"Blue Dot" on Google Maps

Question

Level 2

409 points

"Blue Dot" on Google Maps

I can't figure out how to get the blue location dot on the iPhone. I can get the circle location, but in order to get the Blue Dot to estimate your location, Google Help says to press "0" on your keypad. Well, there is not a keypad available. If you've ever used Google Maps on another phone, you'll know what I mean.

This "throbbing" dot is supposed to "move" with you as you drive. ( http://www.google.com/mobile/gmm/mylocation/index.html) I have not seen that. The circle is stationary and I must press the location icon to refresh my location.

Anybody have any insight on this?

MacBook Pro 17", iMac G4 800MHz, 60GB iPod (5th Gen), Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Jan 16, 2008 4:19 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 16, 2008 4:24 AM in response to Len

I do believe that the link you posted from google is serperate software for other ""smart"" phones. where as this feature is not supported on the iphones software. Your location 'should' be near the centre of the cicle.

Hope this explains your problem

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Answer 2

Len Author

Level 2

409 points

Jan 16, 2008 4:27 AM in response to dragon_master

There is not a specific iPhone help page that I can find, nor can I find any specific documentation on Google Maps for iPhone. It doesn't make sense that Google would cripple this feature. There's gotta be a way. Perhaps it depends on the location that I am at - maybe I need to be driving down a major highway or something. If anyone has seen the mystical blue dot on their iphone, please post.

Thanks

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Answer 3

Jan 16, 2008 4:34 AM in response to Len

Len,

When you have the blue circle on your location if you press the eye (icon) on the right hand bottom the page lifts up and reveals Drop Pin. Move the pin to your exact location.

Chris

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Answer 4

Len Author

Level 2

409 points

Jan 16, 2008 4:39 AM in response to Chris Semmens

The pin is not the functionality I speak of. That is used for manually marking a location for future reference.

On a blackberry, your location is in the circle. Someplace in the circle (usually on the road) there is a throbbing blue dot that estimates your location. As you drive, both the circle and the blue dot updates. It does not update every second like GPS, it's more like every few minutes. It is really cool functionality and I was looking forward to seeing it on the iphone.

We may not have the answer. I will also post this in Google help. If I get any answers to this, I will post back here.

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Answer 5

Len Author

Level 2

409 points

Jan 16, 2008 12:05 PM in response to Len

This is Google's video on how this should work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6gqipmbcok&eurl=http://www.google.com/mobile/gmm /mylocation/index.html

No blue dot in the circle as Google states!!!!

Also, see this:
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9824546-7.html

Message was edited by: Len

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Answer 6

Jan 16, 2008 12:06 PM in response to Len

I suspect we are not at the "blue dot" level yet from a firmware standpoint, possibly. No blue dot here.

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Answer 7

Len Author

Level 2

409 points

Jan 16, 2008 12:22 PM in response to havemusicwilltravel

Well this is totally unacceptable. A brand new firmware update and we have a crippled version of Google Maps. This is very annoying. Hopefully when the SDK is released, we can update our own version of Google Maps.

Grrrrrr.....

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Answer 8

Ansuz82

Level 6

8,291 points

Jan 16, 2008 12:25 PM in response to Len

How is a free enhancement unacceptable?

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Answer 9

Len Author

Level 2

409 points

Jan 16, 2008 12:30 PM in response to Ansuz82

Free by Google, not free by Apple. If I had any other phone that supported Google Maps, I would have it. Free. Free has nothing to do with it.

What is annoying is that there is no mention on Apple or Google's website that shows that Apple's version works different. Perhaps it's because Apple won't support Java so the app had to be rewritten and will eventually get it.

Google's apps are great and it seems unusual that they will have different functionality from other devices.

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Answer 10

Ansuz82

Level 6

8,291 points

Jan 16, 2008 12:33 PM in response to Len

Um... free by Apple too. Unless you paid for 1.1.3.

The Apple app is different from the Google one. Apple incorporated the Google map triangulation as well as WiFi locating in theirs.

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Answer 11

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Jan 16, 2008 12:36 PM in response to Len

This is a free update from Google & Apple. If you want true GPS functionality, you ought to buy a GPS.

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Answer 12

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Jan 16, 2008 12:38 PM in response to Len

If I had any other phone that supported Google Maps, I would have it. Free.

I have a Treo650 for work and Google locate does NOT work at all so that kind of blows your any other phone idea.

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Answer 13

Len Author

Level 2

409 points

Jan 16, 2008 12:40 PM in response to Tamara

I don't want GPS functionality. I wanted the functionality described on the Google Maps pages. The iPhone version does not work that way.

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Answer 14

Ansuz82

Level 6

8,291 points

Jan 16, 2008 12:41 PM in response to Len

Right, because its the iPhone version. Its not the same as the native Google program.

Even with the blue dot, the dot is just an approximation. Its no more accurate than the circle on the iPhone.

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Answer 15

Jan 16, 2008 12:43 PM in response to Len

I don't miss the blue dot because I have never used it. However, I don't believe at this stage of development the iPhone maps function is capable of automatic continuous refreshment of a moving target. Otherwise, they probably wouldn't have a little button to push to set a manual refresh. Plus, battery drain will be more of a problem with a constant auto-refresh that you are desiring. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, the iPhone will be a full-fledged GPS device. However, it is a work in progress and it is what it is. I am enjoying watching it grow. I know you don't want compromise or to lower your expectations, but looks to me that you are in for a wait. Just my thoughts. Cheers.

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