Google Upgrades Android Maps Application - Adds Offline Caching of Data

Published on: 1st Jan 1970: 1:33am

­Google has announced an upgrade of its Maps application for Android smartphones to include new features as well as improve the service when used in areas with weak mobile phone coverage.

A key change is that until now, Google Maps has always downloaded the map as a set of small, square images that are then stitched together to form the map the users see. The new version uses vector graphics to dynamically draw the map on a device as the person uses it.

The company said that adds several extra functions, including the ability to tilt maps, rotate them and a "compass mode" which  flips the map into 3D mode and start rotating to match the users perspective, while still keeping all the labels upright and readable.

The company said on its blog that it estimates that viewing maps with the upgraded app now requires almost 70% less mobile network data overall than before.

Offline reliability

Google Maps has always been, and continues to be, a fundamentally Internet-connected experience, meaning you always get the freshest map and place data, search and voice search, live traffic conditions, satellite and Street View imagery, and much more. However, dynamically drawing maps requires 100 times less data to get maps across all zoom levels, so the latest version is able to proactively cache (or store) large areas on the users smartphone based on where they use Maps the most.

Rather than having a static set of maps when installed, Maps will automatically start caching the areas users visit the most when their device is plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi (e.g., the nightly charge).

Get Google Maps for mobile 5.0 by searching for Google Maps in Android Market. Android 1.6+ devices can get Maps 5.0, but 3D and offline features require Android 2.0+, and some features may not be supported for all devices or countries.

 

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