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Like Nokia's OVI maps can be used offline, there must be some way of caching Google map tiles too. Any hints?
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Once you have the area you'd like to cache in view, type “okay maps” into the search box. Google will take a moment to “pre-load” the area and then save the copy to your device's offline cache. Once it's cached you can use the map at any time, even in Airplane mode.
After you download an area, use the Google Maps app just like you normally would. If your internet connection is slow or absent, your offline maps will guide you to your destination as long as the entire route is within the offline map.
If your offline area expires in 15 days or less, Google Maps will try to update your area when you're connected to the Internet and plugged into a charger.
If you are trying to cache the tiles that Google serves, that may be a violation of Google's Terms of Service (unless, under certain circumstances, if you've purchased their enterprise Maps API Premier). That's why gmapcatcher has it crossed off their list. See http://code.google.com/p/gmapcatcher/issues/detail?id=210.
At the gmapcatcher URL above, you will also find a shell script that can download tiles (or so its author says).
There are also other projects that try to make Google Maps available offline:
http://code.google.com/p/ogmaps/
http://code.google.com/p/gmapoffline/
Lastly, if Google Earth can meet your needs, then you can use that. Offline usage of Google Earth requires a Google Earth Enterprise license according to http://www.google.com/permissions/geoguidelines.html.
Note that the preceding page also says: "You may not scrape or otherwise export Content from Google Maps or Earth or save it for offline use." So if you try to cache tiles, that will almost certainly be considered (by Google, anyway) a violation of the Terms of Service.
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