GSMArena.com GSMArena.com

Tip us

1.7m
126k
RSS

EV

Merch

Log in

Login

I forgot my password
Sign up
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Featured
  • Phone Finder
  • Deals
  • MerchNew
  • Coverage
  • Contact
ADVERTISEMENTS
GSMArena team, 17 February 2013

Zero hour


Sony Xperia Z review: Zero hour

  • Comments (317)
  • User reviews
  • Xperia Z

11. Google Maps, Play store
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. Unboxing, 360-degree view, design and build quality
  3. 3. Controls, display, battery performance
  4. 4. User interface
  5. 5. Performance
  6. 6. Google Now, Phonebook, Telephony, messaging
  7. 7. Image gallery, video and music players, audio quality
  8. 8. Still camera, video recording
  9. 9. Connectivity, web browser
  10. 10. Social integration, organizer
  11. 11. Google Maps, Play store
  12. 12. Conclusion
  13.  
  14. Sony Xperia Z specification
  15. User opinions and reviews
  16. Review comments (317)

Sony Android

Google Maps with offline maps, Wisepilot navigation

The Sony Xperia Z comes with a GPS receiver, which took about a minute to get satellite lock upon a cold start. You can use the A-GPS functionality to get near instantaneous locks. Alternatively, network positioning will also do if you only need an estimate of your location.

Google Maps is a standard part of the Android package and we've covered it many times before. It offers voice-guided navigation in certain countries and falls back to a list of instructions elsewhere.

3D buildings are shown for some of the bigger cities and you can use two-finger camera tilt and rotate to get a better view of the area.

Sony Xperia Z Sony Xperia Z Sony Xperia Z Sony Xperia Z
Google Maps

Google Maps uses vector maps, which are very data efficient. The latest version has an easy to use interface for caching maps - you just choose "Make available offline" from the menu and pan/zoom around until the desired area is in view (there's an indicator showing how much storage caching that area will take). You can later view cached areas and delete ones you no longer need.

Note that there's a limit to the size of the area you can cache - you can't just make all of Europe available offline, not even a whole country. We managed to cache London and some surrounding regions before Maps told us the area is too big. Also, there's no address search in the cached maps and you can only cache map data in supported regions of the world.

Sony Xperia Z Sony Xperia Z
Making an area of the map available for offline usage is very easy

You can also plan routes, search for nearby POI and go into the always cool Street View. The app will reroute you if you get off course, even without a data connection.

Wisepilot is also part of the Sony Xperia Z package, with a navigation license for 30-days and downloadable maps for offline navigation. You need to pay extra to continue using the app once the trial has expired, though. Unfortunately it was not working on our unit due to some incompatibility with the Android version.

The Play Store is where you get everything

Running on Android Jelly Bean, the Xperia Z has access to the latest apps and the ample built-in memory plus the available microSD slot guarantees you won't have trouble with space.

The Store is organized in a few scrollable tabs - categories, featured, top paid, top free, top grossing, top new paid, top new free and trending. The in-app section is untouched though and it's very informative - a description, latest changes, number of downloads and comments with rating. There is usually a demo video and several screenshots for most apps too.

Sony Xperia Z Sony Xperia Z Sony Xperia Z Sony Xperia Z
The Google Play Store

Next Page » 12. Conclusion
11. Google Maps, Play store
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. Unboxing, 360-degree view, design and build quality
  3. 3. Controls, display, battery performance
  4. 4. User interface
  5. 5. Performance
  6. 6. Google Now, Phonebook, Telephony, messaging
  7. 7. Image gallery, video and music players, audio quality
  8. 8. Still camera, video recording
  9. 9. Connectivity, web browser
  10. 10. Social integration, organizer
  11. 11. Google Maps, Play store
  12. 12. Conclusion
  13.  
  14. Sony Xperia Z specification
  15. User opinions and reviews
  16. Review comments (317)

Reviews Sony Xperia Z reviewPage 11
  • Comments (317)
  • User reviews
  • Xperia Z

Phone finder

  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • Huawei
  • Nokia
  • Sony
  • LG
  • HTC
  • Motorola
  • Lenovo
  • Xiaomi
  • Google
  • Honor
  • Oppo
  • Realme
  • OnePlus
  • vivo
  • Meizu
  • BlackBerry
  • Asus
  • Alcatel
  • ZTE
  • Microsoft
  • Vodafone
  • Energizer
  • Cat
  • Sharp
  • Micromax
  • Infinix
  • TCL
  • Ulefone
  • Tecno
  • Doogee
  • Blackview
  • Cubot
  • BLU
  • Panasonic

All brands Rumor mill

ADVERTISEMENTS

Related articles

  • Sony Xperia Pro-I II might have two 1.0" Type sensors
  • Leak: the Sony WF-1000XM5 buds will be smaller and lighter, will have faster charging
  • Weekly poll: are the Sony Xperia 1 V and Xperia 10 V on your shopping list?
  • Sony Project Q unveiled: a game-steaming handheld
ADVERTISEMENTS

Popular reviews

Apple iOS 14 review

Apple iOS 14 review
Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G review

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G review

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

VinFast unveils VF3 - small electric SUV with affordability in mind VinFast unveils VF3 - small electric SUV with affordability in mind GM to adopt Tesla's Supercharger plug from early 2024Fang Cheng Bao becomes BYD’s fifth EV brand
ADVERTISEMENTS

Home News Reviews Compare Coverage Glossary FAQ RSS feed Youtube Facebook Twitter Instagram

© 2000-2023 GSMArena.com Mobile version Android app Tools Contact us Merch store Privacy Terms of use Change Ad Consent Do not sell my data