Google Maps for Android got an update, and its big addition is the ability to download segments of a map. From the Google blog:

When you’re visiting an unfamiliar location, Google Maps for mobile is great for getting an idea of how close you are to your destination, where streets and landmarks are in relation to each other, or just for getting “un-lost.” 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…Before you take your trip, while you still have access to WiFi or data coverage, you can open up any Places page in the world, click “More” to get the Place page menu, and download Google’s maps for a 10-mile radius.

Yet another example of the fact that if you’re reliant on Google products, like Maps and Gmail, you can’t beat Android. Google favors Android for obvious reasons, and features like this make it a good day to be an Android user. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll actually be able to figure out where I’m going when I get off the subway next time.