Navigation App missing after Google Maps Update

[Mayawaves]

I had to use the updated app this evening when I had to go to an unfamiliar part of the city to visit a friend in the hospital --- and the new version sucked big time! I couldn't find a way to alter the route it selected for me -- I wanted highway all the way -- and it took me through the city. :'( The old app had the ability to change the route by dragging the line to a street you wanted to travel on - a big plus. It also took me blocks and blocks out of the way when I closed in on my destination.....it actually had me continue 3 blocks past the street that the hospital was on and do a big loop to get back! Maybe I haven't set up something that needs to be tweaked, and therefore didn't give the new version a chance, but the roll back to the previous version works like a charm so i think I'll just use it for now thank you very much!!

 

[4runner]

Irony58 will appreciate this story.

While on a recent trip, my wife and I were looking for a restaurant in Reno, NV, a city we're completely unfamiliar with. I remember finding this place the night before on my phone and noticed that there were 2 locations. I swiped through both locations and found that one was permanently closed. I figured, "ok no problem, we'll just navigate to the open one tomorrow."

While on the road, I asked my wife to use her phone to locate the restaurant and get directions. She had updated to the latest version of Maps but had not had a chance to play with it. It's not as simple an operation as it seemed to me, having had played with the new app a few days while lazing around at the house. We ended up at the closed location and she was not able to immediately find a way to route to the other location.

The point of this story - I tend to forget that not everyone enjoys geeking out and fiddling with apps in their spare time like most of the Android enthusiasts here. For these people, and I think most tend to fall in that category, they just want these apps to work as expected.

I agree with your statement. My wife resisted using Maps navigation for the longest time and she just finally got comfortable with it. I spent a long time with her going over how to use it and she started using it on her own. Now she's frustrated because to an un-techie she feels lost (no pun intended) again having to relearn everything.

For her it's that comfort level. Technology scares her and she never feels like she knows what she's doing. I would say most people with a smartphone now a days fall into this category, like you said, those who don't geek out playing with everything.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[Contraryr]

Instead of hitting my apps in play store you need to go into settings in the play store.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using AC Forums mobile app

Thanks very much! I swear there used to be a box on each individual app's Play store page, but hopefully making the change in settings fixed it. Much appreciated

 

[Contraryr]

The newest version has approximately 99% of the old functionality, plus 1000% new functionality.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

I would absolutely disagree, the new Maps has 0% functionality, because it crashes every time I try to use it. And again, a Motorola 4, fresh factory restore, NO apps added since the restore, so it isn't like it's conflicting with something I put on the phone. ALL that's on the phone is software it comes with.

 

[Aquila]

I would absolutely disagree, the new Maps has 0% functionality, because it crashes every time I try to use it. And again, a Motorola 4, fresh factory restore, NO apps added since the restore, so it isn't like it's conflicting with something I put on the phone. ALL that's on the phone is software it comes with.

That's clearly not part of the feature-set, that's a bug or other issue.

 

[ehamp]

Thank you!

 

[bmoore7412]

Thanks guy...reminds me of that old saying "if it ain't broke don't fix it" .....my phone is back to how I like it!!!!

 

[jewoodell]

After the Google Maps update Navigator is NO LONGER a "stand alone" app on your phone.
To access Navigator as you know it, use Google Maps:
Enter the destination
When the results come up, click on the "car icon" of the route you want to take.
You will get a google map route.
THEN, click the blue Navigator Arrow and the map switches over to the Navigator view you are used to seeing.
A few more steps (ugh), but eventually you will get the interface you are used to.

I TRIED uninstalling the google maps update which DOES put Navigator back as it was, but eventually google maps will update again and wipe out this process.
Looks like the only thing to do is to adjust to the new change and access Navigator via Google Maps ap.

Hope that helps!

 

[meyerweb#CB]

jewoodell, if you turn off auto-update the maps app will never update unless you tell it to.

 

[sixty_four]

...snip...

The old app had the ability to change the route by dragging the line to a street you wanted to travel on - a big plus.

...snip...

I don't remember this feature from any of the previous versions but I agree that this would be handy.

 

[B M1]

Its WORSE!! Slow and inaccurate.

 

[M3006]

Thanks!
This worked perfectly...usingVerizon Samsung Galaxy S3...really missed the look & feel of the old app!

 

[Jay Sacks]

The uninstall updates worked perfect, my phone is back to normal! Im Using a Samsung Nexus S with jellybean 4.1.2. This phone is the first to update to any new Android operating system.

Sent from my GT-P6210 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[Jay Sacks]

Go to play store settings and change auto updates. You will need to manually update in the future...guess you will now get to choose what you update!

Sent from my GT-P6210 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[Jason Shunock]

Thanks for that tip ... I don't like google maps ... well the up date too it ...

 

[Corey Miller4]

Samething happened to me.... so what did you do?

 

[ansextra]

Ok, I know I'm in the minority but I'm actually liking the update more than in the previous version. Of course I use Car Home Ultra which makes my GPS life easier as well...

 

[Michael Vieux]

Well I finally removed the new update from my wife's phone.
We were using the new version to navigate to a location about 50 miles from home.

Got a phone call, answered it, hung up,
and the map app went back to the screen where you enter your location and destination. Both fields blank.

I removed the update while driving on the interstate.

If anyone knows how to get back to the navigation map, after a phone call, (or after using another app) the info would be welcome.

The new map app doesn't seem to multi-task.
If I've missed something, then my apologies to Google.


Sent from my M470BSA using AC Forums mobile app

 

[sixty_four]

Got a phone call, answered it, hung up,
and the map app went back to the screen where you enter your location and destination. Both fields blank.

This would be a show-stopper. I just tried to reproduce this by calling myself while a nav route was active. After hanging up, I went back to Nav with no problem.

 

[Michael Vieux]

This would be a show-stopper. I just tried to reproduce this by calling myself while a nav route was active. After hanging up, I went back to Nav with no problem.

Strange, we both use GSIII's.
I never had it on mine, she downloaded the new version.
And it definitely excited out to the routing screen, did it also when opening the browser, and returning.
I learned a long time ago that these electronic devices have individual personalities just like people.

If I put the new version back on one of my devices I'll have to explore the issue.

Sent from my M470BSA using AC Forums mobile app