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Google Maps for iOS Gaining New 'Pit Stop' Feature

BuffaloTF said:
whoa now... that's awfully bombastic.

Google Maps had turn by turn since the OG Droid. It was one of its biggest selling features. That was long before Apple Maps.

And I'd imagine Google is doing this, because they -- above all others -- should have had it from the start, or very close to it. Why? Because Google is an Advertising company, first and foremost and well beyond (or baked within) the scope of any other project it does. Knowing that I drive through Dunkin Donuts every morning, among millions of others, will help them know their customers better and sell more ads. There's a reason they're such an effective advertiser, and this would be one of them.
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I think you sort of completely missed his point. It wasn't a reference about "first". He was pointing out Google bringing this feature to iOS is because Apple Maps offers competition. Google didn't offer t-b-t on iOS 'til Apple debuted a competing product in AM. It's one clear example where consumers win when there's direct competition. Google has to continue to offer their premium features on iOS if they want to keep/attract users. Apple has to make their mapping solution better because they know consumers can easily opt for Google Maps. Both services get better, consumers win.
 
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69Mustang said:
I think you sort of completely missed his point. It wasn't a reference about "first". He was pointing out Google bringing this feature to iOS is because Apple Maps offers competition. Google didn't offer t-b-t on iOS 'til Apple debuted a competing product in AM. It's one clear example where consumers win when there's direct competition. Google has to continue to offer their premium features on iOS if they want to keep/attract users. Apple has to make their mapping solution better because they know consumers can easily opt for Google Maps. Both services get better, consumers win.
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You're probably right. But even still, I'd put it more on the line of it being the baked-in answer at that time rather than an app. A white-labeled "Maps" app with just googles data, only ever updated with full OS revisions and likely out of their control. Like the old, awful and ugly, YouTube system app.

As far as timing... I don't know... This seems to be one of the few times since that divorce that iOS didn't have a new google feature or graphical update first.
 
WBRacing said:
Hello Waze developers.
latest


Are you listening to this? Please.
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WAZE has had "Add a stop" for years

the bigger news is that Google Maps is finally catching up to waze
 
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BuffaloTF said:
whoa now... that's awfully bombastic.

Google Maps had turn by turn since the OG Droid. It was one of its biggest selling features. That was long before Apple Maps.

And I'd imagine Google is doing this, because they -- above all others -- should have had it from the start, or very close to it. Why? Because Google is an Advertising company, first and foremost and well beyond (or baked within) the scope of any other project it does. Knowing that I drive through Dunkin Donuts every morning, among millions of others, will help them know their customers better and sell more ads. There's a reason they're such an effective advertiser, and this would be one of them.
Click to expand...

Call it bombastic if you want, but it's true. Google maps had turn-by-turn on the Android for a long time. But they wouldn't put it in their built-in iOS app because Apple wouldn't let them mine data. So Apple ripped out Google Maps and replaced it with Apple Maps. Within a few months the Google Maps iOS app had turn-by-turn.
 
MacRumors said:



Google today announced an incoming update to its Google Maps for iOS app that will let users add pit stops onto their trips without leaving navigation mode. First introduced on Android last fall, the company said that the pit stop feature will be available in any country where Google Maps navigation is offered, which is "more than 100 worldwide."

From navigation mode, users will just need to tap the magnifying glass located in the top right corner of Google Maps to see a drop down menu of potential pit stops to add to a trip. The menu offers a few automatic options like restaurants and coffee shops, but a search field gives users a more robust option for specifically finding their desired pit stop.

Google-Maps-pit-stop-800x453.jpg
Similar to Android, the new function on iOS details both the public rating of the pit stop and the amount of time the detour will add onto a trip, letting users select the best-rated and quickest pit stop beforehand. Prior to the update, Google Maps users would have to manually discover and find a potential pit stop, navigate to the location, and when ready to leave, re-start their original route navigation.

The company said the new update to Google Maps [Direct Link] will see its worldwide rollout to iOS users starting today.

Article Link: Google Maps for iOS Gaining New 'Pit Stop' Feature
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Slightly off-topic, but in addition to G Maps directions suggesting Uber as a transport option, it also today offered me choices between public transit for $3 (the option I wanted) that consisted of a 4 minute walk, then a subway ride, or a 25 minute walked followed by a $16 LRT train ride, that took ten minutes longer than the subway option.
 
Seems like you can only add 1 pit stop? When I tried to add a second pit stop it asked me to replace existing pitstop
 
Sounds like Google Maps is becoming even more complicated. I mean if you want to stop its not like it was ever a big deal. I just ignore the directions at that point.
 
Eraserhead said:
Sounds like Google Maps is becoming even more complicated. I mean if you want to stop its not like it was ever a big deal. I just ignore the directions at that point.
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Well, if you don't want to use the option then you don't have to use it, otherwise for those that might want to use they have the option to do so. Just because the ability to use something exists doesn't mean that everyone needs to use it or even think about it if they don't care for it, and thus no complexity is added for those people (while those who would benefit from the option would welcome it).
 
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Since updating to this latest version I'm seeing this show up regardless of the city that I type in. Is anyone else getting this and know how to resolve it? I've deleted the app and reinstalled it and it doesn't resolve this.
 
BuffaloTF said:
Finally someone's doing this genius feature. My biggest headache with GPS navigation. "Turn right. *drives straight* in 50 feet, do a U-Turn. Then turn left. *repeat nonstop*" No bossy GPS lady. I'm just stopping at the gas station!
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In CarPlay you just tap Guidance Off and it shuts up yet continues to navigate. Get back on the road and tap Guidance On and it continues with its spoken navigation. Best feature in my opinion and makes Apple maps a lot more useful.
 
QuarterSwede said:
In CarPlay you just tap Guidance Off and it shuts up yet continues to navigate. Get back on the road and tap Guidance On and it continues with its spoken navigation. Best feature in my opinion and makes Apple maps a lot more useful.
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I use that a ton. But it still isn't as nice as "I'm somewhere between nowhere and lost, and I could use some food soon, what's ahead of me within the next 30 minutes?" that Garmin has had for ages, and now Google Maps.

9.3 does add a quick search feature for this sort of thing in CarPlay (which I'll use), but not quite as nice as it doesn't filter out things you have to turn around for, it just marks them with a u-turn icon.
 
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Krevnik said:
I use that a ton. But it still isn't as nice as "I'm somewhere between nowhere and lost, and I could use some food soon, what's ahead of me within the next 30 minutes?" that Garmin has had for ages, and now Google Maps.

9.3 does add a quick search feature for this sort of thing in CarPlay (which I'll use), but not quite as nice as it doesn't filter out things you have to turn around for, it just marks them with a u-turn icon.
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I agree. Asking Siri for what fast food is near me and it gives me a McDonalds that's 15 miles behind me really is a doh! moment. It knows which way I'm driving so ...
 
C DM said:
Well, if you don't want to use the option then you don't have to use it, otherwise for those that might want to use they have the option to do so. Just because the ability to use something exists doesn't mean that everyone needs to use it or even think about it if they don't care for it, and thus no complexity is added for those people (while those who would benefit from the option would welcome it).
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New features always add complexity.
 
Eraserhead said:
New features always add complexity.
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Perhaps depends on what aspect of things we'd be looking at, but sure. That's doesn't really make things bad necessarily, and often enough makes things better for those that use those features and more or less moot for those that don't.
 
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bigchrisfgb said:
Google are only doing this because of Apple maps. Apple dropped Google maps because Google refused to put turn by turn on their iOS version which they had for their Android version. Apple developed Apple maps and dropped Google, it wasn't until after then that Google developed it for iOS. Even this pit stop feature is coming after it's been released for Android. If it wasn't for Apple creating maps as a competitor then we wouldn't even have turn by turn.
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lol, someone sure is smoking Apple wacky tabacky today.
 
Excellent! I had to fumble around with my iPhone just to find the nearest petrol station whilst on a long drive. No doubt Apple will eventually add this too... it's pretty useful after all!
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AppleInLVX said:
I'd be happy if Apple Maps just let me avoid highways and toll roads like Google Maps does. Say what you want about Apple Maps improving--it might even be true. But Google Maps is still the gold standard on mobile.
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I find myself switching between the two a lot. Apple once put me in a traffic jam for a few hours, and in that jam I tried out Google Maps who had clear warnings all the way! For some reason the traffic just wasn't updated on Apple's.

It's annoying that there isn't a perfect one. My Tom Tom is loads better because unlike my iPhone it doesn't predict where I am so I take the wrong turn less... but it's a much more cumbersome device than a phone resting in a stand.
 
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burne said:
I decided to try Waze a few days ago. Let's say it's about as Google as a tablet/laptop hybrid running Windows 10 is Apple. I even doublechecked if I got the right app.
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Hahah yeah the interface is nothing like Google maps. In fact it made my iPhone lag pretty much every time I used it. Too glitchy for me, but the features are phenomenal. If it was smoother I'd probably still be using it today.

Actually glitchy is the wrong term. It isn't buggy, it just lags during rotation and zooming (anything on map).
 
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PBG4 Dude said:
Like someone else said, my TomTom had this functionality years ago, along with the ability to update a crowd sourced list of pit stops via USB (since there was no cellular connection).
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Exactly _what_ functionality? What I would want on a long trip is a petrol station somewhere along the route, with minimal detour. Say a 120 mile trip and I have fuel for 75 miles. Figure out the best petrol station. And I'd like something to eat at about 1pm. Again with minimal detour.
 
Muscle Master said:
Wish Apple just can Apple maps and go iOS and google maps integration
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That's how it was, but Google wasn't developing their part like they should have. It took apple removing them for iOS to be even close to what Android's google maps has. Still, Google Maps on iOS lags in features from the Android version.
 
This should definitely be a feature in Apple Maps. With more than one stop supported
 
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