Can Google Maps replace Footprints?
 

I was shopping for a used car for my son a while back. Footprints made this a lot easier.

I would go look at a car and make a footprint. The footprint included a picture, plus all of the details like phone numbers, mileage, price they would accept, and any other relevant info.

I then sent the footprints to one of my buddies who knows about cars and he would go check them out.

It really made the process a lot smoother than it has ever been.

Anyway, I see lots of people in just about every ROM thread who want to remove footprints.

I am wondering if there is a better app that I don't know about or if even Google Maps can do this?

If Google Maps does this then I would rather just use that. That way I wouldn't be limited to only HTC phones if I send the "footprint" to someone else.

Re: Can Google Maps replace Footprints?
 

i'm on your side with this. i'm still clueless as to why the cooks would want to remove footprints. i have to continually add it back in. it's annoying.

google can't do the same thing. you can put "stars" at favorite addresses but that's it.

Re: Can Google Maps replace Footprints?
 

actually you can do the same thing with google maps. you have to create a "my map" were it lets you do about the same stuff. Don't know how difficult it would be using the phone, but Getting started with My Maps - Maps Help and check the vid too decide for yourself.

Re: Can Google Maps replace Footprints?
 

that's not even close to "the same thing".

Yeah I tried to get Google Maps to do the things footprints does but couldn't get it to. I figured I was just missing it or something.

So why is everyone removing footprints? Is there a better app or something that people are using? Or do people just not care about this functionality?

The other day I made a nice list (footprints) of all the car washes in my area. I included prices and my own mini reviews. Of course it also had the picture, phone number, hours, etc (in the footprint details). So when I decide to get a car wash I can easily compare and get directions. And I can easily send that info to anyone who asks me where to get a car wash (assuming they have footprints).

I just can't understand why somebody would want to remove that if they weren't replacing it with something better.

Re: Can Google Maps replace Footprints?
 

I tried. It does let you add pics, write what yo want. And can be shared. Only thing is having to actually add routing instead of just a location.

On my phone so I'll check it out when I get home...

With footprints, you hit add a footprint and it lets you take a picture, logs the gps coordinates, automatically determines the address, and then lets you add whatever notes you want. Not sure if the link you posted does this or not (I'll check it out when I get home), but that is basically what footprints does.

Re: Can Google Maps replace Footprints?
 

The link shows how to do it.

Okay so I watched the video and figured I'd try it out to see if I could do what I needed.

I am not seeing how to do any of that from my phone. When I go into the Google Maps app, I can't see anyway to create a new map.

Is that a computer (or web browser) only feature or is there a way to do it from the Android app?

Also, is there a way to just have one spot, or does it have to be a whole route like in the video?

I just want to mark one spot with gps coordinates (and possibly address), take a picture, save some details, and be able to come back to it (with 1 touch navigation directions) and/or share it in the future.

Re: Can Google Maps replace Footprints?
 

The app lets you veiw my maps but the stock browser lets you create. How well i couldn't say. My phone has been flakey past couple days and freezes often (stock) even after several resets.

Re: Can Google Maps replace Footprints?
 

Well I am not seeing a way for Google Maps to do what Footprints does. If it does do the things Footprints does, it appears to be a lot clunkier and more complicated. I can't imagine that this is the app people are using instead of Footprints.

Google Maps is great and I use it every day, but it's not a Footprints replacement as far as I can tell. It would be cool if they added that functionality into it though.

So what is everyone using instead of Footprints?

Let me give you a scenario... You go out to eat with a bunch of people at work to some place you've never even heard of, in an area you never go to. The place is awesome. So you open up the footprints app, and tap "New footprint." The next screen is "Capture your location." So you tap the screen and it snaps a picture (while it captures the gps location). After the picture snaps, you tap "Done." It automatically determines the address and saves it along with the GPS info and the photo.

You can stop right there if you like and have a good enough record to get you back there (picture, address, and gps coordinates that automatically open in your navigation app if you tell it to). And you got this in about 5 seconds with only 2 or 3 screen taps.

If you like, you can add more details in the notes (good burritos, hot waitresses, cheap prices, hidden behind the office tower, etc), change the name, add a voice memo, change the photo (either snapping a new one or using one stored on the phone) and add a category. Usually I will add a quick voice memo with all the details, and then when I get home (or get a few minutes) I will listen to the voice memo, type out the details in the notes, and delete the voice memo.

It's nice having that record. You may remember everything about it at the time, but in 5 months or so when you are trying to find a place to meet for lunch, you'll be able to read (or hear) why that place is great, have a picture, the address, and exact gps coordinates.

You can also export that footprint and email it to your friends, telling everyone to meet there on Saturday at 3:00 or whatever. If they also have footprints, they now have the address, exact gps coordinates that open in their navigation app, a picture of the place, and whatever other details you might have saved in the footprint.

I can only think of a few flaws with the app... The sharing is not that great. It would be nice if it was done in the cloud and I could just send a link (via email or SMS) that opened up in the app. Right now you have to export the footprint and then email it as an attachment. I'd much prefer to email or SMS someone a link. And it would be nice if it was not limited to only HTC phones running Footprints. Oh yeah, and the categories is kind of lacking too. If I could create my own categories it would be better.

But as is, I am not seeing another app that is as good. Google Maps has potential to be much better (with cloud storage and not limited to only HTC phones). But I don't think Google Maps is there yet, as far as this functionality is concerned.

What about Bing or any other app? Anyone know of anything? What are people replacing Footprints with? What do Epic and Droid owners use instead of Footprints?

Re: Can Google Maps replace Footprints?
 

there isn't a replacement for it. cooks are removing it simply because they have no idea what the hell it even is. with most sense roms, you can add it back in with a zip file (i attached it if you want it). it doesn't work for senseless roms.

Re: Can Google Maps replace Footprints?
 

So what do you do, flash this zip like a ROM? Or how do you install it?

Re: Can Google Maps replace Footprints?
 

you flash it just like you would a rom. if i were you tho, i would nand before i did it. just in case your rom doesn't like it.

most 2.2 roms i've tried it on will accept it and allow it to work. it doesn't work on senseless roms.