Last weekend I planned a two hour driving trip away, where I knew that from the departure point "A" for one hour's driving DID HAVE mobile network access coverage, and that from the one hour driving point to the destination point "B" DID NOT HAVE mobile network coverage.
In my testing preparation for the trip I offline loaded the three map sections that would cover the entire two hour drive, and before departing or requesting the route calculation, I turned off ALL data connection on my Samsung Galaxy S3, with Android version 4.0.4, so as to simulate what Google maps would do with offline maps and no data connection. First problem: 1. Google Maps would not calculate the route, issuing a message saying that it could not do so without a Data Connection. 2. Remedy - I turned on "data connection", allowed for the calculation of the route, and then turned off "data connection" 3. Result - the Google Maps application correctly tracked the entire two hour trip, with relatively few display faults, also maintaining all driving prompts. This proved that the application would continue tracking using the GPS signal alone, plotted against offline maps. Some of the display issues were observed where it seemed that any turn of 90 degrees or more, would cause the application to lose the satellite imaging to be lost, until we were re-established back on a straight section of road. Second MAJOR problem: 1. Taking "First problem" above into account. Upon returning home, therefore wanting to track from destination point "B" to the point of origin "A", the application with a strong GPS signal but no mobile network, would not calculate the route home. 2. We left the application running waiting to see what happened when we reached the one hour driving point, from which point we knew there would be mobile network coverage for the balaance of the trip home, and the application never recovered from the error message "No Data Connection". 3. Remedy - we could only recover by stopping the application, restarting it, and then with a "data connection" requesting routing of the balance of the trip home. Warning to Users: Until Google looks at fixing this situation, users should be wary that if they currently use offline maps to travel to areas where this is weak or no data connection, that once they find themselves in an area with no data connection, the application WILL NOT help you get anywhere else without you firstly finding a data connection, despite you having taken the precaution of loading offline maps to your Android. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Developers" group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
