I was finding it a bit of a struggle working out the best way to add my Google Contacts to the maps so they were organised sensibly and easy to lookup when using maps/navigation on the phone. Since I couldn’t find a step by step guide to piece it all together, I thought I’d post something here as it may be helpful to others muddling through like me.
I didn’t find an easy way to add all my contacts to the map, but then again I don’t think that’s a major problem - after all, I’m not likely to be visiting everyone listed in my address book.
Here’s what worked for me (there are two choices for the first step, depending whether your using the phone or tour desktop):
1. Adding Stars/Favourites To The Map (Phone)
You can add “Stars” to for your Google Contact from the People app on the phone. Select the contact, then "View home/work address", and assuming there's enough detail it will take you to that point on the map. Click on the marker, and you'll get the black Google Map screen which includes a greyed out star just below the clock. Click this and you’ll get a star on added to your map.
Or...
1. Adding Stars/Favourites To The Map (Desktop)
You can add “Stars” to for your Google Contact to Google Maps by going to the contacts page (http://www.google.com/contacts), selecting the contact and clicking the Map link (next to the address). This will bring up the Google Map page with a marker for that particular contact’s address. The address should also be listed at the left-hand side with a bold blue link. Next to that link will be a feint blue star outline. Click this and you’ll get a star on added to your map.
2. Renaming/Removing Favourites (Desktop)
That’s all well and good, but this star may not have the most convenient name. For example, it might be called “142 Main Street, Leicester”, but for the benefit of navigation, you may want to refer to it as “Home”, or “Dave’s House” etc.
To change the description to something more memorable, go to the Google Bookmarks page (https://www.google.com/bookmarks). Here you’ll be able to see all the starred items on your map and more importantly edit or delete them.
(Stared Items can also be viewed from the “My Maps” page from the main Google Maps site - but you can only view/select them, and not actually edit the details here.)
3. Using Your Favourites (Phone)
After synching your phone, when you bring up Google Maps Navigation Icon (i.e. the relatively new Blue Arrow that appeared in the 4.2.0 update) you’ll see all your favourite places, named accordingly under Choose Destination, “Starred Items”.
You can also access them from the main Google Maps App by clicking on the Bookmark icon next to the Start/End destination options that if you select “Directions”.
Hope this helps!
Matt
If you hold down the magnifying glass and say navigate (contact name) it will take you there,
Fon22
It's all a bit clunky though isn't it? You'd have thought that google would've come up with something at least as good as apple on one of their flagship products!? I got used to using my mrs iphone and it's so intuitive and integrated to add data between maps and contacts and the web.
Not on android. Took me a week to find out how to add a stupid star - which i don't seem to be able to turn off after either and have to have it on my screen. would be good to be able to toggle stars/pins in different layers - ie friends addresses, restaurants etc and to be able to easily integrate between web, maps and contacts.
You'll probably tell me you can - i hope so.
jooliohoolio said:
It's all a bit clunky though isn't it? You'd have thought that google would've come up with something at least as good as apple on one of their flagship products!? I got used to using my mrs iphone and it's so intuitive and integrated to add data between maps and contacts and the web.
Not on android. Took me a week to find out how to add a stupid star - which i don't seem to be able to turn off after either and have to have it on my screen. would be good to be able to toggle stars/pins in different layers - ie friends addresses, restaurants etc and to be able to easily integrate between web, maps and contacts.
You'll probably tell me you can - i hope so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you can delete the stars from the bookmarks page (http://www.google.com/bookmarks).
I'm still learning myself, but you're right, it is very clunky. It'd be nice if you could just add a star for the contact to the map with a single click from the phone.
EDIT: You can also delete them using the phone by selecting a star on the map, then deselecting the star in the same way you add it. Whilst you can simply add a star, I can't see a simple way of giving it a sensible name - the one you get always seems to be the first line of the address. It's the renaming bit (Step 2 in my OP) that was the main "missing link" for me, but it's perhaps not quite as clunky as I first thought.
With regards to layers, you can create a map online (My Maps -> Create New Maps) then add/copy places to that map. From the phone, you can then see a specific map by selecting Layers -> More Layers -> My Maps.
Related
According to msmobiles.com (see http://msmobiles.com/news.php/6898.html) a new version of Google Maps was released on November 16th. I have DLd it, but haven't yet installed it.
From reading about it, I am not too sure how much has changed. Here is the list the site speaks to:
Real-time traffic conditions
See where the congestion is, and estimate delays in over 30 major US metropolitan areas.
Favorite places and routes
Save time (and avoid sore thumbs) by keeping a list of residential or business locations, and driving routes.
Insta-KB-o-meter
Monitor your data consumption in real-time — just look to the top right portion of your phone screen while using Google Maps.
Enhanced business info
After selecting a particular business, select the "Details" tab for hours of operation, hotel amenities, and more.
BlackBerry support
Just visit www.google.com/gmm on your BlackBerry's web browser, and you're all set to go.
The update can be found here: http://www.google.com/gmm/GoogleMaps.CAB
Enjoy,
-pvs
thanks for the post, wouldn't have known about it otherwise
Yeah, appreciate the heads up!
thanks for the link
Sweet thanks for the headsup! I installed it, and it works better than ever over HSDPA and with my bt gps!
How does this compare to LiveSearch?
sook said:
How does this compare to LiveSearch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not really sure. LiveSearch was the best for a short while (IMO), until Google Maps came out with an executable version. I dropped LS back then, and have not looked back.
Google Maps has many nice features:
1) Look up any of your Contacts for whom you have Address Information
2) Drag-scroll around the map, in map or satellite view
3) Shows real-time traffic conditions
4) Zoom-in and out quickly and easily
5) Provides directions from point A to point B
6) Integration with GPS devices (I haven't used this, but imagine it works ok)
7) Find info on searched-for businesses and easily saving it into Contacts
Some "features" I'd like to see are:
1) Storing data in user-defined locations on the device
2) Management of that data ... selectively deleting old location searches
3) Tilting of the map aka Google Earth
Again, I don't really know how well LiveSearch has developed, so I really can't compare. But maybe you can judge for yourself from what I show above for GM.
-pvs
I'll install it and play around with it, but from what you describe it sounds much the same. LiveSearch also has something called community search that will show you events, movies, and todos in your area, along with traffic and local gas prices.
If I read you correctly, the only thing on your list LiveSearch doesn't have is an easy way to look up contact addresses.
I will report back this weekend, either bumping this one or starting a new thread. I'm quite attached to LS, but if I can find something even better, well, right on.
ER... just in case anyone is having a blond moment like me
the link is CAsE SenSitivE!!
nice find.
has it got rid of those anoying no data warning messages that you had to keep clicking OK to in order to continue?
I was originally using (the previous version of) Google Earth. So far, I like Microsoft Live. The addressing and directions are a LOT more accurate. When I look up addresses, google doesn't even find most of them. Live also does a lot better with one way streets and stuff like that too.
Yes, Live is much, much better, even the diectory is better. Map loading seems a little quicker also.
I wish google showed on the page what version it was up to, so I can know when they've updated it.
I love google maps mobile.
Wow, judging by sook's and Braingears' comments, it sounds like Live Search has come a long way in the past year. Might be time to give it another shot.
And yes, frenchglen, wouldn't it be nice? I guess they have some reason to want to keep the version number a secret, eh?
-pvs
It looks like the future of applications for Windows Mobile is leaning towards silverlight 2. So My goal for this summer is to create a good, fun or useful application using silver light. I just need some ideas. What do you guys want?
One app I've been looking for for years. Some apps have some functionality but nothing puts it together in a simple package.
Location Aware Reminders
set up points on a map where a reminder of user defined text would pop up when the device is within a specified distance from that point.
Case #1:
I get off of my freeway exit going home, pass the stoplight before the store, my device plays a recording "DUDE! PICK UP SOME MILK!".
Case #2:
I drive away from my house on a vacation, my device plays a recording "Did you remember to pack your underwear?"
User should be able to:
1. View a map with current location based on gps.
2. Move map to different locations.
3. Define and save a point on the map.
4. Define a distance from that point where reminder would fire.
5. Define the text of a reminder.
6. Define an audio file as a reminder.
7. Define a title for reminder
8. View list of reminders
9. When reminder fires there should be a Snooze and Delete Option.
10. Reminders should have a date/time window of when to fire.
10 ex. All Days, only between 4pm and 7pm.
10 ex. On May 25th. any time.
Yes, there are apps that "sort of" do this. But they are unuseable for this use.
Keeping the functionality simple and specific will ensure EASE OF USE and actual functionality.
I will GLADLY pay you $10 for this app.
sudermatt said:
One app I've been looking for for years. Some apps have some functionality but nothing puts it together in a simple package.
Location Aware Reminders
set up points on a map where a reminder of user defined text would pop up when the device is within a specified distance from that point.
Case #1:
I get off of my freeway exit going home, pass the stoplight before the store, my device plays a recording "DUDE! PICK UP SOME MILK!".
Case #2:
I drive away from my house on a vacation, my device plays a recording "Did you remember to pack your underwear?"
User should be able to:
1. View a map with current location based on gps.
2. Move map to different locations.
3. Define and save a point on the map.
4. Define a distance from that point where reminder would fire.
5. Define the text of a reminder.
6. Define an audio file as a reminder.
7. Define a title for reminder
8. View list of reminders
9. When reminder fires there should be a Snooze and Delete Option.
10. Reminders should have a date/time window of when to fire.
10 ex. All Days, only between 4pm and 7pm.
10 ex. On May 25th. any time.
Yes, there are apps that "sort of" do this. But they are unuseable for this use.
Keeping the functionality simple and specific will ensure EASE OF USE and actual functionality.
I will GLADLY pay you $10 for this app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would it use GPS or the GSM/3G Network to determine location? Also what navigation software would this use for the maps? This is a good idea however this seems very intermediate. More ideas people.
I'd like this...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=426089
I would hope it would use the internal GPS.
I like the voice mail thing Like the iPhones right?
It would be nice if my wife could easily make entries via a website or a client on her desktop. (maybe not).
Actually, it would be kinda interesting. Driving down the street and having the app pop up something my friend put in there.
So you could have a group, and allow people to post GPS Pop Ups to your app.
"This is where I proposed to my wife".
"Don't even bother coming to the game tonight sucka cuz you're goin' down".
That would be kinda fun.
Just thinking out loud.
sudermatt said:
It would be nice if my wife could easily make entries via a website or a client on her desktop. (maybe not).
Actually, it would be kinda interesting. Driving down the street and having the app pop up something my friend put in there.
So you could have a group, and allow people to post GPS Pop Ups to your app.
"This is where I proposed to my wife".
"Don't even bother coming to the game tonight sucka cuz you're goin' down".
That would be kinda fun.
Just thinking out loud.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a great Idea. Only problem it is not even close to easy and I have no gps experience. But i might assemble a team to create this.
An XDA-Developers forum program that tracks your threads and alerts you when there's a new post, etc. Something that would be cooler than the actual site, and if you could, make it for our phones too.
This is very easy to answer:
1) To the date there isn't a SINGLE mobile e-mail client on the market, which is SIMPLE and FINGER FRIENDLY. In fact, there isn't any finger friendly e-mail clients at all. I think hords of users would welcome this kind of app.
2) Also there still isn't an on-demand connection chooser - look here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=408243
Thank You.
sudermatt said:
One app I've been looking for for years. Some apps have some functionality but nothing puts it together in a simple package.
Location Aware Reminders
set up points on a map where a reminder of user defined text would pop up when the device is within a specified distance from that point.
Case #1:
I get off of my freeway exit going home, pass the stoplight before the store, my device plays a recording "DUDE! PICK UP SOME MILK!".
Case #2:
I drive away from my house on a vacation, my device plays a recording "Did you remember to pack your underwear?"
User should be able to:
1. View a map with current location based on gps.
2. Move map to different locations.
3. Define and save a point on the map.
4. Define a distance from that point where reminder would fire.
5. Define the text of a reminder.
6. Define an audio file as a reminder.
7. Define a title for reminder
8. View list of reminders
9. When reminder fires there should be a Snooze and Delete Option.
10. Reminders should have a date/time window of when to fire.
10 ex. All Days, only between 4pm and 7pm.
10 ex. On May 25th. any time.
Yes, there are apps that "sort of" do this. But they are unuseable for this use.
Keeping the functionality simple and specific will ensure EASE OF USE and actual functionality.
I will GLADLY pay you $10 for this app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow. I had the exact same idea. I'll be making this in silverlight/xaml since I know it's the future of WinMo.
Me and a couple of friends are trying to do this on 3 different platforms - and will be using WPF/Silverlight for WinMo
Don't we kinda need the WM Silverlight runtime first? Last time I checked, it's not out yet.
G-Profile??
aiiro said:
This is very easy to answer:
1) To the date there isn't a SINGLE mobile e-mail client on the market, which is SIMPLE and FINGER FRIENDLY. In fact, there isn't any finger friendly e-mail clients at all. I think hords of users would welcome this kind of app.
2) Also there still isn't an on-demand connection chooser - look here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=408243
Thank You.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For #2, I might be completely misunderstanding you, but have you looked into G-Profile for this?
TheParadox said:
I like the voice mail thing Like the iPhones right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. Pretty much
@ Sean D:
About #2. You remember back in the dial-up days when You started Internet Explorer it had an option whether to ask the connection to use or not? Well, I think for PPC and the apps that need internet connection this would be the ideal solution - if You start PIE for example, the system will ask You whether You'd like to use WiFi or GPRS or whatever else connections You have and You'd just check the option that suites You the most at the given location. If You're in a cafe with free WiFi You'd choose to use WiFi, if You're in the woods You'd choose GPRS (or 3G or whatever similar). Instead of manually connecting to desired network before launching browser. I hope You get the idea...
G-profile is not asking You how to connect, it just manages Your connections with profiles for different occasions. You'd still have to manually choose a profile with the desired connections before launching a browser.
Ha!
aiiro said:
@ Sean D:
About #2. You remember back in the dial-up days when You started Internet Explorer it had an option whether to ask the connection to use or not? Well, I think for PPC and the apps that need internet connection this would be the ideal solution - if You start PIE for example, the system will ask You whether You'd like to use WiFi or GPRS or whatever else connections You have and You'd just check the option that suites You the most at the given location. If You're in a cafe with free WiFi You'd choose to use WiFi, if You're in the woods You'd choose GPRS (or 3G or whatever similar). Instead of manually connecting to desired network before launching browser. I hope You get the idea...
G-profile is not asking You how to connect, it just manages Your connections with profiles for different occasions. You'd still have to manually choose a profile with the desired connections before launching a browser.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, I misunderstood you. But the funny thing is, i was just thinking that WM needs this function the other day.
So yeah, this gets my vote too.
Good, then it's settled
Well, OK, just one minor issue left - kinda have to wait for the approval from the thread starter too
FloatingFatMan said:
Don't we kinda need the WM Silverlight runtime first? Last time I checked, it's not out yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The whole point of this thread is that since it's pretty much confirmed there will be a silverlight or some type of WPF subset for WinMo, applications can be designed so that when devices do release, some changes can be made (e.g. support for accelerometer) so that the program can be released from the get-go.
It's also to provide devs with some practice with WPF/Silverlight
ND4SPD said:
Wow. I had the exact same idea. I'll be making this in silverlight/xaml since I know it's the future of WinMo.
Me and a couple of friends are trying to do this on 3 different platforms - and will be using WPF/Silverlight for WinMo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could care less about how it's written....I got $10 burnin a whole in my pocket for this app...
BTW...did you read my post about the community part of the app?
OK, seems it's again just one of those countless threads that get started with a big hooray and then is forgotten forever. I mean I still do post in these in hope that someone will some day build the connection manager I keep asking for, but having posted it already to couple of threads and seeing that after couple of days the thread just dies and the original author of thread mysteriously disappears, I think there are some dark forces behind it. OK, just kidding, but seriously, just from top of my head You can check this thread - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=413600 - or this thread - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=506672. They have all died as far as I know. Or if You just wanna have a laugh (completely off-topic) check this thread - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=425424
Hi everyone,
I'm searching for an efficient, fast, and well designed google reader application but have not come across one that is really good.
What I'm looking for area these:
- the first level should show the folders, such as Android folder, economy folder, technology folder, etc.
- When I click on the folder, I do not wish to see the feeds such as CNN, engadget, but to the items list. I want the option to say how many items I want to show, and whether to show only new (unread) or all item.
- I want to be able to mark the items as starred item with merel one swipe, or to unmarked it.
- I want a to with one button indicate all e item on the screen as read, and fetch the nest batch of unread items. I want another button to mark all items in that folder as read although they have not been listed on the screen yet.
- when I click on the item, I want to read part of the news. Then I want to be able to swipe to the next item or go to previous item. I also want to be able to share that item to facebook, to mail to friend, etc. And I want to be able to bring up my default web brewer to go the the original web page.
More importantly, I want all these operations to be instant, without lag.
For those of you coming from iPhone background, you will recognize this as the RSS g Flash application.
I love that design very much and hope to get something like this from the market place, or as close as possible.
Could anyone help? TIA.
I use Feedr its simple yet powerful can sync folders structure. Try it
Try Newsrob.
You want NewsRoom. I found it does everything I wanted from an rss reader... it's now on my first homepage.
Thanks guys. Keep the suggestions coming. I'll try everyone before deciding which one will stay on my desktop.
Cheers.
eaglesteve said:
Hi everyone,
I'm searching for an efficient, fast, and well designed google reader application but have not come across one that is really good.
What I'm looking for area these:
- the first level should show the folders, such as Android folder, economy folder, technology folder, etc.
- When I click on the folder, I do not wish to see the feeds such as CNN, engadget, but to the items list. I want the option to say how many items I want to show, and whether to show only new (unread) or all item.
- I want to be able to mark the items as starred item with merel one swipe, or to unmarked it.
- I want a to with one button indicate all e item on the screen as read, and fetch the nest batch of unread items. I want another button to mark all items in that folder as read although they have not been listed on the screen yet.
- when I click on the item, I want to read part of the news. Then I want to be able to swipe to the next item or go to previous item. I also want to be able to share that item to facebook, to mail to friend, etc. And I want to be able to bring up my default web brewer to go the the original web page.
More importantly, I want all these operations to be instant, without lag.
For those of you coming from iPhone background, you will recognize this as the RSS g Flash application.
I love that design very much and hope to get something like this from the market place, or as close as possible.
Could anyone help? TIA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 for Feedr....
Tyxerakias said:
You want NewsRoom. I found it does everything I wanted from an rss reader... it's now on my first homepage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same, i like the look and feel of it, very nice
it has that elegant yet simple clean look, that makes reading feeds and news update a joy.
+1 for feedr
+1 for NewsRob
I've tried a lot of the client apps but they all take too long to sync (and I don't like things like that happening in the background).
I've yet to find anything as good all-round as the mobile webclient from the browser.
Is there a trial version of feedr? I would like to try first before I buy.
I love the interface and response time of newsroom. It's just a pity that I can't view it by the google reader folders. I would also love to be able to see the item list first before going down to the article itself. On my iphone and iPad, I usually skim through a couple of thousand articles each day, some are repeats, or articles that don't interest me. I've also no time to read all of them. So the item list view is useful.
The news-rob is so slow I don't think it's useable for me. Too much waiting at the black screen and syncing takes too long to complete.
I've also tried out gReader which is also incredibly slow.
News reader, together with browser, music players, picture viewers, and YouTube, are among the extremely high usage application, and I don't mind paying good money of it if it is really good. But I must be assured that it meets my expectation first.
Any other recommendation?
1. When I try to open facebook.com in my Opera web browser, they send me to something that is not the original, but som quasifacebookapplicationwannabe. I want the same page as on my pc.
2. I use the weather application and update it several times a day, but I miss one option that I cannot seem to find (if it exists). That is to save the locations I drive through now on my 5 week vacation. When I update, it figures out my new location and changes to this, but I want to keep more of them. Many of the places I visit don't appear in the Add Location function.
Hope you know what I mean
Thanks!
Hmm... try using m.facebook.com or 0.facebook.com (if you are a Vodafone client).
As for your second issue... I don't really understand what it is. You want your device to remember the places where you've been? If not, then please explain.
svartoksen said:
1. When I try to open facebook.com in my Opera web browser, they send me to something that is not the original, but som quasifacebookapplicationwannabe. I want the same page as on my pc.
2. I use the weather application and update it several times a day, but I miss one option that I cannot seem to find (if it exists). That is to save the locations I drive through now on my 5 week vacation. When I update, it figures out my new location and changes to this, but I want to keep more of them. Many of the places I visit don't appear in the Add Location function.
Hope you know what I mean
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Open your webpage on the Google homepage, and change it from 'Mobile' to 'Classic', then google Facebook, and all should be well.
And if the place isn't in the Add Location function you can't add it to the Sense weather list. You'll need a 3rd party app or to use the internet to check the weather which isn't quite the same as the Sense Weather interface. You'll just have to keep using My Location I'm afraid.
Search these threads, there is an app here somewhere that will allow you to enter arbitrary weather locations based on (I think I remember) a 4 digit code you need to look up for each spot. Sorry, I looked at it but didn't keep it.
dbh369 said:
Search these threads, there is an app here somewhere that will allow you to enter arbitrary weather locations based on (I think I remember) a 4 digit code you need to look up for each spot. Sorry, I looked at it but didn't keep it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah yes you're right, I have seen that before but I couldn't make head nor tail of it. If you go the Accuweather website you can get the codes for individual areas, but I didn't have a clue where to input them.
think this is what you are thinking of. I couldnt get it to find my location as it finds it using 'my location', only the nearest big city, but i didnt try for very long.
You could always make use of footprints to take a snap with location data attached, then i bet theres a way to load the whole lot onto a google earth kmz or something.
samsamuel said:
You could always make use of footprints to take a snap with location data attached, then i bet theres a way to load the whole lot onto a google earth kmz or something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't even the slightest idea how to go about doing that, I think a spot of Googling is in order tomorrow.
I've given the little app a go but it seems to only work for major towns or citys. I can't seem to set my local village or town using the code, it just gives the My Location type 'Can't Connect'.
Kalavere said:
I haven't even the slightest idea how to go about doing that, I think a spot of Googling is in order tomorrow.
I've given the little app a go but it seems to only work for major towns or citys. I can't seem to set my local village or town using the code, it just gives the My Location type 'Can't Connect'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cant offer any advice, never used footprints, but it seems like a quick and simple option to gather location
Or you could simply use google maps and save a marker. That might be easier to extract the data from, but yoiu dont get a nice pic into teh bargain, hehe
M.WUND.COM
quick and easy weather site. Even has animated radar.
I was wondering if GingerBread addressed the Universal Search issue. I've heard that the Atrix is anything but Universal when searching your device. My BlackBerry does a good job of searching through...
Contacts, Calendar, Email, Google Search, Text Messages, Bookmarks, Browser History, MemoPad, Pictures, Videos, Music and the list goes on.
...the only thing I wish my BlackBerry included is Files & Folders on device and SD Card.
You know...a TRUE Universal Search.
Makes me think I need to create an app for that! Windows 7 got the right idea of being able to type a few letters in the start menu to find programs/docs to open, etc. instead of trying to remember which windows to open to find what you want.
That little Search Icon in the lower right corner of the Atrix can be SOOOO much more powerful and SHOULD be! I was hoping the xda devs. hacked this a long time ago. Or was my search on the forum not thorough enough...lol sorry.