AppleInsider Staff
Search giant Google on Tuesday unveiled a major update to its native Maps application, adding a slew of new navigation features such as lane guidance and walking time as well as the ability to book a ride from car hire service Uber directly from the app.
Google's latest update to Maps is a boon for both drivers and commuters who use public transportation. Those who spend their time in a car, for instance, can now have the app's turn-by-turn directions feature tell them which lane to drive in based on their route.
Public transportation aficionados will find that walking time has been added to transit routing, and the app will automatically show the next scheduled bus or train departure. Those who prefer a car service, meanwhile, can access Uber directly from the route options display.
The app's search options have also been updated. Points of interest such as hotels and restaurants can be sorted by rating, and users can now search using their voice.
Other enhancements include the ability to save offline maps to a custom list, a redesigned navigation mode, a new scale bar, iPhone and iPad contacts integration, Google Account support for saving new places, and new pin dropping functionality to share or save locations.
Google Maps version 3.0.0 is available now as a free, 13.4-megabyte download from the App Store.
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51 Comments
I used Uber for the first time 2 weeks ago. The map they have embedded in their own iPhone app looks like it uses Google and it is pretty sweet because you can see where all of the near by rides are positioned and when your ride approaches you can see it live in real time.
I'll have to check out the new Google feature, but I'm curious why they bothered since the Uber implementation is so full featured already.
Anyway the Uber experience was good all around. I can certainly recommend it.
Apple really needs to step up with their maps system.
Yawn. Perfectly happy with Apple Maps, thanks.
[quote name="Joseph Byun" url="/t/179071/google-updates-maps-app-for-apples-ios-with-new-navigation-options-and-uber-integration#post_2528220"]Apple really needs to step up with their maps system.[/quote] Well, they made the lines and street names thinner and more elegant, and lowered the contrast in iOS 7. What more so you want? /s
The only thing I’d wish for is saving to the NAND of a set of directions when not connected to the Internet. So that when you go and do something else and Maps falls out of the device’s RAM you can still go back and see how to get where you’re going.