Who else is excited about this? As someone who uses Google Maps on tour I find this rather exciting!


From CNN
Whether you have limited or low data or you're stuck in a country road with spotty service, Google's Maps will come to the rescue ... offline. Prior to Tuesday's app update, Google Maps worked offline much like our old school physical paper maps -- it just showed a visual of an area.Now, Google says you can download any area of the world in a single click and get full, turn-by-turn navigation the next time you are without internet. Google previewed this feature at this year's Google I/O developers conference in May. With the Maps update, the app will now allow people to search for specific destinations. They can also access information about businesses, such as hours of operation, contact information and ratings. The Google Maps update has already started to roll out to Android phones, and the iOS update is coming soon. Many real-time features like traffic information, user generated photos and satellite views are still not included. However, the data stored offline gets seamlessly updated with real-time information as soon as you get connected to the internet again. Offline Maps is available globally in more than 200 countries.

Oh, and by the title, I thought they were going to shut down the service.

One of the differences I've found between Strava and RideWithGPS is that RideWithGPS seems to forget where I've been. Strava seems to keep maps, at least in the vicinity of where one typically is riding.

I could certainly imagine the benefits of an app like Google allowing route planing. Go from A to B, then to download all the maps within a couple of miles of the intended course.

I still have some HUGE cell phone coverage holes, and I also generally run Strava with an off-line device.

Google Maps has had limited offline capability for years. The new feature is nav/tbt prompts.

Unless it's just changed, the Google Maps you can download for offline use are very limited in file size (small area/hi def or larger area/too low def). They are behind literally years in development. You are much better off with a dedicated gps nav app that supports offline navigation using pre-downloaded map databases. I recommend OsmAnd.

I'm pretty pleased to read about this as well. This may be a real game changer for app development and hopefully a viable alternative to costly map downloads for devices and apps. Looking forward to seeing how this plays out.

Same here when I read the title on CNN. I'm not familiar with Strava. I have RideWithGPS but not a fan of it. Pretty much use Google Maps for my tours. Usually print off a day or two in advance where I knew I wouldn't have service.

Osmand map downloads are free, so are several other apps. Do it by free wifi. No cell data plan necessary.

Google has apparently increased the download limit from 50 MB to 2.5 GB. That's a lot of map data. And its all free to download, which will surely hurt the independent mapping software vendors trying to make a go of it.

Google is also including offline POI searches in the new Maps app, the database for which is largely becoming maintained through user crowd-sourcing. That feature will appeal to a lot of people, including bike tourists looking for bike shops, internet cafes, campgrounds, etc., I suspect.

I have osmand...a lack of intuitively knowing how to use it properly combined with a total lack of directions has left it on my phone and unused.

Printed Maps .. Never been a problem.. .

always set sail with a paper chart on board. ..

The problem for me is finding paper maps.

I've been using an old fashioned (ca 10 years old) GPS unit. Its maps are pretty out of date, but that rarely matters since paper maps and Google maps are also full of errors. Given how my phone is so much smarter than my old Mio GPS receiver, I don't understand why I can't get the Android equivalent to the software that's on the GPS; but it doesn't seem to be an option.

Europe/British Isles, I went to book shops..

1 I got from a fellow passenger on a Baltic Sea ferry between Denmark & Poland.

I am so used to using MapsWithMe which was re-named Maps.Me, that I see no reason to change. I load entire states when I have wifi. But this is for roads, does not show bike trails.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ithme.maps.pro

I also use Soviet Military Maps pro version (~$11) but that does not have routing. I like the bike trails and contour maps in the Open Streets Cycle layer, although the contour maps are metric instead of in feet. I use the bulk download feature when I have wifi.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...gis.sovietmaps

But thanks for posting anyway, better GPS options are always appreciated.

Thanks for the heads-up. I will give that a look for sure.

I have the inexpensive pay version of osmand (it's osmand+). A one-time fee (maybe $6?) to download any number of state or region maps. And I purchased the countour and elevation overlay (maybe $2?) The free version has a limit of 10 state downloads.

If I'm doing driving directions, I normally use google maps if I have a data connection. They have updated traffic and better routing calculations. But osmand is fast to load and uses the previously downloaded map files.

If your phone has a separate data card, configure Osmand to store it's maps there. If you have a lot of states, it adds up to quite a bit of storage. I have 2.5 GB with maybe 10 states loaded.

Here's an example of osmand screen shots, Mount Mitchell, near Asheville NC:

EDIT--July 2017: There are a lot of improvements in the display. I like it. For instance, making it easier to create a bicycle route to a destination address or by picking a point on the screen. There's a lot of features, so some practice with the menu options before traveling would be a good idea.

zooming in. The elevations are in meters, not feet. It shows different types of roads in different colors, and bike trails show in dark blue.

Note the map scale at the bottom right corner, menu button at bottom left. "12 of 20" gps satellites in view, gpx recording of my movements is 'off', 522 feet is my current location's elevation.

EDIT 2 -- Feb 2018: I checked these screen shots with the newer osmand version. The restroom icons don't show up until it's zoomed way in, otherwise, it looks quite similar. The icon to switch map views between driving, bicycle, and walking shows different map views, with more trails showing on the walk view.





Contour lines every 10 meters (33 feet). The setup lets you decide what zoom level starts showing contours.
Now, the bicycle and walking views show contours at a larger zoom than the driving map shows.


Zoomed way in, with a location marker that can be named and saved. More details appear as you zoom in--the museum building and bathrooms symbol, for instance.

I find myself going to the library and printing them off every few days or so. That way I can toss them as I use them.

Interesting development. Garmin GPS's always sucked at pre-programmed turn-by-turn routes, not sure if Google Maps update will address that. A friend went on a trip to Ecuador a couple of years ago, I helped him figure out how to download detailed Google maps, a rather time-consuming task then--one needed to select an area that was not too big otherwise smaller roads not included. Garmin's newish Edge Touring still has problems with pre-programmed TBT, signalling that they've essentially given up on that niche.

My biggest problem with Google maps was having it tell me to turn on a road that didn't exist several times I haven't used the new ones yet.

De Lorme https://www.delorme.com/ has a Digital version too .. https://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DEL...minisite=10020

I use paper maps for most of my travels, but find it difficult to navigate in cities. Also find it very advantageous to know where I am, and to be able to find POI's. I used google maps last time, and had a difficult time using it. Just downloaded OsmAnd and will try it.

Yeah, Google Maps a work in progress. Looking at a saved "My Maps" map route that was a test, didn't actually ride it, & the turn directions seem kinda screwy. I haven't tried the My Maps phone app yet. Maybe it's OK at least to see the highlighted route even if directions are not great.

I tried OsaAnd. I mapped my usual route to work, and the only option seems to be shortest distance. The route takes me over two monster hills that would best be avoided. I looked for a "shortest time" option, but don't see one. Due to Google maps taking into account altitude, it is the better way to go for me.

Am I wrong, or ... has Google Maps stopped showing off-street Class I bike paths? For example, where I live (Southern California), Google Maps no longer shows the 35-mile long Santa Ana River Trail, the 38-mile long San Gabriel River Trail, etc. However you feel about Class I bike paths, you do appreciate knowing where they are when you reach a metro area. Am I wrong? Am I missing something new, some new layer in Google Maps that shows the major rail-trails and bike paths? Correct me if I am.

Okay, I stand corrected: it does show off-street Class I bike paths, but only when you zoom in to a certain level (1" = 2,000'). Which is not very helpful as you don't get a big-picture view.

Tomtom has a great app. Offline maps, offline route planning and bicycle routing. Turn by turn spoken directions offline. Offline POIs. Last I checked Google could follow a route offline but not plan one. Google's spoken directions are a useless absolute laugh. That b*t*h says turn left, turn right, turn around, faster than she can get the words out. Some real craftsmanship has gone into the tomtom app and it depends on the Internet for Nothing. That said you have to spend $50. I did a few years ago and still get free map updates.