Google will roll out a new update for Maps for Android this week, that will bring a new home screen, specifically designed for India.
The new home screen will load faster, even on spotty connections, and you'll see new quick access menus for shortcuts on the home screen that will help you get things done in just few quick taps.
Now when you open the Google Maps apps, you'll instantly see 'Get Directions' card with different modes of transport. For example, if you like to take the bus to Connaught Place in New Delhi or you are planning to go by foot to a new mall that just opened nearby, you can start planning your route with a single tap. In addition, if you want to access a certain route while you're on the go without using data, you can save the route to be used offline.
There are also icons below the 'Get Directions' card, highlighting some of the other useful feature on Maps like first impression of a place with satellite imagery, real-time information about traffic around you, and details about public transport lines when you're on the road. All these features can be accessed by just a tap.
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Following the introduction of real-time traffic information last June, Google Maps will now offer live traffic alerts as well in India to keep you away from getting stuck in heavy traffic jams.
Google Maps will now offer voice alerts about live traffic conditions when you set the destination. It will also suggest alternative routes to avoid heavy traffic affected roads, and also provide information on how long it will take to reach the destination.
To enable this feature, you will have to use the Google Maps app for Android and iOS in navigation mode while traveling, and you'll see the traffic updates automatically for the set destination.
This feature can come handy in cities like Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru, where traffic jam causes hour long delays.
Google has added cool customization options to the Maps app, that will let users customize the location with colorful stickers. The new update to Maps, bumps the app version to 9.22 and adds the ability to choose from a array of stickers to set as home and work address icon.
There are a total of 25 different icons to choose from for the home like an RV, igloo, caste, submarine, tree-house, tent and more, and a total of 13 icons for work. This feature help you spot your home or office from a distance.
In addition now you'll also be able to label frequently visited locations. After labeling, you can type "home", "work" or "gym" in the search bar to get directions and navigate quickly and easily.
Google has updated its Maps app, adding support for fare estimates and pickup time from more ride hailing services across the world. Expanding upon a partnership with Uber (since 2014), Google has added more ride services to its Map app - Ola Cabs in India, 99Taxis in Brazil, Hailo in the UK and Spain, mytaxi in Germany and Gett in the UK.
The updated Maps app now has a fourth tab- ride sharing. In this tab, you'll have to enter a destination and choose how best to get there, and then the app will list your ride options from the aforementioned taxi services.
You'll also see fare estimates for each services that are available in your area as well as the ETA for your pickup. Tapping on the options in the tab will redirect you to the respective app. Note that you should have the ride hailing services app installed on your device.
Google has already started rolling out the new feature to Android device, and will soon come to iOS as well.
The latest update to Google Maps brings a host of new features and improvements including driving mode, audio toggle for navigation and more.
The Driving mode feature is a new form of navigation mode that gives you real time update about traffic and ETA (estimated time of arrival) as you drive, without even having to add the destination, by taking into account the location and web search history. It can be enabled
from a shortcut on the home screen and can also be turned on from the
navigation drawer. As of now, this feature is plagued with a bug that makes it hard to enable it, but the process should get easier with the next update.
The update also brings on-screen toggle to enable and disable turn-by-turn voice assistant. Previously, the toggle for audio was shifted to overflow menu, and this option was hard to be enable or disabled while driving.
The Google Maps interface has also received minor tweaks with the Manage location setting option been switched for Timeline settings. This feature allows users to look at places where they have been in the past. With the update users can now control over what user can see and restrict data usage. Previously users could only have it on or off.
The updated Maps version 9.19 is not yet available on Google Play and
is rolling across devices slowly. For those who can't wait, you can
download the apk which is signed by Google via
APK Mirror.
Last month, Google updated its Map app for Android, bring the offline navigation feature and now Google has made the offline navigation feature available to iOS platform as well.
With the latest update, Maps user on iOS will be able to download a region on the map for offline use. After saving the section of region on your iOS device you will be able to search for destinations without an internet connection and even get turn-by-turn navigation, business hours and contact details. When the device is connected to a network, it will automatically go online and offer other Maps features like live traffic updates. Note that, prior to this update, users were able to view the map of an area offline, but had no navigation feature.
In addition to offline navigation feature, Google Maps for iOS now offers up to date gas prices on all of the closest gas stations. The gas prices will be available in both map view as well as search results. Unfortunately, this feature is only available in the US and Canada. Lastly, the popular business hour feature offers information about restaurants and retail stores during their busiest hours and brings the ability to check popular visiting hours for local stores and outlets. Also included in the update is the bug fixes and improvements.
Download Google Maps for iOS
Google has introduced offline navigation and search features to it mapping service, Google Maps. Users can now download maps of specific areas of the cities or states and
save them on their phone.
You've had the ability to download and use Google Maps offline for a while now, but this is the first time Google will offer features like turn-by-turn navigation, search for specific destinations, and find useful
information about places, like hours of operation, contact information
or ratings.
Users can download an area by searching for a city or a country and tap 'Download' on the resulting place sheet, or go to 'Offline Areas' in the Google Maps menu and tap on the '+' button. After downloading, Google Maps will be available offline automatically when it recognizes you are in a location with no connectivity or slow service. When your smartphone is connected back to a good network, the app will automatically go online and offer other Maps features like live traffic updates for your current routes and more.
Google says that by default it will only download areas to your
device when you are on a Wi-Fi connection and not mobile data to prevent large data fees.
The latest offline navigation and search feature is available for Android and will soon come to iOS.
Google Maps is one of the core services offered by Google. At the ongoing I/O conference, the search giant announced that it is bringing offline turn by turn search and navigation for Google maps.
With offline mode, users will be able to get voice guided turn by turn navigation to reach your destination. Now, the maps will also offer information about place and point of interest such as hotels, stores and more. This off course is boon for developing countries which suffer from poor internet speed and limited data connection.
The offline maps navigation will also help travelers and other users who want to save cellular data when they are out and about. Before users could download a portion of map for offline use, but Google's new offline mode feature, users will be able to search and get auto-complete results without internet connection. However, taking a map along with all navigational information offline will take up significant amount of space on your storage.
The new offline functionality will come to Google maps later this year.
