It’s no secret that there will be a Google Maps app on the Pre but the question is, is it any good? Yes! As good as the iPhone’s? Yup. (Certainly faster) The same functionality is there, the app just seems to respond a little better, snappier on the Pre. Given that I didn’t build it, I can’t tell you why that is… but I can show you how it works.
Launch the app and it should default to map view but a quick tap on the “Menu” button will allow you to switch over to satellite view. Wondering what that blue dot is on the map? That’s the phone’s location obtained from the GPS. All I had to do to obtain that was click on the button right next to the “Menu” button down at the bottom right.
What if you want to search for a location? Easy! Start typing… let’s say… Cupertino?
Wondering what the menu looks like? Here you go.
Click on “Help & Terms” and you’ll get this:
So there you have it folks, Google Maps on the Pre. Not much to tell here except it works… and it works just the way you expect it to. Until next time…
And a couple more shots, just for fun:
39 Comments, Comment or Ping
encosion
Pretty please confirm that it supports both Google Latitude and Street View?
May 23rd, 2009
kindaskimpy
Sorry, can’t confirm that for you.
May 23rd, 2009
WizardHowl
Thanks for the post!
I know this is a really dumb question, but I haven’t really noticed any mention of multitouch? Can you “pinch” to zoom and stuff on this app?
Also I see a “get directions” on the menu. Can you use the GPS radio to follow along with this like you can on windows mobile phones?
thanks!
May 23rd, 2009
tony
I mean if you study it carefully this webos platform is sick .look at it this way you have 6 activity cards running one is google maps and at the same time you are composing your email,all you have to do is to flick back to google maps and check your location cause it’s running live.after that go back to the email to respond to your outside woman cause you are driving in here area to meet her for the first time but don’t know where she lives. But thanks to pre and applications running live all the time you will get the chance to score, Thanks you palm.
May 23rd, 2009
loocas
@kindaskimpy. another awesome post, as usual
a couple of questions
1) so did you really take screenshots of googlemap while standing in the location on the map?
2) what do the left and right arrows in screen number three (cupertino) do? scroll through the results list?
3) is there a history of previously searched locations? if so how do you invoke it and is it easy to use?
4) you said “Launch the app and it should default to map view but a quick tap on the “Menu” button will allow you to switch over to satellite view.” what does that mean exactly? are you just saying that you click on “menu” then select “sattelite” or are you saying that there’s some sort of shortcut to jump between the two views w/a single click on the “menu” button?
thx!
May 23rd, 2009
jerry
Heh, nice location in the first location shot
May 23rd, 2009
mike t
hey, how about a meet the “settings” screen set. We really want to know how configurable the Pre is. Wifi, bluetooth, WAN, email setup, etc…
May 23rd, 2009
Devron
Uh – maybe with all of the ‘cease and desist’ and corporate folks roaming the place you might not have wanted to like pinpoint your location and put it on the web??
May 23rd, 2009
JP
Eeeh folks … these screenshots were made at the Palm HQ.. look at the location!
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=nl&geocode=&q=sunnyvile+golf+course&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.589577,56.601563&ie=UTF8&ll=37.392807,-122.040027&spn=0,359.998273&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=37.392895,-122.040304&panoid=OY6NQ7l2MUh4D0BriyC3nQ&cbp=12,223.53,,0,-4.42
May 23rd, 2009
loocas
May 23rd, 2009
Terry
Wow screenshots. Exciting. The new Iphone will be twice as fast as the current iPhone 3G and have many more features and run on a network that actually works unlike Sprint.
May 23rd, 2009
kindaskimpy
@terry
If by network that works you mean crashes every time any real 3G traffic comes on, and not just small crashes… more like entire east coast crash, then sure, the network works splendidly. You should have a look at those Sprint 3G network tests done by Gizmodo… there’s a reason Sprint can safely claim the most dependable 3G network.”
Also, the fact that you felt compelled to me here to see something you are clearly not interested in just to post your mindless dribble speaks volumes of your character, or lack thereof.
May 23rd, 2009
JM
Thank you, “Palm Goon”, for giving us the illusion of an independent source of information on the Pre.
May 23rd, 2009
youssef
@kindaskimpy
Fuck your good at arguing.
Did you debate or something when you were little?
Legend
May 23rd, 2009
kindaskimpy
@youssef
LOL Thanks for the compliment. My parents did always tell me I should have been a lawyer but damn I couldn’t get rid of my conscience.
May 23rd, 2009
serpentor
@terry
you’re an ass.
from your comment you’ve never used an iphone or had sprint. I have both. and 3g on att sucks, by far.
my iphone is now running on tmo cuz i couldn’t justify paying $50 on top of voice plan just for barely better than edge speeds. i figured if im getting that kind of speed, i’d rather just pay tmo for it.
May 23rd, 2009
serpentor
@kindaskimpy
can google maps be used in landscape mode?
May 23rd, 2009
kindaskimpy
@serpentor
Much like the iPhone version of the app, it runs vertically. At least right now it does. I have a feeling this is going to change soon… call it a … “hunch”
May 23rd, 2009
giz
How can you tell how fast an app is, if you’re running it on the sdk and not the real handset? just wondering.
May 23rd, 2009
Screenshots vom pre « Nexave
[...] ist. Die Website postet Bilder zur Kontakte-Applikation, zum Webbrowser, zur E-Mail-Applikation, zu Google Maps, zu den Memos und zu den Aufgaben. Ebenfalls interessant: Es ist eine Liste der Hersteller [...]
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
May 24th, 2009
Daremo
Thanks a lot for the info! Any news or hints on if a garmin based app (as the mobileXT) its on the plans?
May 24th, 2009
MissingLinq
Any word on if it supports public transit? I love the public transit directions on WinMo, and that is currently a key feature for me (seeing as I don’t have a car). It makes it so much easier to get around the city…
May 24th, 2009
David Ahn
Terry, every network has spots where they are worse than other networks, but having had Sprint for 10 years (and the Treo 650 and 700p), and now AT&T and the iPhone for 2 years, I can’t wait to go back to Palm and Sprint. AT&T drops my calls an average of 20 times a week. I’ve stopped getting mad… just getting used to it. Learned helplessness… look it up, you’ll be glad you did, because we all get to a point where we simply give up.
I’m comin’ back, Sprint and Palm!!!
David
May 25th, 2009
Ryan
My biggest complaint with the Pre is the inability to look up Google Public Transit info. The Google Maps WebOS app automatically loads whenever you go to maps.google.com and since there is no public transit support built into the app, AND you can’t access the regular web page because it autoloads (no you can’t delete the app) there is no way to get routes. I even tried installing Classic (a PalmOS emulator) and tried to use the Google PalmOS app, which loads, but can’t load GPS data and crashes when I ask for directions. So seriously, NO GOOGLE PUBLIC TRANSIT whatsoever at this time. will someone PLEASE write an app that can access it? Other than that and the battery life (which I heard should be fixed with a new battery yet to be released) I’m extremely happy with my Palm Pre. The cards are great and Sprint’s network simply has better sound quality and signal penetration through large concrete buildings with fewer dropouts. Once the developers get access to the WebOS SDK, I think we’re going to see some really cool things for the Pre.
Jun 10th, 2009
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