Help Google Navigation Not Saying Street Names

kengreenlee · Apr 28, 2012

Tried using Google Navigation last night. All the voice said was "turn left" or "turn right". It did not say the street names. Anyone else have this problem? I'm running stock 4.0.2 on my Verizon Galaxy Nexus.

Sergio526 · Apr 28, 2012

I'm having this same issue, did you end up finding a fix?

kengreenlee · Apr 29, 2012

Sergio526 said:
I'm having this same issue, did you end up finding a fix?

Nothing yet. If I do, I'll post here.

Sergio526 · Apr 29, 2012

Sorry, I thought your join date was your post date! So far I've cleared my Maps data (did not fix it) and I've uninstalled updates (DID fix it). So something in the latest Maps update broke it. I wish I could update to the second to latest, the release version is like going back to the stone age!

TheyCallMeBT · Apr 29, 2012

Sergio526 said:
Sorry, I thought your join date was your post date! So far I've cleared my Maps data (did not fix it) and I've uninstalled updates (DID fix it). So something in the latest Maps update broke it. I wish I could update to the second to latest, the release version is like going back to the stone age!

Aw man, that sucks. I check current same device reviews whenever there's an update for most things, but for Google apps, I usually just trust that it'll be fine. I looked up reviews just now and a lot of people with the same phone said something about it-- I'm guessing it's an issue for all G'Nex phones, if not all phones.

kengreenlee · Apr 30, 2012

I've opened Android defect 29811 to track this. Clearly, the recent Map updates breaks something. Uninstalling the updates does restore the street names but, of course, you lose some new function.

Kevin-B · Apr 30, 2012

I discovered this bug yesterday, and spent a while rebooting, fiddling with settings, installing "SpeechSynthesis" which it turns out was not relevant, and clearing the cache on Google TTS Engine. I had to keep pulling over to the side of the road to try something new.

No luck so far.

This reminds me of a jam I got into on my OG droid when I installed the SVOX speech engine because I was sick of the tinny navigation voice. The SVOX voices were great, but at some point a Google Maps update rendered them inoperative, and the navigation voice reverted first to just chimes when it wanted to say something, and eventually to the "no street name" version we're experiencing now. I had to uninstall the SVOX voices on my OG Droid and lived with Nasal Nellie until I got rid of the device.

This indicates to me that it's definitely a result of something that has changed in the speech engine. But interestingly, the new voice of Google Maps is much nicer than the one you get in the Settings > Language and Input> Text to speech output > Listen to an example. So I'm thinking that the Galaxy Nexus is using a separate speech module of some sort for navigation. I don't know where it lives, how you fix it, or what went wrong with the latest Maps to break it.

I'm sure that the previous commenter's note about removing updates will work -- but I'd prefer not to lose the other new features. It is possible to navigate with these minimal voice prompts. I was traveling around yesterday to unfamiliar places and managed OK. So I may hang on longer to see if Google updates this thing.

Mr2001 · May 1, 2012

I'm having the same issue.

Text-to-speech in Navigation seems kind of freaky... before this started, I noticed the voice randomly changing. Haven't heard that happen since it stopped saying street names.

Flipper44 · May 2, 2012

Of course...an 8 hr driv and an 11 hr one with crap navigation prompts....FIX tonight Google please

iron_city · May 3, 2012

Noticed this the other day, too. Thought I was going crazy.

john30308 · May 3, 2012

Same here. Noticed it last night.

Bateluer · May 4, 2012

Me too. Stock 4.0.2 Vzw Nexus. Strongly dislike these voice prompts. Doesn't even say distances. Just Turn Left, Turn Right, Take the exit on the right.

Titan · May 4, 2012

This is frustrating! I uninstalled the updates so I can get the street names back. I depend on navigation every day. This needs to be fixed soon.

john30308 · May 7, 2012

Why is it taking so long for Google to notice/fix the missing street names and distances in the Nav app? It's one of the key Droid features that made fanboys pant. It's AWFUL without that info.

Kevin-B · May 7, 2012

Totally agree. Voice turn-by-turn Navigation was one of the "killer apps" that brought me to Android over iPhone in the early days. I'm very disappointed that the only way to bring it back is to uninstall updates.

Crashumbc · May 7, 2012

I'm confused. I don't use NAV very often.

what is missing exactly?

Outatime · May 7, 2012

I use it all the time with no problem. What am I missing?

chrlswltrs · May 7, 2012

Yeah the last updated sucks. I miss having that. Hopefully they will get it fixed soon.

john30308 · May 7, 2012

Crash, Outatime: a week or so ago the Nav App had an update and ever since stopped verbalizing street names and some distances to turns. Were it used to say, "in a 1/4 mile, turn left on State Street"; now it just says "in a 1/4 mile, turn left" and sometimes only "turn left". In a big city with exits close to each other, the names were most helpful. You can still look down at the map and header, but no longer verbalized. Also, it seems to have stopped the advance warnings. It used to say ""in a 1/4 mile, turn left on State Street. Then, keep left". No more "Then"'s. I'm assuming it's an error, but speculation that it was easier to internationalize broader without the street names. We shall see...

chrlswltrs · May 7, 2012

john30308 said:
Crash, Outatime: a week or so ago the Nav App had an update and ever since stopped verbalizing street names and some distances to turns. Were it used to say, "in a 1/4 mile, turn left on State Street"; now it just says "in a 1/4 mile, turn left" and sometimes only "turn left". In a big city with exits close to each other, the names were most helpful. You can still look down at the map and header, but no longer verbalized. Also, it seems to have stopped the advance warnings. It used to say ""in a 1/4 mile, turn left on State Street. Then, keep left". No more "Then"'s. I'm assuming it's an error, but speculation that it was easier to internationalize broader without the street names. We shall see...

I wish mine would say that much. Mine only says "data connection lost" everytime it is supposed to say anything

TheyCallMeBT · May 7, 2012

john30308 said:
Crash, Outatime: a week or so ago the Nav App had an update and ever since stopped verbalizing street names and some distances to turns. Were it used to say, "in a 1/4 mile, turn left on State Street"; now it just says "in a 1/4 mile, turn left" and sometimes only "turn left". In a big city with exits close to each other, the names were most helpful. You can still look down at the map and header, but no longer verbalized. Also, it seems to have stopped the advance warnings. It used to say ""in a 1/4 mile, turn left on State Street. Then, keep left". No more "Then"'s. I'm assuming it's an error, but speculation that it was easier to internationalize broader without the street names. We shall see...

To be more specific, it was the Maps app that had the update. And the Navigation app is part of the Maps app, along with (I think) Places. Right?

Unfortunately, I went ahead with the update without checking reviews of the newest version. I usually check that for apps that I depend on, but with it being a Google app, I just assumed that it was good.

It is possible to revert back to the original version that came with the phone, but it's not possible to go back one version/ update.

I hadn't heard that about the possibility of it being an intentional thing. Does the theory have any credibility? Don't non-ICS phones still have it with the update?

BLD · May 7, 2012

john30308 said:
Crash, Outatime: a week or so ago the Nav App had an update and ever since stopped verbalizing street names and some distances to turns. Were it used to say, "in a 1/4 mile, turn left on State Street"; now it just says "in a 1/4 mile, turn left" and sometimes only "turn left". In a big city with exits close to each other, the names were most helpful. You can still look down at the map and header, but no longer verbalized. Also, it seems to have stopped the advance warnings. It used to say ""in a 1/4 mile, turn left on State Street. Then, keep left". No more "Then"'s. I'm assuming it's an error, but speculation that it was easier to internationalize broader without the street names. We shall see...

Weird. I just used it 2 days ago and had none of the issues you are describing. I had the most current updates as well since I updated it when it came out. I wasn't even able to see the display either since I was on the motorcycle with the phone in my pocket and bluetooth to my helmet. I was really relying on the directions too since I didn't know where I was going and it was flawless.

Maybe it's something to do with how the update installs or what I running when the update comes down?

Crashumbc · May 8, 2012

john30308 said:
Crash, Outatime: a week or so ago the Nav App had an update and ever since stopped verbalizing street names and some distances to turns. Were it used to say, "in a 1/4 mile, turn left on State Street"; now it just says "in a 1/4 mile, turn left" and sometimes only "turn left". In a big city with exits close to each other, the names were most helpful. You can still look down at the map and header, but no longer verbalized. Also, it seems to have stopped the advance warnings. It used to say ""in a 1/4 mile, turn left on State Street. Then, keep left". No more "Then"'s. I'm assuming it's an error, but speculation that it was easier to internationalize broader without the street names. We shall see...

Interesting I'll play with this on the way home and report back.

Outatime · May 8, 2012

I tested this last night and it worked as always. I'm updated to the current versions of Maps and Nav. Weird....

Dubbin1 · May 8, 2012

I just tried it out and got no street names until I uninstalled the update. All I got was head east and turn right, no street names at all.

Help Google Navigation Not Saying Street Names

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