The guys at Google have nearly made your GPS obsolete after an announcement Monday that it’s Android Google Maps Navigation application has added real-time traffic re-routing.
Of particular note… the app is free for Android users, something that can be said about comparable iPhone apps, let along Tom-Tom and Garmin.
Via Google’s the Official Google Mobile Blog:
You don’t have to do anything to be routed around traffic; just start Navigation like you normally would, either from the Navigation app or from within Google Maps.
Before today, Navigation would choose whichever route was fastest, without taking current traffic conditions into account. It would also generate additional alternate directions, such as the shortest route or one that uses highways instead of side roads. Starting today, our routing algorithms will also apply our knowledge of current and historical traffic to select the fastest route from those alternates. That means that Navigation will automatically guide you along the best route given the current traffic conditions.
Android's Google Maps Navigation application has added real-time traffic re-routing.
How fast the information will be updated is anyone’s guess, but it could be quicker than having to slow down to catch “Traffic and Weather Together on the 8s” before you reach your decision making point.
From the a report by the Tribune’s Jon Hilkevitch:
For instance, a trip itinerary from downtown Chicago to Elmhurst might recommend taking the Eisenhower Expressway part of the way, if that is the quickest trip. But if the Ike were backed up and traffic flow is better on the Kennedy Expressway, the program might suggest taking the Kennedy to near O’Hare International Airport and switching over to the South Tri-State Tollway, said Google spokesman Jake Parrillo.
So far the real-time traffic re-routing is available in North America and Europe.
The Google Maps Navigation app
Tagged: chicago, congestion, Google, google maps Posted on Monday, March 7th, 2011 at 6:44 pm and filed under Commuter Updates