Google Maps 6 on newer Android phones

[mvl]

All, I had started a thread on Tomtom's own discussion forums, regarding how to install Google maps 6 so that you can maintain Tomtom compatibility. Unfortunately, it started to go afoul of their "discussing competitor products" policy so they deleted it.

I'll repost the key points here as there is no similar restriction on this independent forum.

Some background:
- Google maps 7 broke the ability to send Google search results to a non-google app, such as Tomtom for Android. Those who wanted search for Google results, and send destinations to Tomtom, we no longer able to.
- Those on android 4.1 or earlier were able to downgrade to Google maps 6 to restore this functionality, but downgrades were not possible on Android 4.2 or later, which is preinstalled on many new phones

Solution:
- People at XDA were able to repackage Google maps 6 with a different name, which allowed users to install it back onto newer phones
- By doing this, the app could again function on new phones, and again send search results to Tomtom

Installation Steps:
- Download the 6.14.4 version of Google maps from the link below, give thanks if you can on that forum
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=49384107&postcount=94
- Install the apk, accept the "non market sources" warning
- Run the app, and search for results. On your first search, the Android will say it the app is asking for permission to log into Google maps. Grant it that permission, and then the searches will work fine
- Save a shortcut to the app (now called "mapsD", vs the official "maps" onto your Android home screen, and you are good to go.
- When you find a destination in Google maps, and choose to navigate to it, the standard Google maps 6 list of navigation maps show up. You can again choose Tomtom from the list.

This was tested successfully on my new Galaxy S5. Feel free to reply to this thread with any questions.

 

[tgold]

Many thanks, that is most interesting and works well with the SGS4. A couple of observations:

1) Along with MapsD I found a new launcher icon named PlacesD. It is a launch but it is not a separate app. Is it some kind of different entry point or skin for MapsD?

2) The hand-off to the TomTom app always gives the Fastest route and by-passes any Planning Preferences that were configured. That is a loss for me as I often use the TomTom apps for navigating walking routes. Is this perhaps a bug in the TomTom app?

 

[mvl]

Google maps 6 contains 3 subprograms: places, maps, and navigation. They call each other through intents, which was why 3rd party navigators could intercept and receive the intents.

Starting with maps 7, Google merged all of them into a single app, which is why 3rd party navigators don't work any more. Google is taking a page out of MIcrosoft's antitrust book, it had the best maps app but crappy navigation, so it forced customers to use their nav if they use their maps, just like MIcrosoft Windows/IE. Google needs Nav for tracking you so they can sell better ads, that's the whole reason they built Google Now also, anything to give them permission to track as the more they know you the more they can sell your eyeball. Google couldn't lose all those eyeballs to Tomtom, so they linked the apps like MS did.


Regarding the planning preferences, yes, all inbound intents go to the Tomtom app in a shortcut mode, and many planning preferences are abandoned to avoid user prompts.


But Google continues to invest in Nav, and I think with Nav8 they've come close to Tomtom. GoogleNav 8.1 isn't crappy any more, in some ways I like it more than Tomtom. So it's a toss-up these days, on which is a better navigator. With this setup, I search with maps6, and then I choose whether to send my destination to Tomtom or GoogleNav8. I've been switching back and forth depending on my mood, it will be a fun race to watch but I'm so happy XDA gave us an option again.

 

[DjK4Yah]

All, I had started a thread on Tomtom's own discussion forums, regarding how to install Google maps 6 so that you can maintain Tomtom compatibility. Unfortunately, it started to go afoul of their "discussing competitor products" policy so they deleted it.

I'll repost the key points here as there is no similar restriction on this independent forum.

Some background:
- Google maps 7 broke the ability to send Google search results to a non-google app, such as Tomtom for Android. Those who wanted search for Google results, and send destinations to Tomtom, we no longer able to.
- Those on android 4.1 or earlier were able to downgrade to Google maps 6 to restore this functionality, but downgrades were not possible on Android 4.2 or later, which is preinstalled on many new phones

Solution:
- People at XDA were able to repackage Google maps 6 with a different name, which allowed users to install it back onto newer phones
- By doing this, the app could again function on new phones, and again send search results to Tomtom

Installation Steps:
- Download the 6.14.4 version of Google maps from the link below, give thanks if you can on that forum
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=49384107&postcount=94
- Install the apk, accept the "non market sources" warning
- Run the app, and search for results. On your first search, the Android will say it the app is asking for permission to log into Google maps. Grant it that permission, and then the searches will work fine
- Save a shortcut to the app (now called "mapsD", vs the official "maps" onto your Android home screen, and you are good to go.
- When you find a destination in Google maps, and choose to navigate to it, the standard Google maps 6 list of navigation maps show up. You can again choose Tomtom from the list.

This was tested successfully on my new Galaxy S5. Feel free to reply to this thread with any questions.

Many thanks for pointing us in the right direction!

 

[DjK4Yah]

Hi MVL,
U mention that its a toss up between Google nav 8 and tomtom these days, but am I right in thinking that when given the option in Google map 6 to send your destination to Google nav 8.1 or tomtom, with tomtom we'll have the advantage of tomtom's IQ routes providing the fastest route for that time of the day?

 

[mvl]

Google and Tomtom both make attempts at IQrotues and HD traffic. Relative quality varies per country, in the USA I find the IQroutes of Tomtom is better than Google, but the realtime traffic of Google is better than the HD traffic of Tomtom.

So I end up using Google8 more in rush hour when realtime traffic is most important, and I use Tomtom more mid-day/weekend/late evening, when the IQroutes means more.

Also, Tomtom can be configured to auto-adapt to changing traffic conditions, Google shows you faster routes in a tinytiny font, but doesn't actually reroute you on those routes until you turn onto them. Because of this, I'm starting to switch back to Tomtom even in rush hour more often.

They key thing with Google is their spoken directions, it is much more clear, detailed, relevant, and useful than Tomtom. Tomtom has all the data, they just haven't been updating their voice directions algorithm much in that area for 3-5 years and need to pay more attention there.

 

[DjK4Yah]

Google and Tomtom both make attempts at IQrotues and HD traffic. Relative quality varies per country, in the USA I find the IQroutes of Tomtom is better than Google, but the realtime traffic of Google is better than the HD traffic of Tomtom.

So I end up using Google8 more in rush hour when realtime traffic is most important, and I use Tomtom more mid-day/weekend/late evening, when the IQroutes means more.

Also, Tomtom can be configured to auto-adapt to changing traffic conditions, Google shows you faster routes in a tinytiny font, but doesn't actually reroute you on those routes until you turn onto them. Because of this, I'm starting to switch back to Tomtom even in rush hour more often.

They key thing with Google is their spoken directions, it is much more clear, detailed, relevant, and useful than Tomtom. Tomtom has all the data, they just haven't been updating their voice directions algorithm much in that area for 3-5 years and need to pay more attention there.

Oh ok thanks, I didn't know that about google. In the UK I do find TT's IQ routes is better than google's and the TT HD traffic is a lot better still, especially within London and it's minor roads, back streets.
Do u think that is because TT's traffic data includes B roads too and google's traffic data is mainly just highways and A roads?