Google Maps with Navigation Gives Turn-by-Turn Driving Instructions - Review

With Google launching Google Maps with Navigation to give Android 2.0 users turn-by-turn voice guidance on the recently announced Motorola Droid, we wanted to take a spin of the new Navigation application. Unlike other subscriptions-based services like TeleNav, VZ Navigator, Sprint Navigator, and AT&T Navigator, Google's solution is free of charge. However, like the mentioned competitor, it will only work with an active data connection to pull mapping and routing data over the air so maps are not stored on your device.

The cool part about Google Maps with Navigation, a service that is still in beta and is currently only available on Android 2.0, is that it actually has text-to-speech, which means it will read the street names. Rather than saying "turn left in twenty feet," Google Maps with Navigation will actually state, "turn left in twenty feet at street name."

Check out our video below:



Windows Mobile users interested in navigation options should also check out Bing and trip planning. Adam gave us a neat solution using Bing Mobile to plan and coordinate your next trip.

For complete Droid coverage, stay tuned to pocketnow.com. Please also see our unboxing and hardware tour and software preview video. The Droid is expected for consumer availability on November 6 for $200 post-rebates and contract.