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When Apple Maps launched to an over-hyped amount of fanfare, one of the headline features was vector mapping; smoother maps that crucially allow the same amount of mapping detail to be kept with smaller files. Though this has been present in Google Maps on Android for some time now, developers of apps like Expedia have had to choose between high-res but large file size, or low-res but manageable. Thanks to the nice people over at Google, that’s all changed.
In the spirit of fair play, the Maps API for Android has now been updated, allowing vector maps and indoor maps to be used by all and sundry. We’re just hoping that this more friendly and open approach will carry over when Google Maps makes its way back to iOS; with a combo of Google’s information data and sweet, sweet vector maps, you’ll never get lost again. Oh, and Apple Maps will be well and truly screwed. [Ubergizmo]
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“Oh, and Apple Maps will be well and truly screwed.” they haven’t needed Google’s help to get in that position.
The one advantage it has was vector maps. God, I hope Google hurries up and releases G Maps for iOS, and I really hope it comes with compass support too, because that’s a must for me (no sense of direction).
Compass is the best thing ever added to a smartphone when you get out of a tube station and have no idea which way to go.
except for constant calibration with that figure 8 movement. look like a nonce doing that…
I’ve never needed to do that, I just open google maps and see which way my arrow is pointing, or use the live perspective view.
A compass is little help without a map.
You could try lining your watch up with the sun, checking which side of a tree is green or just following the stars – but this is a UK city, the first two are rare and the last would probably do you for stalking
There is another way though, born of a symbolic ancient knowledge. The druids used to call it a sign, and i believe we still do
I don’t know — often, I get out of a train station, knowing I wanna walk west, but 9 times out of 10 there’s no setting sun to walk towards
Releasing map maker in the UK would also be nice.