Google Maps Can Now Help You Find Last-Minute Holiday Gifts

[MacRumors]

Google Maps has been given a fairly substantial update in time for the holidays, with the introduction of an in-app product search function to help users find specific items at nearby stores. The new feature allows shoppers to search for electronics, home goods, grocery items, and last-minute gifts directly within the Maps interface.

The update also brings navigation enhancements, with Google Maps now displaying real-time weather disruptions such as unplowed roads, flooded areas, and zones with low visibility. Public transit users can now also access crowdsourced delay reports and improved station information, including detailed subway entrance locations and alternative route suggestions.

Elsewhere, for electric vehicle owners, Maps has gained a synced route planning feature with charging stops, allowing users to send their planned routes directly to vehicles with built-in Google Maps. Meanwhile, a new trailer-friendly routing feature, currently available for select 2024 Chevrolet and GMC models, helps drivers avoid low bridges and tunnels by considering vehicle dimensions.

In an effort to reduce holiday stress, Maps has also enhanced its Popular Times feature with detailed traffic predictions and store crowd information. Google recommends avoiding peak travel times, particularly between 1.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. in the days leading up to Christmas.

The features are rolling out globally, although some functions like trailer-friendly routing are currently limited to specific vehicle models, with broader availability planned for the future.

Article Link: Google Maps Can Now Help You Find Last-Minute Holiday Gifts

 

[Morod]

Oh sure. I'm gonna use google maps to find me gifts when google maps gets so many people lost with driving directions. Sorry, I'll find my own gifts, thank you.

 

[Plutonius]

I always wanted to know the Amazon warehouse locations .

 

[Ctrlos]

"Here are directions to your local service station"

 

[iMac The Knife]

Who needs Maps, when Google is listening to your conversations anyway, and will suggest items to purchase through ads whenever you open your web browser. Thank goodness for Ghostery!

 

[orbital~debris]

What's this talk of "last-minute"? It's mid-November…

 

[knappeduivel]

What's this talk of "last-minute"? It's mid-November…

The gifts are last-minute but you should order them early

 

[gridlocked]

Who needs Maps, when Google is listening to your conversations anyway, and will suggest items to purchase through ads whenever you open your web browser. Thank goodness for Ghostery!

I was using Google voice a few months ago to text a friend, suddenly Google said my last text was against their terms etc and cut off the conversation. I have always hated the spying but that was the last straw as I didn't write anything of consequence. They know when my bills are due and how much they are for even those they come encrypted .

This drove me back to Apple and no Google shall touch my iphones or in the works MacMini.

 

[Chrjy]

What I’d like to know is where they got their iPhones without the cutout?!

 

[mikebenton]

Google wants to help you shop....shocking. I'm sure their new Gemini AI app will want to help you shop too. I imagine if you ask questions about anything to do with a product, you will be bombarded with ads for that product.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I use Google Maps, but can't see a ton of utility on this over just looking on the web.

My Holiday shopping is already done.

 

[mikebenton]

I was using Google voice a few months ago to text a friend, suddenly Google said my last text was against their terms etc and cut off the conversation. I have always hated the spying but that was the last straw as I didn't write anything of consequence. They know when my bills are due and how much they are for even those they come encrypted .

This drove me back to Apple and no Google shall touch my iphones or in the works MacMini.

Meta isn't any better. WhatsApp was giving Meta access to my call history, so anyone calling me showed up the next day in Facebook's "people you may know' section. I just use the browser for Facebook now. No Facebook, Messenger, or WhatsApp apps on my phone.

 

[jz0309]

Another way to sell ads …

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Meta isn't any better. WhatsApp was giving Meta access to my call history, so anyone calling me showed up the next day in Facebook's "people you may know' section. I just use the browser for Facebook now. No Facebook, Messenger, or WhatsApp apps on my phone.

True, but somtimes is there no getting away from WhatsApp. When we were staying in a small city in Mexico last year, the ONLY way to call for a ride was WhatsApp, same for calling restaurants and such. No phone numbers, no sms, uber and lyft doesn't operate in the city.

I also use it to keep in touch with family in Germany. Only one has an iPhone. I guess RCS would work now, too, but they prefer WhatsApp.

 

[michaeljk]

The two things that bug me most about the Apple ecosystem: 1. Siri is still mostly worthless and 2. Apple forces me to use its Maps App when there is literally never a time I'd rather use that over Google Maps.

 

[rorschach]

Stuff like this is why I ditched Google Maps. The clutter and bloat is unreal. Thankfully Apple Maps hasn’t gotten the ads that were rumored a while back (and hopefully it never will), because (for me) it’s far superior to Google at this point — especially the app UI.

 

[burgman]

I was using Google voice a few months ago to text a friend, suddenly Google said my last text was against their terms etc and cut off the conversation. I have always hated the spying but that was the last straw as I didn't write anything of consequence. They know when my bills are due and how much they are for even those they come encrypted .

This drove me back to Apple and no Google shall touch my iphones or in the works MacMini.

I would have to see proof of this, that would be covered in forums or tech news if true. Unless you're a very naughty boy.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Looking at the headline and then the article.....

Have I somehow been transported to 9to5Google?

 

[zarmanto]

I would question the validity of the "Popular Times / Least Busy" blurbs; this is obviously anecdotal, but in my personal observations, Post Offices and Salons in my area are closed at those referenced times...

 

[trichardlin]

Right, now it's even easier to throw your hard earned money away. I say learn from the Chinese, just give people money if you must, and let them decide what they actually want/need.

 

[AF_APPLETALK]

How about we stop worrying about "last minute gifts" and actually just show up and be present with each other?

 

[Bodhitree]

Is there nowhere they won’t go, no barrier they won’t break in their pursuit of selling more stuff through search?

 

[gridlocked]

I would have to see proof of this, that would be covered in in forums or tech news if true. Unless you're a very naughty

It happened. I was surprised as I've used Voice before it was even voice.

Imagine they must listen when you use voice for calls and also when you use Fi.

I hope the DOJ breaks them into tiny pieces.

 

[waltman]

At least I don't have to give up my location data so a platform knows how busy a place is.

 

[svish]

Good to know. Might be useful. Popular times feature is really useful.