Google has announced that it is launching a brand-new version of its Maps app on Android, today. The company says that the totally revamped app is aimed at providing users with a “new mapping experience,” that makes exploring the world and getting to the places that matter to you “a lot faster and easier.”
Specifically, it brings some exclusive features to Maps on Android.
Gradually rolling out globally on Google Play, (and soon to be available on the App Store), the new Google Maps app for mobile, the company says, has been built on the overall mapping experience it released for iPhone – last December, however, improves on this with “a few useful search and navigation features.”
Citing that the new version of the mapping client will arrive as the very first dedicated app for both Android-powered tablets and iPads, Google explains that it will retire its Latitude service, and is making some major changes to both its offline mapping experience, and its “My Maps” service.
Available on Google Play – from today, there are four milestone features set to arrive with the next-generation of Google Maps for mobile. We’ve detailed them for you, below.
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, Google has 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, 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.
Google notes that the new version of Maps is great for discovering offers, too:
“Google Maps for mobile is a great way to discover valuable Offers from national brands like Macy’s, Michael’s and Toys “R” Us, labeled right on the map. All these features can make it a lot easier to navigate the world, no matter what adventure comes your way.”
It is so far unclear what the delay is regarding the availability of the latest update for those running on iOS, but you can bet we’ll be monitoring the App Store for its arrival and will give you the heads-up once it is available.
Get the brand new version of Maps – FREE on Google Play.
