Google Maps 3.4 Released for Android OS Devices

Nadia Naila

Monday, 8 February 2010

Google has released a new version of Google Maps for smartphones running the Android OS. This includes some addition features, like night mode for navigation, and synchronization of starred places.

Motorola Droid users will be happy to know this version offers pinch-to-zoom on smartphones running Android OS 2.0 and above.

New Sync Capabilities

Google Maps 3.4 has been designed to work in cooperation with this company;'s other services, and this comes into play with the introduction of personalized suggestions and synchronized starring.

With this update, terms that have been previously entered in Google search service will be easily available when searching in Google Maps.

And businesses that have been starred in the desktop version of this app will also show up starred in the mobile version, and vice versa.

Pinch-To-Zoom

As mentioned before, Google Maps 3.4 adds the ability to to enlarge or shrink maps by "pinching" them with two fingers, but only for models running Android OS 2.0 and above. Google added multi-touch support to this operating system in version 2.0, but none of this company's apps have offered the pinch-to-zoom gesture until now.

This means that while smartphones running Android OS 1.6 can install this new version, they won't get pinch-to-zoom capabilities.

Available Now

Google Maps 3.4 can be downloaded now from the on-device Android Market. It is a free download.

Those with a Google Nexus One don't need to install it, as it is included in a system software update going out to this device now.

There are also versions of this application for other smartphone operating systems, including Windows Mobile. Versions of this app are integrated into the Apple iPhone OS and Palm's webOS.

BY: Ed Hardy, Brighthand.com Editor
PUBLISHED: 2/6/2010

Tag : Android