Google Maps on iPhone: Voice Directions for Non-Navi Cars

mno86

mno86

Well-Known Member
83
33
Minneapolis, MN
Vehicle Model
Honda Civic Si
Body Style
Coupe
I recently downloaded Google Maps for my iPhone 4 (running the newest iOS) and have been loving it. I find myself using it more than my spotty Garmin nuvi that is increasingly finding its way to the pawn shop.

I found a little easter egg I wanted to share, if its not already common knowledge. I had my Bluetooth connected and was listening the radio, and the i-MID went to "In Call - My Phone" and vocalized the "Turn left on..." commands from Google Maps.

My mind was blown - I didn't think it did that!? However, when I went to use it on the trip home (after the car had been off and then restarted), I could not get Google Maps to vocalize it through my stereo. Any advice on why that might be?

Only reason I can think of was that I started the navigation on the app prior to the car "connecting" to my phone. Neither the phone nor the car gave audio directions, even though it was not on Silent, and the option to "Mute Voice" on the app was not selected.

Thoughts?
 
webby

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mno86

mno86

Well-Known Member
83
33
Minneapolis, MN
Vehicle Model
Honda Civic Si
Body Style
Coupe
Interesting reads webby - thanks for finding those for me. Definitely gave me some perspective.

I actually want it to mute the stereo and give me the turn by turn directions - on the Civic it doesn't interupt with "Incoming Call", it just goes straight to the "In Call" and gives you the directions, then brings the audio back at the loudness it was previously at.

It was strange to me that the voice commands did not appear to go over the stereo when I returned from my destination. I know the Bluetooth connection can be fickle in this car - I've had it where my iPhone 4 was connected, and even still, it didn't come through the i-MID, only the handheld.

I think it's interesting too that these articles mention that other apps allow for choosing what audio source you want the verbal direcitons routed to, and Google maps doesn't - something I expect they will soon update.

I'll keep you posted on if I can get it to give me verbal directions again or if it won't do it anymore. Like I said, the only thing I did different was load Google Maps directions prior to the phone "pairing" with my car, which may have been the culprit. Perhaps your route needs to be entered after the pairing process is complete.

Anyone else have any idea?
 
mno86

mno86

Well-Known Member
83
33
Minneapolis, MN
Vehicle Model
Honda Civic Si
Body Style
Coupe
I'd be grateful if he wouldn't mind. I'll play with it tomorrow some, myself.

Like I said before, I thought maybe it had to do with the fact that I may have set my route up and hit "Start" before I turned the car on, an thus, it was not paired with the phone yet. However, that should have no bearing, as the car auto-pairs after a few moments of starting, and anything from then on is routed to the car's audio.

I thought then it may have to do with needing it to be on the Bluetooth "tab" on the i-MID, however this was not the case as I was listening to my OEM XM channels (I have a non-navi Si, but I have the official Honda XM kit accessory installed) when the Google Maps app was transmitting the spoken directions over the car's stereo (it would mute the radio, give the vocal navigation command, and then return to the radio just like cars with the OEM navigation unit do). So that kinda shoots that thought to heck too...

Curious - excited to see what others have to say on this matter.
 
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