Google's Offline Maps Undercuts Its Connected Vision
Somewhat ironically, one portion of Google has announced limited offline maps for its Android operating system, while another pushes netbooks that assume a persistent data connection.
Somewhat ironically, one portion of Google has announced limited offline maps for its Android operating system, while another pushes netbooks that assume a persistent data connection.
So which is it, Google?
On Thursday, Google added a "download map area" option to its Labs feature within Google Maps for Android 5.7. Using the new feature, a user can select a Google Place and then download a map of the neighboring 10 miles, down to street level.
"When you're visiting an unfamiliar location, Google Maps for mobile is great for getting an idea of how close you are to your destination, where streets and landmarks are in relation to each other, or just for getting 'un-lost,'" Chikai Ohazama, director of product management, Google Maps for mobile, wrote in a blog post. "But what if you don't have a data signal, or you're abroad and don't have a data plan? We say that if you use Google Maps for mobile, you'll never need to carry a paper map again. The 'Download map area' lab in Google Maps 5.7 for Android is a step in making that statement true even when you're offline."
Google's solution is maddeningly close to a true offline map, which a user could store on a phone or tablet and then use without a data connection. But there are several drawbacks: the map expires in 30 days, and users need a data connection to see satellite view and 3D buildings, search for Places and - most importantly - get directions. It's unclear whether Google will tell users how much storage space each map requires.
Ohazama's stance toward data, however, seems to directly contradict Google's Chrome OS and Chromebook engineers, who have maintained that Web apps will become pervasive in a world of persistent connectivity. Chromebooks offer both Wi-Fi and 3G connections - which the vast majority of smartphones do as well.
As Google's mobile OS developers, however, the Android team seems to be more in touch with the real world, with users who commute, fly internationally, and occasionally dive down into tunnels and basements. Google's Chrome OS team may have to learn this lesson as well.