You remember when you needed to pay for a GPS if you wanted a voice navigation while driving? Most smartphones now come with navigation applications that run free. However, this requires to have an Internet connection to enjoy a gentle voice telling you to turn left or right.
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But what will happen when you are driving in an area that is not covered by a mobile operator? Nothingness. Now there is a new feature in Google Maps for that.
Earlier this year, Google announced that it would provide support for offline browsing to Google Maps on Android. This is now done, since the Mountain View giant has just push this feature in its application on Android. The offline navigation on iOS will also happen in the future.
"About 60% of the world is today without the Internet, and although online access is available, availability may be uneven", Google notes on its official blog. "Now you can download on your region of the world smartphone, and the next time you will not have connectivity, Google Maps will continue to work seamlessly ", writes Amanda Bishop, product manager at Google.
Forget about connectivity problems
Although magic, to use offline browsing, you'll need to prepare your trip. Indeed, it will download a map of a specific area on your smartphone when you have Internet access. Then you can continue using voice navigation when traveling, even if you are underground or a thousand miles of a mobile antenna. Google Maps automatically switches to offline browsing if the application detects a bad connection.
Google offered the ability to download maps for some time, but until now, if you do not have a internet access, you were only able to see the navigation maps, without the possibility of having a voice navigation. Now this problem is solved.
The update also allows you to search maps and display information about the places of the map, as well as opening hours, contact information, and notes.
See also: Here's what Microsoft CEO has on his iPhone home screen
But what will happen when you are driving in an area that is not covered by a mobile operator? Nothingness. Now there is a new feature in Google Maps for that.
"About 60% of the world is today without the Internet, and although online access is available, availability may be uneven", Google notes on its official blog. "Now you can download on your region of the world smartphone, and the next time you will not have connectivity, Google Maps will continue to work seamlessly ", writes Amanda Bishop, product manager at Google.
Forget about connectivity problems
Although magic, to use offline browsing, you'll need to prepare your trip. Indeed, it will download a map of a specific area on your smartphone when you have Internet access. Then you can continue using voice navigation when traveling, even if you are underground or a thousand miles of a mobile antenna. Google Maps automatically switches to offline browsing if the application detects a bad connection.
The update also allows you to search maps and display information about the places of the map, as well as opening hours, contact information, and notes.