Is Google Maps "Send to Car" accesible in Safari?

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Level 2

400 points

Is Google Maps "Send to Car" accesible in Safari?

Ok, so a little explanation. As many of us know, the native Maps app does not offer all the features that the desktop browser does for Google Maps. Thankfully, you can navigate to it from Safari on the iPhone (maps.google.com). So what's missing from the native app that I care about? "Send to Car" ( http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/google-maps-send-to-car.html). Several vehicle manufacturers have nav systems that are capable of receiving map locations directly from Google. I have one of those cars and it works when using my desktop browser (search for a location, click on the result on the map, click send in the pop-up, select "Car" on the left then fill in the appropriate details.

If I try to do this on the iPhone, I get the pop-up and the fields for send show up, but I can't scroll to the left to change the fields from "Email" to "Car". It must be something about how mobile Safari is rendering the new window such that you can't see it in it's entirety. I've tried zooming out, etc, and no such luck. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Jeff

iMac 20" Duo 2.0/500GB/2GB/256MB VRAM & PB 15" G4 1.67/100GB/1GB/128MB VRAM, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Dec 7, 2009 9:03 AM

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Answer 1

DaVBMan

Level 6

9,292 points

Dec 7, 2009 9:10 AM in response to Rgbyhkr

It could be that the area you need is in a frame. In case you did not know, when in Safari, using one finger scrolls the whole view. However using TWO fingers within a frame will scroll just that frame. So try scrolling in that area using two fingers (not pinch, but just use two and move left/right or up down with both).

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Answer 2

Rgbyhkr Author

Level 2

400 points

Dec 7, 2009 2:18 PM in response to DaVBMan

Thanks for that tip. I didn't know about that. Unfortunately, it didn't solve the problem. there appears to be no difference between scrolling on that page whether using one finger or 2.

Jeff

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Answer 3

DaVBMan

Level 6

9,292 points

Dec 8, 2009 7:09 AM in response to Rgbyhkr

I cannot even get the iPhone in Safari to show the classic view of the Maps, I am stuck with their Mobile version that doesn't even have the options you talk about. All I can do is search for a location. I don't even have option to get directions or anything. Just search for a point, that is it.

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Answer 4

Rgbyhkr Author

Level 2

400 points

Dec 8, 2009 4:08 PM in response to DaVBMan

Technically, I think what you see when you navigate to maps.google.com from Safari on the iPhone is a mobile optimized version of Google Maps. So, you don't get the full interface that you see on the desktop browser. As such, I wasn't expecting that any option for send would even be available. Since it does appear though, I'm hoping that there is some way to get to the section I am interested in.

After you navigate to maps.google.com on your iPhone, do a search. Once your searchresults appear on the map, tap one of them. I've noticed that the map can be a little "touchy". Sometimes I need to tap the result more than once in order to get the first pop-up. In that pop-up will be details about the search result including the name, address, phone, "Write a review", "more info", etc links. One of the links at the bottom of the pop-up window is "Send". Once you tap that, the new window appears where you can choose where to send. This window is the one I can't scroll far enough to the left on to get to "Car". Interestingly, if you rotate from portrait to landscape, you get pretty close. You basically get a view of the whole "Send" pop-up window - except for the key area at the left where you choose between Email, Phone, Car and GPS. You have to be able to choose the appropriate category in order to get the proper fields in the Send window in order to transmit the map data to the appropriate device type. So, like I said, I can almost get there, but not quite.

Jeff

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Answer 5

Rgbyhkr Author

Level 2

400 points

Dec 8, 2009 4:22 PM in response to Rgbyhkr

Oh, one more thing. I have already tested filling in the fields for the default choice in the "Send" pop-up, which is to email the map location item. I tested doing this on the iPhone and sent it to myself. The result? Works perfectly, just as if I had done it on my desktop browser. So it appears that the only hold back is being able to switch Send sections from "Email" to "Car".

Jeff

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Answer 6

DaVBMan

Level 6

9,292 points

Dec 9, 2009 5:18 AM in response to Rgbyhkr

Finally saw issue. Landscape helped get closer but still no dice.
I used the Report Problem link at bottom and told Google about it.

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Answer 7

DaVBMan

Level 6

9,292 points

Dec 11, 2009 5:41 AM in response to DaVBMan

Well got confirmation email from Google the other day they got my error report. Today I just got another that it has been assigned. So looks like they are looking into it.

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Answer 8

Rgbyhkr Author

Level 2

400 points

Jan 4, 2010 5:33 AM in response to DaVBMan

Thanks for submitting the report to Google. Do you know if any progress has been made on teh issue after having been assigned?

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