Newsletter
Google is always looking to make their apps and services better, and with Google Maps this has included a number of different things over the years. With the latest update to Maps which should begin rolling out today (although we have the apk for you here if you’d like to download it now instead of waiting) Google has added in a chart for the popular times feature, as well as a new UI for reviewing and starting your navigation and adding more navigation data in for the various methods of transportation.
First up is the popular times. You may remember this from being introduced into Google search results recently, and Google is now transporting this feature over to Maps as well so you can stay on top of busy operational times for places you may be considering doing business with. Whether it’s a new coffee shop and you want to be in an out with drink to still make it to work on time, or a new place to eat, these popular times charts will show you stats of when businesses happen to see the most traffic, thus letting you pick the slower times to visit.
The other new change comes in the form of Google’s navigation UI within Maps. Things with the latest update make the UI a little more material design, with a FAB button for starting navigation after you’ve entered in all the necessary data including start and end points, as well as a larger map preview of the navigation route prior to hitting the “start navigation” button. Method of navigation has been changed up in the UI as well, and is now separated into tabs under the bars for “your location” and “destination” and you can easily switch between them. In doing so, the Maps details will repopulate to fit the method of travel, and you can see a time for how long it will take you to reach your destination for each method so long as you’re taking the quickest route option listed. Other more descriptive details are now included as well, like elevation data if you’ll be cycling to your destination or toll fees if you’re driving. Overall the changes present a more useful interaction with Maps, and ultimately users should appreciate these changes and extra data.
