Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Google
The experience with Google Maps keeps getting better, not necessarily thanks to the release of new features but following the expansion of new-generation capabilities to users worldwide.
The search giant announced at Building for India in New Delhi that Google Maps will bring eco-friendly routing to users in the country.
Eco-friendly routes launched in 2021 to provide users with an alternative to the fastest routes, offering convenient ways of reducing fuel consumption and cutting vehicle emissions. The eco-friendly routing takes more factors into account when looking for routes to a destination, including the road incline.
Google said earlier this year that the eco-friendly routes helped cut emissions by the equivalent of taking 500,000 vehicles off the road.
Another feature launching in India is support for live view walking directions. Google says it'll be available in 3,000 Indian cities, allowing users to open the live view mode in Google Maps and get walking directions to a destination by scanning their surroundings.
Google Maps will also get improved public transportation support in India, as the company partnered with local companies to display live information for trains in Mumbai and Kolkata. With this feature, Google Maps users can see a train's location in real-time right within the app.
The battle in the navigation space is getting fiercer, and Google wants Google Maps to remain at the forefront of the innovation push. However, competitors also invest in new-generation capabilities, with Apple Maps getting new capabilities that were until now missing from its offering.
iOS 17 brought support for offline navigation, allowing users to receive step-by-step guidance without an Internet connection. Google Maps has been offering this feature for several years, but Apple ignored the request.
The investments in the detailed city experience are also living proof that Apple is more committed to building a more advanced Google Maps rival. The detailed city experience includes in-house Apple maps (the previous version of the application used third-party maps) and rich details, including medians, sidewalks, crosswalks, trees, and 3D landmarks.
Google is also working on subtle refinements for Google Maps, though the company doesn't always align the app updates with users' expectations. The new color palette enabled in Google Maps on mobile devices and the web caused controversy in the app's user base, making certain features, including navigation on CarPlay, more difficult.
Users have requested Google to undo the change and restore the previous color palette, but the company ignored all complaints, possibly hoping that its user base would eventually get used to the updated interface.
Meanwhile, the new capabilities, including the eco-friendly routing, keep expanding to more users, making the transition to an alternative solution less likely. The eco-friendly routes will start rolling out to users in India next month and will also support two-wheelers, thanks to the popularity of these vehicles in the country.
Eco-friendly routes launched in 2021 to provide users with an alternative to the fastest routes, offering convenient ways of reducing fuel consumption and cutting vehicle emissions. The eco-friendly routing takes more factors into account when looking for routes to a destination, including the road incline.
Google said earlier this year that the eco-friendly routes helped cut emissions by the equivalent of taking 500,000 vehicles off the road.
Another feature launching in India is support for live view walking directions. Google says it'll be available in 3,000 Indian cities, allowing users to open the live view mode in Google Maps and get walking directions to a destination by scanning their surroundings.
Google Maps will also get improved public transportation support in India, as the company partnered with local companies to display live information for trains in Mumbai and Kolkata. With this feature, Google Maps users can see a train's location in real-time right within the app.
The battle in the navigation space is getting fiercer, and Google wants Google Maps to remain at the forefront of the innovation push. However, competitors also invest in new-generation capabilities, with Apple Maps getting new capabilities that were until now missing from its offering.
iOS 17 brought support for offline navigation, allowing users to receive step-by-step guidance without an Internet connection. Google Maps has been offering this feature for several years, but Apple ignored the request.
The investments in the detailed city experience are also living proof that Apple is more committed to building a more advanced Google Maps rival. The detailed city experience includes in-house Apple maps (the previous version of the application used third-party maps) and rich details, including medians, sidewalks, crosswalks, trees, and 3D landmarks.
Google is also working on subtle refinements for Google Maps, though the company doesn't always align the app updates with users' expectations. The new color palette enabled in Google Maps on mobile devices and the web caused controversy in the app's user base, making certain features, including navigation on CarPlay, more difficult.
Users have requested Google to undo the change and restore the previous color palette, but the company ignored all complaints, possibly hoping that its user base would eventually get used to the updated interface.
Meanwhile, the new capabilities, including the eco-friendly routing, keep expanding to more users, making the transition to an alternative solution less likely. The eco-friendly routes will start rolling out to users in India next month and will also support two-wheelers, thanks to the popularity of these vehicles in the country.
Google News