Google Maps Updates

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Google Maps beta app is now available through the Google Play. You can sign up to be a beta testers for the unreleased version of the Maps app.

The Google Maps v9.27 beta gets new notification settings addition, a new splash screen for Android Wear, and then there are few hints from the teardown, reported Android Police. For users running the Android N preview build on their devices then they are already on Google Maps version 9.30, so this v9.27 won’t get installed. For those who don’t know, these beta apps are usually the testing versions, so these are unstable or have few bugs.

The app gets two more notification settings with this v9.27. These additions are marked as “show pending contributions notifications” and “driving notifications.” Additionally, for Android Wear, the Maps app has added a splash screen animation instead of plain white screen, which had always confused us to whether the watch is working or got frozen..

Furthermore, the teardown suggests that Google might be adding some usual Hello, Good morning, Good afternoon greetings – may be trying to give users a more of a personal touch.

Google Maps beta now on Google Play, v9.27 adds 2 new notification settings and more
 
If you’re an avid user of Google Maps for mobile, you may have run into situations in the past where you’ve wanted to add multiple destinations for your trip. Unfortunately, the ability to do that has long been missing from the app. Well folks, those days are over, thanks to the latest update to Google Maps for Android.

Users (via Android Police) have been reporting the addition of the new feature in Maps version 9.31, so if you don’t have that version of Maps, you may have to wait a little until it gets rolled out to you. Even if you do have the latest version of the app, it seems as though Google needs to switch on the feature for some users.

Previously you have been able to add stops to your trip, but doing so required starting navigation and then pressing the “search” icon. Now, you can add as many destinations as you want before you start navigating to your first destination. That also means that you’ll be able to plan out your route more easily. Destinations are denoted on the app by letters, and can be reordered before you start the trip, ensuring that the best route possible is taken.

Other changes in the new app include a new design for the timeline screen, which provides some statistics about the trips that you’ve taken. The new design makes the interface look somewhat like Google Photos, which helps create a sense of unity across Google’s ecosystem.

Google has been putting some serious effort into developing and improving Maps. In fact, it’s even recruiting users to answer questions about specific destinations. Users will also be used to verify edits suggested by other users, so as to not only ensure everything is accurate, but also to avoid mishaps like images of the Android robot peeing on the Apple logo.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-maps-android-multiple-destinations/
 
Google is finally rolling out a Wi-Fi only mode for its much-loved Maps app. Apart from the new toggle, has also added new notifications for mass transit delays as well. Android Police reports that the new feature is rolling out gradually and that users will need Maps v9.32 installed to take advantage of the same.

The toggle for the Wi-Fi only mode can be found in Settings screen. If you can see it right away, you are probably one of the lucky ones to be able to use the new feature.

Previously known as ‘offline areas’, the new toggle does what it states, which is to disconnect the Maps app from your cellular or data network. Google however, states in a small pop up that the Maps app may still use a small amount of data during operation.

Upon switching the toggle on, a blue bar appears at the top of the screen to inform users that the app is in Wi-Fi only mode.

Additionally, Google also added new notifications for mass transit delays which appeals to users who frequently travel by bus or trains. The same will inform users of disruption alerts in selected services via notifications, provided the same is available in your region.

Google recently bumped up the image quality for its Maps app. While this is a gradual process, the difference on the mosaics are huge and noticeable. The difference, according to Google, comes from cloud-free imagery—one that showcases clearer views of the earth with greater detail and truer colours. The Landsat 8 also captures images twice as fast as Landsat 7, making the mosaic more up-to-date than past iterations.

Google Maps rolling out Wi-Fi only mode Tech2 Mobile
 
Search giant Google has updated its Maps to bring in a new user-friendly design. The changes includes a cleaner and simpler look with balanced colour schemes, and a new feature called 'areas of interest' that highlights "places where there's a lot of activities and things to do".

These areas of interest are busier areas of the map that will be shaded in orange for users to zoom and peek, and make a pit stop if they will. The update is rolling out gradually to iOS, Android, and desktop users of Google Maps across the globe.

"As part of this update, we've removed elements that aren't absolutely required (like road outlines). The result is a cleaner look that makes it easier to see helpful and actionable information like traffic and transit. And we've improved the typography of street names, points of interest, transit stations, and more to make them more distinguishable from other things on the map, helping you navigate the world with fewer distractions," Google explains on its blog.

There also a new colour scheme that has been introduced with this update. Different colours represent different things around you, like the park is shown in Green, while water bodies are shown in Blue. Similarly, there are colours assigned to freeways, highways, hospitals, schools, and even open grounds.

The Google Maps app for Android recently also got the ability to add multiple destinations to your route. This is useful when you have to manoeuvre around areas making multiple stops. Users need to feed in pit stops, and Google Maps will route a way to all the destinations in your desired order, and begin navigation.

Google Maps Gets a Cleaner Look, Starts Highlighting 'Areas of Interest' | NDTV Gadgets360.com
 
Google recently rolled out a new feature to navigate multiple destinations on Google Maps. While, up until now the feature was available only for Android users, Google has now rolled it out for the iOS platform as well. The multiple destination feature, essentially allow users the ability to add multiple stops to a single trip.

Rather than giving an option to navigate just from point A to point B, as it did till recently, the Maps now bring a user from point B to points C, D, E, and so on, making it much easier to navigate more than one stops at once. The multiple destination feature has been there for quite some time on Google Map’s desktop site.

Earlier available on the web, this feature was launched on Android a month ago .

Other than that, there are some more changes that Google Maps will be coming with. The new update also allows users to add title to their travels and make side notes. The update will include a redesigned timeline feature that gives you the details of the places you have visited in the past, along with some other travel statistics.

Google Maps’ multiple destination feature rolls out to iOS
 
Google is rolling out a rather large update for Google Maps this week, which introduces the long sought after Wi-Fi only offline mode and the option to save offline maps to microSD card storage.

First up, enabling the Wi-Fi only mode means that Maps goes offline when you’re not in range of a Wi-Fi, and will only work in areas where you have saved offline maps. This will be particularly handy if you suffer from questionable network coverage or are travelling abroad. Directions and navigation will still work when you’re offline, but obviously you’ll have to connect to a network at some point to find destinations and download map data.

To enable Wi-Fi only mode, head into Google Maps > Settings and you’ll see the toggle as the second option down. You’ll then be presented with an option to save some offline areas so that Maps will work.

To supplement the new offline mode, Google has also introduced the option to pick whether to save your offline areas to the phone’s internal storage or a microSD card, if your phone supports one. This will be particularly handy if your phone only has a small amount of internal storage. Google Maps will also show you how much space is free on both storage devices, so you can pick the best place.

As part of the same update, Grab will now also be featured in the cab tab of Google Maps, alongside Uber, in 24 cities throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Google is also adding GO-JEK rides in three Indonesian cities, with 10 more on the way soon.

The Google Maps update is already rolling out and should be live on your phone. If not, just sit tight and the new features will come very soon.

http://www.androidauthority.com/google-maps-receives-wi-fi-mode-708848/
 
Google is taking the offline feature seriously in order to help its users enjoy benefits even when they are not connected to the internet. Especially for travellers and those living in remote areas with lower or intermittent internet connection this comes as a boon.

Last year Google announced its offline feature for YouTube where users could download videos and save them offline for viewing at a later time. A few weeks ago, Google announced the offline feature for its famous Google Maps service.

Indian users could benefit from the offline feature available. With internet penetration still growing and data being spotty in places, the offline feature may just push the app usage further. Currently Google Maps sits at the 7th spot in the App store according to App Annie’s statistics while on Android the app is pre installed.

The new setting essentially lets users stop data transfers over cellular for Google Maps, while other apps that might require permanent data connection will still use mobile data on Android devices.

The other update that could help Indian users is the option of storing the offline data where the user feels is convenient. In a country where entry-level smartphones are high in demand, there is often space constraints due to lower internal memory space. Google Maps users with any storage capacity can download and use offline areas when they need them most. Google has added the ability to download offline areas to an external SD card (if your device supports them) on Google Maps for Android.

One feature that awaits its arrival to India is the service that provides a comparison between cab service providers. In addition to showing options from Uber, Google Maps is currently showing GO-JEK rides in three cities in Indonesia with ten more cities coming soon (Android, rolling out on iOS) and Grab rides in 24 cities throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand (Android, rolling out on iOS). It also expanded the availability of Gett, Hailo, and MyTaxi in select cities across Ireland, Poland, Italy, Austria, Russia, and Israel (Android, iOS).

With Android and iOS constantly challenging each other in terms of features, it seems like Android has taken another dig at Apple’s maps service and given them something to think about while Google brings in innovation and constant changes for better user experience. 

- See more at:

http://www.exchange4media.mobi/digital/after-youtube-google-launches-offline-feature-for-maps-on-android_65762.html
 
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