It’s the season for makeovers for a lot of apps, particularly Google products, in preparation for the arrival of Android 5.0 Lollipop and also for the expected glut of new devices during this Christmas season. The next one for Google‘s design and feature (almost) overhaul is Google Maps, and it’s not just in looks that it has changed, but even in how you interact with the places that you search for, even while within the app.
More than just that app that you use when you’re in an unfamiliar place or when you are totally lost, Google Maps also wants to help traveling and discovering places even easier without having to move to another app to find new places to eat in, book a table at a restaurant or even find a vehicle or decide if you’ll ride a vehicle or not. When you search for a place you’re going to or you’re already in, you’ll now see a “more to explore” tab that will give you suggestions on what nearby places or events you should check out.
Google Maps is also now integrated with OpenTable which will allow you to make reservations from the app itself if you’d like to book at the restaurant you’re looking at from the map. However, this feature is only available in the US. If you have the Uber app installed on your smartphone, you’ll be able to see the pick-up time and estimated price to the place you’re planning to go to, together with the walking and transit directions as well. All these new features come in a newly-designed package, which has brighter colors and the usual Material Design updates to the layers, buttons and icons.
The update to Google Maps is still in the process of rolling out so some may receive these new features in the next few days or next week. But if you can’t wait that long, you can update your app through the APK, which can be found here. Do note that it requires Android 4.3 or higher.
SOURCE: Google
Still no voice guided navigation in public transport mode!