It could be a memory lapse but I thought when you minimize the navigation app it keeps running in the background (I remember seeing the little blue arrow still on the top of the phone screen) so you can still hear directions if you choose to look at another app on your phone.  

With the S3, if I hit the Home button to get to another app, it cancels the navigation.  So when I go back into Google Maps / Navigation it isn't in navigation mode - it shows me the directions screen and if I want directions or nav.  If I hit the Back button while navigating it just takes me back in the screens in Maps and would also prompt me to cancel navigation.

Is this something that has existed for a while in Google Maps / Nav?  If I pull off to the side of the road to check something on the phone and then pull back on to continue navigating I then realize I have to re-enter my search criteria.  Boo...

Any input from S3 users or any other newer Android phone users?

Thanks...

Kelly

Using gmaps 6.9.0 (#6090014) gmm-android-samsung