S3 Google Maps / 3D Big Issues

[Shadamehr]

Dear all,

Can anyone tell me if they are able to use Google Maps, especially for Navigation with Satellite Imagery turned on?

I have a terrible issue whereby after about two or three minutes of driving, first, my location freezes on the map (though notable is that the voice commands stay current and correct based on actual location). Then, the screen starts freezing, jumping, jerking, and generally MASSIVELY GLITCHING and flashing in a completely unviewable state. The voice commands however stay correct. It's just as if the device cannot handle 3D rendering of the imagery at all.

Now here's my big issue...

I am now onto my THIRD Galaxy S3, and this issue is reproduce-able 100% of the time, and over 100% of the devices. That is, it does it every time, and it does it on any and every Galaxy S3 I try to use for Google Navigation. And my devices have deliberately been a mix of some White, some Blue, some from one supplier, some from another.

So what I am asking, is are there any users out there that CAN actually use Google Maps Navigation fine on their Galaxy S3...

By that, I mean for a proper period of time, over a proper journey, deviating away from the set route, and with Satellite Imagery layer turned on. EVERY time I do this, on THREE separate devices, the display goes haywire. So I am trying to establish WHERE the fault is... is it phone software... is it phone hardware (I prey not), or is it a Google Maps issue (you'd think they have noticed by now if it doesn't work with the SGS3 though...)

The only saving grace is that it points to a Maps issue, as when using my NatWest Banking App, to locate ATM machines, when dragging the map about, it freezes terrible, then eventually crashes (just as Google Maps natively does for me a lot), and then eventually FC's... and the underlying mapping it uses is, yes, Google Maps.

So I'm after any feedback at all here.

But worried that it's 100% of the time for me, and on no less than THREE Galaxy S3's I've had so far, mix of white and blue, and mix of suppliers and locations...

Any comments please...?
----

EDIT - just to add device info:

Samsung Galaxy S3, UK Unbranded, both blue and white.
Previous Firmware (with the same issue) was: XXLE8. CURRENT FW: XXLF2

 

[bigstarrynight]

Similar behaviour to what I see on the galaxy note after the so called ics update. Everything was fine on GB. So could be an issue with ICS. Because of that, plus a few other critical issues, I'm now an ex Samsung owner.

 

[corrsea]

I have the same issue.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Michael_P]

Try an older version because I'm using v6.1.1 and no problems so far.

 

[daisun]

I have experienced crazy flashing and also a black screen while using Google Maps Navigation. It occurred about half way through a 30 min journey. I've seen it happen on both my girlfriends S3 and my own. Also, satellite layer was off.

Could be a bug caused by Samsung's graphics drivers? I hope its fixed soon. I'm currently on IMM76D.I9300XXALE8. There has been no OTA update for me yet and I am in Australia.

 

[bigstarrynight]

Well, that's the end of the S3 for me. The GPS using Google maps + Navigation was (is) a major feature for me. It worked so well on the SGN under Gingerbread and totally corked when I upgraded to ICS. Now I see the S3 ships with ICS and you guys have exactly the same issues.

I spoke to my retailer and went into great depth over what went wrong post ICS and they have noted EVERYTHING and has given me a full refund for the phone. This was my fourth device, Samsung cant/wont get it right and I want no more. I have no idea what my choices are for now, I'm using an old motorola clamshell whilst I ponder. I would recommend anyone having issues with the S3 or Note, just send it back to your retailer for a refund. The product is flawed and little will be done until Samsung see devices returned by the lorry load.

 

[skibadee]

I have a white s3 (UK sim free) with lf2 and 6.8.1 Google maps. I've been using Google maps navigation for 2 weeks as my work pda (with built in tomtom) has been returned.

I've used it all day, 5 days a week, making at least 6 journeys per day with no issues.

I tried it today with satellite view and that too works with no issues. Worked ok with shipped firmware too. Le8 I think it was.

I have had the map jump around/flicker before when turning on a layer but exiting and reopening maps sorted that.

Hope this helps

Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

 

[bigstarrynight]

...........I have had the map jump around/flicker before when turning on a layer but exiting and reopening maps sorted that.

Hope this helps

Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

That was not my experience under GB. Under ICS My experience had nothing to do with layers, and reopening maps is not an option when driving, also, that is not how the software should be behaving. So you too have a faulty unit.

 

[skibadee]

That was not my experience under GB. Under ICS My experience had nothing to do with layers, and reopening maps is not an option when driving, also, that is not how the software should be behaving. So you too have a faulty unit.

I have had similar random bugs on GB and froyo (since my sgs 1) and to say the 1 out of 50 times I use maps it may crash - means my s3 is faulty?

I don't think so

You do realise navigation is still in beta?
Last week Google introduced a bug which killed latitude, few days later another update fixed it.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

 

[bigstarrynight]

I have had similar random bugs on GB and froyo (since my sgs 1) and to say the 1 out of 50 times I use maps it may crash - means my s3 is faulty?

I don't think so

Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

We both have different experiences. See how you get on with the S3. Personally, I paid top whack for a flagship product and it doesn't work as it should. It also has the faulty eMMC chip. Under GB it never crashed once, under ICS, its so unstable as to not be reliable and not performing as could reasonably be expected. As I say, see how your S3 goes. I'm certain that not all units will display the same characteristics, but its clear some are. ;-)

 

[skibadee]

We both have different experiences. See how you get on with the S3. Personally, I paid top whack for a flagship product and it doesn't work as it should. It also has the faulty eMMC chip. Under GB it never crashed once, under ICS, its so unstable as to not be reliable and not performing as could reasonably be expected. As I say, see how your S3 goes. I'm certain that not all units will display the same characteristics, but its clear some are. ;-)

Thanks, wasn't aware the eMMC chip issue was present in the s3, I'm sure I ran chainfires app to check when I first got it.

I shall bear that in mind when flashing, seeing as my s2 died a horrible death because of it

Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

 

[Shadamehr]

Firstly, a BIG thank you to ALL who have contributed to this thread.

Could I ask that those with issues though, tick the poll to say so, as the comments in the thread indicate lots are seeing this issue, but the poll indicates most are having no issue.

Just to add to my own original post though, to say that today, on two separate journeys, Google Maps Navigation worked FINE for me, but with the SATELLITE LAYER TURNED OFF.

That is, standard mapping, and I had no screen issues.

So this only seems to happen when Satellite Imagery Layer is turned ON. In which case it does this 100% of the time for me, across 100% of three different S3's so far, and let me be clear, is so bad, the application is 100% unusable (unless you navigate by voice prompt) as the screen is either entirely frozen, or glitching permanently and incessantly, the whole time.


So my next question though is this... if this IS only a Google Maps Software issue, how exactly do we reach out to Google, to tell them that GMaps is not working, with the latest flagship Android Device...?

Also, as best I recall, I never had this issue with GMaps on my SGS2's both running ICS. But it might have been an earlier GMaps version.

Now, how would I find an earlier GMaps version, to see if that works...?

(Finally, as an aside, why does the SGS2 running ICS, score higher/better scores for 3D graphics, than the SGS3 does, using either Quadrant, CF Bench, or AnTuTu... surely the SGS3 should have BETTER 3D hardware...?)

 

[Michael_P]

I tried v6.1.1 and working so far.
http://multiupload.biz/qpmbog3jzau0/Maps_6.1.1_MultiUpload.biz.apk.html

 

[bigstarrynight]

................So my next question though is this... if this IS only a Google Maps Software issue, how exactly do we reach out to Google, to tell them that GMaps is not working, with the latest flagship Android Device...?

I doubt it is just confined to GMaps as other issues crop up, not just with me, but other guys on this thread and elsewhere. How to reach out: Android = Google = Gmaps. Samsung are in bed with Google. Throw the phone back to Samsung and use the forums, eventually they will roll over and tell Google to stop snoring, get up and do something. Oh I wish.

 

[ash99]

Hi,

I'm having similar issues but I get the screen locking on both Google Maps and also Sygic Maps.

Anyone else having this issue with more than one GPS SAT NAV software ?

 

[bigstarrynight]

Hi,

I'm having similar issues but I get the screen locking on both Google Maps and also Sygic Maps.

Anyone else having this issue with more than one GPS SAT NAV software ?

It shouldn't do that. Faulty unit, send it back.

 

[Inquitus]

I dont use the Satellite version of Navigation very often, but when you select walking directions it defaults to the satellite map. I was out cycling a couple of weeks ago and selected the walking directions, the satellite map got stuck and glitched exactly as per your description.

The reason your poll is soo heavily weighted as a no is it dosnt mention this issue is specific to using the satellite map.

 

[Shadamehr]

Just a brief note to say that I too tested an OLDER version, 6.1.1 today, and found that it worked fine on the three journeys I tested it on, with Satellite Imagery turned ON.

So well done to that man - and whilst it still could be a combined Google/Samsung to blame flaw, it does give hope that it is software only issue, that can be fixed with a new version of Google Maps.

As for the point about the poll appearing flawed as it does not specifically state "if Satellite imagery is turned ON", then very good point - my bad!

 

[Shadamehr]

Contacting Google about this issue:

I've reached out to Google in the only way I can think of...

The following Support Forum thread:

http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/mobile/maps-earth-latitude/IlJDfMkgl3U

Hope it's ok to share it here. Mods, if not, please delete the post, not my account *lol*

If anyone else is seeing this issue, can you post there too?

That's not taking anything away from this forum, or attempting to gain anything from this - it's just that this is the ONLY way to let Google know about issues.

So please post there, if this is ok with the Mods here.

 

[bigstarrynight]

I've reached out to Google in the only way I can think of...

The following Support Forum thread:

http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/mobile/maps-earth-latitude/IlJDfMkgl3U

Hope it's ok to share it here. Mods, if not, please delete the post, not my account *lol*

If anyone else is seeing this issue, can you post there too?

That's not taking anything away from this forum, or attempting to gain anything from this - it's just that this is the ONLY way to let Google know about issues.

So please post there, if this is ok with the Mods here.

That is a very good post, and thanks for making the effort. I hope the Mods do not delete it. I'm sure they wont. We all have to make whatever contribution we can to get the product right. In essence, both the SGS3 and SGN have a uniqueness that is not repeated by any other manufacturer yet. I have tried to seek alternatives that satisfy my needs in the way the two Samsung products can potentially do, but there are no realistic options. However, in their current state, I'm keeping my wallet firmly closed until Samsung/Google get it sorted.