Google map update makes navigation difficult

[Pardus]

On 8/16/13, Google decided to integrate the Google maps icon and the navigation icon into one for Android users. The familiar blue icon is gone, now you have to launch maps to get to navigation. Problem is maps doesn't keep a history of where i been as it did before and you can no longer navigate to your favorite places as it did before.

To make matters even worse, if you say something like "Pizza", it doesn't give you the closest one.

I use the Google navigation all the time, now there forcing me to get a Garmin as the latest Google maps update makes navigation even harder.

 

[ChronoReverse]

I still have the Navigation icon. And didn't this topic already come up before?


(for saving locations, you have to turn on Web History now, so annoying).

 

[soccerballtux]

hasn't ever given me the fastest/nearest location when I say "navigate to starbucks"

that's google as usual

 

[Pardus]

I still have the Navigation icon. And didn't this topic already come up before?


(for saving locations, you have to turn on Web History now, so annoying).

Didn't see this posted before, there is a free app called Scout that seems so far better than Google maps. For example, when i say "gas", it shows me not only the closest locations, but the current gas prices for today.

If choose a restaurant, it shows me a brief synopsis of what the restaurant is all about as well as there phone number.

It also keeps a history and lets you navigate to your contacts. Google should know if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.telenav.app.android.scout_us&hl=en

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oJImq6p8ok

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I'm disappointed overall with Maps 7. The UI upgrade is great, but they should've worked on migrating old features rather than axing them.

 

[Silenus]

On 8/16/13, Google decided to integrate the Google maps icon and the navigation icon into one for Android users. The familiar blue icon is gone, now you have to launch maps to get to navigation. Problem is maps doesn't keep a history of where i been as it did before and you can no longer navigate to your favorite places as it did before.

To make matters even worse, if you say something like "Pizza", it doesn't give you the closest one.

I use the Google navigation all the time, now there forcing me to get a Garmin as the latest Google maps update makes navigation even harder.

I really don't get all the angst people are having. Maps has been nothing but an upgrade all around for me. I'm surprised people used the old "navigation" icon(?!). It's not any more or less difficult to just search a location in maps then tap the navigation icon there...or just use voice search to navigate directly. I've always done it those ways myself, even in the "old" maps. The only thing "missing" for me was the removal of latitude. But as they moved it to G+ and I'm a regular G+ user anyway it's fine.

 

[Oyeve]

All I miss is the labs portion.

 

[Red Storm]

All I miss is the labs portion.

This. I want my measure button back.

 

[foghorn67]

I just use Google Now to replace the Nav function. It's easier, since I just have to swipe the home button up to dictate a command.

 

[A5]

On 8/16/13, Google decided to integrate the Google maps icon and the navigation icon into one for Android users. The familiar blue icon is gone, now you have to launch maps to get to navigation. Problem is maps doesn't keep a history of where i been as it did before and you can no longer navigate to your favorite places as it did before.

To make matters even worse, if you say something like "Pizza", it doesn't give you the closest one.

I use the Google navigation all the time, now there forcing me to get a Garmin as the latest Google maps update makes navigation even harder.

You can definitely still navigate to favorite/starred places. I do it all the time.

 

[rcpratt]

I'm disappointed overall with Maps 7. The UI upgrade is great, but they should've worked on migrating old features rather than axing them.

I'm over most of my initial complaints, but a map without a scale (and without the measure tool) is no map at all.

 

[VashHT]

I thought i saw that they added back the scale in one of the recent updates? I didn't try it since I never used it but I noticed it in the release notes I think.

I also never used the navigation icon, and I'm not sure what OP is saying about history. I use the history all the time to find places I go often and it doesn't fail me, it usually finds the places within 2 or 3 letters/numbers of typing it in. Also, if you click the little person icon on the right of the search bar it brings up a "your activity" screen that shows a crapload of history.

 

[foghorn67]

Yes, the scale is back.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I'm over most of my initial complaints, but a map without a scale (and without the measure tool) is no map at all.

Isn't scale back?

 

[gorcorps]

Just checked, I don't see any way of measuring like you used to. All they added back was the static scale bar which is NOT the same as what they took out. You used to be able to pick any two points on the map and get an "as the crow flies" distance and elevation change. It has absolutely nothing to do with the scale bar.

 

[Red Storm]

Just checked, I don't see any way of measuring like you used to. All they added back was the static scale bar which is NOT the same as what they took out. You used to be able to pick any two points on the map and get an "as the crow flies" distance and elevation change. It has absolutely nothing to do with the scale bar.

Yeah that was from labs, which is gone (for) now. I hope they bring it back, it was very useful.

As for the old navigation icon, I never used that. I either searched somewhere in Maps and pressed one tap to navigate, or I just used voice search for starred places.

 

[Insomniator]

It sucks. I almost kill myself trying to get my phone to navigate me somewhere while driving. Yeah yeah I know, pull over and set it. But speaking a location doesn't hinder my driving, trying to get android to understand that I'm not trying to go to a gas station 5000 miles away is what makes it dangerous.

My gps is on, stop asking me. Stop asking me to turn on wifi to improve location. Let me search for a closest point that's on the way to my current location. So many things...

 

[Red Storm]

It sucks. I almost kill myself trying to get my phone to navigate me somewhere while driving. Yeah yeah I know, pull over and set it. But speaking a location doesn't hinder my driving, trying to get android to understand that I'm not trying to go to a gas station 5000 miles away is what makes it dangerous.

My gps is on, stop asking me. Stop asking me to turn on wifi to improve location. Let me search for a closest point that's on the way to my current location. So many things...

If you have Google Now turned on, you just say "Find the nearest gas station" and it will do it. I just tried it.

 

[rcpratt]

Omg the scale is back. That cannot have happened too long ago.

Thank god.

I'm still not forgiving them. That took way too long.

 

[Pardus]

Thanks all for the replies, switch to Scout. It works.

 

[tvdang7]

yep they should just call it apple maps.