I don't have a data plan, can I cache Google Maps?

[ajwest]

Hi. I managed to get an iPhone without a data plan (there is WiFi in most places where I am).

When I use the Google Maps application on my phone it works flawlessly over WiFi. My only problem is that when I am not using WiFi, my maps don't work. I just see a gray grid because there is no way to connect to the internet. Now, I know the GPS will work when I'm offline, but what I really need to do is find a way to cache the area I want to view permanently. Is there any type of Google Maps cache manager app? Or something else I can do?

Thanks for any help you could give.

 

[jmp316]

There is an app in the Appstore called Instapaper. It saves web pages for use offline. Not sure if it will work with Gmaps or not, but it's free, so you can go ahead and try it out. If it works please tell us how you did it.

Jay

 

[hellspawn2]

How did you get it without the data plan?

 

[wjp09]

How did you get it without the data plan?

Full retail? Did they start that yet?

 

[hellspawn2]

Full retail? Did they start that yet?

Im not sure yet?

 

[ajwest]

How did you get it without the data plan?

Rogers My 5 Plan. I had to pay $50 more for the phone, but I got it with just a voice plan.


It would be ok if there was a way to "View GPS over a picture" that way I can just take my own pics or screenshots of the maps and view GPS on top of it.

 

[JoeT]

To answer the question, you cannot cache Google Maps. Even if a third party app could save the data, the app is programmed to go online for it.

 

[ajwest]

To answer the question, you cannot cache Google Maps. Even if a third party app could save the data, the app is programmed to go online for it.

Is there a different mapping program I could use? Some type of tweek or hack to use? I'm still able to get into Google Maps without WiFi. It just asks for a connection. I simply cancel it and it does have a cache. But it's very limited. But the small cache it does have, works fine. It erases itself after a bit though.

 

[JoeT]

Right - the app is looking to the temporary storage on the filesystem for whatever was last saved by the app as it downloaded. Most (all?) apps tend to hold very little on the filesystem - likely in deference to using the space for iPod stuff - which is why emails must be constantly downloaded instead of being stored. That behavior drove me nuts when I first got mine and was using POP instead of IMAP, but that's another story.

I do not know of any other mapping program for the iPhone at all at the moment. Telnav apparently works in much the same way - downloading on the fly. TomTom likes the preinstalled map model, it will be interesting to see what they do since they are rumored to be working on an app.

 

[ajwest]

I do not know of any other mapping program for the iPhone at all at the moment. Telnav apparently works in much the same way - downloading on the fly. TomTom likes the preinstalled map model, it will be interesting to see what they do since they are rumored to be working on an app.

Alright, sounds like I'll just have to wait for some more apps to be developed.