The Palm Pre comes with a built-in GPS receiver and software to take advantage of it.  Standard with every Sprint Palm Pre is the Sprint Navigation app.  Also standard is Google Maps.  Both of these programs can help you get to your destination and both offer good tools for seeing traffic.

Sprint Navigation

If you’re not expecting much out of a cell-phone based GPS map application then prepare to be pleasantly surprised.   Sprint Navigation is powered by TeleNav, Inc. This app uses a server to provide lightning-fast routing and traffic updates.  A benefit to this approach is that it’s always using the latest maps available.  A downside is that you must have a data connection when the route is planned:  There are no maps stored on the phone.  As a result, it’s best to keep the phone plugged in or it will quickly run your battery dry.

Getting started is easy:  After launching the application you will be prompted by the phone whether to allow it to access location services (unless you have set the option to allow all apps to access your location by default).  Tap Drive To then tap one of the selections.  You can choose a specific address, search businesses, an airport or a contact.  In addition, there are folders for favorite places and recent places.  The phone will use location information to fill in fields with local information, such as local airports or the local city and state.  Address and Airport searches also feature a Call It In button that allows you to dictate the destination by placing a call.

After choosing your destination you are presented with a map of the surrounding roads and directions to follow.  If enabled, voice prompting will alert you to upcoming turns.  During the course of driving, if traffic affects your route you will be presented with an icon you can tap that will attempt to route around the traffic based upon your current settings.  After acquiring a route, tap on the map to display another menu of choices.  From here you can cancel the trip, view details of the route, view any traffic delays, see the route map and search along the route.  From the traffic summary you can tap on a route segment and tell the route planner to avoid that segment and a new route will be generated.  If you lose the data feed during driving the map will no longer display nearby roads but your route will still be highlighted.

You can customize the app by tapping on the menu and choosing Preferences.  Among the settings you can choose are route style, map type and audio options.  Changing routing options while a route is active does not change your current route.

While driving directions are active your phone will not enter sleep mode.  With the GPS, the data feed and phone on all the time the battery will deplete rapidly.  As mentioned, it is best to use a car charger whenever you are using Sprint Navigation over a long trip.  Another issue is that the audio directions can be hard to hear in a noisy car.  Be sure to turn the speaker volume all the way up or connect the Pre to your car’s stereo.

There are many more options and features of Sprint Navigation.  For other reviews of the Navigation app see this PreCentral Review, this webOSAppReview article or this video:

Google Maps

Google Maps is another location-aware application that comes pre-installed on the Palm Pre.  To get started, allow the application to access the location services.  At first, you will be resented with a local map with your current location highlighted in the center and a search bar at the top.  This search bar is Google Maps’ strongest feature.  Harnessing Google’s searching to locate things nearby.  Typing a search query, such as ‘pizza,’ and you will see all locations nearby that match.  Tap on an entry to see details, including phone numbers, or to get directions.  Queries can also include city and state to search for places not nearby.

Alternately, to get directions to an address you know, tap on the Menu button, then tap Get Directions.  A box will appear that will let you enter a starting and ending address.  After Google has plotted your route you will be presented with an overhead-view of your route.  You can zoom in and out by pinching or pulling on the screen.  You can pan around the screen by swiping or dragging the map in the direction you want to see.  Return to your current position by tapping the blue circle at the bottom of the map.  Advance through the turns in your trip by tapping on the arrows presented at the top of the screen.  To see a list of the directions, tap the Direction list button.  Tap Menu, then Show Traffic to have Google overlay traffic information on the roads.  Green represents clear roads, yellow and red represent congested roads.  A nice feature Google Maps has is the ability to overlay satellite imagery on the map.  The blue marker that represents your position is updated as you drive.

Google Maps does not appear to have any features to customize the route planning and Google’s routing can be a little off sometimes.  It’s strength, as mentioned, is in the searching features.

Here is a YouTube Video of Google Maps in action.  I was unable to locate a good review of Google Maps on the Palm Pre.  If you know of one, link it in the comments below.