Singapore — Relentlessly striving to keep its global audience updated with new services, Google users who need help finding their way around the island will get assistance from today. Global search engine giant on Tuesday announced that it will now support voice-guided, turn-by-turn GPS navigation along with street and satellite views for Android users in Singapore.
According to official Google release, which positively declares that the company has added Singapore to the list of one of the cities supported by the beta version of Google Maps Navigation, which provides turn-by-turn audio driving directions as well as street and satellite views. The release also says that the “update will be made available later today (13 November)”.
In a statement, the company said the nifty features on the Google Maps Navigation app will be activated later today for Android devices running Android 2.2–also known as Froyo–and above, which works both online and offline.
The groundbreaking app was developed from the ground up as an Internet-connected GPS system and includes features such as Street View, Satellite View, Search, Traffic View as well as Search along route. Google Maps Navigation also uses the Internet to provide maps and business information as well as live traffic updates.
Outlining the features, it said, “Google Maps Navigation (Beta) was built from the ground up as an Internet-connected GPS system,” the company said. “Now you will never need to buy map upgrades or manually update your device because you can use the most recent data from Google Maps.”
A report on popular tech news site quoted the company executive as saying, The Google Maps Navigation (beta) add-on will offer motorists voice-guided assistance in getting from point A to point B without looking at the map, even if it is a little visual “work of art”, said Andrew McGlinchey, Product Manager, Southeast Asia, Google in an exclusive interview with TODAY. “The little map will show a 3D version, that is built into the Google Maps app.”
He continued further, “It is new navigation feature that is much anticipated on Google Maps for Singapore,” said McGlinchey. “There is a certain amount of buzz online that we are happy about; people have heard of the feature and asked when it will be available in Singapore.”
Those in Singapore will finally be able to enjoy Google’s turn-by-turn navigation feature, starting today… Image Credit: (Michael Tan/CNET Asia)
Besides drivers, the service also furnishes directions to users who just want to, say, take a walk around town. This means if you are lost sometimes in town — as the city is changing so rapidly — the voice prompts will assist in getting you where you want to be.
On the other hand for non drivers, the feature can also help plan your waypoints using the public transport system. McGlinchey said Google Maps had been able to do that already with data provided directly from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) but the new feature will allow users to chart their routes for public transport. “When you search for a destination, the app provides three different MRT/bus routes, it does not provide the schedules but you can tell the app you need to be at, say Changi Airport, by 8am and it will tell you how to get there according to traveling times.”
In order to make sure you get this great gift from Google Maps feature, you need to make some preparations, simply update the app. First, get your Map and Street View apps updated, from here and here respectively. Other than Directions, there will be a Navigation option when looking up a place on the map.
While you are fiddling with it, turn on Location Access. On the latest version 4.1.1 of Android, it is at Settings > Location Access. Turn on “Access to my location” and tick “GPS Satellites” and “Wi-Fi and mobile network location” for best GPS lock-on performance. Then download GPS Status and Toolbox and run it once every few days for the Android System to get the latest GPS positional files, so that your lock on speed is further supercharged. Enjoy now!