Google Maps for Android now supports offline navigation and greatly expanded offline map downloads - Polidicks

[url]https://googleblog.blogspot.com/ncr/2015/11/navigate-and-search-real-world-online.html[/url] [quote=Google]Roughly 60 percent of the world is without Internet today, and even where online access is available, it can still be spotty. That means that quick and easy access to information is still not possible for a majority of the population. This is a huge problem, especially as people attempt to navigate and explore the world around them, so Google Maps is taking steps to help people across the globe find directions and get where they’re going, even when they don’t have an Internet connection. Now you can download an area of the world to your phone, and the next time you find there’s no connectivity—whether it’s a country road or an underground parking garage—Google Maps will continue to work seamlessly. Whereas before you could simply view an area of the map offline, now you can get turn-by-turn driving directions, search for specific destinations, and find useful information about places, like hours of operation, contact information or ratings.[/quote]

Great news. Always hated when the map wouldn't load because of a shoddy connection.

[QUOTE=OvB;49093144]Great news. Always hated when the map wouldn't load because of a shoddy connection.[/QUOTE] All the while devouring my data usage in the process.

as someone who very frequently uses navigation and ends up getting lost in the woods trying to plot a new route: [I]YES[/I]

I particularly like the fact that you can download more areas now instead of the crappy 50 MB limit they imposed in the past, even if you happen to have microSD or a device with built-in 128 GB storage. Here's Winnipeg: [img]http://i.imgur.com/bObikPS.png[/img] Now here's the old system with that 50 MB limit that I'd keep offline vs the new system: [img]http://i.imgur.com/CMv7X8f.png[/img]

I didn't know you could have saved regions. I just went with the "Well, I guess I'm fucked!" method.

[QUOTE=OvB;49093200]I didn't know you could have saved regions. I just went with the "Well, I guess I'm fucked!" method.[/QUOTE] Yup, though Google stashed that function away at the bottom of Search, and more recently, in "Your places". Did you know: Microsoft also added offline map saving in Windows 10, even in the previews? You don't get "move the map here, re-size how you like granularity" that Google offers, but you can download whole states and just whole states if you only wanted Minnesota for instance, but didn't need any North or South Dakota data. Head to system settings, should be under "General". [editline]10th November 2015[/editline] It [I]might[/I] have been a thing in Windows 8's Maps, but not at the system settings level.

The maps expire after 30 days, which is kinda meh.

[QUOTE=Cock Boner;49093267]The maps expire after 30 days, which is kinda meh.[/QUOTE] With the new system, you can now elect to have them automatically updated, which would eliminate the need for you to re-download after a while.

Finally. Traveling in other countries was a pain in the ass when you had to pay huge roaming fees.

[QUOTE=wickedplayer494;49093231]Yup, though Google stashed that function away at the bottom of Search, and more recently, in "Your places". Did you know: Microsoft also added offline map saving in Windows 10, even in the previews? You don't get "move the map here, re-size how you like granularity" that Google offers, but you can download whole states and just whole states if you only wanted Minnesota for instance, but didn't need any North or South Dakota data. Head to system settings, should be under "General". [editline]10th November 2015[/editline] It [I]might[/I] have been a thing in Windows 8's Maps, but not at the system settings level.[/QUOTE] Been the case since windowsphone 7 as the maps in 8/10 are essentially based on HEREdrive and HEREmaps. Which really makes me feel strange that google offers such a basic option so late.

But have they made always avoid tolls an option yet? Until they add that, no way am I switching back from HEREmaps.

Oh SWEET. I gave my parents my Nexus 7 last month and maps weren't really that useful with no constant WiFi connection.

A little annoyed this didn't work for me earlier today. Managed to find my way to my destination from work, but plotting my return journey when I had no connectivity it refused despite having downloaded an offline map of the entire city and having the latest version of Maps.

its still small as fuck for me,

Sweet, I almost went over my bandwidth cap leaving Google maps on while on a train

It's not like 2GIS had offline maps and navigation for years already.

Holy crap, this was my biggest criticism of Android and google maps. Neat.

Has anyone downloaded this new update? Mine still hasn't updated and i still don't see any offline support.

[QUOTE=MadDog986;49097313]Has anyone downloaded this new update? Mine still hasn't updated and i still don't see any offline support.[/QUOTE] Grab it from Android Police's APKMirror if you want it ahead of time. For 400-640 dpi devices: [url]http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/maps/maps-9-17-0-400-640dpi-android-apk-download/[/url] 320 dpi: [url]http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/maps/maps-9-17-0-320dpi-android-apk-download/[/url] 213-240 dpi: [url]http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/maps/maps-9-17-0-213-240dpi-android-apk-download/[/url]

It's kinda weird, I've been able to get offline turn-by-turn directions for a few months now. The actual maps don't show up but I can still get directions. As far as this goes I'm just hoping the offline maps aren't limited to a tiny chunk of a small down like it used to be.