I might not be old enough to remember my parents pulling out a paper map in the car when we got lost, but I’m old enough to remember when Apple Maps was the punchline of the navigational world. I remember it sending tourists to the middle of Australia in search of a national park and putting a trench in the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge, and thinking that it must be the worst map ever created. That was several years ago, though, and I’ve heard plenty of good things about Apple’s updates since then, so I figured I’d give it another chance.

With one eye on a family vacation and another on a wedding, I let Apple take the wheel to see how it stacks up against Google Maps. I decided I would use it to guide me to a campsite I’ve been to every year since I can remember (a trip where I’d know if I was being steered wrong) and then follow it up with a less familiar drive across Pennsylvania, where I’d have to trust Apple’s choices. Let’s see how it went.

Google is finally rolling out the Maps bottom bar redesign it first showcased at I/O this May. The simplified design briefly appeared for some users earlier this year, but it’s now widely available with Google Maps for Android version 11.138.x.

Google Maps’ bottom bar previously featured five tabs: Explore, Go, Saved, Contribute, and Updates. As you can see in the following screenshots, the redesigned bottom bar has just three tabs: Explore, You, and Contribute.

For years, drivers navigating with Google Maps have relied on its real-time incident warnings to steer clear of traffic snarls, accidents, and road closures. However, a crucial piece of the puzzle has been missing for those using Android Auto — the ability to contribute to this vital information stream by reporting incidents directly from their car’s dashboard.

Today, Google announced that the long-awaited feature to report incidents directly through Google Maps is now being rolled out globally, spanning Android and iOS devices, cars equipped with Google built-in systems, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.

Google Maps for Wear OS has received a few useful updates of late. The most notable, of course, has been the addition of public transit directions, which happened earlier this year. Now, the Mountain View tech giant has rolled out yet another update that enhances the user experience. As part of this update, users will see a redesigned Tile and have access to two complications (i.e., features displayed on the watch face apart from the time).

So, what exactly does this update entail?

Apple Maps has finally introduced a web version, allowing users to rely on its service without necessarily buying an iDevice. The beta website is now accessible on several device types, but notably, it’s incompatible with Android web browsers.

Apple has announced that it’s bringing its Maps service to select web browsers on some of the most commonly used operating systems. Those using Chrome or Edge on a Windows PC, iPad, or Mac can now try Apple Maps on the web by visiting beta.maps.apple.com. Safari is also supported if you rely on one of Apple’s excellent tablets or computers.

Google is always introducing new services, and while plenty of those don’t pass the test of time, others become institutions that we can barely imagine living without: Gmail, Docs, and of course, Google Maps. For as useful as Maps is, though, have the decades of development it’s gone through and the addition of innumerous features left it in a state of clutter? That’s the impression we got from a poll last year, with readers telling us they wanted to clean up how Maps works. We might finally be starting to see some progress along those lines as Google pushes out a redesign that puts the emphasis back on maps.

Even getting a basic task done in Maps can involve navigating across a bunch of different UI elements: searching for a place, choosing your mode of transit, and previewing steps along the way. While the end result is perfectly functional, Google’s been working on a new way to manage these elements that feels a bit more natural, while keeping the map itself the focus.

Google Maps has long offered the convenience of displaying speed limits and a live speedometer on Android phones and Android Auto. Now, Google is expanding these features to iOS devices and CarPlay, bringing the same level of functionality to Apple users. (via TechCrunch)

Google confirmed that the speed monitoring features are rolling out globally, so they should show up for everyone soon. For those using an iPhone who have yet to see these features, open the Google Maps app, tap on your profile picture, navigate to Settings, then to Navigation, and finally select Driving options. This will lead you to the speedometer/speed limit toggles.

Update: July 8, 2024 (4:35 PM ET): A Google spokesperson has reached out to Android Authority and provided the following statement:

Promoted pins in navigation are not new – they let people see relevant ads for businesses like gas stations, restaurants, and stores along their route. To avoid driver distraction, these ads do not pop up, expand only if they’re tapped on, and disappear quickly after a short time.

Late last year, Google revamped the color scheme of its Maps app for iOS, Android, and the web. Although the revamp wasn’t that drastic, many users were annoyed by the sudden changes to the styling they’d been used to for so long. Those changes are now coming to maps within third-party apps that are powered by the Google Maps Platform.

Back in November of last year, we reported that Google Maps had changed its colors to be brighter overall. Major and minor roads were now shades of gray instead of yellow or white, bodies of water were now turquoise instead of blue, forests were now a pastel green instead of a muted green, and routes were now a brighter and more jarring blue. When we polled our readers about these changes, an overwhelming 69% of 3,277 respondents said that they didn’t like the new colors, with many stating that it made details harder to see. A former designer for Google Maps even chimed in to express her opinion on the revamped color scheme, calling it “colder, less accurate, and less human.”

Google Maps is one of the top recommended free apps for Android users, thanks to how insanely useful it is. Maps is great not only for active navigation, but also serves as an excellent resource for discovery and recommendations. However, one can argue that Google Maps has reached some level of feature overload, with the app constantly throwing a lot of things at the wall to try and find out what sticks. Google could be looking at a feature cleanup, and one of the features that it could soon axe is the ability to follow places on its service.

Within Google Maps v11.134.0103 beta, we spotted strings referencing the deprecation of the Followed Places feature.

For years, Google Maps has allowed users to track the locations they visit using its Timeline feature. The option works in the background and keeps track of users’ movement at all times. Those who opted in can view their location history on the web and in the Google Maps app. To keep users’ sensitive location data more private and secure, Google Maps will sunset web access for its Timeline feature in the coming months.

As per an Android Police report, Google Maps has started emailing users about changes coming to the Timeline feature. The company plans to sunset web access and switch to a more private, on-device approach. This would make Google Maps’ Timeline data unique to each connected phone — as the migration would deactivate the universal sync mechanism.

Google Maps is one of the best Android apps, and we don’t even need to recommend installing it since it comes preinstalled on most Android phones anyway. It’s an amazing app for navigation and exploration, and it also works very well with Android Auto (most of the time). If you’re finding that Google Maps has recently been continuously crashing Android Auto, the latest Maps beta update is likely the culprit.

As Reddit user japzone points out, the latest Google Maps beta (possibly v11.132.0100 beta, from what I can tell) doesn’t work with Android Auto. Starting Android Auto causes the Google Maps app to crash, and you get thrown back to the Android Auto app list. Selecting Google Maps here will cause you to crash back again to the app list.

Google is bidding farewell to yet another of its services, this time to Google Business Messaging. This decision marks the end of an often overlooked messaging service integrated into Google Maps and Search, adding another tombstone to Google’s growing graveyard of abandoned products. (h/t: Search Engine Land)

The service, known somewhat interchangeably as “Google Business Messaging” and “Google Business Profile Chat,” allowed customers to initiate conversations with businesses directly through their Google Maps or Search listings. This provided a convenient channel for customer service inquiries and other interactions.

Google is making a small change to Google Maps that should help clean up the home screen a bit. It appears that change is now slowly starting to roll out to Android users.

During the Material You session at Google I/O this week, the tech giant debuted a new, simplified design for Google Maps. Specifically, the company reduced the number of tabs that appear in the bottom bar.

Google has recently rolled out several updates to Maps, including 3D buildings and green travel options promoting more planet-friendly transport modes. At Google I/O 2024, the company announced the addition of geospatial AR content to Google Maps, making the app a more interactive travel companion.

When content is available, and a user is close to a landmark, an AR Experience tile will appear in that landmark’s photo roll. Users can tap this content and hold their phone up to that landmark to view a Lens guide that divulges interesting information about the area, including fun facts and deeper history.

If you remember, Google announced at the beginning of February that the Maps app would start taking advantage of generative AI. This feature launched in early access for select Local Guides, but it seems like it could soon be available to everyone.

Looking through strings of code in the latest Google Maps beta, we discovered mentions of the generative AI experiment heading to Labs. If you’re unfamiliar, Labs is the place where anybody can sign up to try out Google’s latest AI tools and experiments. This means the feature will no longer be exclusive to just Local Guides.

It’s no secret Google is working on bringing satellite connectivity to Android phones. In fact, the company added satellite connectivity support for SMS apps and preloaded RCS apps to Android 15 after Developer Preview 2 was released last month. But strings of code hint that Google could also add this support to the Maps app as well.

An APK teardown of Google Maps beta v11.125, conducted by AssembleDebug and shared with PiunikaWeb, reveals new strings of code that mention satellite-based location sharing. Based on those strings, users would be able to “update your location once every 15 minutes, up to five times a day.”

Google is about to introduce a bevy of new features to Maps and Search. These new features are centered around making sustainable travel easier for everybody.

Today, Google announced some updates to Maps and Search will be coming soon. These features range from eco-friendly travel suggestions to electric vehicle (EV) charger placement and more.

Google Maps is considered the top dog in the mapping space today, but Google is constantly adding new features and making tweaks to the app. And it looks like the latest addition is a neat visual tweak. 

Right in time for summer vacations, Google is upgrading Search with generative AI features. The company is also making it easier to get a list of curated recommendations in Maps and letting you shop more easily with personalized style recommendations in Google Shopping. Maps and Shopping are also getting AI features, such as summaries and text-to-image generation.

Generative AI in Google Search for trip planning

Google is upgrading the Search Generative Experience (SGE) in Google Search to make planning your summer travel easier. You can now ask Google Search wider queries like “Plan me a three-day trip to Philadelphia that’s all about history” to get a set of suggestions that include attractions, restaurants, and an overview of flight and hotel options.

Google Search will practically create an itinerary for you that pulls in data from sites across the web, from reviews, photos, and other details that people have submitted to Google for more than 200 million places worldwide.

This capability is available in English in the US. You will need to enroll in Search Labs and enable SGE to try it out.

Curated recommendation lists in Google Maps

Google Maps is making it easier to discover lists of recommendations. Starting with select cities in the US and Canada, when you search for these cities, Google Maps will now showcase a list of recommendations for places to visit. This data will be pulled from publishers as well as contributions from members of the Google Maps community.

Additionally, Google Maps is introducing trending, top, and hidden gem restaurant lists that are created by Google Maps based on what people are interested in in that city.

More customizations for lists in Maps

Maps is also making it easier to customize lists. When you create a list of places in Maps, you will be able to choose the order the places appear in. You can organize the places by top favorites or chronologically like an itinerary.

Users will also be able to link to content from social media to add context on why a particular spot was added to a list.

These two updates are coming to Google Maps on Android and iOS globally “later this month,” which means in the next few days.

AI summaries for places

Google Maps is also using AI to identify key insights about places by tapping into the Maps community. When you search for places in Google Maps, you can now see photos and reviews that summarize what people love about that place.

Cleaner look for Google Maps

Google Maps will also get a fresh look soon, with a cleaner home screen and fewer tabs. The app will also have new pin colors to make finding places on the map easier.

Personalized style recommendation tool in Google Shopping

Google has a new personalized style recommendations tool that will help you easily discover more products you like. When users in the US search for apparel or accessories on their mobile browser or through the Google app, they will now see a section labeled “style recommendations.” You can rate options with a thumbs up or down and then get personalized results with items that complement your wardrobe and sense of style. Further, you can also specify what brands you like to get options from those brands.

If the results don’t satisfy your needs, you can get an option to rate more times and instantly see more results. Preferences will be saved, so your style recommendations will remain personalized based on what you have liked and the items you have interacted with.

Google is also adding SGE to Shopping by letting you describe your shopping product to generate a photorealistic image, which you can then use to locate similar shippable products.

Ever wondered what’s going on behind the scenes at your favorite local shop or if that new yoga studio is hosting any workshops? Google is making it easier to stay in the loop with businesses you care about. A new feature on Google Maps and Search integrates social media posts directly into Business Profiles.

This means you can see the latest updates from your favorite businesses, whether it’s a new product launch at a local clothing store, a special promotion at a nearby gym, or a client testimonial for a handyperson service – all right within Google Search.

The update, first spotted by industry publication Search Engine Journal, aims to give consumers a richer experience by showcasing a business’s online presence and activity right alongside key details like contact information and reviews. Businesses that have already linked their social media accounts to their Google Business Profiles (GBP) might see their latest posts automatically surface on their profiles.

While Google Business Profiles have traditionally offered essential details like addresses and operating hours, this update allows businesses to create a more dynamic online hub. The new feature should seamlessly pull in recent posts from various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. These posts will be displayed in a dedicated section titled “Social media updates” at the bottom of the Business Profile.

Google has published detailed instructions on how to format social media links for Google Business Profiles. Businesses can also find information on adding, editing, and removing social media links from their profiles through the same support channel.

This update offers a win-win situation for both businesses and consumers. Businesses gain valuable screen space to promote themselves without any additional effort, while consumers can get a more holistic view of a business’s online presence and potentially discover special offers or events advertised on social media.

While this feature holds great promise, it’s currently only available in select regions and for a limited number of Business Profiles. However, with its potential to enhance the online experience for both businesses and consumers, a wider rollout seems likely in the near future.

Forget the process of figuring out how to get to your destination, sometimes just finding a way to get inside a building can be tricky. But Google Maps could get a feature that will tell you where to enter and exit.

First spotted by Android Police, Google appears to be testing a new feature in the Maps app that shows building entrance locations. According to the outlet, the experiment is running on version 11.17.0101 and seems to only be available to select users.

If you’re one of the lucky few, entrance locations reportedly show up after you’re adequately zoomed in and a building is selected. These entrances are marked by either a white circle with an entry icon or a simple green arrow. It’s unclear if there are any differences in how the two symbols are being used. In addition, buildings that are selected turn red, which makes it easier for users to separate that building from its surroundings.

It seems the feature isn’t perfect, as the outlet points out that some entrance locations are incorrect. There also appear to be some locations where entrances aren’t appearing. As Google seems to be testing this feature, it’s likely the firm is still in the process of collecting this information.

This news arrives not long after Google recently widely rolled out the “glanceable directions while navigating” feature. The feature was pushed out for version 11.116 for Android and 6.104.2 for iOS.

Google Maps is about to become a lot more useful on your lock screen. The app is getting a new setting called “Glanceable directions while navigating.”

Back in February 2023, Google announced the Maps app on both Android and iOS would get a glanceable directions feature. This feature would allow Android owners to see where to turn, as well as get live ETAs all from the lock screen. It also works on the route overview screen, even if you don’t hit Start. Meanwhile, Google Maps on iPhone would use iOS’s Live Activities for the feature.

The feature was supposed to launch globally back in June 2023, but may have only been available to a small group of users. But it looks like it’s now becoming available for everybody.

First spotted by Android Police, the feature appears to now be rolling out widely for users on version 11.116 for Android and 6.104.2 on iOS. I can also confirm that my own device now has a toggle for the setting that you can see below.

The toggle is off by default, so you’ll have to enable the setting. This can be done by navigating to Settings and scrolling down Navigation settings. You should find Glanceable directions while navigating right under Map display.

MWC 2024 is underway, and phone companies are using the event to make big announcements. Google has announced a few new features for Android and its wider ecosystem, including Android Auto, Wear OS, and even surprise appearances from Gemini. Here’s what’s new!

Google Messages gets Chat with Gemini

The most significant announcement here is that Google Messages will now let you access Gemini right within the app. Within Google Messages, Gemini can help you draft messages, brainstorm ideas, plan events, and more. The Chat with Gemini experience will be available as a beta, so be prepared to run into some oddities. The feature will also be restricted to English for now.

Android Auto gets AI text summaries

We’ve all been in situations where we are driving yet expecting some important messages to come through. It’s perilous to take your eyes off the road, and it’s not always feasible to make a stop to read messages every time your phone beeps. Google is looking to use AI to tackle this problem with a new text summarization feature for Android Auto.

This feature was announced alongside the launch of the Galaxy S24 series, and it is now being made widely available. Android Auto will now use AI to summarize text messages and group chats while you are driving. It will also suggest relevant replies and actions, making it easy for you to tap once to send a message, share your ETA, or start a call.

As helpful as the feature would be, remember to still follow all road safety rules, guidelines, and etiquette!

Google Docs gets handwritten markups

Google Docs is getting a handy markup feature, which allows you to add handwritten annotations to your documents. You can use your fingers or a stylus on your Android phone or tablet.

There are a few markup tools to choose from, like different pen colors and highlighters, making it easy to provide feedback on documents.

Android’s output switcher now supports Spotify Connect devices

Android’s output switcher lets you switch between devices when playing music through YouTube Music. Back at CES 2023, Google announced that it was also working with Spotify to bring this feature to Spotify Connect devices. It’s taken some time, but Google says Android’s output switcher can now let you switch Spotify output amongst your Spotify Connect devices.

Fitbit app can now display data from Health Connect

The Fitbit app on Android can already sync its data with Health Connect. Now, it can also display the data submitted to Health Connect through other apps. The Fitbit app can display data from other apps like AllTrails, Oura Ring, and MyFitnessPal to get a better, comprehensive picture of your fitness within one app.

You can see data from connected apps next to your Fitbit data when you go to the You tab within the Fitbit tab. The Today tab shows data like exercise, steps, calories burned, floors claimed, and distance traveled from Health Connect-compatible apps.

Boarding passes and more now officially available on Wear OS smartwatches

Users have been spotting the ability to view Google Wallet passes on their Wear OS watches since the beginning of the year. Google is officially confirming and announcing the rollout today. Users can now access boarding passes, event tickets, gym memberships, loyalty cards, and more directly on their Wear OS smartwatch through Google Wallet. You can choose which passes to hide or display to have them handy when needed.

Google Maps for Wear OS gets public transit directions

Google Maps for Wear OS is surprisingly missing a lot of functionality that is present on the smartphone version of the app. While Wear OS and smartwatches have their own constraints, it feels odd that transit directions are unavailable on Wear OS since that would be the best time to leave your smartphone in your pocket and navigate through your smartwatch.

Google is fixing its misstep today. Public transit directions are now available on Google Maps for Wear OS. This way, you can leave your phone in your pocket and glance at your wrist for the next steps. You can get compass-guided navigation directions to your destination to ensure you catch your bus, train, or ferry. You can also mirror directions to your watch from your phone and navigate hands-free.

Screen reader support for Lens in Maps

Back in October 2023, Google upgraded Lens in Maps with AI features. Within Google Maps, you can click on the Lens icon in the search bar and point your phone’s camera at your surroundings to find information about nearby ATMs, restaurants, and more.

Today, Google is announcing enhanced screen reader support for Lens in Maps. Your phone’s TalkBack feature will now read out the place’s information, such as its business hours, rating, and more.

AI-generated captions in Lookout on Android now rolling out globally

In September 2023, Google announced that its accessibility app, Lookout, is getting a new Image Q&A feature. This feature uses AI to auto-generate descriptions of photos, online images, and pictures included in messages. In addition to the description, you can ask questions to describe the image further. This feature is now rolling out globally for English language users.

Which of these new features will you get the most use out of? Let us know in the comments below!

Google Maps offers a number of features for owners of electric vehicles (EVs), such as showing nearby charging stations, charging speeds of said stations, and more. However, a recent Google Maps update suggests that the app will gain another handy EV-related option.

Version 111.15.103 of the Google Maps app for Android shows that Google could show charging stations with Plug and Charge capabilities. Check out the strings we discovered below.

<string name="CAR_PLUG_AND_CHARGE_BODY">"Charging stations with plug and charge let you charge more conveniently, without using your phone or charging card. You can set up plug and charge in your vehicle’s settings and payment app."</string>
<string name="CAR_PLUG_AND_CHARGE_TITLE">Plug and charge</string>
<string name="CAR_SEARCH_PLUG_AND_CHARGE">Plug and charge</string>

Plug and Charge technology, as the name implies, is a simplified form of car charging. This allows for car charging without the use of an app or charging card — the car itself handles the payment process. BMW also notes that vehicle authentication doesn’t require an internet connection, making it handy for places such as underground parking garages.

This charging technology is available on vehicles from several manufacturers right now, such as BMW, Ford, GM, and Mercedes. So we’re glad to see Google seemingly embracing the standard too, potentially giving users options for hassle-free EV charging.

Google Maps on Android is borrowing a handy feature from the iOS version of the app. The latest update to the Android app will now allow you to see the weather while in Maps.

First spotted by 9to5Google, Google Maps on Android has added a small rectangular box in the left-hand corner of the screen, just under the search bar. The box in question contains the temperature, weather conditions, and the air quality index (AQI) in the area.

Just like with the iOS version, these values will change as you look at different parts of the map. The widget will also disappear once anything is selected.

If you want more details on the weather, tapping on the box will bring up a card that shows the current temperature and weather conditions, the high and lows for the day, the hourly forecast, and the AQI. You can also tap on the AQI, which will show you the existing air quality map layer.

While the feature isn’t live on my device yet, it was available for others on our team. The feature should become widely available soon after updating to the latest version of the app.

Google is still finding new ways to implement AI into all of its products. The latest AI experiment from the tech giant lets generative AI help users find places of interest in Google Maps regardless of how specific, broad, or niche their inquiry is.

Today, Google announced it is introducing a new way to help you find the places you want to go in Google Maps. According to the firm, this feature relies on the company’s large-language models (LLMs) to analyze information on over 250 million places and insights from the community. When used, the feature will provide you with suggestions on destinations you may want to check out.

One example Google provides is looking for things to do on a rainy day. If you type “activities for a rainy day” into the prompt field, it will reportedly provide recommendations for indoor activities like comedy shows, movie theaters, and more.

You’ll also be able to ask follow-up questions that take your previous prompt into account. Say that you want to go somewhere with a vintage vibe, the feature will then provide indoor activities at locations that fit that request.

In addition, says these results will be organized in categories. Along with those categories, you’ll be presented with photo carousels and review summaries of those places. And if you like where you went, you’ll also be able to save the location to a list and share it with friends.

Google describes the generative AI feature as an experiment and says it is launching in early access this week in the US. However, it will only be available to select Local Guides.

Google currently offers a Driving Mode in Google Maps for Android, delivering a safer, more convenient experience when navigating. Unfortunately, it looks like this feature might be removed early next year.

9to5Google spotted two curious strings in version 14.52 of the Google app, and we were subsequently able to spot them as well. The outlet believes that these strings relate to the Driving Mode in Google Maps for Android. The first string notes that an unspecified “view” is going away in February 2024.

“To call, message, or play media while navigating, tap the mic to use Assistant,” reads the second string. In other words, it seems like Google is pushing people to use Assistant while driving instead of the Driving Mode within Google Maps.

Audio-only interactions are safer in theory, but this still seems like a downgrade in terms of functionality. For one, there are people who simply don’t like using voice assistants in the first place. I’d also imagine that people might be forced to use the screen view anyway in the event that Assistant either makes a mistake or isn’t able to handle a specific task.

We therefore hope Google is working on a revised driving mode for Android as it would give people more options for safely navigating and interacting with their phone.

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

A couple of weeks ago, Google Maps started rolling out improvements to the transit experience in many cities, including Paris where I live. I was quite excited to discover the new features until I realized they’ve been live for me but I didn’t notice them — that’s how minor these changes are.

In short, there are two improvements to transit directions in Google Maps: station exits and entrances and route options. The former lets me see which side of the road I have to go in/out of, while the latter allows me to set route preferences with less walking or fewer correspondences.

These are good changes, certainly, but as someone who has spent the last two and a half years carless and exclusively taking public transport, these count as the most minor changes on the list of improvements I’d wish Google Maps would introduce.

My personal experience with Google Maps transit veers between “fine” and “frustrating” on a good day. It all starts with the fact that transit directions don’t show up on my Pixel Watch 2, for some reason, and I have to keep looking at my phone. Or switch to Citymapper if I want my train and bus directions to pop up on my wrist. I don’t know why transit is treated as a second-rate citizen in Google Maps on Wear OS — perhaps those rich enough to buy a smartwatch don’t take buses, ha?!

Then there’s everything to do with transit directions. Any associated walking is treated as dots on the map, period. There’s no turn-by-turn navigation, the map doesn’t flip while I walk, and I have to keep glancing down at my phone to make sure I haven’t missed a turn or gone off in the wrong direction before reaching my station or destination. Worse yet, I have no idea if the walk is manageable or if it’s pure uphill or downhill before picking it. Should I manually find the elevation of my starting and end points to get an idea? And why doesn’t Maps treat transit plus walking as a mixed-mode navigation, to offer the best of both?

Plus, Google Maps doesn’t calculate how long it takes to enter the station and get to the train track, or exit it. Some stations are huge and require a few minutes of walking — time that isn’t calculated or shown in Maps. There is no info on escalators, stairs, or lifts, and no indicators for more accessible exits or correspondences.

Things get even more complicated when you dive into the weeds of daily transit usage. If the route I’ve picked offers a few different bus or tram line options (i.e. they both go from A to B, but through different tracks), I only see the stops of the bus or tram that Maps thinks I took, even if I’m on the other track option. I noticed this a lot in Prague, where I kept getting confused thinking I missed my stop or jumped on the wrong tram, only to realize Maps was showing me the alternative line’s stops.

Worse was my experience in a few cities where Maps, for some reason, kept ignoring the nearest (in time) train or bus, and offering the one after. Even if I was already at the station and the next bus was scheduled in four minutes and the one after in 10 minutes, I’d see the 10-minute bus as the default option. This messed up all my correspondence timings and recommendations. I had to start setting manual departure times five minutes earlier to get the right directions.

All of these, and more, are issues that Maps has to figure out with transit directions to make life easier for the millions of people and billions of trips that people take every day. Yes, entrance and exit stations are cool, but the experience is still severely lacking in many other aspects.

Google Maps is getting a new privacy-focused update with three important features. Both Android and iOS users will be able to take advantage of the changes to keep their movements more private and discreet.

In a blog post published earlier in the day, Google announced that all Maps users will soon be able to delete their activity related to specific places straight from the app. So if you visit a place often and don’t want someone snooping through your phone to know where you’ve been, you can simply delete your searches, directions, visits, and shares with just a few taps. The feature will start rolling out to the Google Maps Android and iOS app in the coming weeks.

Google Maps on Android Auto is getting a handy new feature for those who are bad at remembering where they parked their cars.

9to5Google reports that the latest version of Google Maps for Android Auto now prompts you to save your parking location when you arrive at your destination. The toggle to save parking location appears on the navigation screen as soon as you reach your destination. Tapping the “Save Parking Location” button saves the location information to your Google account. It also reportedly sends your Android phone a reminder about the parking spot the next day.

The feature also takes into account your movements in the area after you arrive. You might reach your destination and drive around for some time looking for a parking spot. Hitting the toggle to save parking location should save the exact coordinates of where you park your vehicle.

Users report that if you have Google Maps and audio in split view on Android Auto (where Google Maps is on the left and only its width), the option to save your parking spot does not come up, even if you open the app full screen after you arrive.

The new Android Auto feature is an extension of what the Google Maps app has offered on Android and iOS for ages. You can also save your car’s parking location through the Maps app by tapping the blue spot that marks your location and selecting the “Save Your Parking” option.

You can check the Play Store to see if you have the latest version of Google Maps for Android Auto to start using the feature.

Google Maps has been the go-to mobile mapping solution for years now, and it’s absolutely loaded with features. However, a former Google Maps designer has criticized what she feels is a cluttered user interface and colder colors.

Elizabeth Laraki felt that the Google Maps UI contained too many elements that were overlaid on the map view. Do you share this opinion, though? We posed this question to you and here’s what you said.

Is Google Maps too cluttered? Should Google simplify the UI?

Results

This poll drew almost 1,900 votes, and it turns out that a massive 71.55% of respondents think the Google Maps UI could do with fewer elements. We can understand this stance, especially when comparing the current Google Maps user interface to Laraki’s proposed UI.

Meanwhile, 17.71% of surveyed readers say they’re fine with the current UI and simply want the old color scheme to return. It’s not a day-and-night difference, but Google nevertheless switched to colder colors in the Maps app.

Finally, just 10.74% of polled readers felt that the Google Maps UI was fine the way it was. We can see why people would vote this way as some of the elements proposed for removal seem very useful (e.g. restaurants, the weather, etc).

Comments

• Wibbly: I actually find the new colors more practical when driving. I had previously sometimes struggled to discern the planned route at a glance, especially when the display was in dark mode.
• nxtiak: I HATE the Explore tab. It’s the most useless Google Maps feature and so annoying it takes up so much space and requires me to keep closing it.
• Bojan Tomic: Former employee bashing on their former company? Groundbreaking.
• Rudy: Thanks, Google, for making Maps harder to read in Android Auto. All the mid-tone elements blend together and are illegible to many of us who don’t have perfect vision. Figure these elements are designed by someone in front of some uber-expensive monitor inches away from their faces, and they see nothing wrong. And as usual, Google is fixing something that wasn’t even broken.
• Anna Del Rama: Agree with the sentiment. However, the proposed solution isn’t good either. For example, some controls—like layers and my location—in the bottom bar are not navigational elements like the others. That would create a set of confusing (sometimes annoying) mixed signals.
• JP: Like the new design. Want the overlays.

Google recently updated Maps with new colors and the changes haven’t gone down well with users. Former Google Maps designer Elizabeth Laraki has also voiced her dissent about the new Google Maps color palette, but that’s not all. She has pointed out several other things that she feels are wrong with Maps right now.

“Last week, the team dramatically changed the map’s visual design. I don’t love it. It feels colder, less accurate, and less human. But more importantly, they missed a key opportunity to simplify and scale,” Laraki reflected on X (formerly Twitter).

Google Maps is now widely rolling out its new color palette, and users are understandably annoyed. While the changes aren’t too drastic, the new Google Maps colors have taken users by surprise and left them feeling unsettled.

Reddit and Twitter are filled with arguments against Google’s new color choices. Roads that were once depicted with a white color are now gray. The blue color of water bodies is now significantly paler, while forested areas are a darker shade of green than before. The route indicator is also a much brighter and jarring blue. To those who have been using Google Maps for years, these changes are disturbing.

“Not a fan. Just didn’t like them when I started seeing them a week or so ago. Not as easy to read for me. I’d switch back to the old colors if I could,” said one Reddit user.

“Classic Google changes what was totally fine and makes it worse for no apparent reason,” said another.

Users feel roads are hard to see now in Google Maps when you’re not fairly zoomed in. The biggest complaint that people have is that the new colors make it difficult to view details on the map because they’re extremely washed out.

It’s unclear why Google suddenly decided to switch colors in Google Maps, but perhaps angry users can convince the company to revert to the older colors.

Ahead of the holiday season, Google is getting ready to launch a few new experiences in the Google Maps app. The new changes will help users get around and plan trips with others.

Today, Google announced three new features coming to Google Maps on both Android and iOS. The first of these features is an update to transit directions that should help prevent you from getting off at the wrong exit or getting on the wrong train.

According to the tech giant, its new transit experience offers recommendations — based on ETA, trip duration, and number of transfers — so you can easily see the best route to your destination. You’ll also have the ability to use filters to choose which type of transit you want to take. In addition, the company says you’ll now be able to see “where the station entrances and exits are, what side of the street they’re on, and a clear walking route to and from it.” These updates will arrive in the coming weeks to over 80 cities, including Berlin, Boston, London, and Madrid.

The second update aims to add more collaboration opportunities when planning on places to go. In the coming weeks, the Mountain View-based firm states it will roll out an update to the lists feature that will include collaborative lists. The thought behind this update is to create a group where everyone can add suggestions for places to go. Every member of the group can then vote on which locations they want to visit the most. You can see an example in the gif below.

The final announcement involves emoji reactions to photos, videos, and reviews. You’ll now have the ability to react with the supplied emojis or create mashup reactions with the help of AI and Emoji Kitchen. Unlike the other announcements, this feature is apparently rolling out today worldwide.

This announcement arrives on the heels of last week’s discovery that Google could add a chatbot — like ChatGPT — to the Maps app. We believe this feature could possibly be used for the Local Guides program, providing points of interests, or for businesses.

Google Maps is one of the best free Android apps that you can install and use on your phone. Many of us have become used to opening Maps before leaving the house to see the estimated traffic along our usual routes. We also rely on Maps for the treasure trove of local information it has of practically every region in the world. Google wants to add more features to Maps, and the next one in line could be a chatbot.

Google Maps v11.105 beta includes code around a chatbot. There is not much information that can be gleaned from the strings, though.

<string name="CONVO_CONTRIBS_EARLY_EXIT_DIALOG_CANCEL_BUTTON">Cancel</string>
<string name="CONVO_CONTRIBS_EARLY_EXIT_DIALOG_CONFIRM_BUTTON">End</string>
<string name="CONVO_CONTRIBS_EARLY_EXIT_DIALOG_TEXT">Your conversation will be sent as a partial submission.</string>
<string name="CONVO_CONTRIBS_END_CONVO_TITLE">End conversation?</string>
<string name="CONVO_CONTRIBS_ERROR_TIMEOUT_TEXT">Server timeout. Please try again.</string>
<string name="CONVO_CONTRIBS_INFO_BANNER_TEXT">"You're talking with a chatbot. By continuing to chat, you acknowledge and agree that the conversation will be saved according to our privacy policy."</string>
<string name="CONVO_CONTRIBS_MAP_UPDATED_TEXT">Map location submitted.</string>
<string name="CONVO_CONTRIBS_POLICY_LINK_TEXT">See policy</string>
<string name="CONVO_CONTRIBS_RETRY_LABEL">Retry</string>
<string name="CONVO_CONTRIBS_SEND_BUTTON_ACCESSIBILITY_DESCRIPTION">Send</string>
<string name="CONVO_CONTRIBS_TEXT_FIELD_INTIAL_TEXT">Type a message</string>
<string name="CONVO_CONTRIBS_THANK_YOU_SNACKBAR_TEXT">Thank you for your contribution!</string>
<string name="CONVO_CONTRIBS_UNKNOWN_ERROR_TEXT">Something went wrong. Please try again.</string>

These strings indicate that the convo_contribs feature is related to a chatbot. However, there is no mention of AI here, so it doesn’t seem like a generative AI chatbot.

We’ve reached out to Google for more insights into this feature. We’ll update the article when we hear back from them.

What functionality could a chatbot open within Google Maps?

As we mentioned, unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of information about the functionality that the chatbot opens within Google Maps. I am speculating on the use cases, so take the following with a pinch of salt.

Our best guess on the chatbot functionality within Google Maps is that it relates to the Local Guides program. The strings “Map location submitted.” and “Thank you for your contribution” are good indicators for the same. The Local Guides program relies on a volunteer community to crowdsource the data used on Google Maps. Submissions made by beginners are still subject to human review, and a chatbot could help ease that flow. It could also possibly make submissions more regular from average users if Google could add a human touch with a chatbot.

A chatbot within Google Maps could also possibly provide information on points of interest. It could make finding local information conversational, in line with our general expectations from AI chatbots (though this chatbot doesn’t explicitly disclose any AI capabilities yet).

Another possibility is that Google could be building a chatbot for businesses. You can already chat with businesses from within Google Maps. A chatbot will help them deal with generic and frequently asked questions without needing human intervention. However, the strings don’t align properly for such a use case.

What do you think the chatbot within Google Maps will enable? Let us know in the comments below!

Google Maps has received a variety of updates this year, and Google isn’t done yet. The company plans on adding a slew of new AI-enhanced features to the app. Here are all of the features Google announced will come this week and down the road.

Immersive View for routes

Earlier this year, Google unveiled Immersive View for routes, a feature that would allow users to preview their route before heading out. Google says it works by using AI to stitch together billions of Street View and aerial images to provide a detailed view of your route, turn-by-turn. In addition, the tool has a time slider that will provide information to help plan your route, like simulated traffic and weather. Immersive View for routes is said to be rolling out this week on Android and iOS in 15 cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Florence, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paris, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tokyo, and Venice.

Lens in Maps

Originally called Search with Live View, Lens in Maps launched back in November 2022 for London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco, and Tokyo. Now Google is expanding the feature to 50 new cities this week, including A​​ustin, Las Vegas, Rome, São Paulo, and Taipei. Lens in Maps is an AR feature that provides nearby information like nearby ATMs, transit stations, and restaurants when you hold your phone up.

More detailed maps

Google says in the coming months, navigation maps will be presented with more detail. This means the user will see updated colors, more realistic buildings, and improved lane details. Also, if you’re in an area with high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, the app will now tell you. This update will arrive in 12 countries including the US, Canada, France, and Germany. And if you’re in Europe, Google is expanding its AI-powered speed limit information to 20 more countries. Both features are rolling out for Android, iOS, and cars with Google built-in.

More EV charging details

Another feature said to be arriving this week is additional EV charging information. EVs on Android and iOS will start seeing information like charging station compatibility, charging rate, and the last time a charging station was used.

Search in Google Maps

When searching in Google Maps, users will start seeing photos first in their results. These photos are said to be images shared by the Google Maps community. So if you’re looking for the best animal latte art, you’ll be presented with locations of coffee houses with images of latte art from that store. This feature is landing in France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the US this week.

In the coming weeks, however, Google says it will better organize search results for Android and iOS. It will do so by sorting information into thematic results. The example the tech giant provides is arriving in Tokyo and searching for things to do. The user will be presented with thematic place suggestions like anime, cherry blossoms, or art exhibitions. Tapping on one of those suggestions will bring up related information.

Google Maps is a helpful app that can usually get you from point A to point B quickly and safely. However, Google Maps didn’t work the way it was meant to for one North Carolina man. A family is now suing Google for an unspecified amount in punitive damages. The lawsuit claims the navigation app led the father to his death by instructing him to drive through a route with a collapsed bridge.

As reported by CNN, the lawsuit says Philip Paxton was driving home from his daughter’s 9th birthday party late at night in September 2022. Using the Google Maps app, he was directed to drive through an unmarked and unbarricaded bridge that had collapsed back in 2013.

It appears that Google was even warned about the bridge prior to the incident. The family’s attorney, Robert Zimmerman, claims that Google received complaints from the public demanding the company fix its directions to mark the road as closed.

For years before this tragedy, Hickory residents asked for the road to be fixed or properly barricaded before someone was hurt or killed. Their demands went unanswered. We’ve discovered that Google Maps misdirected motorists like Mr. Paxson onto this collapsed road for years, despite receiving complaints from the public demanding that Google fix its map and directions to mark the road as CLOSED.

One of those complaints reportedly came from an unnamed woman asking Google specifically to update its navigation system. “You are not able to cross this road,” says the report. “GPS sends people down here, which is especially dangerous for emergency vehicles. Please update this map so GPS is accurate.” However, CNN states that it was not able to verify this particular report.

In response to the woman’s report, Google Maps sent an autoreply. That autoreply said, “Your suggestion is being reviewed. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. We’ll let you know once the changes are published,” according to the court filings.

Google isn’t the only company listed in this lawsuit, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, and two local businesses are also being taken to court. The two local businesses are said to be responsible for maintaining the land and bridge. However, the suit claims they failed to repair the bridge or provide proper barricades and warning signs.

In response to the lawsuit, Google told CNN it has “the deepest sympathies for the Paxson family. Our goal is to provide accurate routing information in maps, and we are reviewing this lawsuit.”

I love using Google Maps lists to bookmark my favorite and essential spots. They’ve been incredibly useful while discovering Paris after my move here, planning various trips, and keeping tabs on all the cool spots around the world that I hope to see one day. But if you use lists as much as I do, you hit a brick wall: Nondescript blue dots everywhere on your map.

As I added more and more places to my different Paris and world lists, I noticed they were becoming useless overall, especially on the relatively small screen of my Android phone. Is this dot a restaurant I’ve been to or one I want to go to? Is it a free garden or a paid exhibition? A Lebanese restaurant or a store that sells Italian products? All blue dots, all indistinguishable from each other.

Google Maps lists were becoming indistinguishable blue dots littering your map view.

It got so bad that I started hiding and showing lists on demand to be able to make sense of the madness. And forget about trip planning, I became a frequent user of Wanderlog because I could color-code and pick descriptive icons for each list in every trip in that app.

But Google Maps recently rolled out a simple yet fantastic update for every list power-user: emojis. You can now assign an emoji icon to every Maps list by tapping Edit > Edit icon. That sounds ridiculous until you realize that it solves the list visibility problem altogether.

My bakeries got a symbol, my food stores a , and the pastry shops a . I gave my favorite Spanish restaurants the flag and the Lebanese ones a flag. The restaurants and cafes I’ve spotted on Instagram and that I want to visit get a , the free Parisian spots to enjoy some nature or culture are marked with a coin , and so on.

Every hobby, interest, or place has an emoji to depict it. Use them to make your lists easily distinguishable on your map.

No matter your hobbies or interests, there should be an emoji for that. Gardens , parks , museums , theatres , pubs , music venues , coffee shops , running tracks , kids playgrounds , skate parks , gyms , shopping departments , doctors and pharmacies , and even public toilets ; almost everything has an emoji to depict it if you think about it. And you can apply that to your lists to distinguish them from each other.

When all else fails, or if you consider emojis too childish for your liking, you can always throw , , or 1⃣ 2⃣ 3⃣ 4⃣ to color code or number your lists — something that wasn’t possible with Google Maps’s old blue-dot-for-all approach. Consider them labels or tags if you don’t want to think of them as emoji.

It’s a small change, yes, but emojis have made Maps lists a lot more manageable for me now. The madness has icons now and they’re so easy to spot, no matter the zoom level of the map. It’s a lot easier to look at different icons than to tap on each blue dot to see what it is or zoom far enough to display its name.

When I’m planning a Maps route, I can quickly glance to see if there’s any place nearby on my to-do list or if I can swing by a regional produce store to pick up some Italian or Lebanese products. When I’m wandering around Paris, I can check my current location on Maps and take a quick look to find free gardens or museums nearby to visit. Now if only Google Maps would allow me to hide random icons when I zoom in, that’d be fantastic.

Google Maps and Apple Maps are two of the most widely used navigation apps today, offering a range of features to make traveling more convenient. As you’d expect though, each app has unique strengths and weaknesses. In this Google Maps vs Apple Maps showdown, we’ll compare both apps’ features, user interfaces, navigation accuracy, car integration, and more.

Google Maps vs Apple Maps

If you own an Android phone, you’ve likely been using Google Maps, which is pre-installed on most devices. iPhone and iPad users can optionally download it from the Apple App Store,  and many do. There’s no mirror situation with Apple Maps, however — while it’s pre-installed on Apple devices, there’s no way to access it on Android short of a web version you can’t use for real-time navigation.

Indeed the decision between Apple Maps vs Google Maps is really faced only by iPhone users. A comparison is worthwhile regardless, if just to see where the industry is at, and where Google Maps might be headed over time. Let’s find out which app does a better job of getting you from point A to Point B.

Features and abilities

Google Maps offers features such as real-time traffic updates, voice-guided navigation, offline maps, Street View for an on-the-ground first-person perspective, and live location sharing. It also integrates with Google services like Google Assistant for hands-free control, and Google Earth for satellite imagery.

Being built at as a Google competitor, Apple Maps offers similar features. These include real-time traffic, voice-guided navigation, offline maps (new in iOS 17), and the Street View equivalent Look Around. However, it also includes Apple-specific features like indoor maps for public places like airports, Flyover for a drone-like view of major landmarks and cities, and Siri integration for hands-free control. Both apps use a dark mode to make it easier for your eyes during late-night driving.

User interface

As a rule, both Google Maps and Apple Maps have user-friendly interfaces. Google Maps is a bit more cluttered, with more information displayed onscreen. Along the top of the homescreen is the search bar, your account profile, and dedicated buttons for things like restaurants, hotels, or gas stations.

At the bottom of the screen is a menu to access the Explore and Go (commute) features, saved locations, and the option to contribute reviews and feedback for local amenities. If you find it all a bit much, you can tap the center of the screen and most items will disappear.

Apple Maps tends to have a cleaner, more minimalist interface, which some users may find easier to navigate. Recent search history, saved destinations, and information about local businesses is close at hand from the start, but feels better organized. In a way, it’s nice to have everything in one place, even if it is all truncated.

Both apps will reveal more information the further you zoom in on a location, but Apple Maps does start to show you data a little earlier into your zoom. You’ll find all the essentials either way, like road closures and landmarks.

Navigation accuracy

Both apps are pretty similar in how they direct you to your destination. They both show you current time estimates and provide turn-by-turn navigation along your route. Plus each app has directions for drivers, walkers, cyclists, and those traveling by public transport. Google Maps still tends to have better navigation accuracy due to its extensive database, and Google’s years of experience in mapping technology.

Apple Maps has improved significantly in recent years but may still fall short in certain areas, particularly regions with limited mapping data. Like Google, Apple Maps will suggest alternate routes if your current path becomes congested; it just won’t give you as many options as Google Maps. It’s worth noting that when it comes to finding the fastest way through traffic, both apps are outdone by Waze, a popular community-based navigation app (owned by Google, mind).

As of iOS 17, the two apps are about equal in route planning, especially now that Apple Maps has finally added real-time EV charging station availability. Apple will even warn you when a planned route has little to no cellular signal so you can download maps, but this option is so far limited to a small part of the US, mainly National Parks.

Traffic information

Both Google Maps and Apple Maps offer real-time traffic information and let you report problems on the road, such as accidents or speed cameras. Google Maps continues to have more accurate and comprehensive traffic data, however. This is due to Google’s extensive historical and real-time data, including integration with Waze. Apple’s strict privacy policies make something like Waze untenable.

Google Maps also has the advantage of storing frequent commutes and showing you how busy those roads are on any given day, allowing you to adjust your departure or arrival time within the app. Apple Maps lets you save locations but doesn’t offer departure time changes. The only solution on iPhone is to create a separate calendar event with the Travel Time feature enabled, which is a bit convoluted.

Public transport

Google Maps’ robust public transportation system offers comprehensive information on transit routes, schedules, and estimated travel times. Apple Maps has improved its public transport information in recent years, but it still lags behind Google Maps in terms of coverage and accuracy. It can tell you the location of, say, a bus that’s en route, but it can’t tell you how crowded that bus is, which Google Maps can. Either way, they’ll both tell you what stop to get off at and suggest alternative ride-share options.

Assistant integration

Google Maps integrates seamlessly with Google Assistant, enabling voice commands and personalized recommendations based on your Google account. Apple Maps integrates with Siri, offering a similar experience for iPhone users.

You can’t use Siri on an Android phone. You can use Google Assistant within the iOS version of Google Maps, but note that there’s no way of using it system-wide, due to Apple’s barriers. If voice control and AI recommendations really matter to you, then, it’s best to use the app native to your platform.

Street View vs Look Around

Google Maps Street View provides panoramic street-level imagery, allowing users to explore locations virtually from a first-person perspective. Apple Maps’ Look Around offers a similar feature with high-resolution, 3D imagery. Both are valuable alternatives to the typical top-down view of maps, giving you a better sense of the terrain, especially while traveling to new areas.

While both features serve the same purpose, Google Maps has more extensive coverage since it has been around since 2007. More users have had more time to contribute images from streets worldwide. Apple’s Look Around has only been around since 2019, and the number of places you can use the feature is far less, since the company relies on self-collected imaging data.

Business information

Both Google Maps and Apple Maps offer detailed business information, including addresses, phone numbers, hours of operation, and customer reviews. With Google Maps, you’ll find discovery options for specific categories below the search bar, and a general overview of everything available from the Explore tab at the bottom. Apple Maps has a Find Nearby feature that works similarly to Explore, but the information is paltry in comparison.

Google Maps has a more extensive database due to crowdsourcing user contributions through reviews and ratings. Contact information, opening hours, menus, and more are all at your fingertips. Also, because Google knows where people are at any moment, it can estimate how busy a place is, which is helpful if you want to avoid crowds.

Apple Maps has curated guides that source relevant editorial content online to help familiarize you with an area, which can sometimes provide higher-quality recommendations. Still, you certainly get more quantity of user feedback and tips from Google Maps discovery.

Privacy

Apple Maps is known for its strong focus on user privacy, with features like on-device data processing and randomized identifiers to prevent tracking. Apple doesn’t store any information about where you’ve been or what you’ve been searching for; none of that information is associated with your Apple ID.

While offering some privacy features, Google Maps relies more on user data to personalize the experience and usually shares more information with third parties to better personalize Google’s ads. Your Google Account is linked to everything you do on Google Maps, meaning personal data is stored in Google’s servers, not your device like Apple Maps.

Car integration

Google Maps is available on both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while Apple Maps works with CarPlay alone. Both systems offer a similar experience: voice-guided navigation and easy access to music and communication apps on your vehicle’s infotainment system. Android Auto and CarPlay are now available on many car models and work seamlessly with your vehicle’s controls. The choice between the two largely depends on your smartphone platform and personal preferences.

Google Maps vs Apple Maps: Which one is right for you?

As long as you’re in a region well-supported by the two apps and your devices, you can hardly go wrong with either. Google Maps does have better worldwide coverage, and a further edge in areas like traffic data, public transport, and business information, Apple Maps shines in terms of privacy, user interface, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. If you’re an iPhone user, you may well find yourself switching between both apps depending on the task at hand. If you’re on Android, you’re stuck with Google Maps, but that’s a pretty great place to be.

FAQs

When it comes to mapping and navigation, Google Maps and Apple Maps sit pretty on top of the rest of the industry. But their position on top of the hill could be in jeopardy soon, or at least that’s what Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and TomTom are hoping for.

Last year, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and the mapping company TomTom joined forces to create an organization called the Overture Maps Foundation. The group aims to make interoperable map products third-party developers can use to create their own global mapping and navigation products. It plans on accomplishing this feat by open-sourcing its project.

According to The Verge, Overture has just released its first open map dataset. This information should help make it possible for third-party devs to create mapping and navigation apps that can realistically challenge what Google and Apple have to offer.

The released data is said to contain over 59 million places of interest (POI). It also includes data on buildings, transportation networks, and administrative boundaries.

Overture’s open-source dataset will make it easier for third-party devs to take on Google Maps and Apple Maps, and it will also make developing apps cheaper. As of now, developers have to pay Google to access Google Maps’s API. As for Apple, the company charges developers for access to its API if they’re building a non-native app.

“The Places dataset, in particular, represents a major, previously unavailable open dataset, with the potential to map everything from new businesses big and small to pop-up street markets located anywhere in the world,” Overture’s executive director told the outlet. “Overture plans to build a broad collaboration that can build and maintain an up-to-date, comprehensive database of POIs.”

Overture says that it plans to release open map data on a regular cadence. However, it has not yet set an established date for its releases.

Google has been talking about Google Maps Immersive View since Google I/O 2022, and we’ve seen some of its details emerge since July 2022. We finally got to use it last February 2023. While it was interesting, it wasn’t until Google I/O 2023 that it started gaining more interest. Google showed off just how awesome it can be for day-to-day use. Do you want to learn more? Let’s dig deeper into the feature.

What is Google Maps Immersive View and how does it work

Not satisfied with the traditional Google Maps look, Google has decided to make the app a bit more special. Immersive View is a mode within Google Maps that creates a much more realistic view of the world. It seems almost CGI-made and super realistic. It essentially looks similar to a video game map, but it’s the real world.

Immersive View is created using Street View and aerial imagery, fusing it with computer vision and artificial intelligence to make a representation of the surroundings. Within Immersive View, you can zoom, move around, look in every direction, and even get business information. The View will represent the weather, too; you can see rain if it is raining, for example. And you can look into weather conditions throughout the day.

Immersive View features

Right now, Immersive View is a bit limited. It’s exclusive to major cities and important landmarks. But Google seems to really be pushing this feature forward. At Google I/O 2023, Google talked about Immersive View for routes.

This will allow you to view your route before you hit the road to your next destination. You can look around for businesses, parking areas, bike lanes, and more. Additionally, Google will provide a view of how traffic is, based on current data and previous trends. You’ll also be able to look into more weather details like air quality, and so on.

Immersive View for routes availability and release date

Immersive View is technically already out, but only in its more basic form. You can go test it if you want. Just launch Google Maps and search for the Empire State Building in New York City. You’ll see an Immersive View option in the images section. Tap on it to explore the building and its surrounding areas.

Now, if you’re hoping to use Immersive View for routes, you may have to wait a bit. Google mentioned it will be “rolling out Immersive View for routes in the coming months.” This was on May 10, 2023. The wording is vague, and there is no clear release window, but we feel like that comment reads as “soon.”

Immersive View for routes will only be available in some cities at launch. These include Amsterdam, Berlin, Dublin, Florence, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Paris, Seattle, San Francisco, San Jose, Tokyo, and Venice.

FAQs

A long-requested Google Maps navigation feature has finally made its way to Wear OS watches. The new feature will allow owners of Wear OS watches to use Google Maps without the need for a phone.

In a recent posting on the company’s Wear OS help forum, Google announced that it has enabled phoneless turn-by-turn navigation on Google Maps for Wear OS. The new feature works on both LTE and Wi-Fi smartwatches, but Wi-Fi watches will need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network to be used.

We’re excited to share that you can now get Google Maps turn by turn navigation right on your LTE* watch, no phone required. If you have an LTE-enabled* watch, or your watch is connected to the internet via WiFi, you can now enjoy having Maps available on your wrist.

In order to start navigation, all you need to do is go to the Maps app on your watch and enter the destination you want to go to. The tech giant adds that if you have mirroring enabled, you can start navigation on your phone. When you’re far enough away from your phone, the watch will take over.

Google provides these instructions for using Maps:

• Open Maps from your watch.
• Use the voice or keyboard tool to input your destination. You can also tap the map to view your location.
• Select your mode of transportation. From here, you can view your ETA.
• Start your walk, bicycle, or car trip.

Google said that it would bring offline navigation to Wear OS later in the year back in August 2022. Although the company missed its expected release date, as we’re firmly in 2023 now, this is better late than never.

Earlier this year, Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, set off on a cost-cutting mission to make the company more efficient. Since then, we’ve seen the company bring an end to Stadia, half of Area 120’s projects, the Pixel laptop, and more. The latest cost-cutting measure, however, will have its Google Maps and Waze teams merge into one.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Google is combining the 500-person Waze team with its Google Maps team. The decision to merge the two teams appears to be an attempt to eliminate overlapping mapmaking work across its Waze and Maps products.

Given the similarity between both products, there are a lot of areas where the two overlap. Both Waze and Maps offer navigation help, world maps, and places of interest. But Waze’s defining feature is its crowdsourced reporting of things like road hazards or speed traps.

According to the report, a Google spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal that things are fine and “Google remains deeply committed to Waze’s unique brand, its beloved app, and its thriving community of volunteers and users.” Google’s PR also claimed that the company plans on keeping Waze as a stand-alone service.

While all of that sounds fine on the surface, if you dig a little deeper, this restructuring doesn’t bode well for Waze continuing to operate as an independent company. This situation isn’t far off from what happened with Nest.

As a refresher, Nest was acquired by Google back in 2014 and continued to act as an independent company for a little while. Eventually, the company merged with the Google Hardware team and lost its status as an independent company.

It’s likely a similar fate awaits Waze after this restructuring as it becomes less clear as to why the two apps remain separate. But for now, we’ll just have to wait and see if Google does commit to keeping Waze as its own thing.

Update, December 2, 2022 (02:21 PM ET): A Google spokesperson has provided a statement to Android Authority clarifying the situation with Google Maps and Keep support on Wear OS 2. Here is the statement:

Last week, Google Keep and Maps for Wear OS 2 devices were temporarily removed from the Play Store. Google engineers have since restored availability of the apps onto the Play Store.

Original article, November 28, 2022 (04:31 PM ET):Google is a company that’s not afraid to pull app support when it wants to. Just last month, the tech giant announced it was sunsetting Chrome browser support for Windows 7 and 8.1. Now the company has pulled Google Maps and Google Keep support from Wear OS 2 devices.

While you were enjoying your Thanksgiving dinner, a Reddit user noticed that they could not find Google Keep in the Play Store while using their Wear OS 2 smartwatch. It turned out that the app had dropped support for Wear OS 2 and says “Does not work on your device,” when viewing the web/mobile version of the listing.

It’s unknown exactly when support was pulled from the app, but it’s possible it could’ve been around the time Google revamped Material You back in September which introduced a new tile to create notes or lists.

According to 9To5Google, it was later discovered that Google Maps had also pulled support for Wear OS 2, as well as Android 9 and below. While some users will be able to download the latest update to regain access, this locks out any device not expected to get the Wear OS 3 update.

However, if you already have Google Maps installed on your Wear OS 2 smartwatch, it’s reportedly still working. So this development mostly affects those who have to reset their watches.

Although it’s unwanted news, it’s not a surprise Google has started to drop legacy support as Wear OS 3 expands to more devices and Wear OS 2 becomes less relevant.

Many of us enjoy the convenience of having Google show us the way home, but how do you update your address when you move? After all, you want to make sure you’re navigating to the right home. Our guide is here to help. Here’s how to update your home or work address on Google Maps in two quick taps.

Read more: How to add a missing address to Google Maps

Part of the fun of navigating with Waze is that a host of celebrities and iconic characters can guide your way. The driving app regularly features limited-time promotions for exclusive voices, such as Morgan Freeman, C3PO, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, to give you directions in multiple languages. You can even use your own voice for custom audio instructions. These are just some of the reasons why Waze made our top ten driving apps for Android. Here’s how to change the voice on Waze.

Read more: What is Waze? Everything you need to know about the popular navigation app

How to change voice on Waze

Like with Google Maps, you can change the voice and language with Waze, and you’re likely to find voices you’ve never heard anywhere else.

The first thing to do is make sure sound is enabled to hear voice directions as you use the app. Tap My Waze, then tap the Settings wheel in the top left corner.

Select Voice & Sound. 

You’ll see three sound options: Off, Alerts only, and On. Select On to enable voice navigation guidance.

Now, tap Waze voice just beneath to change the voice. You’ll see a list of currently available voices. At the time of writing, Waze offered navigational prompts from singer Christina Aguilera, Headspace’s mindfulness teacher Eve Lewis Prieto, and the protagonist of the Xbox video game series Halo, Master Chief.

Tap the voice you prefer to hear the next time you set directions.

Use your own voice on Waze

If none of the current celebrity or character voices interests you, you can change the Waze voice to your own with personalized recordings.

Follow the exact directions above to navigate to Waze voice. To reiterate, tap My Waze–>Settings–>Voice & Sound–>Waze Voice. At the top of the page, tap Add a voice under Voice recorder.

While the idea to prank a friend with custom voice navigation telling them to go left when they really should go right may sound funny, always keep safety in mind when recording. Inaccurate or unclear directions on a busy road could cause problems for the driver.

You’ll find a list of directions, each with a time limit. Tap on the one you’d like to record and tap on the microphone button when you’re ready to record. Note that you don’t have to say the exact words displayed. For example, Star Trek fans could say, “Beam me up!” instead of “Take me home.”

Once you’re finished speaking, tap the square icon in the middle to stop recording, then tap Save. You can then listen to your track by tapping the Play button or the trashcan icon to delete it and try again if you don’t like how it sounds.

That’s all there is to it to change the voice on Waze. Enjoy exciting your ears with a bit more variety.

Read more: How to use Waze: Tutorial, tips, and tricks

Planning a road trip can be daunting, but the process can be a cinch with the right tools and resources. By plotting travel locations into Google Maps, you get a birds-eye view of your itinerary, trip mileage, and driving times. Plus, you can load your custom map on your smartphone for turn-by-turn navigation. Here’s how to plan a road trip with Google Maps.

Read more: Ten best road trip apps for Android

Google Maps tracks your location history to give faster search results, more accurate recommendations, and wait-time estimates. The more data you share with Google, the more personalized your experience with the service becomes. While this can be helpful, it may alarm privacy-minded individuals that Google records your every move. Here’s how to delete your Google Maps history.

Read more: How to delete your Google search history

Google Maps does a decent job of getting you from point A to point B. But what if you have many destinations in mind along your journey? Thankfully, you can create your own map with multiple stops, routes, terrains, and more using Google Maps. Here’s how to create a custom map in Google Maps.

Read more: How to drop a pin on Google Maps

Opinion post by

C. Scott Brown

I use Google Maps nearly every day. I use it for directions, obviously, but I also use it the way most people use Yelp — for restaurant suggestions. I’ll also fire up the Maps app if I need train schedules, to find the nearest restroom at an airport, or to discover what an area’s places of interest might be. It is, without a doubt, one of my most-used apps.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. In fact, there’s a huge problem with the app that drives me insane: the lack of an ability to block businesses from search results. This would seem like a fundamental feature, but Google just won’t deliver it.

Before I get into my complaint, let me show you what I’m talking about.

See also: Here’s how to stop Google Maps from draining your battery

Google Maps search results: Not what I want

Let’s say I’ve traveled to a spot I’ve never been to before. Suddenly, I get the craving for some tea (a common occurrence for me). I can ask Maps to pull up a list of tea spots nearby, as seen in the screenshots below.

This is a great feature I use all the time. However, note the third screenshot. See how it has recommended Dunkin’ as a possible tea spot? I don’t want to go to Dunkin’. I never, ever want to go there. Dunkin’ has terrible tea and, most of the time, has little to no seating. Plus, it’s a huge chain — I’d much rather go to a small business and support the locals.

I've repeatedly told Google Maps I'm not interested in Dunkin' but it still suggests it to me.

Now, I’ve told Google Maps that I’m not interested in Dunkin’ (see fourth and fifth screenshots). You can do this by opening Maps, tapping your profile image, and then going to Settings > Manage your preferences. Unfortunately, this doesn’t change much for your search results. You’ll still see ads for Dunkin’ and you’ll still see Dunkin’ locations suggested to you. The only thing that changes is you’ll see a lower match percentage next to the business — in the case of Dunkin’ it is a 5% match for me.

I want this to be a 0% match and I don’t want to see it in my results anymore. Why can’t I do this, Google?

Related: The best GPS and maps apps for Android

Google Maps is bringing a major improvement that will make road trips a little easier, calculating the cost of toll routes.

Many drivers prefer to avoid toll roads, but sometimes that’s not always possible. According to The Washington Post, there are some 5,432 miles of toll roads in the US. A toll road may be the most direct route, the only one not under construction, or the one that is in the best condition. A new Maps update will estimate how much the tolls on your route will cost and when you will cross them.

The ability to add missing locations or personal business addresses to Google Maps is an excellent way for users to fill in the gaps of Google’s databases and for startups to boost their online visibility. After a simple application process, Google generally reviews the information within a few days, sometimes faster. Here’s how to add a missing place or business to Google Maps.

Read more: How to share your location on Google Maps

Add a missing location in Google Maps

If you find places are missing on Google Maps, you can add them to show them publicly. Places you can add include landmarks, coffee shops, or other local businesses.

Add a missing location from the mobile app

First, tap the screen. Then, tap Contribute from the bottom of the screen.

From there, tap Add a place.

You’ll be asked to add details, such as name, category, and address. If you don’t know the exact address, you can input the coordinates from Google Maps.

Once Google has reviewed and approved your submission, the new place will be publicly available on Google Maps.

Add a missing location from a computer

The process is relatively similar to the mobile app. First, click open the Menu from the upper left corner, and click Add a missing place.

You’ll be asked to add details, such as name, category, and address. If you don’t know the exact address, you can input the coordinates from Google Maps.

Once you’ve input the relevant information, click Send. Google will email you about the status of your submission.

How to add your business to Google Maps

To add your business address and information to Maps, you’ll need to create a Business Profile on Google. The benefits of having a business profile include appearing in Google Maps search results and managing how your information shows up across Google services. Best of all, the process is free.

Add a business profile on the mobile app

You can create a Business Profile on Google by going to Business Profile Manager. Alternatively, follow the instructions outlined above to add a missing location, except this time, click the ‘Is this your business?‘ prompt when you Add a place.

You’ll be redirected to a new page to set up your account. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish signing up for your Business Profile.

If your business already has an address on Google Maps, you can claim it. Search for your business address in the Business Profile, tap Claim this business, and select I own or manage this business. To choose a different business, tap I own or manage another business.

Finally, select a verification option, and follow the on-screen steps.

Add a business profile on a computer

You can create a Business Profile on Google by going to Business Profile Manager. Alternatively, open the Menu in Google Maps and click Add your business. Google may even ask you to add your business if you click the search bar.

Follow the on-screen instructions to finish signing up for your Business Profile.

If your business already has an address on Google Maps, you can claim it. Search for your business address in the Business Profile, click Claim this business, and select  I own or manage this business. To choose a different business, click I own or manage another business.

Finally, select a verification option, and follow the on-screen steps.

Read more: How to change your home address on Google Maps

Steering clear of traffic congestion and saving yourself some money by avoiding tolls is as easy as one click in Google Maps. Here’s how to avoid highways and tolls when getting directions in Google Maps.

Read more: Best Android Auto apps

How to avoid highways and tolls on your Google Maps app

To begin, open Google Maps on your phone or tablet. Then select a destination and tap Directions.

Next, tap the three dots at the top left of the screen, then Route Options.

From there, tick the box next to Avoid toll roads. You can also choose to avoid motorways and ferries from this menu.

Tap Done when you’re ready to head out, and your directions will adjust to your settings.

How to avoid highways and tolls on Google Maps web

First, open Google Maps in a web browser. Then select a destination and click Directions.

Choose your starting location, and then click Options.

From there, tick the boxes next to Tolls and Highways. You can also choose to avoid ferries from this menu.

From there, close the Route options, and you’re all set to cruise.

Read more: How to drop a pin on Google Maps

Remember how Google used to have April Fools’ jokes every year? One of those jokes was the announcement of an 8-bit version of Google Maps that you could use on a Nintendo Entertainment System (back in 2012). Fun joke, right?

Well, one hacker on YouTube going by the username “ciciplusplus” decided they didn’t like it being just a joke. In a recently uploaded video, the hacker pulled off what Google could only joke about (h/t Engadget). They brought the entirety of Google Maps to an NES.

Related: The best NES emulators for Android

Obviously, this NES isn’t your standard-issue fare. It’s connected to the internet (which barely existed when the NES was at its peak) and has several other mods. But it does render Google Maps in 8-bit designs, making our world look like something from Dragon Warrior or the very first Final Fantasy.

In the video, mirrored above, you can see how the hacker put it all together. They had plenty of inspiration including a modder who performed a similar feat using Bing and another who brought the original Doom to an NES. In the end, they are traversing our world using an NES controller, which is pretty awesome.

Google Maps is about to make it much easier to navigate around an unfamiliar city now that travel is slowly resuming. The company revealed multiple Google Maps updates at its I/O conference that will help you find what you’re looking for, particularly if you want to use Live View.

Live View in Maps now includes a host of augmented reality signs that identify key landmarks. You’ll know where your hotel or a famous landmark is, for instance. Virtual street labels help you find your way around tricky intersections. And if you’re looking for a place to eat or shop, you can access Live View directly from the map and see details about nearby places, including busyness and reviews.

See also: The best GPS and navigation apps for Android

Other Maps updates should be handy even if you don’t care for Live View. Maps now indicates how busy areas are at a glance, and will highlight the most relevant locations on the map based on the time of day and whether or not you’re traveling — you may see breakfast spots in the morning, or tourist locations if you’re away from your hometown.

Driving directions, meanwhile, will use AI and navigation info to help you avoid “hard-braking moments” like gridlock that could lead to a crash. The technology will automatically suggest these safer routes if the arrival time isn’t likely to significantly change.

Google will roll out the updates to Live View and other Maps features to both Android and iOS users in the “coming months.” You should also see enhanced street maps reach 50 new cities (including Berlin, Seattle, and Singapore) by the end of 2021.

Google Maps remains one of the best navigation apps you can get on phones, but it’s also useful as a social tool — you can send someone your location to coordinate meetups with friends or reassure family that you’re almost home. Thankfully, the process is straightforward and includes privacy controls to limit what others will see. Here we’ll show how you can share your location in Google Maps on both Android and iOS.

Read more: Best navigation apps

How to share your location in Google Maps on Android and iOS with contacts

You’ll most likely want to share your location with specific people. Google Maps location sharing is designed primarily with that in mind, and there’s a fair amount of customization if you want to limit sharing to certain times. Here’s how to share your location with contacts on Android and iOS — the instructions are similar for both.

1. In Google Maps, tap on your profile icon in the upper right.
2. Tap Location Sharing.
3. If this is your first time sharing, Maps will provide an introduction and let you choose contacts (you may be asked to provide access to your contacts). Otherwise, tap New Share.
4. Once you’ve chosen a contact, tap the duration to choose how long you share location info. You can increase the time in hour-long increments or choose Until You Turn This Off to share indefinitely.
5. Maps will show a status for that contact from now on.
6. If you want to share with additional people, tap New Share, and repeat the process.
7. To stop, tap the sharing status and then tap Stop.

How to share your location in Google maps on Android and iOS using an app or link

There may be times when you want to share your location on Android or iOS through a specific app, or even as a generic link. You may want to share it through a text message or broadcast your position on a social network. Thankfully, Google Maps location sharing makes that easy, with some similar steps. Here’s how to share location info using this method.

1. In Google Maps, tap your profile icon in the upper right.
2. Tap Location Sharing.
3. If this is your first time sharing, Maps will present the same contact menu mentioned in the previous instructions, but will also give you the option to share a link through an app or link either directly (on Android) or by tapping More Options (on iOS).
4. Tap the app you want to share with, or scroll until you can tap Copy To (on Android) or Copy (on iOS) to get the shareable link.
5. In either case, you can tap Sharing via Link to adjust the duration of the link or hit Stop to end sharing.

What others will see

Now that you’ve learned how to use the Google Maps share location feature on Android and iOS, what can you expect others to see?

Google Maps location sharing is precise, but it won’t share absolutely everything. Others will get a notification that you’re sharing. They’ll see a map pin approximating your location, and can check your device’s battery charge in case they suddenly lose your position. When they tap the sharing status, they’ll see some address information such as your city and ZIP or postal code.

They won’t typically see your exact address, however, and they also won’t see your location history or current path. And when you stop sharing your location, that information goes away. You don’t have to worry that someone will follow you on Google Maps without your knowledge and permission, in other words.

Check out more tips and guides for Google Maps:

• How to drop a pin in Google Maps
• How to use Google Maps’ new highly-detailed voice navigation feature
• No connection, no problem: How to use your Google Maps offline

Your Android phone is about to get a welcome refresh as the weather warms up in many parts of the world. Google is officially rolling out a string of Android feature updates for spring 2021, headlined by a dark mode in Maps.

While Google Maps had a quasi dark mode when you enabled navigation at night, the long-teased upgrade makes that available no matter what you’re doing inside the app — helpful if you’re looking for a late-night food delivery. When it’s available, you can enable the low-light option by choosing “Always in Dark Theme” in the app’s settings.

Related: Here’s why you might want to avoid dark mode

Google Assistant, meanwhile, is more useful if your phone doubles as a smart speaker. New easy-to-read cards help you make the most of the voice helper when you’re speaking commands across the room. Android Auto will be more engaging on drives, too, thanks to custom wallpapers, launch screen shortcuts, and voice-based games like Jeopardy.

Some of Google’s additions aren’t completely new, but may be as welcome as Maps’ dark mode when they officially arrive (if they haven’t already). Text scheduling in Messages is now reaching phones using Android 7 Nougat or later. The Password Checkup feature from Chrome now alerts you to exposed logins outside your browser through Autofill using Android 9 Pie or later. And if you have vision issues, an updated TalkBack adds more finger gestures, a simpler menu, and new easy-access voice commands.

It may take a while to see all of these features. Google Maps’ dark mode is deploying “soon,” while Android Auto’s improvements are due in the “coming days” for Android 6 Marshmallow and later. Even so, they’ll be helpful by reducing some of the little pain points in your mobile life.

Google just made it easier to get around town with minimal delays. It’s rolling out an update to Google Maps on Android (iOS is “coming soon”) that lets you pay for parking and mass transit rides in the app, rather than turning to third-party software or using a conventional card.

Team-ups with Passport and ParkMobile make it possible to pay for parking in over 400 US cities (including Boston, Los Angeles, and New York City) just by waiting for a prompt in Google Maps as you near your destination. You just have to specify how long you want to stay, or extend your time if you realize you’ll take longer than usual. Crucially, you don’t have to touch the meter — important during a pandemic.

You’ll have an easier time minimizing contact on the bus or subway, too. Google Maps can pay for your far in advance using any credit or debit cards linked to your Google Pay account. In some places, such as San Francisco, you’ll even get a virtual mass transit card you can either use at a tap-and-ride terminal or show to others.

Related: The 10 best driving apps for Android

The transit option will be available for Android users through 80 transit authorities worldwide in the “coming weeks.”

Google Maps’ parking and transit features are potentially very convenient. You can navigate, find parking and pay for it without jumping between apps. There’s a clear advantage for Google, though. The more you use Google Maps for transportation, the less likely you are to jump to rival mapping services. You might be more likely to use Google Pay, too. Not that you’ll necessarily mind if you spend less time stressing about the basics of your journeys.

The COVID-19 pandemic will loom over the holiday season, and Google is reflecting that reality in its navigation app. The company is rolling out updates to Google Maps that help you navigate the COVID-19 landscape if you have to, and take care of your food needs when you’re (hopefully) staying home.

To start, Google is updating Maps’ COVID layer on Android and iOS with more detailed information about the new coronavirus in a given area, including links to local authorities’ resources. If you have no choice but to travel, you’ll at least know the rules at your destination. Maps will also show the crowding levels on public transportation using real-time feedback, so you’ll know if it’s too risky to hop aboard a bus.

Both those updates will arrive in the “coming weeks.”

You’ll have an easier time tracking meals if you decide to order in. Google Maps mobile users in the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Germany, and India now have the option to track food takeout and delivery orders in real time. You’ll need to have ordered through Maps, but you’ll know when it’s time to pick up an order or how close a delivery might be to your door. You’ll also see delivery fees, wait times, and an option to reorder previous orders. You’ll even see your reservation status at restaurants, although that clearly won’t be useful while the pandemic rages on.

When you do need to drive, you might have an easier time focusing on the road. Google Maps is giving US user a preview version of a long-in-the-making Assistant driving mode. Choose the pop-up option when you start navigation and you’ll get a streamlined way to track messages, play audio, and answer calls with minimal distractions. You can send or receive calls using your voice, and Assistant will read out your texts to spare you from reading your phone’s screen.

This is an unusual Maps release for Google — ideally, you won’t use most of these features during the holidays as you stay home and minimize the risk of catching COVID-19. They could still prove useful for those times you do need to leave, though, and features like food tracking will be useful long after the pandemic subsides.

Next: The best driving apps for Android

Google’s efforts to bolster security now include clearer, more trustworthy account security alerts, greater control over location, and improved anonymity for Assistant.

The internet giant is about to roll out redesigned security alerts that appear inside its various apps. The warnings are not only “high-visibility,” but resistant to spoofs — you won’t have to worry that an email or system notification is tricking you into handing over sensitive details. The feature will first be available in the “coming weeks,” and will be more widely available in early 2021.

You’ll also get to keep your whereabouts under wraps. Google is adding an option to manually edit your Location History in your Timeline. You can add or edit places you’ve visited with “just a few taps.” This could improve the accuracy of your location data, of course, but it could also be helpful if you’d rather not reveal your home or office.

Google Assistant, meanwhile, is adding a Guest mode in the “coming weeks.” Turn it on and commands won’t be associated with a Google account. This could be useful for everyday purposes like researching a special gift or asking an embarrassing question, but it could also be helpful if you’re worried that intruders might learn the finer details of your life if they compromise your account.

Related: Google beefs up Chrome password protection

October is a very special time of year. There are pumpkins everywhere. People are watching horror films, The Simpsons Halloween Specials, and Bruce Campbell movies at energetic rates. The Monster Mash plays on the radio for the first time in a year. It’s time for Halloween, folks! Your mobile device will always play a relatively minor roll in the festivities. However, there are some great apps out there that help put you in the Halloween spirit. Here are the best Halloween apps for Android!

Read more:

• 10 best music streaming apps and services for Android
• 10 best video streaming apps and services for Android

Halloween Soundboard

Price: Free / $1.99

Halloween Soundboard is exactly what the name implies. It’s a collection of spooky sound effects. It includes classics like scary laughs, blood dripping, bats, dogs, and all kinds of other stuff. This is a great idea for homemade haunted houses for those who build them. Simply connect a Bluetooth speaker and hide it among your decorations and hit the button at the appropriate time to scare the pants off of someone. Technology is great, isn’t it? The app also lets you play multiple sounds, loop sounds, and set the sounds as your ringtone if you really want to. The app is free with ads. You can remove the ads with a single $1.99 in-app purchase.

KWGT and KLWP

Price: Free / $5.99 each

KWGT and KLWP are two Android customization apps with a lot of fun stuff. KWGT lets you create custom widgets for your home screen. KLWP does the same thing but with live wallpapers. You can find a bunch of cheap Halloween live wallpapers and little customizations but there are a lot more options when you can make your own. You can go with the classic pumpkin stuff or do something a little different. Both apps have a bit of a learning curve but you can import other people’s designs to make things a little easier. Both apps have a free and premium version and both are free via Google Play Pass if you use that.

Pinterest and Tumblr

Price: Free

Tumblr and especially Pinterest are great around the holidays. You can find all sorts of neat ideas on sites like these. That includes Halloween decorations, food items, costume ideas, and more. There is usually a good assortment of DIY projects as well as store bought. Both apps are relatively easy to use. You just search for stuff and either pin or save the stuff that you like. Admittedly, Pinterest is better for this sort of stuff than Tumblr, but Tumblr has some neat ideas as well. The app is entirely free and relatively easy to use. You can also share fun ideas on social media to include your friends. In any case, both are great Halloween apps.

Reddit

Price: Free / $2.99 per month / $29.99 per year

Reddit is another excellent spot for Halloween fans. There are a bunch of subreddits with Halloween content. You can find funny and fun stories, costume ideas, decoration ideas, lists of Halloween movies and TV shows, and a lot more. It really depends on what part of Halloween you want to be a part of. We recommend r/Halloween for an assortment of everything. There is also r/HalloweenProps for decroation ideas, r/HalloweenCostume for costume ideas, and r/Halloweenmovies if you really like the Halloween movies. Reddit is a free service with a ton of third party apps. You can get Reddit Gold to remove ads and add other features, but it’s usually unnecessary.

SwiftKey or Gboard

Price: Free

SwiftKey and Gboard are the two best keyboard apps on Android. They are also great for getting into the Halloween spirit. SwiftKey in particular has decent seasonal themes and that usually includes Halloween. They both also have basic orange and black themes for some ambiance without much distraction. Finally, both let you create your own keyboard theme with images from your gallery. Thus, you can customize and create your own Halloween keyboard theme. You see your keyboard a lot, why not let it be part of the festivities as well? Both keyboards are completely free. It’s a matter of preference, really. Both of them can be great Halloween apps.

Read more:

• 5 best apps for notification tones and ringtones
• 10 best Reddit apps for Android

YouTube and YouTube Music

Price: Free / $12.99 per month

YouTube is a bit of a homer pick, but it’s still one of the best Halloween apps. There are a metric ton of videos out there for all kinds of Halloween things. That includes DIY tutorials for making your own costumes, props, and decorations. Additionally, it’s a great source of ideas for all of those things. You can find the music videos for all of the Halloween classics like the Monster Mash or This Is Halloween (we like the Marilyn Manson version), Living Dead Girl by Rob Zombie, Hell’s Bells by AC/DC, Thriller by Michael Jackson, or even the Ghostbusters theme. YouTube is ad supported. You can remove ads for $12.99 per month if you want to.

Zedge

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Zedge is probably the best source of ringtones and notification tones on Google Play. They have thousands upon thousands to choose from. Of course, they have a bunch of seasonal content as well and that includes Halloween. You can find Halloween wallpapers, Halloween ringtones, Halloween notification tones, and more. You can usually find some pretty popular stuff there too, although you can’t get full songs. The selection is fantastic and the ringtones are usually high quality. There are few better ways of getting your phone themed up for the holiday season. It’s truly one of the great Halloween apps.

Whatever music or video services you like

Price: Free / Usually around $9.99 per month

This is another lame pick, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Basically every streaming service you’ve ever heard of has Halloween content. Netflix and Hulu have Halloween movies and Halloween TV shows. Spotify, Apple Music, iHeartRadio (linked), and Google Play Music all have Halloween music playlists. For the purposes of holiday radio, we prefer iHeartRadio. It’s simple, it runs 24/7 as an actual radio station, and you don’t have to fiddle with changing the playlist literally ever. It’s nice to connect to a stereo system via Bluetooth, hit play, and that’s all you need to do really. The costs vary, but you can find Halloween content almost anywhere.

Your local news app

Price: Free (usually)

Your local news app is a great tool during any holiday season. They usually have the latest information on things like community events, weather delays, and other such things. You can almost certainly find your local trick or treat times, any potential delays or cancellations, weather forecasts, and even some community events or other potential news. Most parents get newsletter from schools so this isn’t absolutely necessary. However, this is information you can’t get from national sources and usually the local news app functions pretty well. We linked 10TV from Columbus, OH. If you don’t live there, you have to search Google Play to find yours.

OEM themes

Price: Free / Varies

Many devices have theme stores, including LG, Samsung, HTC, and a few others. These theme stores aren’t always great, but they usually have a bunch of seasonal content and yes, that includes Halloween. It really depends on what level of theming that the device offers. LG has a couple of decent orange and black themes while Samsung has icons, wallpapers, and device themes with Halloween elements. They usually don’t cost more than $1 or $2 so you can go wild on it and use it again next year if you still have the same phone (or a phone with access to the same theme store). The themes are decent, but we especially liked the wallpaper selection on Samsung devices.

Thank you for reading! Check these out too:

• 10 best TV apps and live TV apps for Android
• 10 best Android themes, theming apps, and customizations

If we missed any great Halloween apps, tell us about them in the comments! You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists!

It’s been a month since Google announced the return of Maps for Apple Watch, and now it’s finally here. Google has released the Apple Watch version of Maps (via 9to5Google) as part of an iOS app update, putting some common navigation options on your wrist.

This isn’t as independent from your iPhone as Apple Maps, but does provide many of the essentials for getting around town. You can quickly get directions to your home, work, and saved destinations. You’ll have to start navigation for any other destination on your phone, but Google Maps can provide detailed instructions in the Apple Watch app for driving, biking, public transportation, and walking.

Read more: The best smartwatches you can buy

The app is a mostly well-behaved Apple Watch citizen, too, with vibration-based directional cues (similar to Apple Maps) and a complication to quickly start routing from your watch face. However, there are no live maps. Unlike Apple’s solution, you’ll need to check your iPhone if you need visual confirmation of where to turn. Otherwise, you’re limited to basic on-screen cues with icons and street names as your only reference points.

You won’t necessarily replace Apple Maps with Google’s app, then. That’s particularly true if you have a cellular Apple Watch and want to leave your iPhone at home for a quick walk to the store. This does give you a major alternative, though. It’s also good news if you’re a fan of Google’s ecosystem — you can use its mapping software on a smartwatch even if you aren’t using Wear OS.

Google Maps’ visuals have long been informative, but also a bit lifeless — you wouldn’t know a lush forest landscape from a desert unless you switched to the satellite view. Google is ready to fix that, however, and it’s improving urban navigation in the process.

The internet giant is rolling out an update to Maps’ imagery that colors the terrain based on whether it’s arid, lush, icy, or mountainous. The darker the shade of green, the denser the forests and plant life. You’ll know where the greenery is along the Moroccan coastline, for example, or just where to find the ice in Iceland.

The technique relies on computer vision (a form of AI) to scan satellite imagery and apply color-coding based on a common model. It’s available in all 220 of the countries Google Maps supports.

City dwellers, meanwhile, are getting much more help with navigation. Google is planning to introduce far more detailed street info that includes crosswalks, sidewalks, and pedestrian islands. Road shapes and sizes should be more accurate, too. You should have a better idea of where it’s safe to cross, and whether you’re dealing with a side street or a main thoroughfare.

The revamped street maps will first be available in London, New York City, and San Francisco over the “coming months,” with plans for further expansion.

These are welcome additions, but Google also has a strong incentive to make dramatic improvements. The competition is catching up, with Apple Maps recently completing a detail overhaul and soon adding perks like advanced cycling directions. This could help Google stand out or stay ahead for travelers who want the most accurate maps possible.

Read more: Google Maps vs Waze vs Apple Maps

Have you ever wondered how many traffic lights you’ll run into on a cross-town trip? Google Maps might soon show you.

Droid Life reports that Google appears to be testing traffic light icons in Google Maps on Android devices. They’ll appear whether you’re browsing or navigating, and are unsurprisingly enlarged while you’re driving in order to keep your eyes on the road. The lights don’t appear to affect audio cues or routing, though, so don’t expect to hear “turn left at the next light” if the icons appear on your phone.

“To help people stay better informed on the road, we’re testing a Google Maps feature on Android that shows the location of traffic lights in select cities across the US,” a Google spokesperson told Android Authority. New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago are among the first cities to show the traffic lights feature. Google also says it plans to expand the feature to more cities over time.

If this sounds familiar, it should. Apple Maps started visualizing traffic lights during navigation roughly a year ago, and Siri will tailor its instructions based on the lights ahead. Not that this is a bad thing — the more mapping apps incorporate traffic lights, the easier it is for everyone to make informed choices about their routes.

Next: The best GPS apps and navigation apps for Android

“It was real,” confirms Simon Weckert, his answer giving this interview about his Google Maps traffic hack a reason to exist.

My question, if you missed the viral sensation earlier in the month, was to triple-check if Weckert’s 99-smartphones-in-a-cart-creating-traffic-on-Google-Maps-in-Berlin art project,  was real or not.

The tall, thin artist is wearing Berlin’s uniform of black, his shirt emblazoned with a Netzpolitik logo in his studio in Kreuzberg, and he smiles and nods enthusiastically about his project and the elements behind simple, effective disruption.

Weckert’s concept was to take a symbolic number of 99 different Android smartphones, 99 different Google accounts, 99 SIM cards (each providing for a unique connection), and drag them around streets in Berlin. The cart would travel even outside of Google’s own offices, creating a temporary traffic jam; the whole thing shot and uploaded to YouTube as proof. The irony of using Google’s own services and platforms to create the effort, and publicize it, was a key part of the concept.

To confirm the idea further, others have since re-created the Google Maps gridlock hack, in one case using as few as 20 phones to create a traffic jam.

How it came about: a year of planning

The idea came to Weckert three years ago, at a May Day (May 1) demonstration in Berlin.

“I saw a lot of people compressed, walking on the street. I had a look at Google Maps traffic and saw a super huge traffic jam in the area that I was in, despite literally not a single car nearby,” explains Weckert.

“I thought it was interesting: would it be possible to reproduce or generate such a traffic jam by myself. I thought: I don’t need the people, I just need the smartphones.”

A year of planning, 99 phones borrowed and rented, all for a single day of hacking Google Maps

It took Weckert more than a year of planning to get enough devices gathered together for a single day. No manufacturer or retail outlet selling phones was willing to participate, and buying enough even second-hand wasn’t feasible for a project without funding.

In the end, he managed to convince enough friends and connections to borrow their phones for a single day, including their Google accounts and SIMs, and hired other smartphones for the day from rental services that supply businesses and conferences for use and testing. All phones were charged in advanced.

A plan in motion

Once assembled and checked, each phone was put into navigation mode — something that Weckert admits may have been unnecessary given Android’s sharing of data to Google, but no chances were being taken despite the extra effort required.

No tests or dry-runs were taken in advance, with Weckert and a small group preparing and executing the performance, including the red cart — chosen purposefully for the squeaking wheel and bright red color. Weckert described it as adding a “childhood, playful, super-analog” element to the dual narratives of the hack.

“That’s what people really liked about it — one guy, 99 smartphones, interrupting the system.

“But there are two layers to the project. One is the technical element, the other is the easy-to-understand ‘Robin Hood’ effect with the cart, where one identity is in contrast to a huge tech giant, trying to put a little impact into the engine behind it. It’s easy to understand, and reached a broad audience,” explained Weckert.

Small, simple hacks can break down, complex systems

“But it has a wider meaning: small, simple hacks can break down, complex systems. A Chaos Computer Club project presented last year at 36C3 showed how a complex and ‘secure’ healthcare system data scheme could be easily hacked by people pretending to be doctors; a super simple solution to unlocking people’s data.

“Developers care more about encryption and PGP or SHA-1 and elements like that, which of course are important, but often the technical side can be defeated by something far simpler.”

Google hasn’t been in touch with Weckert directly. In reply to queries at the time, Google offered a playful response: “Whether via car or cart or camel, we love seeing creative uses of Google Maps as it helps us make maps work better over time.” But Weckert hasn’t taken any chances and has been careful to not reveal the date the hack took place. This was to try to obfuscate any data Google might be sieving, in order to avoid any kind of retaliation on the Google accounts that were used on each phone.

Google Maps and disputed regions

Weckert said he has seen another of his Google Maps projects stop working due to a (possibly unrelated) change to a Google API. That project, called Google Maps Borders, was one of the first to show considerable detail of how national boundaries are represented differently by some countries, depending on which “Google” entity you are using – e.g. Google in India, or Google in China, as compared with Google in the US.

Here’s two regions compared between neighboring Google Maps versions: China and India, and Ukraine and Russia, originally found by Weckert:

Google Maps China Google Maps India

Google Maps Ukraine Google Maps Russia

This is freshly in the news again, after revelations that Google has “a special team employees refer to as ‘the disputed region team’ that addresses prickly matters, such as how to portray the Falkland Islands, whose ownership has been disputed between the United Kingdom and Argentina since the latter invaded in 1982 and claimed them (Google makes no mention of the Argentine name Islas Malvinas to English map surfers),” per the Washington Post this week.

Weckert isn’t stopping his clever Google hacks, hinting at another Maps-focused project he’s been working on for more than six months that will be taking place sometime soon in Berlin, again. If Google isn’t onto him, already.

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Welcome to the 304th edition of Android Apps Weekly! It was a busy week this week so let’s get into those headlines:

• Samsung finally launched its Good Lock app for 2020. It includes support for Android 10 along with OneUI 2.0. Samsung didn’t include every feature from the previous Good Lock in this new iteration. However, we expect more functions over time with more updates. We took a deep dive into the 2020 edition of Good Lock with a Galaxy Note 10 Plus and you can read about it here.
• Alphabet joined the one trillion dollar club a couple of weeks ago. However, two weeks later, the company is only worth about $993 billion, removing its trillion dollar status. However, we did get a peak at YouTube earnings for the first time ever. The company makes up about 10% of all of Alphabet’s earnings with about $15.1 billion in revenue. Hit the links to learn more about each one.
• Huawei, Xiaomi, and a couple of BBK’s OEMs (OPPO and vivo) joined forces this week to take on the Play Store. The ultimate goal is to make developers lives easier when uploading apps to the various Chinese app stores. Xiaomi released a statement saying its mostly for ease of developers rather than competition with Google. The new alliance, the GSDA, wants to not only make it easier for developers to upload to various platforms, but market apps there as well. Hit the link to learn more.
• Disney+ is having a great year so far. The company announced 26.5 subscribers and 28.6 active users since its launch in November 2019. That’s not bad for three months of existence. Additionally, Hulu, Hulu TV, and ESPN+ also saw large spikes in subscribers numbers likely due to the Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+ bundle package. Disney+ isn’t letting up either with some new shows right around the corner.
• Google Maps had an interesting last week. It started when an artist wheeled 99 phones around in a wagon to trick Google Maps. Maps uses user data to determine traffic patterns so it though there was a huge traffic jam because 99 phones were all stuck in the same spot. Additionally, the navigation app is getting some new features for its 15th birthday. Hit the links to learn more!

Stellaris: Galaxy Command

Price: Free to play

Stellaris: Galaxy Command started life as a Steam game on PC where it had moderate success. The mobile version of the game is in early access beta right now. It features an open world, classic strategy elements, and plenty of sci-fi goodness. Players build their empire, help each other out, and conquer far away galaxies. Additionally, players upgrade their set-ups, manage resources, and all of that. It’s a fairly deep game and it seems to have a lot of content. However, it is in early access beta so, of course, there are bugs and a few other things that need work. You can give it a try now or wait until the full release.

Coronavirus

Price: Free

Coronavirus is a mobile app about, well, the coronavirus. It’s a fairly basic app but it helps keep track of the current outbreak that has the world worried. It shows up-to-date stats from the World Health Organization along with a checklist of all known symptoms. There are also infographics about prevention and treatment. There isn’t a ton of analysis necessary here. The app does what it says and it works fairly well. The developers also plan to add in specific country data and some other metrics in future updates.

Pico Tanks

Price: Free to play

Pico Tanks is an online multiplayer game with tanks. The game also features MOBA and brawler mechanics. Teams face off three versus three across three game modes. It features capture the flag, a fetch style game mode, and a classic team deathmatch. The game also features various customizations, power ups, weapons, and more. The various load-outs also affect things like speed. For instance, you can equip a ton of stuff but it lowers your movement speed. The game has some bugs here and there and players complain frequently about unbalanced matchmaking as well as slow progression. It needs work but it has potential.

NVIDIA GeForce NOW

Price: Free / Varies / $4.99 per month

NVIDIA GeForce NOW launched officially this last week. Players can create accounts, log-in, and stream video games to their mobile devices. It obviously works with devices like the NVIDIA Shield Console as well. This one is a little different, though. It works with many, many Steam games. Unlike Stadia where you buy the game specifically for the platform, GeForce NOW works with many titles in your existing PC library and you can play those games on your computer if you cancel GeForce NOW. This is easily one of the strongest competitors in the space and it seems to work pretty well. Most of the negative reviews comes from folks having networking troubles and not understanding the payment structure. Both the free and premium versions allow for 1080p/60fps gaming. The premium version gives users preferred access, enables ray-tracing, and adds a few more benefits.

Sins Raid

Price: Free to play

Sins Raid is a new MMORPG and it wants to keep things simple. It features an open world, multiplayer raids, a single or multiplayer story campaign, and the usual fair like guilds. It also keeps things simple with the class selection, offering the basic three MMORPG classes (tank, healer, DPS). The mechanics are good, the graphics are above average, and the controls are easy to learn. The game still needs some work, though. For instance, the stamina system is quite restrictive and not in a fun way. Additionally, the game has a ton of in-app purchase opportunities and we think they’re going at it a little too hard. Otherwise, it’s a decent MMORPG.

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Google Maps is officially 15! It’s been over a decade since Google started mapping the planet and I think it’s safe to say most all of us use the service every single day. If anything, that’s a huge accomplishment.

But today, Google wanted to do something for the 15th birthday of the service, so it’s updated the app to include a lot more features you might find useful. Some are a big deal and some aren’t, so let’s go ahead and hit the big topics first.

Redesigned tabs at the bottom

Google has added a couple of primary tabs at the bottom of the display to help make Maps more useful and intuitive. Now, you’ll find Explore, Commute, Saved, Contribute and Updates tabs, each with different primary functions within Maps.

If you’re just looking to be directed to a place, the commute tab is where you’ll live most of the time. But Google also wanted to push its Explore function more, which recommends activities, restaurants, and more based on your preferences. Google says Maps will learn based on your previous visits to create a map of what you’ll most likely like and not like, then serve you results appropriately.

See also:

A guy carted 99 phones around to create traffic jams on Google Maps (Updated)

Simon Weckert Update, February 4, 2020 (11:50 AM ET): Yesterday, we saw a statement from Google regarding the Google Maps "hack" detailed in the original article below. Now, we also have some more clarity on how …

Saved is a place to store lists of places you would like to visit, which can be categorized to your liking. Contribute brings Local Guides into the main interface, allowing you to add photos and reviews of places you’ve been. And Updates shows recent photos and reviews of places you like.

Transit attributes

Transit Attributes gives you more information about public transit, such as temperature, accessibility, crowds, and more. Effectively, you’ll be able to see the condition of the public transit option before you take it, so you’ll be more informed as to if it’s a good idea or not. If a train is too busy with very few free seats, you can always book a Lyft, straight from the app.

Maps will also ask you to add information about the transit mean from time to time, to help other passengers understand the conditions. Is there no wheelchair-accessible entrance? You can note that. Few available seats on the train? Note that too.

A new logo and navigation icon

Google also decided to change its logo for Google Maps’ 15th birthday. Now, you’ll see the recognizable pin logo. but with red, green, blue, and yellow stripes, indicating traffic congestion. It’s a nice way to call attention to what the app is for, and what it will look like once you start to use it. I think it looks great.

For a limited time, you’ll also see a new icon in Google Maps to indicate your car while driving. The new icon will have birthday balloons floating above it to celebrate the 15 years of service, though we don’t know how long this will last.

Maps has grown up a lot in the last 15 years, from being a simple and half-baked service to being a place you can reserve a table and get directions to it, all in one app.

A bunch of other changes are also coming to the app, which you can read about in a Google Blog post here.

Do any of these new features excite you? Let us know!

Simon Weckert
Update, February 4, 2020 (11:50 AM ET): Yesterday, we saw a statement from Google regarding the Google Maps “hack” detailed in the original article below. Now, we also have some more clarity on how the artist performed the “hack” in question.

In an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine (via 9to5Google), artist Simon Weckert says that each of the 99 smartphones in the wagon had their own connected SIM card and each one was actively using Maps for navigation. He discovered that if the wagon stopped moving, Maps would not show a traffic jam, so the wagon had to consistently be in motion for a jam to get registered.

Additionally, if a vehicle drove by the wagon at a normal speed, Maps would also register traffic as normal. It was only when the wagon was in motion and the street was empty that a traffic jam would show on Google Maps.

Google had this to say in response to the “hack” of using 99 smartphones to cause Maps to register false traffic jams:

Whether via car or cart or camel, we love seeing creative uses of Google Maps as it helps us make maps work better over time.

The company also reaffirmed its commitment to making Maps as accurate as possible. Google also pointed out in a tongue-in-cheek fashion that it can distinguish between cars and motorcycles in some regions around the world — but it hasn’t deduced a formula for wagons yet.

Original article, February 3, 2020 (03:16 AM ET): Technology is not always foolproof and that’s exactly what a new Google Maps experiment tried to prove. Artist Simon Weckert has posted a video on YouTube showing how he managed to “hack” Google Maps to create virtual traffic jams on the streets of Berlin.

For his experiment, Weckert loaded 99 smartphones running Google Maps into a cart. He then had someone wheel that cart around various streets in Berlin, including outside the Google office.

The phones apparently fooled Google Maps into thinking that there was a high concentration of users on those streets. Because the phones were in a cart, Maps was further tricked into believing that the traffic was slow-moving.

As a result, the navigation app started showing virtual traffic jams by turning green streets to red. You can watch the video below to see the trick in action.

Why did this happen?

Google Maps uses data generated by users to identify fast or slow moving traffic as well as traffic jams. By analyzing things like speed, location, and other crowdsourced data, Google generates a live traffic map of an area or a road.

Weckert apparently took advantage of these very Google Maps features to fool the app into marking streets as red. As a result, nearby users could have been diverted to other routes even though the streets in question were actually empty.

Related: HUAWEI has found an alternative to Google Maps

Update, November 1 2019 (2:00AM ET): Google quietly began testing an incognito mode in Google Maps back in September. Fortunately, the waiting is over as the search giant has announced that the feature is now rolling out for Android users.

The company made the announcement via its Google Maps support forum (spotted by Android Police), adding that incognito mode is rolling out in stages. So give it a few days if you don’t see it on your device just yet.

To activate the feature, you simply have to launch Google Maps, tap your profile picture, and “turn on incognito mode.”

Google adds that enabling incognito mode in the app doesn’t affect how your activity is used by other apps, other Google services, or internet providers.

Original article, September 19 2019 (2:05AM ET): Google Maps has received plenty of love in 2019, but the search company is reportedly hard at work on two more additions to the mapping service.

The company is testing an incognito mode in the preview version of Google Maps (version 10.26), according to Android Police. Google Chrome‘s incognito mode doesn’t record your browser history on the device or your Google account, and a similar principle is in effect here.

The Google Maps incognito mode won’t save your browsing history, update your location history/shared locations, or use your data to personalize the experience. Check out a screenshot below.

Android Police

This might be handy if you’re doing shady things or looking for a birthday gift and don’t want someone to see where you’re going (if they have access to your Google account or device). It might also be useful if you’re going to a place you know you won’t like, and you don’t want Google to recommend similar places.

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Google Maps incognito mode isn’t the only interesting feature coming to the platform though. XDA-Developers has also uncovered references to an eyes-free navigation option in the preview version of the app.

The so-called Eyes Free mode will apparently reduce the need to look at the screen when walking around, as it will deliver more frequent and detailed voice guidance.

XDA also noted references to incident reporting for various situations, such as broken-down vehicles, obstructions on the road, and lane closures.

What features would you like to see in Google Maps? Give us your answers in the comments section!

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Yesterday, we wrote about how Google is adding a new visual accessibility tool to Chrome. In honor of World Sight Day, Google continues to champion tech accessibility with its latest addition to Google Maps: a “Detailed Voice Guidance” feature that makes it easier for the blind and visually impaired to navigate on foot. Here’s how it works and how to use it.

This feature gives users more detailed voice directions so they can be better prepared on their walks. Maps will tell the user things like how far away the next turn is, which direction they are walking, and when they are approaching intersections. If users accidentally leave their routes, Maps will give a spoken notification that it’s re-routing them.

This feature gives people more confidence and reassurance when they travel alone. It allows users, visually impaired or not, to focus on their destination instead of the walk there.

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Detailed Voice Guidance is also the first Maps feature built from the ground up by people with vision impairments. Legally blind Google Business Analyst Wakana Sugiyama says that building tools like this for everyone is core to Google’s work.

If you want to take advantage of Google Maps Detailed Voice Guidance, you will likely have to wait for a server-side update. Once the update lands, you will be able to enable the setting in only a few clicks. In the Google Maps settings, tap Navigation, and scroll down to Walking Options. Here you will eventually see the ability to enable Detailed Voice Guidance.

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Google Maps is receiving two new updates that will hopefully offer a slightly better user experience. Android Police noticed a new “Your transit” section which allows quick access to your favorite public transportation lines and a better notification settings list which makes managing notifications simpler.

The new Your Transit feature will show up in Maps’ side menu, and it lets you favorite nearby public transport lines for easy access. Previously, users would need to manually search for the lines they are looking for. This update makes your most commonly used buses’ and subways’ timelines accessible in only a few taps.

The new notification update provides simpler notification categories. Several categories have been merged and renamed into six different ones instead of nine, making notification management simpler.

Maps’ notification settings have been confusing for quite a while now. This update aims to change that by streamlining the experience just a little bit more. Overall, both of these updates look to provide a better experience for Maps users.

Neither update has rolled out to everyone yet, but the notifications settings update has been pushed to the Maps 10.24 beta. The Your Transit update has only shown up in a few cases as a server-side test.

We expect both of these updates to come to all users relatively soon. You can stay up to date with the latest version of the app via the button below.

Previous Google Maps updates

New layer in the Google Maps Android app lets you know where Street View works

September 2, 2019: Google Maps added a new Street View layer to the Android app.  This new feature will be incredibly helpful if you are traveling in a new location and want to use Street View to navigate around. By turning on the Street View layer, you can see which parts of a given location have Street View images available.

Cycling and ridesharing directions now mix with your trip

August 27, 2019: Google announced that you can now mix cycling and ridesharing directions within your Google Maps trip. This new feature, unfortunately, is hitting iOS first with Android support launching “in the following weeks.”

Expansion of Live View feature to many more devices

August 8, 2019: Google has announced that it’s expanding testing for the Live View feature. Starting this week, it’ll bring the beta feature to Android devices supporting Google’s ARCore and iOS devices via Apple’s ARKit frameworks. 

Live View, which was initially tested on Pixel phones, allows users to see augmented-reality overlays in Google Maps while navigating on-foot. Simply hold up your phone and the app will place arrows and other instructions in your camera viewfinder, giving you a better idea of where to go.

Live speedometer hits the app

June 5, 2019: Google has implemented a speedometer feature in Google Maps, although it isn’t enabled by default. The feature is accessible via Settings > Navigation settings > Speedometer. 

Still not seeing the feature? Well, it’s rolling out worldwide in a phased manner, so you might want to hold out a little longer. 

Learn a restaurant’s most popular dish

May 30, 2019: Google Maps is launching a new tool to find a restaurant’s most popular dish. Maps will now use machine learning to determine from those photos and reviews which dishes are the most popular at that restaurant, making it easier for diners to find the “best of the best” at that establishment.

Additionally, Maps will translate reviews written in a foreign language, an essential tool for the traveling diner. Can’t read the menu? The new features within Google Lens will help you out there, too.

Pixel phones now have AR navigation

May 7, 2019: Google Maps AR navigation allows you to navigate on-foot by holding your phone up and using the rear camera, with arrows and other information overlaid into the viewfinder. This way, you don’t have to worry if the blue dot (representing you) is heading in the right direction when using Maps the traditional way.

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The feature is currently only live for Pixel users using walking navigation in San Francisco, Paris, and London. It will likely come to additional major cities across the globe in due time.

Maps shows if a nearby EV charging station is occupied

April 23, 2019: Google has announced that you can use Google Maps to check real-time availability of charging station ports in the U.S. and U.K. In other words, you don’t have to physically go to a station to see if there are any free ports. 

“Simply search for ‘ev charging stations’ to see up to date information from networks like Chargemaster, EVgo, SemaConnect and soon, Chargepoint,” Google wrote in a blog post announcing the feature.

Lime scooter and bike rental info in 80 cities

March 4, 2019: Google Maps will now show Lime scooter and bike rental information. Notifications will conveniently tell you if a Lime vehicle is available, how long it’ll take to walk to the vehicle, an estimate of how much your ride could cost, along with your total journey time and ETA.

You can see a full list of all the Lime Google Maps cities here.

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At an event in New Delhi, Google announced that Google Maps will now start aggregating deals for local restaurants. One of three major Google Maps-related updates announced, the move signals the search giant’s intent to become a single source provider for hyper-local information.

Google Maps has been playing around with an Explore tab on the mapping app’s home screen for a while now, but today it was finally made official. Google mentioned that the selection of shortcuts had been optimized for India and was driven by data suggesting that Indian users prefer easy to tap targets over searching for information. The idea is to allow users to discover hidden gems or popular destinations in local neighborhoods.

Additionally, artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms draw the shortlist of restaurants, activities, shopping centers, and more. This is based on data like popularity and your own personal search history. Google claims that over 20 million users are already engaging with the Explore tab and its shortcuts.

Building on the Explore tab, a new For You tab is also being made official. This tab has already been available in some capacity since December of last year. Google notes that the For You tab can be used to control the kind of data that you want. For example, it will be possible to set filters for the kind of restaurants you want to view. The For You tab makes use of a score based on your ratings and location history to create more personalised recommendations.

Additionally, you can define neighborhoods and cities for which you want to view updates. If you are looking for a new place to try out Italian cuisine, this feature could be right up your alley.

The most noteworthy announcement, however, is integration with the popular Eazydiner deals platform. You will now be able to scour for interesting offers and deals on dine-out options. The feature is live in 11 metro cities and includes over 4,000 restaurants at the moment.

Google Maps will let you make a reservation for the restaurant from a single, straightforward interface. Google claims that they plan to add in more deals providers in the future. As expected, your phone number and email address will be shared to the merchant via the deals provider so you might want to exercise caution here in case you don’t want your personal details floating around.

All three features are rolling out now and should be available to most users in India. To promote the launch of the feature, Google is offering an introductory 25-percent discount at partner restaurants for the initial two weeks.

As Google goes about adding features to Google Maps, do you think it is diluting the core mapping experience? Would you prefer a lighter, mapping only version of the app or are you happy with Google Maps becoming a one-stop-shop for all your location search, dining and shopping needs?

Using public transit is great for a few reasons, most notably how much cheaper it is than driving or hailing a cab, but also because of its better effect on the environment. That being said, the team behind Google Maps knows that crowded or delayed public transport can make you wish you took that cab instead.

That’s why Google is rolling out two new features today to help out public commuters.

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The first new update relates to late buses. Although Maps already offers real-time delay information for bus routes in certain places around the world, the feature is rolling out today to areas of the world that haven’t enjoyed this perk yet.

Not only will this help you determine how long you’ll need to wait at a stop before your bus arrives, but it will also help you plan ahead if the bus you get on will be late to your drop-off location.

The second new Google Maps update will let you know how crowded your bus or train is likely to be. When you check your navigation route in the app, it will let you know its estimation of the crowdedness of that ride:

Google crowdsources this information from other riders, so it should be fairly accurate.

The crowdedness information is rolling out today to nearly 200 cities around the world via the Google Maps app for Android or iOS. If you’re not already using Google Maps, install it on your Android smartphone by clicking the link below:

When you are traveling in a foreign destination or even going to a new restaurant in your home city, Google Maps can be an indispensable tool when it comes to figuring out how to get around.

However, if you use a taxi to get from point A to point B, you might not know if your driver is using the most efficient route. What’s worse, you might not recognize if your driver is taking you somewhere you don’t want to go.

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Luckily, Google appears to be testing a new feature in Google Maps that will warn you if your driver is veering too far off the route they should likely be on. As first spotted by XDA Developers, the feature appears to be live now in India and will alert you should your driver veer as much as 500 meters off route.

Check out some screenshots below to see how it works:

This new feature will hopefully prevent folks from paying too much for a taxi ride due to a driver taking “the long way.” It will also hopefully help prevent abductions and other assaults where drivers take riders to destinations they didn’t expect, which are rare but certainly do happen.

We’ve reached out to Google to find out if this feature will come to other countries, specifically the United States. We will update the article should we hear back.

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Google has offered SOS alerts for natural disasters since 2017, giving users quick access to emergency contact numbers, breaking stories, and other related information. Now, the company has announced that it’ll be adding visual information to these SOS alerts in Google Maps.

The visual information includes the trajectory of floods and hurricanes, as well as earthquake visualizations. Google says it’ll also issue crisis navigation warnings in Google Maps if it thinks your route might be affected by a natural disaster.

“Flood forecasts visualizations will soon roll out starting in India in the Patna area, and then expand to the Ganges and Brahmaputra regions on Android, desktop, and mobile web,” Google noted in its blog post.

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Meanwhile, hurricane forecast cones will be available in the U.S., Mexico, Caribbean, Western Europe, Japan, Taiwan, China, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and South Korea. Hurricane forecast cones will be accessible via Android, desktop, iOS, and mobile browsers.

Earthquake visualizations and crisis navigation warnings will be available on a global basis via Android and iOS (although the former will also be accessible on desktop and mobile browsers).

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It appears Google wants Google Maps to be the diner’s app-of-choice, as it seems more and more features are coming to the service that revolve around going out to eat. Case in point: today, Google Maps is launching a new tool to find a restaurant’s most popular dish.

Previously, you could visit a restaurant’s listing within Google Maps and find reviews as well as photos of dishes (as well as the restaurant’s decor). However, Maps will now use machine learning to determine from those photos and reviews which dishes are the most popular at that restaurant, making it easier for diners to find the “best of the best” at that establishment.

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Additionally, Maps will translate reviews written in a foreign language, an essential tool for the traveling diner. Can’t read the menu? The new features within Google Lens will help you out there, too.

Check out the GIF below to see these new features in action:

For this popular dish feature to work well, Google will need photos of dishes as well as reviews of the restaurants. Next time you dine out, remember to snap a pic of your meal and throw it into Maps to help future diners find a terrific dinner — or avoid an awful one.

Download Google Maps below if you haven’t already.

Google

If you find yourself ordering food delivery quite often, we’ve got some good news: Google is about to make things a whole lot easier for you. Starting now, you can order food delivery right through various Google products, including Search, Assistant, and even Maps.

So far, Google has partnered with a handful of food delivery providers, including DoorDash, Postmates, Delivery.com, Slice, and ChowNow. Conspicuously missing from the list are GrubHub, Seamless, Uber Eats, and other popular services.

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However, Google does say that more integrations are on the way, pointing to Zuppler and others as “coming soon.”

To get started ordering your next food delivery through Google, just perform a search for a nearby restaurant or type of cuisine using Google Search or Google Maps. You should see “Order Online” buttons within those searches which will connect you to a food delivery service. Depending on the service, you can even complete your purchase using Google Pay, which would result in a completely seamless transaction.

To take things even further, you can use voice commands within Google Assistant to place your order. Just say, “Hey Google, order food from…” and then say the name of a particular restaurant. Obviously, the restaurant will have to be partnered with one of the applicable delivery services for the voice command to work.

Once you’ve successfully placed an order, you can easily re-order that meal again in the future. Just say, “OK Google, reorder food from [restaurant].”

If you’re thinking about ordering food delivery soon, give this method a shot!

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Google

Google announced today that Google Pay will soon work with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) OMNY contactless fare payment system in New York City.

As part of a public pilot program that starts May 31, MTA riders can use Google Pay with all Staten Island buses. Riders can also use Google Pay in subway stations along the 4, 5, and 6 lines between Grand Central and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center.

You don’t have to unlock your device or open the app to use Google Pay with OMNY. This is a notable difference from how Google Pay normally works, since you must unlock your phone to make in-store payments.

According to Google, Google Pay works with OMNY as a “pay per ride” feature. The MTA previously said that OMNY will only be available as a single ride, full fare option until it’s available across the entire subway and bus system. The MTA expects to offer weekly, monthly, and discounted fares in late 2020.

In related news, Google also announced that MTA subway riders can use Google Assistant starting today to get live updates on departure times. Assistant even provides walking directions to the nearest relevant subway station.

Finally, Google announced that Google Maps will show you which routes accept Google Pay. If you haven’t yet set up Google Pay, Google Maps will let you do so from within the app. This feature will be available in the next few weeks for Melbourne’s Myki, New York City’s MTA, and London’s Transport for London transport systems.

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