The goal of Google Maps is far from merely charting a route to the user's destination. Available for free for Android and iOS (iPhone), the app offers several functions to make life easier for those who use the service. In addition to views of possible routes to a destination, the app allows the use of offline maps, real-time traffic views, parking directions near the person's location and even exploring the surroundings to discover shopping facilities.
New features of Google Maps are introduced with each update to optimize platform usage. One of them, recently included in the program, the possibility to interact with music players, such as Spotify, without having to take the map from the phone screen. To ensure full use of the application, the dnetc has put together the ten tips and tricks for using Google Maps for short or long runs.
Google Maps: Adding crash, radar, or slow alerts
Little-Known Google Maps Features
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For those looking for the best route to reach a destination, Google Maps offers interesting additional information, such as a traffic analysis. Estimated time slots with higher traffic jams and additional time to the route can be viewed by the user when searching for an address. In this same tab, other relevant data such as tolls along the way, speed cameras and difficulty in parking if the location has limited parking are indicated, the application gives suggestions of transport services such as Uber, 99 or Cabify so you can take the trip alternatively.
Google Maps allows you to view traffic patterns and other relevant information about a route Photo: Reproduction / Maria Dias
Explore, available on the app's home screen, helps you discover shopping around your location, within categories such as restaurants, cafes, bars, and attractions. In this section, you have the option to view the latest photos posted by users at these locations and quickly view the route to reach them. If you can not visit the places indicated, you can save them as favorites, I want to visit and starred place to view them later, just access their locations in the side menu. It is also allowed to create a new private list to compile the locations as desired.
Explore the surroundings of a location with the help of Google Maps Photo: (Reproduction / Maria Dias)
3. Share your location
Google Maps has a feature that lets you share your location in real time with friends or contacts. The user can choose how many hours it should be visible to the selected people or can disable it manually. You can share the location of Google Maps via link through other apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Facebook and Instagram. The feature is a good option for those traveling on groups and on separate transports.
Google Maps feature that lets you share location with another user can be useful for group travel Photo: (Playback / Maria Dias)
4. Music app control
Drivers using Google Maps often experience the inconvenient situation of having to close the app to interact with the active music player. To improve this interaction, the new Maps update allows you to view the music application within the map itself. To enable it, the user must enter the settings on the left side menu, select Navigation Settings, and enable the display of media playback controls. Next, you need to choose the default media app, such as Spotify or Google Play Music. After accepting the privacy terms, you can now view the active player icon on the map.
You can interact with music players without leaving the Google Maps screen Photo: (Playback / Maria Dias)
In the For you icon, available on the main Google Maps screen, recommendations for new establishments in the region are displayed. You can bookmark the places you want to visit and see them later in a list, as well as find out which ones were recently opened. The indications are not only near the real-time location of the user, it is possible to add other areas to keep up with news from other places. These areas can be edited or added at any time.
Google Maps makes recommendations for establishments in user defined areas Photo: (Reproduction / Maria Dias)
6. Parking Reminder
With Google Maps it is easier to remember where the car was parked. The application allows the user to accurately mark the location of their vehicle, to find it quickly later. To create this reminder, click the blue dot that indicates your location on the map. Then choose the Save Parking Location option. The function also allows you to add notes about the event, add remaining parking time (if applicable) and even add photos to make the search more visual.
User can create reminder on Google Maps, with information about where he parked the vehicle Photo: (Reproduction / Maria Dias)
To simplify the search for frequently visited locations, Google Maps allows the user to save Home and Work addresses in the Daily Scroll section.
The app also offers the option of indicating the transport used on these trips, as well as the times the user usually makes them, so that he receives the best information about traffic, the duration of the routes, the comparison of routes, departures, delays. and interrupts. The feature helps the person receive notifications that point out any delays or problems before they leave. If you wish, you will be able to receive more accurate information about your daily commute, which will be collected based on the Location History. You can clear the settings at any time and select new home and work addresses.
Saving home and work addresses in Google Maps brings you more detailed route information Photo: (Playback / Maria Dias)
8. Customize establishment preferences
In addition to providing a list of properties near your location, Google Maps can be customized to indicate only the places you're interested in. It is possible to limit the indication of restaurants, cafes, bars and attractions only to Japanese cuisine restaurants and bars with excellent beers, for example. To customize this view, you need to go to the settings in the side menu, select the Know places item, and then choose your dining preferences that may take a while to enable. The app also encourages users to indicate the types of establishments they are least interested in, to make recommendations even more objective.
Google Maps recommendations can be customized using the Photo app user: (Playback / Maria Dias)
Night mode is an application and mobile feature that dims the brightness of a graphical interface to adapt it to outdoor lighting and make it more comfortable to use. In Google Maps, feature settings are usually automatic, but you can change them for those who want to use night mode even during the day. Go to the settings in the side menu and select Navigation Settings. Then go to the Color Scheme item under Map Display and choose the Night option. That way night mode is enabled on your map at all times. Another advantage of functionality: it also helps to save the battery of your device.
Night mode can be activated at any time on Google Maps Photo: (Playback / Maria Dias)
The great advantage of the offline map is that it does not leave travelers at work or lost during a commute even where bad signal and no internet connections exist. Accessing the side menu, simply click Offline Maps to choose the area you want a map to download. Downloaded maps are available within the app for a limited time as they have an expiration date. It is therefore important to check that they are active in offline mode before using them.
In Google Maps d to download maps and use them offline Mode Photo: (Reproduction / Maria Dias)
