Google unveils Walking Navigation beta for Android

Here in Texas its way too hot most of the year and things are way to spread out to walk most places on foot. In other parts of the country walking is one of the most common forms of travel though with folks in New York City and other major metropolitan areas hoofing it all the time. If you are visiting a section of a city on foot that you aren't familiar with and use an Android device Google has a new way to help you get around.



The new service is called Walking Navigation and is currently in beta form. To use the service you need an Android device running Google Maps for mobile 4.5. The software provides walkers with directions to a location that are more direct using pedestrian walkways that are in the Google database. That means if a sidewalk runs through a park on your way and is shorter than walking around the park the software will route you through the park.

The map automatically rotates to the direction you are walking to make orientation with the surroundings better. The walker can also look at satellite images along the way to get an idea what an area is like or to be sure they are on the right path. The voice-aided direction can be turned off and the phone can vibrate when it is time to make a turn to alert the user.

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