New Google Maps: Handy things to try out right away
Recently, Google celebrated the 15th birthday of Maps by pushing a major update for the navigational service. The release revamped the app's logo and introduced a bunch of changes to make the whole 'Maps experience' better than ever. Now, to help you get the most out of this update, we have curated a list of handy things to try out. Let's take a look.
Use 'Explore' to find what's near and around you
The new update brings five new tabs at the bottom of Maps, including Explore. This section will show you categories like nearby restaurants, parks, monuments and amusement parks to visit. However, if you choose to pull it up, it will offer a lot more stuff to explore, starting from upcoming events in the region to featured lists of interesting things to try.
'Go' to navigate seamlessly to work or home
After the 'Explore' section, head over to the 'Go' or 'Commute' tab of Maps to find the route (and navigate) to places you have recently searched for - or your work or home. This section also shows how long it will take to reach your destination via different transit options, including public transport modes like the next subway or bus.
Access 'Saved' for bookmarked places
If you save places on Maps but then forget to check them out on time, you need to use the new 'Saved' tab. Sitting right next to 'Go', this section lets you access all the saved locations - from starred places to favorites to those you 'want to go' - at once. It even shows your timeline, highlighting the places you have visited lately.
Finally, use the 'Updates' section to access local news
This particular section gives you access to more curated content about nearby locations that have surfaced in the news. For instance, you can learn about the recently-opened places in your locality, trending and locals-recommended places to visit, even 'photo-worthy dishes' from popular restaurants nearby. Basically, it does the same job of 'Explore' but with more details and specifics about places.
