Google, as part of its keynote speech, showed off a more rich Maps client for Android. Due later this year, the new mobile app will offer a full offline experience that includes all of the normal features we take for granted.
Once rolled out users will be able to search for businesses and locations, review hours, and even auto-complete results. In perhaps one of the coolest demonstrations of the day, Google showed off a complete turn-by-turn navigation.
For a quick glimpse, check out the video below at around the 2:11:45 mark.
Although we’ve been able to save maps offline and cache details for some time, it’s nowhere near as fleshed out as the upcoming stuff. Unfortunately, there’s no indication as to when we’ll see the new Maps. The best Google would offer up is “later this year”.
One of the reasons we’re looking forward to the new Maps experience is that it breathes new life into otherwise old and useless devices. You’ll soon be able to take your deactivated or WiFi-only models and repurpose them into working turn-by-turn navigation tools.
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