Sweet! I like that it loads faster than Live Search. Not as many options as far as I can tell though.

Cool, this loaded nice and easily, no worrying about downloading other Java applications or anything. But I can't get it to see my bluetooth GPS. Anyone know if this works with a GPS, and if so what com port, since there are no settings?

Thanks,
Xmurray.

This is a great find, but the app needs improvement.
one problem i find very annoying is that if your connection stays dormant for too long or dies, while doing a search, the only option you are given is to exit the program.
if i am in an area that has very low signal strength and takes a while to kick out of dormant mode, i don't want Google Maps thinking i lost internet access altogether. There should be an option to try again (sadly there isn't).

In times when you are desperate for directions, this app can either save you or get you really frustrated

On question..if someone already has a GPS, what is the value or purpose of having this application? I used to have Earth for my i730, but got rid of it after I got a GPS software and reciever.

__________________
Samsung i730 (LOVE IT! I always use it as the main PPC)
-XV6800 (Nice but need better signal strength-a keeper with the custom ROMs, GPS, design, 2MP cam, waiting for the official WM 6.1 update)
-SCH-i760 (Die kill die)-
NEXT? Maybe i770..?..Omnia?..Innov8? Chuck Verizon all together for an SGH-i760? iPhone? I don't know yet but I still thoroughly enjoy my i730!

Many benefits Dom...

1. This software isn't dependant upon a GPS receiver to give you directions.
2. This app is small, and doesn't require GB's of maps.
3. This just needs an active internet connection and you can zoom in.
4. Satellite pictures.
5. Can overlay traffic on top of map, provided you are in an area that provides traffic information.
6. You can literally pull up anywhere without having to find the correct map, if your maps are broken down by region.
7. You can locate businesses, and search for businesses close to a certain vicinity.
8. You don't have to carry a GPS receiver.
9. You don't have to charge a GPS receiver...

So there are many advantages to this over a GPS receive and software. Drawbacks including that you MUST be online to pull the map.

Virtual Earth is also very similar to Google Maps, and both look like they will compete with each other, plus VE uses Microsoft's maps, while Google uses Google's Maps.

I am sure both of these software would help anyone that didn't want to carry around a GPS receiver.

__________________
-Michael
Need help setting up your i730/i830 or other WM2003/WM5 Phone, as well as the other hacks I have done, check out the MRailing Guides and Links

I tried google maps extensively this weekend during a rare getaway in the wine country. It worked fantastically. It even did OK when I could not get a connection letting me wonder through what maps it did have.

The search features were great--trying to find a hotel, I just clicked the search button, found some places (which show up on the map), clicked on the icon for the hotel I was interested in and hit dial. It integrated with the phone beautifully!

IMHO, this program blows away Microsoft Live and Virtual Earth. The interface on Google Maps is much better than on Microsoft live (although the functionality seems pretty similar). I always found Microsoft live too modal--with too many windows open and to much fussing. Google is much more intuitive and easier to deal with. Virtual Earth is cool, but does not have the search and directions functions.

I used to have Microsoft Live and Virtual Earth on the beastie. Virtual Earth when I wanted a basic map quickly without the overhead and fuss of Microsoft Live; Microsoft Live when I wanted to track, search or get directions.

I dumped them both and now only have Google Maps.

OK, I can't get this to work... I've downloaded the cab file, copied to the my i730 and installed. Now what?

Sorry, I see that it installs an application on the phone. Seems to be working fine.

I tried using the included GPS functionality with my bluetooth GPS. While I got the GPS to connect, it won't acquire satellites.

__________________
Managing Director
HyTek Hosting, LLC
www.hytekhosting.com

I got this working with my BT GPS (iBlue 737) - I didn't have any problems - just turned on the GPS and told Google I wanted to track location - it put a blue dot EXACTLY where I was on the satellite map - pretty cool.

On the commute this morning I tried it out and found that while the app is really neat, it is completely unsuitable for navigation while driving:

-It uses huge amounts of data to constantly download maps to show you where you are while driving. At highway speeds I found it dowloaded about 1MB/minute.

-Even with EVDO speed getting map data, if you drive over about 60mph the app has trouble keeping up downloading and panning the maps to show you where you are - you just drive right off the map! You can zoom out, but then its really hard to see exactly where you are.

-There is no way to orient the map to the direction you are driving - the map is always oriented North.

-When I fire up my usual navigation software (iGuidance 3.0), Google Maps only updates its maps sporadically (every few minutes). iGuidance also seems unhappy - while it does a good job of keeping up with my position on the map, the voice commands for navigation get REALLY SLOW, making them useless.

The GPS funtionality of Google Maps is cool, and if you use it while stopped to see where you are and what's around you it is very helpful (to augment the POI you have on your normal navigation software). The software is VERY accurate in showing where you are (at work it practically showed me what parking space I was in!). I like it, but not for navigation.