Using Google Maps on the Samsung S5600

The Samsung S5600 arrives with Google Maps software pre-loaded. It's an extremely useful mobile phone application that enables users to find and view their location on a map, plan routes and search for details of businesses, services and other amenities.

The Samsung S5600 doesn't have GPS satellite receiver technology inside, which would allow pin-point location finding with Google Maps; instead it uses cell mast-based triangulation to get an approximate position to within a few hundred metres. Using maps or satellite images that are updated over the air, you can see your position mapped, with a lightly shaded circle indicating the approximate area you're calculated to be in.

The touchscreen user interface used by the Samsung S5600 means the Google Maps v2.3.2 application on this phone is easy to operate, including touch-operated zooming in and out of maps.

Like Google Maps on other devices, the application can be used to find your own position, or search for places of interest. You can also get step-by-step route guidance for driving, walking-or using public transport. And Google's Street View can be used  in places where's it's available.

It's easy to set up and use. Here's how...

Starting Google Maps
You can launch the Google Maps application either using a Widget shortcut or via the menu system.

To launch using Widgets

1. From standby, press the display (Figure 1).
2. The Widgets toolbar appears. Scroll down to the Google icon (Figure 2).
3. Drag the Google icon on to the main part of the screen (Figure 3). Press Maps. Google Maps will now launch.

To launch via the menus

1. From standby, press Menu (Figure 1).
2. In the main menu, press Applications (Figure 4).
3. In the Applications menu, press Games and more (Figure 5).
4. Press the Google Maps option (Figure 6). Google Maps will now launch.

The first time you use Google Maps, you have to accept terms and conditions, and you may also need to agree to your location data being used by Google top operate the application.

Once you have agreed to these conditions, you enter the Google Maps homescreen. Your approximate location is displayed as a blue dot in a shaded blue area, representing the area in which Google Maps has calculated your triangulated position (Figure 7).

Using Google Maps

• Using your finger, you can drag the maps to pan across different parts of the area. This is refreshed automatically over the air as you move, and may take a few moments to refresh (Figure 8).
• To zoom in or out, tap the magnifying glass icons on the bottom left hand corner of the display (Figure 9 and 10).
• At any time, you can bring up your approximated position onscreen by pressing the blue button in the bottom right of the display (Figure 11).

Map searches

1. In the Google Maps homescreen, press Menu. A list of options appears (Figure 12).
2. Press Search Map. A box appears onscreen (Figure 13), which will list any of your recent searches. Press the blue panel.
3. A text input box appears (Figure 14). Press to select.
4. The phone's text input numberpad appears. Type in the term you wish to search for, such as hotels, bars, restaurants, or something more specific (Figure 15). Press Done.
5. You are returned to the text input box. Press OK.
6. The application will begin searching and in a few moments a list of results for nearby places appears (Figure 16).
7. Use your finger to scroll down through the list. You can see all the results superimposed on the map by pressing the See Map button on the screen (Figure 17). This enables you to choose one that suits your location.
8. On the map press the individual marker icons to get more details shown on each. Press again to get further options displayed.
9. From the main list (Figure 16), choose the item you want to view and press to pull up more details (Figure 18).
10. You can see options to Get Directions, for a Street View option plus an option to Save as a Favourite. There are also tabs to get more Details and Reviews of the establishment (Figure 19), if available.

Getting directions
The same basic procedure for finding directions apply when using the Get Directions option from the Google Maps main menu list or when the Get Directions option appears  within other Google Maps functions (such as in the Map searches above).

1. In the Google Maps main menu, press Get Directions (Figure 12).
2. Tabs appear offering options for Driving, Public Transport and Walking (Figure 20). Press the tab of transport method you prefer (the procedure you follow to get directions is similar).
3. Press Start Point. You can now choose to use the approximate location the map shows, or you can type in a new address, point to a place on the map, or select a recent location from a list shown below (Figure 21). Press the option your require.
4. If you press Enter an address, you are presented with a text input box similar to in Figure 14. In the same way outlined above, press to get a numberpad onscreen and type in the address. Press Done to get back to the text input box, and then OK.
5. Press End Point. You now have similar options for inputting an End Point (Figure 22). Follow the same procedure above for entering a name or choosing a location.
6. When you've done that, you're returned to the directions selection screen (Figure 23). Press Show Directions.
7. In a few moments, the route is displayed as a list of text instructions onscreen (Figure 24).
8. Press See Map to see the route overlaid on a map, with a panel showing instructions, along with an option to get a Street View image of the location (Figure 25).
9. Press the arrowed buttons to go back or forward through the route steps. Press See List to get back to the directions list view.
10. You can scroll down the list to view each step of the instructions. Pressing one of the instructions brings it up onscreen in a similar way to the step outlined above, with a Street View option displayed (Figure 25).
11. To see Street View in this or any other Google Maps function, press the  panel when it presents the option. The Street View image appears as a small thumbnail (Figure 26).
12. Press the Expand button at the bottom right of the display to get a full screen Street View you can scroll around (Figure 27). Press Back to return to the previous stage, and Close to close Street View.
13. Press Menu to see other Google Maps options. These include a Satellite View. This option changes the map view to one of a satellite taken image (Figure 28), although the same Google Maps options outlined above can be used.
14. Press the Call End button to exit Google Maps, and press the Yes option when asked Do you want to finish? You are returned to the Games and More menu.