The official blog for Google Maps
Kick off your summer travels with these new Google Maps features
June 30, 2016
The weather’s heating up, kids are out of school, and that means only one thing: summer’s officially here. Summer brings weekend road trips, faraway escapes and all kinds of getaways in between. And with the latest update to Google Maps, we're introducing two new features to get you where you’re going and help you remember your travels in a brand new way.
Road trip warriors can now get multi-stop directions in Google Maps on Android (coming soon to iOS). Just open the app, enter a destination, tap the corner menu, and then click “Add a stop”. To rearrange the order of your stops, tap and hold the three dot menu to the left of “Add stop” and drag it to the position you want – you can even search for types of places like gas stations or restaurants like you normally would. Once you’ve added all your stops, tap “Done” and your multi-stop route is complete. When you enter navigation mode you’ll have the same seamless driving experience you’re used to, whether you’re going from errand to errand or hitting scenic spots along Route 66.
A lot of the fun of traveling is the memories created while exploring new places with friends, family or even solo. Pictures are a traditional way to remember those moments, but now Your Timeline users on Android can preserve their travel memories and info in a new way. Google Maps users with Location History enabled can open Your Timeline, select a date from their recent vacation or everyday life and add notes to help remember what they did that day—or save important notes for later.
No matter where your travels take you this summer and beyond, these new Google Maps features will get you there and help keep track of all the memories you make along the way.
Posted by Liz Davidoff, Communications Manager, Google Maps
A look back at Google Maps in 2015
December 31, 2015
2016 is just around the corner. Before we pop champagne and ring in the New Year, let’s take a look back at the enhancements we’ve made to Google Maps over the past year. From using Google Maps offline to discovering new places with Explore, we’re proud to not only get you from point A to point B quickly and easily, but to also help you explore the world around you with confidence.
Below is a list of the new features you might’ve missed, along with a handy chart showing you where you’ll find them. If you got a new phone this holiday season, now’s the time to give the
Google Maps app
a go.
2015 Google Maps New Features
2015 is ticking away, but you can take a look back at the places you’ve traveled with
Your Timeline
.
Always know when your favorite stores are open with
up-to-date holiday hours and alerts
.
Whether you’re in a parking garage with no signal or traveling in country with expensive data, search for places, get directions, and turn-by-turn navigation–all
offline
.
Always stay on the fastest route and beat bumper-to-bumper traffic with
real-time traffic updates and dynamic re-routing
.
Never run low on fuel with up-to-date
gas prices
in search results and on the map.
Make quick pit stops without long detours–
search for places along your route
without leaving navigation mode.
Find the
best local spots to eat and drink
with curated recommendations.
Get all your travel options and
compare ETAs across driving, walking, biking and transit
–all on one screen.
Get the scoop on when the lines are shortest and shops least crowded by checking businesses’
most popular times
–by day, by hour.
Get the lay of the land before you arrive by using
Street View thumbnail
.
Never miss a bus or train with
real-time transit information
(schedules, fares, updates) in more than 18,000 cities across 64 countries.
Get directions, turn-by-turn navigation and real-time traffic updates from your wrist with the Google Maps app on
Android Wear
and Apple Watch.
To see these new features in action, take a look back at our
Maps Minutes Holiday Hacks series
.
2015 New Features by iOS and Android Availability
Feature
Android
iOS
Up-to-Date Holiday Business Hours and Warnings
X
X
Location Search and Turn-by-Turn Navigation While Offline
X
X
A Look Back at the Places You’ve Visited through “Your Timeline”
X
Real-time Spoken Traffic Alerts
X
X
Gas Prices on Map
X
X
Location Search Without Leaving Navigation Mode
X
Updated “Explore” Experience with New Curated Content
X
X
Compare ETAs on One Screen
X
X
The Most Popular Times to Visit a Business
X
X
Street View Thumbnails
X
X
Real-time Traffic View of Your Route
X
X
Directions and Turn-by-Turn Navigation on Wearables
X (Android Wear)
X (Apple Watch)
Join us in a virtual toast to a New Year of helping you explore and navigate your far away travels as well as your everyday life.
Posted by the Google Maps team
Maps Minutes Hack #9: Get home quickly and safely on New Year’s Eve
December 29, 2015
Part of our
series
on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.
Whether you’re heading to a friend’s house for a cozy gathering, going to watch the ball drop in Times Square or attending an extravagant masquerade ball, the last thing you want to worry about on New Year’s Eve is driving.
With the Google Maps app, you can get where you’re going without ever getting behind the wheel. Earlier this year we launched a
new feature
that allows you to see various transportation options and compare travel times–all on one screen.
Once you enter your destination in the Google Maps app, you’ll see four options to get there: driving, walking, biking or transit (bus/train). You can quickly compare ETAs and switch between the transportation modes for more details and up-to-date information for each option.
If you’re heading to a casual celebration not so far from home, walking or public transit might be your best option. The Google Maps app will give your walk time ETA along with a few transit route options with real-time schedules, updates and fares.
Google Maps can also help you grab an Uber, if arriving by bus or train isn’t your holiday style. You can see the estimated trip duration, pickup time and estimated cost once you scroll down to the bottom of the app's transit option screen.
Stay safe with Maps Minutes Hacks and enjoy your New Year’s celebrations wherever they take you.
Posted by Dai Pham, Head of Geo and Google Maps Marketing
Maps Minutes Hack #7: No signal, no problem. Navigate your holiday travels with Google Maps offline
December 22, 2015
Part of our
series
on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.
This time of year, millions take a road trip home for the holidays or adventure to faraway places all over the world. Whether you’re traveling abroad or rediscovering your own hometown, it helps to be able to navigate quickly and easily, even with limited mobile data or a spotty internet connection.
Google Maps offline
, now available on iOS and Android, can help you get the most out of your holiday travels. You can browse pre-downloaded map areas, search for places, get directions and turn-by-turn navigation–all offline. Because exploring the world shouldn’t require a data connection or excessive roaming charges.
To navigate offline, simply open the Google Maps app and save any area on the map while you have a connection. Search for a place like San Francisco or Mexico City, open the place card and tap the download button. You can adjust the size of the map area you want to download and name it. Once downloaded, that area will be automatically added to your Offline areas in the side menu.
Once you’ve saved a map area, you can search for places and get directions offline. Looking for that famous art gallery or a neighborhood watering hole? You can check out addresses, opening hours, phone numbers and even navigate there–all without internet access.
To explore and navigate the world offline, install the
Google Maps app
on your iPhone before your holiday journey, or open it on Android along the way.
Get the most of your holiday time with Maps Minutes Hacks. Next up: how to get around faster and safer.
Posted by Dai Pham, Head of Geo and Google Maps Marketing
Maps Minutes Hack #6: Find holiday hot spots with Explore on Google Maps
December 18, 2015
Part of our
series
on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.
If you're headed out on vacation, visiting friends and family in a new city or re-discovering your old favorite places over the holidays, this one's for you. With the Explore feature, available on both Android and iOS, you’ll feel like a local no matter where you are this holiday season.
Android experience
Android users in the U.S. can simply open Google Maps and tap “Explore food & drinks near you” at the bottom of the screen to see local recommendations. You can get results for breakfast, lunch, coffee, dinner and drinks among curated lists like “Where the locals go” or “Best spots for dinner with kids.” Once you’ve tapped on a list, you can swipe through place cards with more details like ratings, review snippets and distance from your location. Pick a place to see the address, up-to-date open hours, popular times, Street View imagery and more.
iOS experience
On iOS, just open the Google Maps app and tap on “Explore around you” at the bottom of the map to see recommendations of places to indulge and imbibe along with places to see and things to do. iPhone users can sort their options by how long it would take to walk or drive to the destinations as well as time of day. Curated lists range from “Local favorites” to “Quick bites” to a special “Featured by Zagat” option. The “Play & see” list will show you places to go like museums, historical monuments, live music venues and more. Simply scroll through the place cards to see abbreviated info and tap on your favorite to get more details.
Whether you’re using Android or iOS, save time this holiday season by checking the up-to-date open hours to make sure you don’t arrive to find a closed sign in the window and reviewing the popular times to avoid holiday crowds.
Make the most of your time with Maps Minutes hacks. Next up: searching for places and getting turn-by-turn directions—all while offline.
Posted by Olga Suvorova, Product Marketing Manager, Google Maps
Maps Minutes Hack #5: Make your holiday detours easier with Google Maps
December 16, 2015
Part of our
series
on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.
Forget the eggnog for a holiday party? On the road to grandma's and need to gas up along the way? Or maybe you need to pick up a last-minute gift on the way to your in-laws’ house?
One poorly planned pit stop can add a lot of time to your trip – especially during the holidays when crowds can be bigger and traffic heavier. The good news is that Google Maps can help you make quick pit stops without long detours.
On Google Maps for Android, you can now search for places like a gas station, grocery store or coffee shop, navigate there, and then pick back up on your original route—all without leaving navigation mode (coming soon to iOS).
Here’s how it works: When you’re in navigation mode, simply tap the magnifying glass at the top right corner in the app. Pick a category from the drop down menu and you'll see a few options, along with ratings of businesses, prices at gas stations, and how much time the detour will add to your trip. Once you choose a place, the stop is automatically incorporated into your route. Can’t type and tap while driving? You can use voice commands instead.
Every minute counts. Save more time with Google Maps hacks. Next up: turn-by-turn navigation even when you’re offline.
Posted by Dai Pham, Head of Geo and Google Maps Marketing
Holiday Maps Minutes Hack #1: Save time beating bumper-to-bumper traffic
December 1, 2015
This post is the first in a series about how you can use Google Maps to save time this holiday season.
Your time is finite. But what if you could save all the minutes you waste in traffic, standing in lines, or shopping and spend them on what you love?
In December when things sometimes get a tad bit crazier, make the most of the time you do have. In the next few weeks we’ll share simple Google Maps hacks you can use to save time during the holidays.
We’re starting with…traffic. Why? Because no one likes traffic. Whether you’re driving to your once-a-year family gathering or trying to get to the mall in time for last-minute shopping, beating bumper-to-bumper traffic just might be one of the best holiday gifts you receive this year.
Google Maps gives you the best route, based on real-time traffic and historic traffic information. All you need to do is hit the navigation button and Google Maps takes care of the rest. You’ll even get an explanation for why it's the fastest route and updates when your ETA changes.
If you find yourself in a jam caused by an accident or construction, Google Maps lets you know how long you'll be at a standstill and
automatically re-routes
you if there’s a faster path.
Every minute counts, so hit the road and enjoy the ride—Google Maps has your back this holiday season.
Stay tuned for more Maps Minutes hacks. Next up: flying through airports with indoor Google Maps.
Posted by Olga Suvorova, Product Marketing Manager, Google Maps
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