[lt1]

I did a search and didnt find anything, so hopefully some of you can answer a couple of questions for me before i buy a GPS puck.

1. Is there an option to find directions using your current location as a start point?

2.Do you have to manually tell GMaps to update your position, or does it do it automatically every xx minutes?

[aiharkness]

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

1. Yes

2. Automatic

[TotalDistinction]

I'm currently playing with Google Maps as an alternative to Telenav when my free trial runs out and I'm having trouble getting it to AUTOMATICALLY track my location from my current location to my end point.

My experience is that it will show my start point and then it wants me to press "3" for my next point and my next point and so on.

Am I using Google Maps properly? I was hoping that it would change from each point automatically as I pass them when I'm driving without having to press "3" for my next point.

Any comments?

[aiharkness]

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

I think you must step through the directions, as you are doing, but I'm not certain. For what it's worth, what I do is press 0 after plotting route, and then follow the route. You can toggle back and forth between directions and location mode.

[TotalDistinction]

I found my own answer. It appears from this thread that there is no automatic turn-based alerts when using GPS and Google Maps:

http://www.blackberryforums.com/gps-...ernatives.html

Google Maps appears to be such a polished looking application but with no automatic turn based alerts of some kind and the ability to disable backlighting when using the app, I don't think it will be my free replacement for Telenav.

[aiharkness]

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Well, google maps aint bad for a free app. I have my complaints, but gift horse and all that. As far as backlight, I belive the time-out is disabled when you are moving, and then enabled when you come to a stop....then disabled again when you start moving. Pretty cool.

[TotalDistinction]

Originally Posted by aiharkness

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Well, google maps aint bad for a free app. I have my complaints, but gift horse and all that. As far as backlight, I belive the time-out is disabled when you are moving, and then enabled when you come to a stop....then disabled again when you start moving. Pretty cool.

Agreed, Google Maps is not bad for a free app. It just won't fit my needs.

On a side note, when using Google Maps while driving, my experience was that the timeout wasn't disabled for backlighting.

[aiharkness]

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Don't know what if any features vary with BB model. For me I'm pretty sure the backlight feature has been there through last several upgrades. No ideas on whay it doesn't do it for you.