Instructions for Using the Google Maps App on Your Smartphone

Transcription

1 Instructions for Using the Google Maps App on Your Smartphone Click on one of the links below to go directly to that section of these instructions: Overview Note Quick Summary Complete Step-By-Step Directions Using the Google Maps App in Offline Mode FAQs Contact Us

2 OVERVIEW Our books are provided with an activation code which enables the reader to download from our website a proprietary set of GPS coordinates in one of three different file formats: books. For use with Garmin GPS devices (a GPX file) For use with TomTom GPS devices (an OV2 file) For use with the Google Maps app on an iphone or an Android phone (a KML file) These GPS coordinates cover all of the locations referenced in each of our The KML file we supply for use when navigating with a smartphone interfaces with Google Maps. This means you must: Have a Google account (free) Install the Google Maps app onto your smartphone Using a Windows PC or Mac computer, download our Google Maps KML file to your computer and then upload that file to your personal Google Maps account Once you have added our KML file to your personal Google Maps account, you can then access all of the locations referenced in each of our books using the Google Maps app your smartphone! NOTE Navigating with Google Maps differs in some important respects from navigating with a Garmin or TomTom GPS device. All three approaches use the same exact underlying data (the files we supply for download). In the case of Garmin or TomTom devices, the data file is transferred into the memory of the device using a Windows PC or Mac computer. Because the data files are stored in the device itself, no internet connection is required, only a GPS signal. GPS signals are reliably provided at no charge, day and night, by a constellation of satellites orbiting the earth. In contrast, data for the Google Maps app is stored in the cloud, making the data (and the corresponding maps) accessible on multiple devices via the internet. Once signed in to your Google Maps account, the data and corresponding maps can be accessed across different platforms desktop or laptop computers, smartphones and tablets without the need to load the data onto each separate device. For smartphones this functionality requires an internet connection in the form of a data plan with a sufficient amount of data to avoid roaming charges. Without an adequate data plan, these charges can be very high, so be sure to check with your particular wireless carrier to determine your data plan s coverage before you leave on your trip! T-Mobile's Simple Choice Plan, offered in the US, is one example of a data plan that provides unlimited data and texting in every European country. Copyright Wanaka Enterprises, Inc Page 2 of 13

3 QUICK SUMMARY 1. Install the latest version of the Google Maps app onto your smartphone. 2. Make sure you have a Google account. If you don t have one, go to the Create your Google Account page and create a Google account. 3. Using a Windows PC or Mac computer, download the Google Maps KML file from our website to download, click here for Tuscany and click here for Ireland. (An activation code is required for the download; to locate the activation code, simply search for activation code using your Kindle or ipad.) 4. Using a Windows PC or Mac computer, go to Google Maps and sign in to your Google account. 5. Using a Windows PC or Mac computer, click on the Menu icon in Google Maps (the three horizontal bars in the upper left corner of your browser window). A panel with directory information will then appear on the left side of your screen. In that panel, select Your places. In the next panel that appears, select Maps and then Create Map. 6. Now select Import and then either drag the KML file you just downloaded into the dialogue box, or use its command to select the file from its download location on your computer. This will upload the Google Maps KML file to your personal Google account where it will be saved in the cloud ready to be accessed via your smartphone. 7. Using your smartphone, open the Google Maps app and make sure you are signed in to your Google account. Once signed in, select Your places, which will bring you to our Tuscany or Ireland GPS coordinates in the Google Maps app. Copyright Wanaka Enterprises, Inc Page 3 of 13

4 COMPLETE STEP-BY-STEP DIRECTIONS USING THE GOOGLE MAPS APP 1. Using your iphone or Android phone, download and install the latest version of the Google Maps app (the GPS coordinates used in this book are coded to Google Maps). 2. If you don t already have a Google account, using a Windows PC or Mac computer go to the Create your Google Account page and create a Google account. You must have a Google account in order to access our GPS coordinates on your smartphone using the Google Maps app. The account is free and includes access to Google Maps, Drive (which comes with 15 GB of free Google online storage) and other Google apps. We recommend you download the free Google Drive app onto your smartphone so that you can access the Tuscany by Car or Ireland by Car map through Google Drive and star the map if necessary (see below). 3. Using a Windows PC or Mac computer, download our Google Maps file for Tuscany or Ireland. To download, click here for Tuscany and click here for Ireland (select Download for Google Maps App ). In order to complete the download, you must agree to our Use and License Agreement for Downloadable Coordinate Files and provide an activation code. The activation code is listed in each of our books. To locate the activation code, simply search for activation code using your Kindle or ipad. Windows users: Double-click on the KML zip folder you just downloaded (to extract its contents), and then note its location on your PC (usually on the Desktop or in your Downloads folder). (Click here for help finding a file you have downloaded.) Mac users: On your Mac, open Finder by clicking on the Finder icon on the Dock. Then, using Finder, locate the KML file you just downloaded. 4. Using a Windows PC or Mac computer, go to Google Maps and sign in to your Google account. 5. In Google Maps, click on the Menu icon (the three horizontal bars in the upper left corner of your browser window). A panel with directory information will then appear on the left side of your screen. In that panel, select Your places : Copyright Wanaka Enterprises, Inc Page 4 of 13

5 6. Another panel will now appear at the left side of your screen. In that panel, select Maps 7. In the next panel to appear, select Create Map Copyright Wanaka Enterprises, Inc Page 5 of 13

6 8. Now select Import 9. A dialogue box will appear. Either drag the KML file you just downloaded into the dialogue box, or use its command to select the file from its download location on your computer Copyright Wanaka Enterprises, Inc Page 6 of 13

7 10. Voilà! Once the file has uploaded, the map will appear on your computer screen 11. Click on the name of the map (highlighted in yellow above), rename it to Tuscany by Car (or Ireland by Car ) and click Save. This completes the upload process. The map is now saved in your Google Drive account, in the cloud, ready to be accessed via your smartphone. 12. Using your smartphone, open the Google Maps app and make sure you are signed in to your Google account. To do so, open the Google Maps app (screenshot A below). Tap anywhere on the screen to bring up the sign-in panel. Tap on Sign In and enter the user name and password for your Google account (screenshot B below). Once signed in, select Your places (screenshot C below), which will bring you to the Copyright Wanaka Enterprises, Inc Page 7 of 13

8 Tuscany by Car map (screenshot D below). 13. Tapping on Tuscany by Car takes you to a map of all the locations we feature in the book (screenshot 1), and tapping on View Map Legend takes you to a list of all the locations/waypoints covered by the map (screenshot 2) Copyright Wanaka Enterprises, Inc Page 8 of 13

9 14. To navigate to a particular destination, double-tap on the screen of your smartphone (or pinch the screen to zoom in and out) to locate that destination. When you have located the destination, tap on the marker for that destination (typically a blue flag). Two things will happen: A white circle will appear around the marker and the name of the destination will appear at the bottom of the screen on your smartphone. If this is your destination, tap on the blue Directions circle at the bottom right (highlighted in yellow below) Copyright Wanaka Enterprises, Inc Page 9 of 13

10 15. The next screen will ask for your starting location. Typically this will be your current location. After confirming that you wish to travel by car, the planned route will be shown. Tap on the blue circle at the bottom right (highlighted in yellow below) to proceed Copyright Wanaka Enterprises, Inc Page 10 of 13

11 16. Your directions will then be displayed Copyright Wanaka Enterprises, Inc Page 11 of 13

12 USING THE GOOGLE MAPS APP IN OFFLINE MODE IMPORTANT NOTE: Even when using the Google Maps app in offline mode it is ALWAYS best to establish your route when your smartphone has access to a cellular network or Wi-Fi. This allows the Google Maps app to communicate most effectively with its network servers when planning a route using our coordinate locations. Once the route has been established it is held in the device s memory and the app will continue to provide navigational assistance even if no network connection is available. The UK's PC Advisor has an excellent article about using the Google Maps app in offline mode, "How to Use Google Offline Maps. FAQS In the Map Legend screen, be sure to check the box to the left of Waypoints to ensure that the markers for each location/waypoint are displayed. We ve encountered a few instances where the location/waypoint markers disappear and then cannot be viewed on the screen of your smartphone. To alleviate this quirk in the app, go into Google Drive, tap the More Actions symbol to the right of the Tuscany by Car map, and then tap to the right of Star to toggle it on. This seems to prevent the markers from disappearing. If this does not do the trick, delete the app and re-install it. With a decent Wi-Fi connection this only takes a few moments and always seems to resolve the issue. CONTACT US For additional assistance, feel free to contact us at info@tuscanybycar.com. Copyright Wanaka Enterprises, Inc Page 12 of 13

13 Apple, Mac, ibooks, ipad, iphone and itunes are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. GOOGLE, Google Maps, Google Earth, Google Street View, Google Drive, Google Translate and Google Play are registered trademarks of Google Inc. Android is a trademark of Google Inc. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. Garmin and nüvi are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries, registered in the USA and other countries. TomTom is a trademark of TomTom International B.V. Copyright Wanaka Enterprises, Inc Page 13 of 13