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Google Silently Releases a New Google Maps Feature for Better GPS Tracking

One of the issues that navigation apps in general, and Google Maps in particular, experience every now and then concerns the GPS tracking, as in certain conditions, determining your location isn’t possible due to a series of factors.
The new feature in Google Maps for Android 1 photo
Photo: 9to5google
In crowded cities, for example, doing this is much more difficult given all the buildings that block the signal and cause interference, so Google is looking into other methods to deal with these shortcomings.

Most recently, Google has silently released a Google Maps update that basically enables better GPS tracking by asking users to provide accurate data regarding their location. To do this, the Mountain View-based search giant has turned to Live View AR, a feature that essentially makes it possible to view information about a certain location by simply looking around with the phone’s camera.

How the new feature works in Google Maps is pretty simple. As per 9to5Google, Google Maps users need to tap the blue dot on the map and then launch the tool that is called “Calibrate with Live View.” Next, the phone launches the Live View AR interface, asking you to point the camera to a specific building and then save the location.

At this point, the Google Maps location indicator should lock to your position and follow you on the map more accurately as you move.

Of course, this new feature comes with a series of limitations too. First and foremost, it only supports devices that can run ARCore, which means that not all Android phones can calibrate the location with Live View. Then, it’s only available on Android handsets, with no iPhone version currently in sight.

The bad news is that there’s pretty much no way to bring this feature to Android Auto. Users have been complaining of GPS tracking issues in Google Maps for quite a while, and such an update would substantially improve the overall experience, but obviously, making this happen behind the wheel is impossible given it needs ARCore and Live View AR.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
Bogdan Popa profile photo

Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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