Google's Turn-By-Turn Maps for Android 2.0 Kicks Pricey Nav Apps to the Curb

Hot on the heels of the Android 2.0 mobile OS release,
Google's sweetening the deal: the Eclair-flavored refresh to
their mapping app turns handsets into feature-rich GPS
devices -- for free.

Sure, previous versions of mobile Maps provided turn-by-turn
directions, but this beta release takes it a step further and
gets chatty. Like a standalone GPS, it will read directions
aloud to you, and you can enter destinations by voice. Also,
if you miss a turn, it will automatically recalculate your
route.

Maps for 2.0 also takes advantage of all Google's views,
including satellite images, Street View, and live traffic
overlays. And, since all the maps are cloud-based, you don't
have to download map updates or points of interest, since
they're all stored on Google itself. Plus, searching (by
either voice or text entry) is just like searching on the
Google Maps homepage; you don't need to know the exact name
of what you're looking for, so you can say things like
"navigate to the bar across the street from Yankee Stadium."

There's tons to play with in the Beta, so we'll get back to
you with plenty more, hands-on details when we get our mitts
on an Android 2.0 phone, which should be very soon.