What is the purple paper plane icon on google maps?

[thadoggfather]

The bottom left button when you open google maps on os 4 ? I don't remember seeing it on my 3GS nor 3.1.3

 

[sammich]

It's a compass/bearing arrow.

Serves the same function as the reticule on pre-iOS 4.

 

[abijnk]

On previous OSs it was a target crosshair. It does the same thing it did before, it just looks different.

 

[steve knight]

Plus it will be up at the top of the screen nect to the battery icon when you have something using location services.

 

[draz]

Plus it will be up at the top of the screen nect to the battery icon when you have something using location services.

+1

It means that the app you are using is tracking your location. As quoted you can see this same icon on the top right of the screen as well.
It is visible in Google Maps and also in any other app that wants to know your location and you have approved of it to track your location

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

It means Apple is tracking your location 😀

 

[FelixDerKater]

The crosshairs made a bit more sense.

 

[interceptor47]

Press it two times and the icon on the map shows which direction your facing, the narrower the 'band' the more accurate the heading is.

 

[dukebound85]

How did you not deduce this yourself op?