Google Updates Maps for Android and iOS with Improvements to Offline Maps, Navigation, and More
by Brandon Chester on May 6, 2014 3:47 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Android
- Mobile
- iOS
- Tablets
- Google Maps
Today Google updated its maps application for Android and iOS. Google seems confident enough in the updates that it decided to call this major release version 8.0 on Android and 3.0 on iOS.
The first of the improvements impacts information displayed when using turn-by-turn navigation. The application will now display information about the distance from your desired destination, the estimated arrival time based on your speed, and a menu with quick access to alternate routes should one be unavailable. It also will display lane guidance information in supported countries to keep users from missing exits or turns on roads.
The second major improvement is to the offline maps feature that Google launched with Maps 7.0. With the new update the user can now manage a custom list of offline maps for use when a data connection is unreliable or during travel. The user will be able to save cities and other locations right from the info sheet in the maps application and assign specific names so they can be easily found and managed.
Other improvements to the application include “Depart at” times which account for the walking distance to a public transit stop, new filters for price, location, and rating when searching for restaurants, and an in-app button to launch the Uber application for private transport if it is installed on your device. A full list of changes is available on the Google Maps Blog as well as Google Play and the App Store for platform specific changes.
The update is available now for Android users on Google Play and iOS users on the App Store.
Source: Google Maps Blog
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
30 Comments
View All Comments
smitty123 - Wednesday, May 7, 2014 - link
gasbuddy on android finds that for you.Dug - Wednesday, May 7, 2014 - link
You are correct. It makes it basically useless except for route information.LongTimePCUser - Tuesday, May 6, 2014 - link
as of right now (6 May 6:30 PM EST) I have version 7.7.0 on my Note 3.The google play store does not show an update available. It says Updated
May 6, 2014 and states that it is installed.
I uninstalled updates and then downloaded latest version. It is still 7.7.0
usama_ah - Tuesday, May 6, 2014 - link
You can grap the apk from AndroidPolice, it's signed by Google so you know it's legit. That's how I usually get these big 'core' app updates. Otherwise Google doesn't unmask these higher versions to everyone all it once, it rolls out slowly.rstuart - Tuesday, May 6, 2014 - link
They have brought back one of the features the removed in the last update - having some control over the offline maps. That just leaves the elevation graph that used to be displayed when walking, and some simple way to a distance between two points.Why is it always two steps forward then one step back? Although last time it was more of a case of one step forward (nicer UI), then two steps back with removed features.
mkozakewich - Saturday, May 24, 2014 - link
Yeah, I've been saving offline maps for years, and now it's suddenly counted as a new feature?I had to google how in their last big update, because searching "Okay maps" makes no sense as a way of saving offline data.
marc1000 - Tuesday, May 6, 2014 - link
This update is not yet available worldwide. I'm on Moto G 4.4kitkat but still have maps v7.7Anyway, I just hope they bring some pieces of v6 back. Re-routing seems fine, but if they bring back the big buttons and clean interface from "navigation" it would be awesome!
rxzlmn - Wednesday, May 7, 2014 - link
First remove offline maps for no reason, then bring back a gimped version a year later. Nice. The area to cache is super small, in the old version it used to be around 80x80 km2, now it's more like 5*5 km2. Also if the area is too big there'll be a weird error that just says 'failed' with no explanation. The box to drag used to change in color when the area became too big for caching. Now it's just guesswork.WHY did they remove the perfectly fine working old offline maps? I just don't get it.
Dug - Wednesday, May 7, 2014 - link
Because there are too many people involved with Google. There's no one person that actually uses the apps to give approval. Instead it's like any other corporation that has grown too big. No one knows what one hand is doing to the other.chrnochime - Thursday, May 8, 2014 - link
Or just get a GPS (app). Problem solved. Decent GPS ones go for ~100 and right now a 40 with lifetime map can be had for 77 dollars. I'm no shilling their products, just pointing out how cheap they are.