Ever since Google first (re)released their official Google Maps app for iOS, it’s quickly risen to become one of the most popular navigation apps for iPhone and iPad users – and it’s about to get even better. Google announced today that they will be revamping the Google Maps app unveiled last May, adding support for both Android devices and Apple’s iPad, as well as adding a number of new features.
From the official Google Blog:
Today we’re introducing a new Google Maps app for Android smartphones and tablets, also coming soon to iPhone and iPad. It’s a new mapping experience that makes exploring the world and getting to the places that matter to you a lot faster and easier. The app is gradually rolling out globally in Google Play and will be available soon in the App Store.
Here are a few highlights that make this release stand out:
Explore: Explore is a fast and easy way to visually browse and discover new places without even typing. Simply tap the search box and you’ll see cards showing great places to eat, drink, sleep and shop.
Enhanced navigation: In addition to current traffic conditions, we’ve added two new features to help you navigate around traffic. You can now see reports of problems on the road that you can tap to see incident details. While on the road, Google Maps will also alert you if a better route becomes available and reroute you to your destination faster. This feature is available only on Android and is coming soon to iOS.
Designed for tablets: A dedicated tablet design brings all the features of this new app to Android tablets and iPads, which makes exploring the world from the comfort of your living room much more fluid, smooth and fun.
Reviews, Zagat and Offers: There’s a new 5.0 star rating system that gives you a quick read on how your friends and others rate places like restaurants, bars and cafes. For an expert’s opinion, the Zagat badge of excellence and curated lists are integrated into search results so you can quickly spot the very best places. From “Best Restaurants to meet for a drink in NYC” to “Best Restaurants in the Mission” in San Francisco, Zagat’s there to help you uncover the local gems.
The announcement also notes that the company will be discontinuing their Latitude program, and bring changes and additional support for both personalized maps and offline navigation. It also integrates a location browsing feature powered by Zagat, locating local restaurants and stores, and even providing reviews for those locations when available.
Finally, the app will also include a new feature alerting you of bad traffic conditions, and directing you around potential traffic jams, closures, or detours, and more. While Google didn’t provide a specific release date, they do promise that it will arrive on Apple’s App Store “soon.” You can see some of the new features yourself in the below promo video.
Will you be downloading the new Google Maps? Let us know!
