Google Maps 5.7 for Android supports downloading of map

Google Maps 5.7 for Android has a few new tricks in stall and one of them is the ability to mark an area on a map and download for viewing offline.

But what if you don’t have a data signal, or you’re abroad and don’t have a data plan? We say that if you use Google Maps for mobile, you’ll never need to carry a paper map again. The “Download map area” lab in Google Maps 5.7 for Android is a step in making that statement true even when you’re offline.

Google Maps will download the map area within 10 miles (16.09 kilometres) of the selected location and outline it, saving only the base map tiles and the landmarks on the map, so you still need a data connection to see satellite view and 3D buildings, search for Places and get directions.

Left: Status screen for download. Right: Coverage of downloaded map area

All your downloaded map areas can be managed in your Google Maps cache settings so you can delete maps you no longer need or if you want to free up storage. After 30 days, all downloaded map areas will be removed from your cache; they can be re-downloaded any time.

» “Download map area” added to Labs in Google Maps for Android | Official Google Blog