How can I make Google Maps cache the map for my entire city?

Question

The Google Maps app for android caches the map tiles of areas you visit. Also, the GM Brut mod allows you to cache map tiles to the SD card. I'm on a very limited data plan, so I'd like to have my entire city cached to my phone memory/SDcard. So far, the only way I can think of is to manually scroll all over the city using different zoom levels.

My question is: is there a better way to do that? Again, I want to be able to use GM anywhere in the city without having to download the maps on-the-fly over my data plan. Is there a practical way to achieve this, so I won't have to scroll several times (once for each zoom level) over the entire city?

Answer 1

Since you asked this question, Google has added a "pre-cache map area" feature to Google Maps's experimental Labs features. You first have to go into Settings > Labs and enable "Pre-cache Map Area", then visit a place page (either by clicking on a POI or long-pressing somewhere on the map), look at the list of "More Options", and click "Pre-cache Map Area". It will cache the area within 10 miles of the point and keep it cached for 30 days. Depending on the size of your city, you might have to cache a few different points to get the coverage you want.

Here's more from the Google blog: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/download-map-area-added-to-labs-in.html

Answer 2

This won't answer your question for Google Maps, specifically, but have you tried using an offline map application such as MapDroyd? Would that suit your needs? You download the entire map beforehand and therefore wouldn't have to use your data to view the map.

Answer 3

Google Maps was developed to be used when connected to the network so I don't believe there is a possibility to make it cache a complete area.

You should then take a look for an alternative mapping application that supports offline mode. For instance, the OsmAnd application might do everything you are looking for.