Google Maps in compass mode?

[Jebus Christ]

I was going to make my own thread about this issue but saw this one here? Is there still no way to get a compass on googlemaps? I find it very strange that the iphone has it but android,googles os, does not.

 

[phillevy]

I think it is an experimental feature in the latest version of maps - however this only comes with later versions of Android - until HTC comes up with the elusive 2.1 update, the wait for compass mode continues

 

[Jebus Christ]

See thats the thing. It's a feature that was removed. The g1 was able to do it and for some reason they removed it when they upgraded to the new versions of google maps.

 

[heero884]

I found this thread from doing a Google search and I guess I'm glad its not my Hero that is broken.. just the platform its on =/

BTW is there a mobile view for this forum?

 

[phillevy]

As slight consolation, I've found an app in the market called RMaps - this actually supports compass mode and also has the ability to save maps to SD. The downside is that there is no navigation though

 

[heero884]

I found out Google's own My Tracks app has the compass in map view.. what a way to add insult to injury :X

 

[Quazar]

Anyone know if this is available on the 2.1 android version?

 

[Slug]

BTW is there a mobile view for this forum?

Bottom left, change "Phandroid Skin" to "AF Mobile".

 

[dam5s]

On my Nexus One with Android 2.1, the feature is available in Menu > More > Labs > Compass Arrow.

 

[Anthony1]

3. Click on the address and select street view

Has anyone in the UK actually managed to get this to work? Whenever I try to do it all I get is "Street View Unavailable here"

I'm not talking about 'Off the beaten track' places either. I've never got it to work in London. I've never yet seen this 'feature' on my phone.

 

[ldn-j]

Has anyone in the UK actually managed to get this to work? Whenever I try to do it all I get is "Street View Unavailable here"

I'm not talking about 'Off the beaten track' places either. I've never got it to work in London. I've never yet seen this 'feature' on my phone.

Mine works fine, sitting at my desk here in London & I can get it into streetview in either mode.

 

[daveybaby]

Streetview coverage is still pretty sparse in the UK outside of major cities, there are even parts of greater london that arent covered yet.

But it definitely works on the hero. If youre in the same spot as the streetview car was (that'll be... um... in the road) its pretty cool to have it match up with reality. Pretty cool, but ultimately pretty useless.

Edit: helpful hint, if you want to see if your area is covered, go to gogle maps on a PC, and drag the little streetview guy (located on top of the zoom bar) onto the map - the areas covered by streetview get shaded in blue.

 

[phillevy]

On my Nexus One with Android 2.1, the feature is available in Menu > More > Labs > Compass Arrow.

Yes, but we know this - however as this is Hero-specific (hence the post being in the Hero forum), we can't use the latest version of maps with Android 1.5

 

[monkegeo]

Yes, but we know this - however as this is Hero-specific (hence the post being in the Hero forum), we can't use the latest version of maps with Android 1.5

I've got a Hero with 2.1, so it is kind of relevant, but all you get with 2.1 is an arrow showing you which way you are facing, you do not get the rotating map from the video.

 

[phillevy]

I've got a Hero with 2.1, so it is kind of relevant, but all you get with 2.1 is an arrow showing you which way you are facing, you do not get the rotating map from the video.

Fair point - however I think that all but the most adventurous of us are still on 1.5 for the time being. I'm surprised and diappointed if all you still get is an arrow - that wasn't my understanding when the new maps was announced. Why do Google shoot themselves in the foot by continuing to make the iPhone app superior to the Android version?

 

[dam5s]

The arrow thing is still in "Labs" so there is nothing final about it. Just a beta... hope they will do the map rotation as well in future version.

 

[phillevy]

The arrow thing is still in "Labs" so there is nothing final about it. Just a beta... hope they will do the map rotation as well in future version.

I cant understand why we are still hoping and waiting for something the iphone has had from virtually day one - as well as multi-touch zooming - but that's a whole other story!

 

[dam5s]

No multi-touch zooming on 2.1 with the HTC Hero? Is the Hero multi touch capable? I mean hardware-wise.

 

[daveybaby]

My 1.5 hero has multi touch. Think the US (sprint) ones had it disabled due to an agreement between apple & google.

 

[phillevy]

Streetview coverage is still pretty sparse in the UK outside of major cities, there are even parts of greater london that arent covered yet.

But it definitely works on the hero. If youre in the same spot as the streetview car was (that'll be... um... in the road) its pretty cool to have it match up with reality. Pretty cool, but ultimately pretty useless.

Edit: helpful hint, if you want to see if your area is covered, go to gogle maps on a PC, and drag the little streetview guy (located on top of the zoom bar) onto the map - the areas covered by streetview get shaded in blue.

All about to change: Google Street View Full UK Coverage unveiled tomorrow

 

[jim_h]

Has anyone in the UK actually managed to get this to work? Whenever I try to do it all I get is "Street View Unavailable here"

I'm not talking about 'Off the beaten track' places either. I've never got it to work in London. I've never yet seen this 'feature' on my phone.

It works fine for me here in West Yorkshire. Only Bradford and Leeds are covered near my home.

Seeing street view in compass mode on the Hero is truly amazing. I didn't know it could do that until reading this thread just now. Awesome!

 

[daveybaby]

All about to change: Google Street View Full UK Coverage unveiled tomorrow

Haha, yeah. Just came back to post exactly that. I post about lack of streetview coverage and then the very next day...

Maybe google employees actually read the android forums

 

[Anthony1]

Blimey, what a coincidence. I've now got streetview on all the places I didn't have before

Maybe they do read the forums. Ok. We're on a roll now, let's push our luck:

Anyone know if Android 2.1 will be here by the end of the week?

 

[jim_h]

Anyone know if Android 2.1 will be here by the end of the week?

LOL! 10 out of 10 for effort Anthony!

 

[Caloy]

I have to say that it's a pretty cool feature to have. But I don't see any real world advantages to this feature for the common user. If you're trying to go somewhere you'll just use the phone's navigation feature and it will point you to the right direction.