Google Maps updates Wear OS Tile with direct map shortcut
Following the big update that added public transit directions last month, Google Maps has tweaked its Wear OS Tile to provide quick access to the map.
Expand Expanding CloseFollowing the big update that added public transit directions last month, Google Maps has tweaked its Wear OS Tile to provide quick access to the map.
Expand Expanding CloseLive Activities are a super useful feature of Apple’s latest iPhones, but also one that goes underused. Google Maps has been overdue to support the feature for years now and while it’s still not live yet, Google is testing Live Activities with some iPhone users.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Maps has long featured the ability to show buildings in 3D while navigating, but recently started rolling out that view to its Android Auto and CarPlay experiences. Here’s how to disable that.
Expand Expanding CloseThe Google Maps app for Android Auto is picking up some minor tweaks to icons which offer a bit more contrast to the design.
Expand Expanding CloseSatellite connectivity still hasn’t really made its debut on Android yet, but it’s clear Google is making an effort with it on Pixel phones and, apparently, also in Google Maps.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Maps reviews are a valuable resource, but the service is losing the ability to store drafts of a review in progress.
Expand Expanding CloseAhead of Earth Day, Google Maps is adding a handful of features to make traveling more sustainable, like offering transit and walking alternatives instead of driving.
Expand Expanding CloseThe latest Google Maps update for Android makes a minor tweak which allows the phone’s toggle for 3D buildings during navigation to sync with the setting on Android Auto.
Expand Expanding CloseFollowing Chrome last year and Photos a few months ago on Android 14, Google Maps is the latest first-party app to drop its custom share sheet and switch to the native version.
Expand Expanding CloseFor some users, a bug on Android Auto is causing all voice commands for navigation to be routed through Google Maps, regardless of the user’s preferences.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Maps is perhaps one of the most widely used applications on the planet and, as such, even minor changes to its design are super important. But, on Apple’s CarPlay, Google Maps is in need of a massive overhaul, because it’s a bit of a dumpster fire.
Expand Expanding CloseThe work to make Gemini a better phone assistant continues, with Google recently updating it to automatically start Maps navigation “when you ask for directions.”
Expand Expanding CloseIn addition to a trio of announcements around lists ahead of the summer travel season, Google Maps will be simplifying its bottom bar on mobile.
Expand Expanding CloseBesides search, reviews, and photos, Google Maps wants to help you find places to visit using lists from its community and third-parties.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle has brought Street View on Maps to Kazakhstan in its latest expansion.
Expand Expanding CloseFollowing the announcement in late February at MWC 2024 and the March Pixel Feature Drop, Google Maps for Wear OS is more widely rolling out public transit directions.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid Auto is getting a tweak for Google Maps that shows the estimated drive time in the same bolder style as other platforms.
Expand Expanding CloseSetting default apps is commonplace on Android, but over on iOS, Apple has historically made this difficult. Over time, users have been given the ability to set default browser apps and make other tweaks, but starting next year, Apple will apparently allow iPhone users to set their default navigation app as something other than Apple Maps, like Google Maps.
Expand Expanding CloseBesides using Live View and your camera for VPS, Google has a new device orientation solution for Android map developers with the Fused Orientation Provider (FOP) API in Play services.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Maps is invaluable in finding your way to a location, but a sore point of the app has long been finding where to actually enter the building. Now, though, Google Maps seems to be showing entrances for buildings to some users.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle announced “glanceable directions” for Maps on Android and iOS last February, and a new setting called “Glanceable directions while navigating” is now available.
Expand Expanding CloseAt Mobile World Congress 2024, Google announced a handful of wearable and navigation-related updates, starting with public transit directions in Google Maps for Wear OS.
Expand Expanding CloseUsing a navigation app when out on the road is what just about everyone does nowadays, but these apps are useful for more than just getting directions from point A to point B. Google Maps has supported incident reporting for quite some time, but as we keep moving forward, the feature is becoming essentially useless due to neglect.
Expand Expanding CloseThe Google Maps UI has largely been unchanged for the past several years, but that’s now changing with pretty significant redesigns across key surfaces, including when searching for directions.
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