The Best Updates in a Redesigned 15th Anniversary of Google Maps
To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Google Maps, Google is updating the service with a new logo and icon, and is also launching several new features for the app. Here’s everything in the big update.
New and redesigned tabs
The biggest change in the new Google Maps is the updated user interface. The various functions and pages of the application are grouped into five new tabs located at the bottom of the application screen. Here’s what each one does:
- Explore: Offers reviews and recommendations for nearby restaurants, activities, and attractions.
- Commute: routes to the place, travel time estimation, traffic warnings, etc.
- Saved: A customizable list of saved locations for quick access. The list can be organized into categories and shared with others.
- Contribute: Submit reviews, photos, and other suggestions for locations on Google Maps.
- Updates: A feed of recent reviews and other updates for places you’ve visited in the past, popular places, and recommendations from local experts. You can also interact directly with companies listed on Google Maps through this tab.
Live view support and transport attributes
The 15th Anniversary redesign also includes several helpful updates to help you get around more efficiently and safely.
Live View, which offers real-time AR assistance as you walk to a location, will now show you the exact distance and direction of your destination.
For those who travel by public transport, Google Maps now displays important information about vehicles and objects on your route. Google maps already show how busy your route is, but users can now find (and enter) information about some other “transport characteristics”, such as the current temperature on the bus or train; Are there wheelchair and disabled entrances, seating and other types of assistance; and whether there are personal guards and other security measures on board. Some regions will also indicate if there are dedicated sections for women, while in Japan you will see how many train cars are available on your route.