Google Maps doesn't track unless Blackberry maps running in background

[nealbscott]

Google Maps 2.3.1 doesn't seem to consistently work unless I have
Blackberry maps running in the background. Why?

I use my Verizon 8330 Curve together with my Freedom 2000 bluetooth
GPS receiver. No way am I going to let Verizon get a monthly fee from
me to use the internal GPS. I'll pay extra to use my own GPS. It is
inconvenient though. And may well be the source of my problem.

[F2]

It may be a Freedom 2000 limitation - it needs "feedback" from the BB otherwise it stops sending info. Some mapping software provides that right signal/feedback while google does not. I'm not sure if other gps pucks have similar issues. So, yes, bottom line, you need to run BB Maps (maybe other software) to keep google mapping working.

[GrandMasterB]

I think I found 6 posts about this just in the first 2 pages.............

Originally Posted by JeffH

Google Maps cannot keep the Freedom Keychain 2000 locked. The puck requires a regular acknowledgement from the device, or it goes into battery-saver mode and drops the bluetooth connection. Google Maps is unable to provide this acknowledgement. Blackberry Maps can. So if you want to run Google Maps, it will be necessary to start Blackberry Maps first, let it sync with the GPS, then exit it without closing it and start Google Maps. If you do this, Google Maps will run with no problem. BlackBerry Maps will operate standalone with no problem, as will Nav4All and CoPilot live. The only program that I know for sure requires another program to be run is Google Maps.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[GeekNJ]

Same for me on Verizon with a different GPS. Some GPS apps don't need BB Maps running with the GPS Nav started and some don't. Google Maps requires me to run BB Maps and start the GPS option within that app.

[bpbrown]

Originally Posted by nealbscott

Google Maps 2.3.1 doesn't seem to consistently work unless I have
Blackberry maps running in the background. Why?

I use my Verizon 8330 Curve together with my Freedom 2000 bluetooth
GPS receiver. No way am I going to let Verizon get a monthly fee from
me to use the internal GPS. I'll pay extra to use my own GPS. It is
inconvenient though. And may well be the source of my problem.

Without Blackberry map running in the background because I unistalled Blackberry map off my 8800 via dm, that is one too many maps. Also could be a Verizon thing or a Curve thing...but who really knows.

[nealbscott]

I'd say
b) Google Maps isn't recognizing the external GPS connected to your phone

Since I watch the little circle 'your location within 3 meters' turn into a giant one 'within 1700 meters' That’s when I know for sure the GPS isn't talking to the phone or vice versa. Kinda hard to go geocaching to the nearest 1700 meters.

So if I do the ALT-ESCape thing to start up Black Berry maps (and start the GPS navigation), and then the ALT-Escape thing to get back to Google maps this leaves boths apps up and running simultaneously on my Blackberry Curve.

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by bpbrown

Without Blackberry map running in the background because I unistalled Blackberry map off my 8800 via dm, that is one too many maps. Also could be a Verizon thing or a Curve thing...but who really knows.

It's a well-known problem. And the answer is well-known as well. See F2's post above, plus any number by me such as the one quoted by GrandMasterB. In this case, a little searching will help you a lot.

[STYLN]

Why would one want to use Google maps over BB Maps anyhow? I've only ever used BB Maps...is Google better or something?

[JeffH]

I have both apps on my BlackBerry. They both have their uses. And their deficiencies. I find they complement each other nicely.

Google Maps are prettier, and Street Views is nifty for areas that it covers. Google Maps are more detailed, and in some urban areas has building icons that accurately reflect the shape of the actual buildings, which is handy for navigating on foot.

That said, Google Maps does not offer rotating maps. That's a show-stopper for me, and Google can't work with my external GPS without help from BBMaps or another app that can start the GPS.

[nealbscott]

Google Maps has the satellite view, Blackberry maps does not. Since the satellite view shows creeks, fields, parking lots, buildings it sure does make geocaching a lot easier.

[mrsubway]

And now Google maps has Street views of some areas as well.

Works very well with the built in GPS receiver. GPS is quirky, though. Sometimes 10 seconds for a lock, sometimes 5 minutes.

BBMaps is no where near as nice, except it has rotating maps. I am sure Google will do that eventually. I also love the fact that Google now has TRANSIT DIRECTIONS for NYC! Tells you which subways and buses to take. I can see no reason to EVER actually spend money on a mapping application. The only way I would is if they have one for Blackberry that actually speaks the directions to you.

Also, I found ATT's Telenav to be a slow rendering pile of garbage. The sales rep talked me into subscribing, making me think you HAD to have it for GPS to work. As soon as I got Google Maps and the hacked BBmaps that works on ATT, I dumped Telenav like a bad habit. 9.99 a month for a useless app. The phone rep from ATT was honest, though, and told me I did not need Telenav for the GPS to work. Note that this was when I had my 8110 for about 2 days, so I didn't know squat.

[BruceRTL]

Originally Posted by mrsubway

ATT's Telenav to be a slow rendering pile of garbage.

Great line! AT&T also made me think that it was necessary in order to have GPS. Fortunately it was only 5 days into the 30 free trial that I wised up and canceled TeleNav. Then I removed it from my BB. Google has been very helpful.

[LQM]

What is BB Maps, and how do I get it?

[myt_mouse]

Originally Posted by LQM

What is BB Maps, and how do I get it?

BBMaps is short for Blackberry Maps. It comes loaded by default on most blackberries.

If you don't have it you should be able to add it through the latest version of desktop manager.

[francscrackin]

Yeah it's pretty cool too.