Google Maps Navigation (Beta)

Google Maps Navigation is an internet-connected GPS navigation system with voice guidance. It is part of Google Maps for mobile and is available for phones with Android 2.0.

Google Maps Navigation uses your phone's internet connection to give you the latest maps and business data. But that's not all that's different about Google's approach to GPS navigation. Watch the below video to learn more.




Read more details here: http://www.google.com/mobile/navigation/#p=default

Hero gets new Android update

One operator which is pretty gung-ho about Android is France Telecom's Orange network and word from them is that "we can't say when we're upgrading our Hero users to Android 2.0 not yet.' But they did just announce a big joint venture with Google - "We'll be the first operator to give customers one-click access to Google Mobile App on multiple mobile platforms - in addition to a search widget on the Android mobile platform," they told us.

The Mobile App deal won't happen this week, but it sounds like it will be out before December. Officially, it's in the next few weeks, but our sources hinted "within two weeks, actually".

Upgrades to version 2.0 of Android will happen. The HTC Hero handset is currently Orange's top-range star handset, and it runs the previous Android version. But HTC itself has confirmed that the Hero won't need to be replaced.

From Chris Ziegler http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/htc-confirmed-to-be-cooking-up-android-2-0-update-for-hero-othe/ we have a direct quote asking for "patience" which doesn't sound like before the New year, frankly.



His contact inside HTC said: "Yes, we are working on an Eclair update for the HTC Hero. Because Eclair is a significantly enhanced release, it will require some time to update Sense for this new version of the Android OS."

But Orange Hero owners will get Mobile App quickly. The official announcement: "Orange today becomes the first operator to partner with Google to bring Google Mobile App to mobile customers in Europe. The multi-year strategic agreement, combining the best in content and search innovation from both partners, is making mobile search and geo-location services even more accessible by giving customers one-click access to Google Mobile App via the Orange homescreen."

The application "provides enhanced search features and access to the Orange mobile portal and other familiar Google products and services."

From October, the Orange Signature Android series, including LG Eve (France, Spain), HTC Tattoo (France, UK, Spain) and HTC Hero (France) will also feature specially designed services like the Orange Email Wizard which lets users set up and use their chosen mobile email services - including Google Mail "in one easy-to-manage place," said the publicity release.

That doesn't make it altogether clear what happens to UK Hero users (or when!) but we'll pass on the news when we get it.

Mobile App will later be made available "across a wider range of Orange Signature devices operating on Symbian S60, RIM (BlackBerry) and Microsoft's Windows Mobile," the operator added. On these platforms the application will include links to services like Orange mobile portal, Google News, Google Maps and Google Mail.

First blog post

Alright people, this is my first post and many will follow.
If you landed on this blog then we probably have the same passion: All and everything Google does, but in particular what is happening on the Android front.

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Have fun !