Google Maps Gains New Navigation System, Crowd-Sourced Transit Info, and More

[MacRumors]

This week marks 15 years since Google Maps first launched, and Google is celebrating with some notable new features and updates for the mapping service app on iOS and Android.

The five tabs on the new Google Maps navigation screen​

Starting today, the Google Maps will feature a new navigation system across the bottom of the interface including five icons, two of which are completely new: Saved, which is home to all the lists and locations you've bookmarked, and Contribute, which prompts you to add photos and reviews to places you may have visited.

The change means Google has gotten rid of the side-loading menu that was previously accessible from the search bar.

In the transit directions screen, Google has also brought in some new features crowdsourced from Maps users. These can include details shared by other passengers, like how crowded it is, how hot/cold it is, accessibility, women's-only carriages, the presence of security onboard, and how many cars a train is pulling.

There are also some notable changes to the AR-powered Live View that Google launched last year. The big blue directional arrows showing you where you're going have become optional, and Live View can now drop a big red pin on your destination and tell you how far away you are from it instead.

Lastly, the Google Maps app has a new icon - it's a four-color take on the location pin that the mapping service has used for years.

The new-look Google Maps update should be rolling out to iOS and Android users today, with the exception of the Live View changes that Google says are coming soon. Google Maps can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Google Maps Gains New Navigation System, Crowd-Sourced Transit Info, and More

 

[sulpfiction]

Real headline: Google updates navigation to obtain even more information about where u are and what ur doing.

 

[Xirian]

Real headline: Google updates navigation to obtain even more information about where u are and what ur doing.

I'm fine with that, it helps them let me know how busy a store is so I know when to go. Just wish it worked in plazas, they should send out Bluetooth beacons to install by the door inside since they can't seem to track it if places are too close together.

They've also paid me $4.19 so far this month just asking me questions about stores I've gone to.

 

[Steve121178]

Real headline: Google updates navigation to obtain even more information about where u are and what ur doing.

Good, that's how it should work. If I don't tell the app where I am and where I am going then how can it give me accurate data and routes to and from work/home etc and to-the-minute traffic info?

 

[69Mustang]

Real headline: Google updates navigation to obtain even more information about where u are and what ur doing.

That really isn't the negative you seem to think it is.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

works great until an artist with 99 phones in a shopping cart makes it appear that random slowdowns are occurring and reroutes the entire system.

(that actually happened)

 

[Razeus]

Real headline: Google updates navigation to obtain even more information about where u are and what ur doing.

Exactly why Google is succeeding and us Apple users still complain about Maps & Siri even after several years.

 

[Rigby]

Exactly why Google is succeeding and us Apple users still complain about Maps & Siri even after several years.

Not me. I use Apple Maps pretty much exclusively now, and it's excellent, particularly since they switched to the new map data in my area. The app is slicker, the "look around" feature is better than Google's "street view", and Google has nothing comparable to "flyover". And all without being under constant surveillance by an ad company. I have no more Google apps on my phone now (although their snooping analytics SDK is probably still present in some 3rd party apps).

 

[sunwukong]

And all without being under constant surveillance by an ad company.

This is the key point. I don't mind all the info-gathering in itself, so long as it remains STRICTLY in service of the app's usefulness to ME --- not PRIMARILY in service to sell me and everything about me to all comers for whatever reason, in order to more finely target me with ads, along with any and all nefarious other uses of said data. Were Apple to mine finely grained data about me, keep it encrypted and locked away from others, including themselves, (i.e. basically anonymous), then I don't care.

 

[MisterSavage]

How you access saved places was something that really needed updating. Will be interesting to try it.

 

[Wide opeN]

Google Maps > Apple Maps FTW

 

[one more]

works great until an artist with 99 phones in a shopping cart makes it appear that random slowdowns are occurring and reroutes the entire system.

(that actually happened)

This is not Google-related, though, and would probably have the same effect if he pulled 99 iPhones in his trolley. 😋 People used to “fool” Waze the same way, reporting non-existent jams.

I personally prefer Apple Maps interface, which is way less cluttered than anything I have tried (Google Maps, Waze and HERE). I do agree, however, that as far as POIs and update speeds go, Google still has an edge over Apple here (Western Europe).

 

[Aston441]

What is a ”Women’s Only Carriage?”

 

[Jayayess1190]

What is a ”Women’s Only Carriage?”

A train car only for women. Used so women can feel safer when using public transit.

 

[TechieGeek]

This is the key point. I don't mind all the info-gathering in itself, so long as it remains STRICTLY in service of the app's usefulness to ME --- not PRIMARILY in service to sell me and everything about me to all comers for whatever reason, in order to more finely target me with ads, along with any and all nefarious other uses of said data. Were Apple to mine finely grained data about me, keep it encrypted and locked away from others, including themselves, (i.e. basically anonymous), then I don't care.

I’ll never understand why people would rather get random ads rather than ads tailored to your interests.

What other “nefarious purposes” do you think Google has for yourdata? 😅

 

[Rigby]

I’ll never understand why people would rather get random ads rather than ads tailored to your interests.

I think I have never clicked on an online/app ad in my life, so why would I care?

What other “nefarious purposes” do you think Google has for yourdata? 😅

Micro-targeted political ads, for one (remember Cambridge Analytica?). At the end of the day, ads are just a form of manipulation.

 

[Gasu E.]

The user interface is quite a bit different. If you're expecting the old UI, it's confusing and needs to be re-learned. If I were in a hurry to get somewhere, this would be an extremely unpleasant surprise.
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A train car only for women. Used so women can feel safer when using public transit.

What about a car for extremely shy guys who get nervous around women?

 

[TechieGeek]

I think I have never clicked on an online/app ad in my life, so why would I care?
Micro-targeted political ads, for one (remember Cambridge Analytica?). At the end of the day, ads are just a form of manipulation.

You can learn about products you didn’t know existed, and sometimes you’re offered a deal on something you searched but didn’t buy. Beats getting random ads anyday.

The Cambridge Analytica scandal was Facebook, not Google. Google has never allowed microtargeting of political ads. For the upcoming election, they limited targeting to even broader categories: https://www.google.com/amp/s/blog.google/technology/ads/update-our-political-ads-policy/amp/

It’s fair game do debate legitimate concerns but let’s stop this Google = The Devil nonsense.

 

[mdorais]

So where's dark mode that we were promised? We were told it was "rolling out" almost half a year ago yet, I have not seen it on anyone's iPhone. Same with GMail.

 

[Rigby]

You can learn about products you didn’t know existed, and sometimes you’re offered a deal on something you searched but didn’t buy. Beats getting random ads anyday.

Still don't care. I don't need ads to know what I want, and I don't see many online ads anyway since I use an adblocker when browsing (although I'm whitelisting some sites that I often frequent).

The Cambridge Analytica scandal was Facebook, not Google. Google has never allowed microtargeting of political ads. For the upcoming election, they limited targeting to even broader categories: https://www.google.com/amp/s/blog.google/technology/ads/update-our-political-ads-policy/amp/

As Cambridge Analytica showed, what these companies say in public isn't necessarily the same as what actually happens (whether it's by their own actions, negligence, or abuse by third parties). And besides political ads, Google does a lot of other creepy stuff that the public doesn't even know about unless it accidentally comes to light (such as buying up your credit card records behind your back).

It’s fair game do debate legitimate concerns but let’s stop this Google = The Devil nonsense.

They are a giant corporate surveillance system. Bad enough for me.

 

[itsmilo]

The user interface is quite a bit different. If you're expecting the old UI, it's confusing and needs to be re-learned. If I were in a hurry to get somewhere, this would be an extremely unpleasant surprise.
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What about a car for extremely shy guys who get nervous around women?

Weak women right? Haha they need to have their own car! /s clearly you have never taken a metro in Mexico City during rush hour or at night or you would understand why these are sadly necessary.

—

Also I wish people would stop saying that Google is selling „your“ data.

You get thrown into a mix of data that matches others and then advertisers can pick those groups or interests to advertise for. It’s not like google is calling some company and is like „hey, would you like to advertise for MR Xy from street Xy who likes to fly abroad and here is a picture of his family“ The EU would be up their asses

 

[Bustycat]

Google Maps remains the absolute winner outside of the United States and China.

 

[Rigby]

The EU would be up their asses

As it happens, it was just reported that they are under investigation in Europe for intransparent handling of location data. They have already been fined for GDPR violations last year.

Google Faces Privacy Probe in EU Over Location Tracking

Google faces one more probe in the European Union over concerns the company’s processing of user location data could violate the bloc’s tough privacy rules.

www.bloomberg.com

 

[compwiz1202]

The user interface is quite a bit different. If you're expecting the old UI, it's confusing and needs to be re-learned. If I were in a hurry to get somewhere, this would be an extremely unpleasant surprise.
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What about a car for extremely shy guys who get nervous around women?

Or for the good guys who are being discriminated against that don't want to be with those guys the woman are being "protected" against either?
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Weak women right? Haha they need to have their own car! /s clearly you have never taken a metro in Mexico City during rush hour or at night or you would understand why these are sadly necessary.

—

Also I wish people would stop saying that Google is selling „your“ data.

You get thrown into a mix of data that matches others and then advertisers can pick those groups or interests to advertise for. It’s not like google is calling some company and is like „hey, would you like to advertise for MR Xy from street Xy who likes to fly abroad and here is a picture of his family“ The EU would be up their asses

What about guys who aren't like the ones making those cars necessary? It should just be a general safe car for anyone who can prove themselves.

 

[savink]

I am Google free and extremely happy about that;

use duckduckgo as the search engine. and there are alternatives for every offering from google. if you check the data about you being collected by google and held at their disposal, you won't find it difficult to say "NO Google"