Remember when, a day before Google’s massive hardware event, Verizon‘s website leaked the Pixel and included a rather unspecified “Google Magic” feature? Well, that never turned out to be actually anything, unless that was the carrier’s way of referring to the Assistant.
However, that doesn’t mean that some magic hasn’t found its way to Android…
Google has been adding a lot of new features to Google Maps for Android over the past couple months, including speed limit signs and calendar events, but one big addition flew under the radar a bit ─ Traffic Nearby.
Google has announced that you will now be able to view your upcoming Google Calendar events in Google Maps. This can be a helpful tool because now, instead of opening up a calendar event and then copying the address into Maps, you can just pull up a list of upcoming events without leaving the Google Maps app iself…
“Ok Google” is especially useful for performing searches and other tasks like sending a text message or playing music when your hands are tied. Now an update to the Google app and Maps for Android adds navigation specific commands that aim to make the voice assistant more useful when driving.
The blue dot and direction arrow in Google Maps represent where you are and what direction your device is pointing in. A minor update to the Android app today changes the arrow to a shining blue beam. The beam also conveys how accurate your phone’s direction is and provide an easy way to calibrate it.
As first noticed by one user on Reddit, it seems that Google Maps has begun showing the current speed limit while using navigation. It’s something that has long been live in the Google-owned Waze navigation app, so it should be no surprise that it has made its way into Maps…
When looking for directions in Google Maps, Uber and other local taxi services show up as alternate forms of transportation. Google is now adding two new partners to the US, including major competitor Lyft and smaller ride service Gett.
With a simple April Fools’ game in Google Maps serving as the early predecessor of Pokémon Go, it’s only fitting that Maps recognizes the global gaming phenomenon. The mapping service’s Timeline feature now allows you to label an activity as “Catching Pokémon.”
Google Maps is a service we all use almost daily, but a lot of work goes into making it as great as it is. Lately, Google has been pushing users into its Local Guides program which lets them “level up” by writing reviews, uploading pictures, and adding/editing places on Maps. To help those users better do those tasks, the company has today added the ability to sort saved places into lists within the mobile app.
Following an update a couple of weeks ago, Google has today announced another update to Google Maps for Android that brings along some useful new features. These new features are aimed at those who are looking to save a bit of data on their mobile plans or who may live in areas where mobile data isn’t available.
Google’s mapping software is the most powerful in the world, and one of its biggest strengths is in 3D imagery. Over the years Google has amassed 3D imagery around the world for a number of locations, and with a new app it’s putting that technology to use in a fun new game for kids.
While Google Maps has had several UI changes on the web and mobile over the past few years, the actual map layer has remained the same. Starting today, however, Google is making a few visual changes and additions to Maps on desktop, Android, and iOS that will help with navigation.
To ensure its accuracy, a million updates from around the world are made to Google Maps on a daily basis. However, that is still not enough to guarantee that every single restaurant, business, or landmark has accurate information. To remedy this, Google Maps is adding new tools to keep the local places you know best up-to-date.
Seemingly fed up with Google’s inability to map the area, Faroe Islanders have taken the initiative into their own hands. The Guardian reports that citizens of the area, which consists of 18 sub-polar islands in the Atlantic, have started attempting to create their own version of Google Street View.
One of the key features that Google Maps on Android lacks is the ability to add multiple destinations when plotting directions. Many users (via Android Police) are reporting that the feature is now rolling out server-side as part of version 9.31 of Maps.
The novelty of exploring satellite imagery of the world in Google Earth has long worn off since the app launched in 2001. Now the the company has given you a reason to dive back in and explore the Earth from above, announcing today that all mapping products, including the satellite layer in Maps, will get sharper and more detailed images thanks to a new satellite and processing techniques…
Street View is now a feature we take for granted in all our mapping services, but in 2007 it was a very ambitious effort by Google to photograph the world. The feature on the latest version of Google Maps on Android received a slight revamp to make navigation on mobile easier.
Google has just opened up a new contest for Google Maps Local Guides users, allowing them the chance to win a free, custom Nexus Live Case for their Nexus 6P or 5X. To enter all users need to do is head over to Google Maps, either on the desktop or mobile, and leave high quality reviews of places and business they’ve recently been to.
Despite being announced over a year ago, the revamped Google Contacts web app remains in preview and is still lacking some legacy features. A new feature rolling out today, however, will list verified business information from Google Maps directly in a contact.
At this year’s I/O, the Play Store gained the ability to let users easily participate in an app beta without having to first join a Group. Google Maps for Android now has a beta channel (via Android Police) that users can easily sign-up for here.
By choice, Google has put relatively few ads in Maps. However, that’s going to change (via Recode) as advertisers will now be able to add “promoted pins” in Maps and place deals and discounts on place cards.
Google is planning on tapping into its Project Tango technology to offer superior interior 3D mapping of buildings and a new revenue stream through virtual reality apps using the platform, Bloomberg reports.
Google is constantly on a quest to add new, interesting visual tours to its popular Maps service, and its latest addition will help give you a taste of the Olympic venues ahead of this year’s competition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Update: You can now grab the Google Trips APK from APKMirror.
One of Inbox’s most convenient features are Travel bundles that organize reservations and other related emails in an easy to read manner. Google is now testing (via Androidworld) a Trips app that organizes every aspect of your travels and offers useful suggestions.
