Google Maps Updated to v3.2.0, Adds Layers

Google has finally woken up to the prominence of symbian fifth edition platform with its recently released update for Google Maps following on the close heels of its release of YouTube client, which we covered the other day.

We weren’t much amused by the YouTube client, but the developers at Google seemed to have hit the bull’s eye with the latest version of Google maps by incorporating layers on to the already impressive navigation app. With the latest update, Google maps on mobile is now much closer to the capability of the desktop version of Google maps. The latest version is numbered v3.2.0 and can be downloaded for free from m.google.com/maps.

Screenshots:

google maps1 google maps2 google maps3 google maps4

You would have probably heard of Google Latitude, which was a standard feature of the previous version of Google maps. With the new version, we can now access this feature by adding the Latitude “layer” on to the maps. We just love Google latitude, which is akin to some of the most popular augmented reality apps on the iPhone platform. What Google latitude does, is it shows the location of your fellow latitude user-friends in real time and we use this pretty often to arrange a quick meet over a coffee or lunch.

google maps5 google maps6 Another great layer is the Wikipedia layer, which doesn’t need any introduction, now does it? To check out how this wiki layer pans out on our 5800s, we did a quick search of “Statue of Liberty+New York” and we were quiet amazed with kinda info the app pulled up from the web.

Just tapping on the wiki button, lists address, links to other websites for more info, and even reviews too. With a database of the magnitude of Wiki, we think this is one of the best navigation features of this app. And yeah, the call button is an embedded link, meaning you can directly call the number by just tapping on the call button.

What we like?

Layers. It just blows our mind away!
Embedded call and sms buttons

What we hate?

No offline support (Nokia Maps aces in this department)
The SMS option, just sends the link of the map to the sender (We were looking for something like a snapshot of the image to be sent, a standard feature in Nokia Maps)

Verdict

We just love the all new Google Maps with its layers and other amazing features. Save for offline support, this is one of the best free navigation applications available on the symbian platform today. With layers of Wiki and Latitude, Google Maps is going to be a big hit among the mobile netizens. Take our word on this, just download the latest version of Google Maps and get ready for an “edutaining” navigation experience on your 5800s.

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