Your Maps in Your Hands for the Holidays

Monday, December 15, 2008 | 11:07 AM

Just in time for the holidays I'm proud to present to you My Maps Editor by Google, now available for download in Android Market! In just four months of my 20% time and with a little help from the 20% time of my coworkers this application has gone from an idea in my head to a full application ready for you, really demonstrating the ease and power of developing on Android.

With this application you can create, edit, share, and view personalized maps on your Android powered phone synchronized with the My Maps tab on Google Maps. Create a map on your desktop computer using Google Maps and then take it with you on the go and update it on location. My Maps Editor by Google supports full editing functionality for markers, lines, and shapes on maps, plus the ability to mark your location using GPS or attach a photo directly from your phone. Your maps are automatically synchronized with your My Maps on the web. Check out this tour of Google Mountain View that I just created on my phone:



There are plenty of ways to put this to good use during the holiday season:

  • Plan out your holiday shopping. Create a map on your computer with markers for all of the stores you need to visit. Color code the markers according to importance, category, or sales. Then as you visit each store, change the icon to indicate that you've been there and list what items you were able to get in the description. If you find a store you didn't think of, you can quickly add a marker for it to help future planning.
  • Make a map of holiday decorations and displays that you see. Every time you see an interesting holiday display, use the Mark My Location feature to create a marker, then edit the details and add a photo of the display right from the phone's camera. Share your map with your friends and family to show them the best holiday displays in your area. Just go to the maps list, tap and hold on your map, and select Share Map to share it right from your phone.
  • Keep track of your travels. You can map out your travel plans and take them with you wherever you go. Add markers while you travel to mark interesting places, and take lots of pictures and attach them to the markers. Then when you get back, you can share the map with your friends and show everyone what your did on your vacation with a map and pictures to help them really visualize the trip.
The fun doesn't stop once the holidays are over. The possibilities are endless when your maps are in the palm of your hand (try making a map of running routes to keep yourself to your New Years resolution!). Don't take my word for it, go download My Maps Editor by Google from Android Market (currently available on the T-Mobile G1) and see for yourself!

24 comments:

Unknown said...

Is there any possibility of this feature making it over the Google Maps Mobile (J2ME, etc) app in some way shape or form?

I'm always thinking about how handy it would be to be able to take maps/addresses that I've looked up on PC and view them on the run on my phone without retyping and searching everything...

Niraj said...

Agreed, I think this is one of the most requested features in GMM for Windows Mobile too.

ceedee said...

Just in case anybody's counting, I too have been hassling for access to MyMaps in GMM (S60 version, please).

Trevor Carpenter said...

The potential for this app to add great value to a G1 purchase is huge, for me.

I'm setting out to photograph a geographic area, near where I live, for a book. I'll be working throughout 2009. As I travel around, I might see a location that I'd love to return and photograph. Marking it with my Garmin GPS works, but is tedious in getting the data where I want it. I've already been building a custom map, on Google Maps. This will tie in wonderfully!

Now, I've got to go get a T-Mobile G1!

Unknown said...

This is a great addition.

Checking the newest apps and I see this isnt the only thing from Google today!

Please add the voice search next.

Emily said...

This is the the #1 Google Mobile product I wish I had for the iPhone. If I could save all my maps from my desktop account on my phone, and create phone maps on the go, this would be a game-changer.

Specifically, I would create wish list maps of all the restaurants I want to check out, broken down by (NYC) neighborhood and by cuisine. You could even sell mobile ads against them (sponsored by Zagats, etc.)

Thanks for getting the idea out into reality...hoping us iPhone peeps are next up to try it.

Unknown said...

Would love to see "My Maps" incorporated into the Android Maps application. The "My Maps Editor" is cool, but we don't have the ability to get directions or perform searches. I would love to be able to plant milestones on my vacation map and then easily get driving directions to the milestone. We don't seem to have the capability right now...

Robert Andrews said...

Except not in the UK!

David Hagenauer said...

...and not in Germany (G1 bought in US and running on T-Mobile DE in Germany) :-(

Mox Fulder said...

Neither in Switzerland (G1 bought in US)

Unknown said...

Hi, here in italy i cannot see the application in the android market.. Someone has the same problem ? Thanks

afriendcalledben said...

Hi there,

How do you sign out of this fine app? I installed it and signed in with the wrong google account. Now I can't seem to switch, even after a re-install. However, I realize this was a personal project and am grateful for the time you took to make an ace little app. Keep up the good work!

Thomas Hawk said...

Question. Why does Google Maps suck so badly on the iPhone. The site simply won't load on Edge or EVDO on an iPhone. This is one of the main reasons that I bought an iPhone. I totally assumed I'd be able to access Google Maps web pages as easily as other web pages but alas this is not the case.

Anonymous said...

It is in the UK market, you just need to search for 'maps' and its about 3-4 one down.

ChronicResearch said...

Very handy app... however, a few things would make it extremely useful.

1) ability to get directions to/from a location; It appears that this app is integrated to get directions from the main maps app, but it does not work.

2) list collaborative maps where i am not the creator. (I can only view maps that i created in the map list).

Both of these features are essentials if this app is to be a top notch app.

thank you.

TUSK said...

Hi. Love the idea and fits perfectly with what I'm trying to do, but I can't see on the Android Market. Am I missing something - am based in South Africa, so is the market blocking access to this application because I can't download it here? Thanks for any help, Rmacle

-=KoolPal=- said...

Can you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make a similar app for wm6??? Please please please

johnmrichey said...

I don't see the custom icons showing up on the G1 which I have setup on My Maps. In the screenshot on the blog, you show custom icons, yet I don't see this when I open my maps on the G1.

sherifffruitfly said...

This'll be AWESOME.

Well, if you folks ever get gmail-sync working, at least.

yetanotherfish said...

Great app! That's what I've been looking for a long time - to run on my Symbian OS. I hope you you'll find the time to port it to other environments. Cheers.

Anonymous said...

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Dean said...

There is a relatively easy way to access your My Maps on your mobile - works really well on iPhone and Nokia S60. Visit http://groups.google.com/group/mymapsmobile for more information

yetanotherfish said...

@Dean Thx very much for the hint. I'll give it a try.

zestuart said...

Any idea when I'll be able to use my GAFYD credentials to sign in? Works just fine on web but not on G1.