* video* Google Maps Navigation – Voice Activated, Turn by Turn Navigation

Introducing Google Maps Navigation

Can you hear the GPS industry cringing on their knees?

In the early morning hours (around 1am this morning), Google brought news that no one in the GPS instustry wanted to hear, but probably saw coming from a mile away.

Google announced Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0 enabled phones.  I just wrote about how Verizon is releasing a Motorola Android 2.0 phone on November 6th.

From Google’s announcement about Google Maps Navigation:

“Today we’re excited to announce the next step for Google Maps for mobile: Google Maps Navigation (Beta) for Android 2.0 devices.

This new feature comes with everything you’d expect to find in a GPS navigation system, like 3D views, turn-by-turn voice guidance and automatic rerouting. But unlike most navigation systems, Google Maps Navigation was built from the ground up to take advantage of your phone’s Internet connection.” [source: Google blog]

Here are 7 things that make Google Maps Navigation unique:

1. Up To The Minute Map Data. You map data is continually updated from Google Maps where people can now submit live updates to map data, business listings, route discrepancies, and more.
2. Search in plain English. This means you don’t even need to know where you’re going exactly.  Just type the name of where you are wanting to go and Google Maps Navigation will do the rest and find it for you.
   
3. Voice Activation GPS. Just put the phone on your dashboard, speak the place that you’re wanting to go, and Google Maps Navigation will do the rest.
4. Live Traffic Data. Along the way, the traffic might be building up, so now with Google Maps Navigation, you can see where the congestion is and alter your route.
5. Search Along The Route. While you are driving down the road, you can now find the nearest business, restaurant, gas station, etc… on your Google Maps Navigation.  This might be handy on the highway and you need a potty break!
6. Satellite View. Now you can see the actual terrain, landmarks, and get a visual of your route with Google Maps Navigation.
7. Street View. If “satellite view” is not enough for you, and you actually want to look at the street itself, no problem.  Google Maps Navigation has “street view”.
   

Here’s a video demo of Google Maps Navigation: