Google in its never ending quest to better our existence and change the way we live and go about our daily lives, has just released the BETA version of their upcoming turn-by-turn navigation application for Android 2.0 powered phones.

Google built the Google Maps Navigation system from the ground up making it one of the first "internet-connect GPS" systems available. By connecting to internet and tapping into Google's massive cloud computing infrastructure, Google Maps Navigation leverages many of the powerful features available on Google Maps and Google itself, making this system unlike any other.

Search in plain English
With Google’s turn-by-turn system, you can search for a destination by using plain English. You no longer need to know the exact address, you just type in the business name or approximate address and Google does the rest, much the same as you would expect from Google's search engine. The system will also spell check your entry and return several options if it determines there are multiple results. Just click on the one you need and the navigation process begins.

Search by voice
Google's turn by turn system also includes a powerful search by voice feature. You literally speak into the phone just like you were talking to another person and the application analyzes your speech and determines the directions. One amazing add on to this feature is the ability to ask the system a general question in reference to a certain exhibit or destination even if you have no idea where it might be located. You simply say "Navigate to the King Tut exhibit" and search by voice will call up Google's prodigious cloud infrastructure and direct it to search the web for any recent data related to where "King Tut exhibit" might be and then help guide you there once it's been found...unreal.

Traffic view
Another very useful feature is Google's traffic view. This application activates a traffic light type icon on the bottom left hand corner of the screen which indicates the conditions on the route your taking. If you click on the traffic light, it zooms out providing an aerial view of the your current route along with the traffic conditions for miles ahead, all updated every few minutes as you travel along the way.

Satellite and Street view
Last but not least and my favorite feature is the Satellite and street view overlay. When navigating a route you can elect to overlay it with Google Maps satellite imagery or Google maps street view. Both of these features provide an unparalleled ability to visualize the route as you travel on it, in real time. You can actually see the upcoming intersection or the actual destination as it looked when the Google Earth truck last recorded it. The system also automatically switches to street view to help guide you in, as you approach your final destination.

All other dedicated GPS manufacturers should be worried and with good reason. Google has created a feature rich GPS navigation system that combines all of their most beloved map and search engine functionality into one concise package that is continually updated, user friendly and running on one of the most powerful search computing engines on the planet; and the best part of all, it's absolutely free.