Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Hi All,

Because I love using the Google Maps App on my N95, and will miss it on my N900 (the web browser version will not do - it would be awkward t ouse and isn't location aware).

I'd love for the big G to port the mobile app to the N900/Maemo5. So I created the following post, under the Maps, Feature Requests / Suggestions section. Hopefully if enough people post there to express their interest hopefully it'll get noticed, and something might happen.

So feel free to post here:

http://www.google.com/support/forum/...ee0c06c6&hl=en

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Hey that's a great idea, Dexter. If you check the post you made, you will notice someone has replied in support ;)

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

I'll just use Ovi. It's good enough for my needs.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Other than needing internet, Ovi maps doesn't even come close if you're trying to 'search' for a store,landmark or even address in USA... its not even close it's sad. Maybe in Europe its just as good?

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Nope, at least in Italy. Google's coverage is way better.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Good shout Dexter, have been trying to find out about this myself for a little while too.

There's also this thread in a diffferent part of the google mobile forum that someone put up:

http://www.google.com/support/forum/...5398e001&hl=en

It's asking pretty much the same thing but the more noise made the more likely it is that something to get done so can't hurt for people interested to post in both.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Thanks, didn't realise there was a mobile area too.

I didn't realise that Android was Linux based and had Google Maps already, so hopefully it should be easy to get it ported.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Is maemo-mapper being ported, anyone talked to gnuite?

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

The problem is that the android version makes use of the Android API which is based around the Java API (admittedly with many changes and tweaks). It wont be quite as simple as a recompile. I have hope it will happen though.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Google Maps on Maemo would be one of the best apps to have for an always connected device like the N900.

I also have to switch to my N95 with Google maps and Latitude when meeting up with friends in the city (where I am lost always).

Edit : Google Traffic updates on the maps itself has often saved me a lot of hassle when on the road too.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Ah right, so maybe not too easy then! In heinsight, perhaps I was being a bit hopeful!

I would keep my N95 just for Google Maps and SatNav, if it weren't for the fact I've already ear marked the money I'd get from one of these recycle companies for it! lol.

Really want a QNAP NAS drive!

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

I use Google Maps a lot on my E90.

I replied to both threads on the Google site. I hope they will port it. I expect they will as Maemo becomes more popular.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Hopefully Maemo will become a popular enough platform for them to port it.

The post I linked to seems to have gained a fair bit of popularity. I plugged it on another forums elsewhere to, so hopefully plenty of people will get to see it!

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

I wonder if the iPhone/iPod version also uses Java? I seem to recall reading that the iPhone SDK does support Java applications and it would explain why Google Earth runs quite poorly on my iPod Touch 2G.

Either way, you would think Google would be interesting in porting Maps/Earth over for completions sake. They seem greedy enough to want it on every system. ;-)

As for recycling your N95, are you sure you cannot sell it for more? Every phone I have checked on the recycling sites you get at best half of what you could sell it for directly to someone.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

I think it might be easier to port Google Earth. In fact the Linux version of Google Earth might work without Google's support.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

I think it would need to be recompiled for ARM, but yes, I was thinking the same thing. Particularly since Google Earth was built with qt:

http://qt.nokia.com/qt-in-use/story/app/google-earth

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

With Maemo 5 being a competitor to Google's Android, wouldn't hold my breath for Google to port their mapping program for the n900.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

I kind-of agree with you but:

1. S60 was a competitor too, and Google was kind enough to release a Google Maps app on that platform.

2. The whole reason Google made android was to grow their advertising base. Refusing to service Nokia phones (and thus missing out on advertising oportunities) might be like MS refusing to develope Word for Mac because they make Windows.

Anyways, we'll see.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Au contraire!! Google strategy is to ensure that a lot of people use their products. That's why they made android open-source. In that way, they can collect many more informations about consumers habits and then sell more adds. So if maemo is going to be a hit, we have more chances to see google apps on it.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

A lot of people seemed to think that S60 wasn't much of a threat. Maybe Google thought the same? I don't know...

Very true! For what it's worth, I hope they do port it to Maemo 5.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

AFAIK, fennec will be location aware.

And Maemo Mapper can use google maps.

But a real google maps app would be great if it was on the level of polish of their other platforms (Android, BB, iPhone, Symbian, Palm, WinMo). Looks like Maemo is the only real smartphone platform that does not get corporate love...

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Google could port Google Maps and some other software to Maemo 5. Google Maps uses Qt on Linux, and at least part of the code is portable given it works on various ARM platforms.

Question is, why would they care to do that? How many customers honestly care for this feature?

BTW, there is a Java ME port of Google Maps.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

im sure u could run the java version of google maps in a java container

but i too would like a native app as its my primary mapping software.... im not even gonna hold my breath for tomtom and the likes to come out on the n900

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Google maps is one of those apps that work well in the PalmOS GVM. Particularly with that 3party tool to make it use 320x480 pixels instead of 320x320 (mentioned in another thread about GVM, which I don't have a pointer to atm.)

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

So far there has been an amazing response to my post over on google. Hope it does some good!

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Maybe we can ask for a port? In a community effort?

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

You can try my Google Maps UI for the N900:
http://tomch.com/maemaps.html

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

I'm thinkin' CodeDiver...

>> http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=20613

Does that help?

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

All we need now is to be able to connect to Latitude. Anyone got an info about its innards?

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

That's the one, yes. It worked perfectly for me. Unfortunately it turned out that there's a time limit on it, I didn't notice it was a licensed program when I installed it. But it's a tool that does what it says it does.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Bump, posted on the link provided!

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

My Ovi maps app opens in 2minutes? is that acceptable? I mean when I was using iPhone google apps opens like a second and isn't this phone has speed like computer?

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

i agree. the maps app built-in is pretty horrible and useful. also the red dot which represents me blinks once in 2 mins. so its useless

but google maps yes. def yes

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

Thanks for the posts and bumping this thread, I noticed that I recently started getting emails from google again notifying me that a new post had been added.

Hopefully we'll get some kind of App from them.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

in the meantime, what is everyone using for finding local businesses?

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

i was out and about today, and really missed google maps i had on my n95...... WE NEED GOOGLE MAPS!!!

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

the built in maps are good for maps (except the long start up time) but i need an app that will tell me where things are, like nearest gas station, etc.

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

City visits, i find, are near impossible without google maps... on a recent trip to london, it was worth its weight in gold....

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

I have no problem using the Ovi Map, with the latest firmware, to find gas station, restaurant and etc nearby. Just type gas in search and it will find the gas station nearby for you.

I found it does most the google map does on my 5800, except no traffic information and favorites

Re: Get Google Maps App ported to the N900
 

I installed the location plugin for microb and then hit up google maps mobile and it works great for finding things around me. Can also be used for directions, problem is map can be manually scrolled.

EDIT: Turns out it can be manually scrolled. Just needed to use the hover cursor.