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Does Google Maps work offline? Really??

S

SkinJob

Well-Known Member
I'm just starting to look at this program, considering it for turn by turn in-car navigation. I downloaded a map of my city. I turned off GPS and wifi. I hit "Directions". First thing it tells me is I need a data connection! What the....

Wait. I'm not finished. I then go and check "com.google.android.apps.maps" folder on my sd card, to see the map, so I can back it up. It's not there. Surely, it's not storing 71mb of data on internal?? There's no reason for that.:confused:

Finally.... I then read that Google Maps deletes your offline map every 30 days, to save storage space! What the...?! Do they realize that makes it totally useless to use? I'm not about to keep downloading or uploading 71mb of map data every single month, just to use a gps program! Surely the author got it wrong?
 
It stores the map offline on my phone, not sure where but I can view the saved map area with no data connection. But to calculate directions the phone needs a data connection obviously.
 
That kind of defeats the purpose of "offline" maps, if you still need a data connection to map the route. That means, once I'm in the car, if I need to detour or go to "x" location, I have to drive back home, input the new directions, drive back out, then drive back home again (traffic accident, detour required), then drive back out again.... yah, I don't think so. I could not even fathom the idea of downloading maps the day before I need to drive somewhere (especially if I need directions for like, now).

I'd just as soon get a Nuvi (which I have, but anyway....). It's just disappointing to learn that after all the hype I read, Google Maps is really not what's cracked up to be. :( Which is too bad, because it looks nice. I've already delted the maps, and I'm putting GM on the shelf. I'll just have to go with Sygic or some other GPS app for the android.
 
SkinJob said:
I'm just starting to look at this program, considering it for turn by turn in-car navigation. I downloaded a map of my city. I turned off GPS and wifi. I hit "Directions". First thing it tells me is I need a data connection! What the....
Click to expand...

Ummm, you do know you need GPS turned ON for any mapping application to actually know where you are don't you? Having GPS 'ON' does NOT use any of your data allowance.

NB: that won't fix your problem but there are plenty of threads on here about offline maps and using Google offline, including it's limitations in this mode.

Dave
 
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