mb a day FOC in Europe as part of my standard 2GB monthly data package with Vodafone and I believe if you don't have that facility you can call them and they will only charge €1 a day for 50mb. I'm not 100% certain on that as I haven't had to use it recently but it's worth checking out before going to all the hassle of trying to use offline maps. I can't imagine Google Navigation would use more than 50mb even if you drove for 24 hours straight. Can anyone confirm the amount of data Google Navigation typically uses per hour of driving?

Make sure yo have your email sync and other data connecting apps turned off as well however.

Hope that helps.

Ben

Gryzor

tui0hcg wrote: »

Click on map (on the PC that is)
Choose 'Whats Here'
the map will then either show a little green arrow or the place marker
Click on arrow or place marker and you will see a little star next to the address
click the star and that is then saved to your starred places
it will show on your phone almost instantly

When i do this, i can see the location in https://www.google.com/bookmarks/l, but it doesn't appear in Navigation on my phone. I have to go into Maps first, then back into Navigation and its there then...

BionicRasher

I have tried in vain to get a good way to map a route either on the PC (and transfer to my phone) or directly on the phone when I want to go via a location to another location

Example -

I want to go visit Dublin to do a bit of shopping.
I want to go to Ikea first
I then want to go to Woodies on the Naas Road
I then want to go to Dublin Zoo with the kids

How do i set that up?
I know I can star each place and do one after the other but thats a pain

BionicRasher

Gryzor wrote: »

When i do this, i can see the location in https://www.google.com/bookmarks/l, but it doesn't appear in Navigation on my phone. I have to go into Maps first, then back into Navigation and its there then...

Strange
When I star a place on the PC I can then go to navigation on the phone and I see 5 options
Speak Destination
Type destination
Contacts
Starred Places
Recent Destinations

I just click Starred Places and viola

on a side note
Anyone know how I can get this on my Desire? http://www.htc.com/uk/howto.aspx?id=8833&type=1&p_id=324
Would be real handy for the car

Gryzor

tui0hcg wrote: »

on a side note
Anyone know how I can get this on my Desire? http://www.htc.com/uk/howto.aspx?id=8833&type=1&p_id=324
Would be real handy for the car

Google's version isn't as pretty, but it's alot more configurable than the HTC one..

Edit: Forgot the link for the HTC one

BionicRasher

OK
Found the HTC one - well a version of it anyway
You need to install the HTC apk and also the CarHomelauncher apk if you want it to fire up say when your phone connects to your Bluetooth in the car

the apk's are in post 5 here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=760322
Very nice

I had tried the Google one before but for some reason the screen kept timing out and it would not auto connect to my Bluetooth

The HTC one is very nice and has some great features when you click on call buttons etc - nice big icons

oh by the way you need to have Unknown Sources allowed in you applications to enable you to install an apk like this

Gryzor

just tried the HTC one again, been ages since i tried it last. Doesn't seem to work on gingerbread, keeps force closing when i try and get at the settings....been using the google one for the last few months, launches automatically for me when bluetooth connects...

BenEadir

tui0hcg,

Thanks for the links, I've been using the MyCarDock app from the market for a while but it's not that good.

I downloaded the three APK's from the XDA thread and although they download OK when I click on them I get the following error mesage "No application can be found to open this file."

I have a Samsung Galaxy S running Darky's 9.2 ROM and Dolphin HD browser. I've downloaded other APK's via the ROM and Browser without a problem.

Any thoughts?

Ben

listermint

SkySter wrote: »

I had the same problem. I used a cheap car charger I got on ebay and it did not supply enough charge. I bought an official HTC one and problem solved. If you check power it should say charging AC. If it does you should be ok.

Its a 12V 1A Charger with HTC cable, So nothing wrong with the supply, the device is not designed to have multi hardware power requests. Battery just isnt up to handling that type of abuse, it never was. So i cant see it changing other than placing with a large mA battery

niallb

Ultimate Chin wrote: »

Oh. I misunderstood completely

Just press on the location on the map so the pop up appears, then press on the pop up and press the star in the top right corner

Thanks for that. This might explain my problem with it a little more:

Navigation/Maps still doesn't allow you type in your own name for the location.
That's bad enough in the city, where at least you'd expect the address to be close.
In a rural area, if you try to save a location, it comes up under the name of the closest domestic or commercial property on a street - which can be over a mile away, and completely unrelated to the location you want to save!

BionicRasher

BenEadir wrote: »

tui0hcg,

Thanks for the links, I've been using the MyCarDock app from the market for a while but it's not that good.

I downloaded the three APK's from the XDA thread and although they download OK when I click on them I get the following error mesage "No application can be found to open this file."

I have a Samsung Galaxy S running Darky's 9.2 ROM and Dolphin HD browser. I've downloaded other APK's via the ROM and Browser without a problem.

Any thoughts?

Ben

Ya had the same problem last week on my non rooted Desire
I found this worked https://market.android.com/details?id=com.hwkrbbt.downloadall
It allows you to save the file to your SD I believe and then you can open it with Astro or something similar and install it from there

Kileir

BenEadir wrote: »

Hi all,

I haven't been able to find a Google Navigation thread on the Android forum so thought I'd start one. (I'm sure someone will link to one just to prove me wrong!)

I'm trying to use Google Navigation as my main in car GPS and I've managed to figure out how to make a destination a "Starred" location so I can store and return to it at a future time.

Two questions are bugging me which I hope someone here can help with:-

1. Is there any way to label or name a starred location? Instead of using the address which Google labels the location e.g. 18-22 XXX Street, I'd like to name the starred location "Jimmy's Takeaway Pizza". Any ideas how I can do this?

2. I run around with my kids at weekends going to various sports events and often use Google Maps on my laptop to identify where I'm going and using the right click "What's Here" option to get the GPS co-ordinates. I was always able to enter these on my old Garmin GPS system but can't seem to find a way to enter the GPS co-ordinates into Google Navigation. Any ideas how I can do this?

I hope this thread can become a collection of useful Google Navigation tips for everyone!!

Cheers,

Ben

If you want to enter GPS co-ordinates directly into google maps on your phone then you need to enter the co-ordinates in BRACKETS like so - (53.033745,-7.302734)

Kileir

tui0hcg wrote: »

I have tried in vain to get a good way to map a route either on the PC (and transfer to my phone) or directly on the phone when I want to go via a location to another location

Example -

I want to go visit Dublin to do a bit of shopping.
I want to go to Ikea first
I then want to go to Woodies on the Naas Road
I then want to go to Dublin Zoo with the kids

How do i set that up?
I know I can star each place and do one after the other but thats a pain

On your PC use the GET DIRECTIONS option in google maps to select a route to IKEA as normal.
Save this route to MY MAPS as a new map (lets call it Dublin Trip)
Next, use the GET DIRECTIONS option again to choose a second route from IKEA to Woodies.
Save this route to MY MAPS under the same Map - Dublin Trip. The new route is appended to the first route.
Next, use the GET DIRECTIONS option again to choose a third route from Woodies to Dublin Zoo.
Save this route to MY MAPS again under the same Map - Dublin Trip. The new route is appended to the first and second route.

Voila, your itinerary is mapped out and already saved on your google maps on your phone. Layers-More Layers-My Maps

BenEadir

Kileir wrote: »

If you want to enter GPS co-ordinates directly into google maps on your phone then you need to enter the co-ordinates in BRACKETS like so - (53.033745,-7.302734)

Kileir, where do you enter them? In the "Type Destination" box??

Ben

Kileir

Yeah Ben, in the "End Point" box or Destination Box in DIRECTIONS

Shed.

So is this constantly adding to your data bill? Is there any way of preloading maps to your phone?

k123456

Does Google Nav give traffic info in Ireland, if I display my route, I can see different colours on parts of it,
grey,
green
and yellow

Ample Free ...?

k123456 wrote: »

Does Google Nav give traffic info in Ireland, if I display my route, I can see different colours on parts of it,
grey,
green
and yellow

It's a simple colour coded system using green, yellow and red. Green meaning lighter traffic, yellow is mediocre traffic and red is heavy traffic. AFAIK grey is just the normal colour of you're highlighted route. So any section of road with no traffic info will just appear grey.

k123456

Just out of interest , where does Google Nav get traffic info from and is it reasonably accurate

chinchin

Used this today on the way home, it really does kill be battery for a reasonable length journey.

Also tried to get me to take a few illegal right turns in Dublin city center, is there a way to report incorrect directions?

k123456

k123456 wrote: »

Just out of interest , where does Google Nav get traffic info from and is it reasonably accurate

Bump

BenEadir

Guys,

I have a number of starred places on my Google Maps account on my PC but when I click on "Starred Places" in Navigation on my phone it says I haven't got any?

How can I check that the Navigation app on my phone is referencing the same email address as my PC?

Ben

Keith186

BenEadir wrote: »

Guys,
How can I check that the Navigation app on my phone is referencing the same email address as my PC?

Ben

Press menu, settings, accounts and sync and check it matches email used on the PC.

Keith186

k123456 wrote: »

Just out of interest , where does Google Nav get traffic info from and is it reasonably accurate

Not sure where data comes from, seems accurate enough on M50 at least.

Used it in USA previously and it was spot on all the time.

Keith186

chinchin wrote: »

Also tried to get me to take a few illegal right turns in Dublin city center, is there a way to report incorrect directions?

Nope and there's plenty of illegal turns constantly popping up in Dublin city centre.

Very annoying!

BenEadir

Keith186 wrote: »

Press menu, settings, accounts and sync and check it matches email used on the PC.

Hi Keith,

I operate two Gmail accounts and both of them are syncing email etc. The first email address I registered when setting up the phone is the email address used in the Market application and the one I have several starred items stored in Maps when using the PC.

As it happens I also have starred items stored under the other Gmail address so no matter what email address Navigatio is picking up on it should be picking up the starred items of Gmail address "A" or Gmail address "B" but it's picking up neither

Any more suggestions? I find it strange that there is no way within the NAvigation app to see what email address (if any) it is linking to.

Ben

Keith186

Only use one email address myself so not sure tbh.

Someone should know though.

Probably something weird like a factory reset needed, I know contacts sync best when you input your Gmail accounts on first boot.

BenEadir

BenEadir wrote: »

Hi Keith,

I operate two Gmail accounts and both of them are syncing email etc. The first email address I registered when setting up the phone is the email address used in the Market application and the one I have several starred items stored in Maps when using the PC.

As it happens I also have starred items stored under the other Gmail address so no matter what email address Navigatio is picking up on it should be picking up the starred items of Gmail address "A" or Gmail address "B" but it's picking up neither

Any more suggestions? I find it strange that there is no way within the NAvigation app to see what email address (if any) it is linking to.

Ben

Bump, anyone?

BenEadir

Hi all,

does anyone know how to get English English (roundabouts etc) instead of American English ("at the circle"!!) working? I don't know how but I recently had a UK voice giving directions calling the name of the road to turn into etc but now (on a new phone) it's using a US voice and not naming the road, it just says " at the next left" etc.

Cheers,

Ben