Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Google
Google Maps keeps getting updates, and the search giant plans to continue improving the app experience with more subtle refinements.
The company has recently teased a set of new updates that will soon start rolling out for the mobile version of Google Maps.
Google says in a post that it's working on design updates that are supposed to "give Maps a fresh new look." However, it doesn't look like the company is working on a dramatic overhaul of the mobile app; rather, it is working on a minor makeover of the tab bar at the bottom of the screen.
The new Google Maps look will include a cleaner home screen, and we all know how important this is for users who want to quickly start navigation. Google Maps should be all about maps, so putting the focus on the data and less on the features people don't use too often is the right approach. Google says it'll reduce the number of tabs at the bottom of the screen, albeit it's not clear if the company wants to merge the existing options or remove one or more tabs.
Google will probably move some options around, and by relocating them, it can obtain space at the bottom of the screen to obtain the cleaner home screen it promises.
The new Google Maps will also get new pin colors, as Google wants to "make it easier to find places on the map."
Google Maps has recently made several major updates in the last few months, including the new color palette that the parent company has rarely talked about. The new color scheme replaces the traditional setup that's been around for so many years, and users didn't receive the update well. Many criticized Google for rolling out an update that makes navigation more difficult, while others called for the company to offer a setting to enable the old interface.
The new colors have gradually become the default for everybody, and the criticism has slowly faded as users get used to the updated interface.
Meanwhile, the competition in the navigation space is getting more intense, with Apple Maps also working on major updates for Apple Maps. After rolling out offline maps in iOS 17, Apple is fully committed to continuing the detailed city experience rollout to new regions, bringing its maps to more users worldwide. The detailed city experience includes Apple's in-house maps, with Look Around (a feature similar to Google's Street View) and Waze-like incident reporting capabilities.
Apple is also working on other Apple Maps updates, including support for custom routes, with recent evidence proving that this feature would debut in iOS 18 in the fall. Custom routes are available in Google Maps, letting users configure a route on a PC and send it to a mobile phone via the Google account.
Google says in a post that it's working on design updates that are supposed to "give Maps a fresh new look." However, it doesn't look like the company is working on a dramatic overhaul of the mobile app; rather, it is working on a minor makeover of the tab bar at the bottom of the screen.
The new Google Maps look will include a cleaner home screen, and we all know how important this is for users who want to quickly start navigation. Google Maps should be all about maps, so putting the focus on the data and less on the features people don't use too often is the right approach. Google says it'll reduce the number of tabs at the bottom of the screen, albeit it's not clear if the company wants to merge the existing options or remove one or more tabs.
Google will probably move some options around, and by relocating them, it can obtain space at the bottom of the screen to obtain the cleaner home screen it promises.
The new Google Maps will also get new pin colors, as Google wants to "make it easier to find places on the map."
Google Maps has recently made several major updates in the last few months, including the new color palette that the parent company has rarely talked about. The new color scheme replaces the traditional setup that's been around for so many years, and users didn't receive the update well. Many criticized Google for rolling out an update that makes navigation more difficult, while others called for the company to offer a setting to enable the old interface.
The new colors have gradually become the default for everybody, and the criticism has slowly faded as users get used to the updated interface.
Meanwhile, the competition in the navigation space is getting more intense, with Apple Maps also working on major updates for Apple Maps. After rolling out offline maps in iOS 17, Apple is fully committed to continuing the detailed city experience rollout to new regions, bringing its maps to more users worldwide. The detailed city experience includes Apple's in-house maps, with Look Around (a feature similar to Google's Street View) and Waze-like incident reporting capabilities.
Apple is also working on other Apple Maps updates, including support for custom routes, with recent evidence proving that this feature would debut in iOS 18 in the fall. Custom routes are available in Google Maps, letting users configure a route on a PC and send it to a mobile phone via the Google account.
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