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New Google Maps Brings Better Navigation and Discovery to Android

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The new version of Google Maps is now available for Android smartphones and tablets, bringing some of the new features for the desktop version to mobile devices.

The new Google Maps for Android is now available as a free update in the Google Play Store for any user with an Android device. The update should also come to the iOS App Store sometime in the near future, though it’s not clear exactly when the iOS version will arrive. The new update includes better navigation, a new explore function and a new tablet design.

Those who use their Android device as a GPS while driving will appreciate the new features that give users alternate routes around traffic, similar to Waze. The maps will show any problems that occur on the road, and automatically reroute users as new and faster routes open up to them.

The new Google Maps also includes a new exploration feature which lets users discover news places without typing anything. The mode lets users choose what type of place they want to visit, and the app will populate a list of choices for them. Like the desktop Google Maps, the Android app will use the user’s Google+ friends along with Zagat ratings to suggest the best places to go.

Google_Maps_for_Android_tablets_and_iPad

Finally, the new Google Maps brings the layout of the new desktop version to Android tablets. The new layout shows more map tiles on screen at once with menu and search boxes floating on top of the tiles. The layout looks similar to the iPhone Google Maps app made to fit a larger screen.

Google’s blog post about the new update also hints at the future release of Google Maps for iPad. The iPad app will feature the same layout as Google Maps for Android tablets, but will work on Apple’s iPad and iPad mini. The iPad version of Google Maps will likely come to the App Store around the same time as the update to the iPhone Google Maps app.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. stimpy77

    07/20/2013 at 11:06 pm

    Worst update ever. Removed the Navigation shortcut and the driver-safe UI. You are now forced to squint at the tiny minimalistic text and mini-buttons to initiate navigation.

  2. John

    08/02/2013 at 12:39 pm

    Google. You have completely ruined my ability to navigate quickly and efficiently. I work in the field all day long going from place to place one place after another. The navigation app was perfect for this purpose. I even used it instead of my cars navigation because it was a lot better. Why on earth would you do this. You are destroying my livelihood! I rolled back the upgrade so I could get the old nav. back and now it keeps stopping with a pop up that says “unfortunately google maps has stopped” WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!

  3. troubledbyfate

    10/28/2013 at 5:28 am

    i loved the navigation
    so much.. it was so very simple and easy… now i dont know how to use it..:-(

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