Search engine giant Google launched its updated Maps service two months ago at the IO event and on Wednesday, July 10th the company announced that it has rolled out a new edition of its Maps for the Android platform on the Google Play store. The tech leader has also made it known that an iOS update is also coming soon. The brand new Google Maps app not only includes a fresh interface, but a number of new features as well that will boost both traffic and search discovery. However, the newly introduced Maps app is not available to all Android users yet, as the Mountain View-based company stated that it “will be gradually rolling out to Android 4.0.3+ users over the next few weeks”.
Google stated on its official blog that, “Today we’re introducing a new Google Maps app for Android smartphones and tablets, also coming soon to iPhone and iPad. It’s a new mapping experience that makes exploring the world and getting to the places that matter to you a lot faster and easier. The app is gradually rolling out globally in Google Play and will be available soon in the App Store.
The new Google Maps for mobile builds on the design we released for iPhone last December and improves on it with a few useful search and navigation features. And it’s the first dedicated app for Android tablets and iPads. We’re also retiring Latitude and are making some changes to offline and My Maps which we’ll explain in more detail below.
First, here are a few highlights that make this release stand out:
Explore: Explore is a fast and easy way to visually browse and discover new places without even typing. Simply tap the search box and you’ll see cards showing great places to eat, drink, sleep and shop.
Enhanced navigation: In addition to current traffic conditions, we’ve added two new features to help you navigate around traffic. You can now see reports of problems on the road that you can tap to see incident details. While on the road, Google Maps will also alert you if a better route becomes available and reroute you to your destination faster. This feature is available only on Android and is coming soon to iOS.
Designed for tablets: A dedicated tablet design brings all the features of this new app to Android tablets and iPads, which makes exploring the world from the comfort of your living room much more fluid, smooth and fun.
Reviews, Zagat and Offers: There’s a new 5.0 star rating system that gives you a quick read on how your friends and others rate places like restaurants, bars and cafes. For an expert’s opinion, the Zagat badge of excellence and curated lists are integrated into search results so you can quickly spot the very best places. From “Best Restaurants to meet for a drink in NYC” to “Best Restaurants in the Mission” in San Francisco, Zagat’s there to help you uncover the local gems.
And finally, Google Maps for mobile is a great way to discover valuable Offers from national brands like Macy’s, Michael’s and Toys “R” Us, labeled right on the map. All these features can make it a lot easier to navigate the world, no matter what adventure comes your way.”
Source: GoogleBlog, TNW
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