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The best things I take away from this video: 1. The new Google Maps is coming out in the next few days for Android phones and it looks SLICK. Pure vector graph

by jlgosse 16y ago

The best things I take away from this video: 1. The new Google Maps is coming out in the next few days for Android phones and it looks SLICK. Pure vector graphics when looking at standard map views, which will greatly reduce bandwidth. 2. The gmail app in 3.0 looks slick, perhaps even slicker than the Mail app for iPad. 3. It seems as though we're going to be able to have one binary for both phones and tablets, and the device will automatically detect which device it is and work accordingly.

naner 16y ago
Pure vector graphics when looking at standard map views, which will greatly reduce bandwidth. That doesn't come free, though. Don't vector graphics calculations require more CPU/GPU power and likewise consume more battery?
- dagw 16y ago
  Possibly, but not necessarily. Bandwidth also uses batteries and GPUs are getting more and more power efficient. Anyway the ability to download and store the maps for a weeks trip before leaving home more than makes up for any minor loss in battery life.
  - jlgosse 16y ago
    I think you're both right. The reduced use of raw bandwidth is going to be a huge battery saver alone. If you're allowed to download trip data BEFORE leaving on a trip, this will also save a lot of battery, especially if you're in areas with poor 3G coverage. Basically, we may be heading to a time where we can rely solely on our Android phones for GPS navigation.
    - dagw 16y ago
      especially if you're in areas with poor 3G coverage. It's not just poor coverage that is a problem. If, like me, you live in a small country up off in the corner of the civilized world, then half the times when you've travelled far enough to actually need your GPS you will have wandered across some national border. Trying to download maps over 3G in such a situation will basically lead to a phone bill that will require you to re-mortgage your house to pay off.
      - codeglomeration 16y ago
        You know you can disable data transfer for roaming right?
        darklajid 16y ago
        Which leads again to the "I'm lost and my phone cannot help me without data connectivity" problem that vector based maps could solve. Hence his praise for the feature: In his case this is not just a matter of 3G availability in terms of technical coverage, it's whether 3G is affordable as well. Both could be solved with "preloading" the phone. So - I dare to say that he knows how to disable that and that's completely unrelated. He doesn't even want to need data roaming to have Google Maps available. You misread the intention of his post.
        dagw 16y ago
        How exactly will that help me with the whole finding out where I am and where I have to go problem?

by jlgosse 16y ago

naner 16y ago

Pure vector graphics when looking at standard map views, which will greatly reduce bandwidth. That doesn't come free, though. Don't vector graphics calculations require more CPU/GPU power and likewise consume more battery?

dagw 16y ago
Possibly, but not necessarily. Bandwidth also uses batteries and GPUs are getting more and more power efficient. Anyway the ability to download and store the maps for a weeks trip before leaving home more than makes up for any minor loss in battery life.
- jlgosse 16y ago
  I think you're both right. The reduced use of raw bandwidth is going to be a huge battery saver alone. If you're allowed to download trip data BEFORE leaving on a trip, this will also save a lot of battery, especially if you're in areas with poor 3G coverage. Basically, we may be heading to a time where we can rely solely on our Android phones for GPS navigation.
  - dagw 16y ago
    especially if you're in areas with poor 3G coverage. It's not just poor coverage that is a problem. If, like me, you live in a small country up off in the corner of the civilized world, then half the times when you've travelled far enough to actually need your GPS you will have wandered across some national border. Trying to download maps over 3G in such a situation will basically lead to a phone bill that will require you to re-mortgage your house to pay off.
    - codeglomeration 16y ago
      You know you can disable data transfer for roaming right?
      - darklajid 16y ago
        Which leads again to the "I'm lost and my phone cannot help me without data connectivity" problem that vector based maps could solve. Hence his praise for the feature: In his case this is not just a matter of 3G availability in terms of technical coverage, it's whether 3G is affordable as well. Both could be solved with "preloading" the phone. So - I dare to say that he knows how to disable that and that's completely unrelated. He doesn't even want to need data roaming to have Google Maps available. You misread the intention of his post.
      - dagw 16y ago
        How exactly will that help me with the whole finding out where I am and where I have to go problem?