Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Google
Google Maps is evolving on multiple fronts, and in addition to the latest navigation improvements, the application is now expanding in a direction that makes it easier for everybody to plan a trip.
If you're familiar with Google Maps' feature lineup, you probably know already that the application allows you to create lists of places you'd like to visit.
Each place can be added to a different list, and starting recently, Google Maps enables users to add different emojis to each list. The concept is brilliant, as you can then see the places on the map with the selected emoji, so it's easier to distinguish them by simply looking at the map.
Now, Google is getting ready to roll out another massive update for the list integration.
Google Maps will allow users to collaborate on a list. When you share a list with your friends, you'll get an option to create a collaborative mode allowing everybody who can access the list to add places and even vote on the existing items. Google says it wanted to move the planning phase of a trip from the group chat to Google Maps, so instead of never-ending chatter on which places to visit, users can just add their ideas to the list and let everybody else vote.
The voting options support hearts and thumbs-down emojis, so it'll be easy to see which place has everybody's approval and which should be removed from the list. Everything happens in Google Maps, with the feature to be available on mobile devices running Android and iOS.
Google says it plans to begin the rollout in the coming weeks, so keep Google Maps up-to-date and look for the new collaborative mode in the lists sharing menu.
Meanwhile, Google Maps is also getting lots of other goodies. For example, the application is expanding the support for eco-friendly routes, which has so far worked like magic to reduce vehicle emissions worldwide. Google says the first numbers are amazing, as the eco-friendly mode took drivers on routes that helped cut emissions by the equivalent of taking 500,000 vehicles off the road.
The eco-friendly routing, now expanding to India, provides users with alternatives to the fastest route typically suggested by the application. The big difference is that Google Maps takes into account different factors when looking for the best route, including the road incline and traffic conditions. The goal is to allow the driver to reach the destination in a reasonable time (not too different from the ETA of the fastest route) with reduced fuel consumption and vehicle emissions.
However, users can still choose the fastest route and disable the eco-friendly suggestions completely from Google Maps' settings menu if they want to use the application the classic way.
Each place can be added to a different list, and starting recently, Google Maps enables users to add different emojis to each list. The concept is brilliant, as you can then see the places on the map with the selected emoji, so it's easier to distinguish them by simply looking at the map.
Now, Google is getting ready to roll out another massive update for the list integration.
Google Maps will allow users to collaborate on a list. When you share a list with your friends, you'll get an option to create a collaborative mode allowing everybody who can access the list to add places and even vote on the existing items. Google says it wanted to move the planning phase of a trip from the group chat to Google Maps, so instead of never-ending chatter on which places to visit, users can just add their ideas to the list and let everybody else vote.
The voting options support hearts and thumbs-down emojis, so it'll be easy to see which place has everybody's approval and which should be removed from the list. Everything happens in Google Maps, with the feature to be available on mobile devices running Android and iOS.
Google says it plans to begin the rollout in the coming weeks, so keep Google Maps up-to-date and look for the new collaborative mode in the lists sharing menu.
Meanwhile, Google Maps is also getting lots of other goodies. For example, the application is expanding the support for eco-friendly routes, which has so far worked like magic to reduce vehicle emissions worldwide. Google says the first numbers are amazing, as the eco-friendly mode took drivers on routes that helped cut emissions by the equivalent of taking 500,000 vehicles off the road.
The eco-friendly routing, now expanding to India, provides users with alternatives to the fastest route typically suggested by the application. The big difference is that Google Maps takes into account different factors when looking for the best route, including the road incline and traffic conditions. The goal is to allow the driver to reach the destination in a reasonable time (not too different from the ETA of the fastest route) with reduced fuel consumption and vehicle emissions.
However, users can still choose the fastest route and disable the eco-friendly suggestions completely from Google Maps' settings menu if they want to use the application the classic way.
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