In The News Trip Reports Features Land Use Doh! Photo Album Videos Cover Shots
Project Vehicles Product Reviews Vehicle Reviews Quick Looks Wrenching Featured Vehicles YJ FAQ Calculators
4x4 Suppliers For Sale Ads Wanted Ads
Coming Events Message Board

Did Google Just Kill Garmin?

Along with the announcement of the Motorola Droid, the first Android 2.0 phone, came a second announcement which could impact many four wheelers. Google has just introduced its Google Maps Navigation app. It's basically a turn-by-turn navigation system that leverages the well-known and ubiquitous Google Maps. That means that you'll not only get the standard map view, you'll also get the satellite view, the street-level view, as well as traffic data. All of Google's map data is pulled down from the "cloud" (via data transmission over cellular phone connections) so it is always up-to-date, too. While traffic data and satellite imagery is available in some versions of Garmin, Lowrance and Tom Tom GPS systems, none of them have Google's street view. But more importantly, none of them are giving away this service and data for free. That's right, Google Maps Navigation is FREE. Currently it is only available for Android 2.0 devices. There are only a small handful of such devices right now, but many more are slated to hit the shelves over the next few months. But Google will most likely be porting it to other platforms as well, including the iPhone.


3D Navigation View

Traffic View

Street View

User can use voice commands to request creation of routes.

User-selected layers to display a variety of map information.

Can limit search to the areas long your route.

While I love free software as much as the next person, I have to say that this really worries me. The market for in-car GPS systems has seen explosive growth over the past several years, and today's announcement will send shock waves through that industry. Faced with a full-featured product that is backed up with an enormous breadth and depth of data, being offered for FREE, I expect the traditional consumer market GPS companies to lose a lot of business. As a four wheeler, this concerns me because companies like Garmin and Lowrance produce GPS units and map data products that are very useful to me, such as topographic maps and blue water maps (lakes, rivers, etc). Unlike Google Maps Navigation, they don't require cell coverage; the data is stored in the GPS unit itself. If Google cripples these companies by taking away their most profitable market segments, will they be able to survive and continue to produce and innovate their outdoor recreation products?

Google Maps Navigation's weak point is that it requires a data connection. If you define a route, it will cache the data along that route to handle cell signal drop outs, but if you take a detour that takes you off course by a significant amount, you won't have map coverage if you have no cell coverage. So it's not a complete disaster for the GPS makers. Rural and out-of-country users of GPS systems will still rely on the old data-on-the-GPS products. Data plans are costly enough in Canada, I shudder to think what the roaming charges would be if I used Google Maps Navigation while on vacation in the US. But even if we limit the potential Google Maps Navigation users to those of us who live in urban environments, Google Maps Navigation will still have a very significant and debilitating impact on Garmin and other GPS companies. If Garmin and the others go out of business, who is going to produce quality topographic maps and off-road GPS systems for us and at a reasonable price?

Bookmark and Share

 

Jump to the Comments
Recent Content You Might Have Missed

In The News

  • Poly Performance JK Coilover Kit
  • Superlift eXtreme Ring Differential Covers
  • Rough Country's Chevy 1500 Lift Kit Eliminates Rear Axle Wrap
  • Raceline 982 Raptor Wheel
  • Ansani's Hood Makes Jeep Wranglers Cool

Feature

  • Cruiser Days 2010
  • KORRBC - Race 2
  • Kamloops Off Road Racing Series
  • Stave Lake Clean-Up - 2010
  • Silver State 300

Featured Vehicles

  • Cummins Traveler
  • P40 Warhawk
  • HULK! A heady blend of North American grunt and Mercedes Unimog engineering
  • Chris Olson's Willys Jeep
  • Ben Olson's Air Zuki

Product Review

  • Napier Precision Heavy Duty Jeep Cherokee Fender Flares
  • Drift X170 Action Camera
  • Backroads GPS Maps
  • Goodyear MTR Kevlar Radial Tire Test
  • iPhone Topographic Maps: Fugawi's iMap Topo for the USA and Canada

Project Vehicles

  • Project XJ: a New Beginning
  • Hi-Steer Conversion
  • Kilby High Volume Automatic Transmission Pan
  • Bestop Trail Max Aqua Sport Seats
  • Teraflex Revolver Shackles

Trip Report

  • The Elaho Giant
  • Exploring the Britannia Mines - Part 2
  • Exploring Beaverdell
  • Exploring the Britannia Mine and Mt. Sheer Town Site
  • Sylvester Snow Wheeling

Wrenching

  • Fixing the Jeep Neutral Safety Switch (NSS)
  • Fixing A Loose Steering Column In A Jeep
  • How To Re-Assemble Your Drum Brakes
  • Diagnosing a No-Start Condition
  • Dana 30 Seal Installer

Quick Looks

  • Garmin's Oregon GPS
  • SPOT Satellite Messenger
  • Garmin's New Colorado GPS Unit - A Quick Look
  • LEDSupply's Flashlight Upgrade Kits
  • Gilsson GPS Antenna

Vehicle Review

  • 2010 Ram 2500 HD Cummins Crew Cab
  • Jeep Rubicon Test Drive
  • Dodge Ram Mega Cab 4x4
  • Toyota FJ Cruiser Test Drive
  • Diesel Grand Cherokee Now Available in Canada

Yea, but you need a connection all the time. I'd stick with my garmin/magellan/tom tom/etc... becuase I know the data is on the card, all I need is good batteries.

anonymous on 2010-Feb-27  6:14 PM

I can't afford to have either. I'll just stick with my friends, try to plan as best as we can and carry extra fuel.

anonymous on 2010-Mar-06  12:05 PM
Your name (optional):
Comment:

characters left
(Comments are limited to a maximum of 400 characters.)

BC4x4 Main Page
Click to Send Email
to BC4x4
(20-sec delay)
SEARCH
ARTICLES
In The News
Trip Reports
Features
Land Use
Doh!
Photo Album
Videos
Cover Shots
TECH
Project Vehicles
Product Reviews
Vehicle Reviews
Quick Looks
Wrenching
Featured Vehicles
YJ FAQ
Calculators
MARKETPLACE
4x4 Suppliers
Message Board
FOR SALE Ads
WANTED Ads
RESOURCES
Coming Events
Message Board

Except where otherwise noted, all contents on this site are Copyright 1999 - 2010 © 599244 BC Ltd. All rights reserved. No content on this site may be reproduced without express permission from 599244 BC Ltd.
Disclaimer: Activities and vehicle modifications appearing or described on this website and its pages may be potentially dangerous. We do not endorse any such activity for others or recommend it to any particular person - we simply describe our experiences and opinions. If you choose to engage in these activities, it is by your own free will and at your own volition. Use common sense and remember that none of this material is presented as being recommended by a professional mechanic or driving instructor. This information is presented for your amusement only. Do not take unwise risks, consult a certified professional if you are not sure of something. - 599244 BC Ltd. (bc4x4.com) and the authors of these articles assume no liability for how any particular individual chooses to use the information presented here.