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G


oogle Maps has long been the
staple app for anyone
needing help with directions
or discovering new places while
using their Android device. While
the latest update, which coincides
with Android Lollipop’s new material
design guidelines, doesn’t necessarily
have a host of new features, it does
refi ne many of the older and most
useful ones instead. Many of the
tools to help you get from A to B have
been made easier to use, while
there’s even more integration with
Google Now and several other Google
apps. This makes it the most
complete and thorough update to
Google Maps for a while.
In this masterclass we’ll be taking
a look at some of the older and newer
features available in Google Maps.
You’ l l fi nd a practical guide to help
yougetstartedwithsavingsomeof

Get more o
of Google
Maps with
these top t

your favourite maps for offl ine
v iewing when a mobile network
isn’t readily available, as well as
using Maps as a great resource fo
fi nding recommendations on ne
places. There are also quick guid
on setting primar y locations with
Maps, customising planned jour
to suit your needs and also shari
a location with any contacts stor
on your device.


  1. Use more gestures
    As well as zooming in and out wit
    two fi ngers, by moving two fi nger
    upwards simultaneously, you can
    the screen to a certain direction.
    Similarly, use t wo fi ngers in a circ
    motion to rotate the map.

  2. Leave a review
    After visiting one of the places you
    discovered using Google Maps, m
    sure to leave a rev iew for it. When
    then search for the place using Go
    your review will be listed under t
    reviews section.

  3. Control with your voice
    When using the navigation feature
    in Google Maps, don’t forget it’s
    possibletouseyourvoicetocontrol


certain aspects of your journey.
Instead of illegally t y ping out
messages while driving, press the
mic icon within the search bar and
start speaking to get started.


  1. Changing routes
    If you’ve hit a bad patch of traffi c on
    your way to a destination, look for the
    crossroads symbol on your screen to
    get an alternative path for you to
    follow. It could potentially be a more
    confusing journey, but you should
    avoid any major traffi c build-ups.

  2. Distance units
    It doesn’t matter if you prefer using
    kilometres or miles, as Maps caters for
    both. The app calculates in miles by
    default, but by going to the Distance
    Units menu within settings, you can
    change this to kilometres.


»^ masterclass


3 alternatives to Maps If Google Maps isn’t for you, try these apps out instead


Waze Social GPS Simple navigation
What we love about Waze is that it makes it very
easy to tailor a journey to your needs. There are
also numerous options to help you change your
route while driving if you hit a congested stretch
of road.

“While the latest update


doesn’t have a host of new


features, it does refi ne many


of the most useful ones”


Will prolonged
useofMaps
signifi cantly
drain my
battery?
Unfortunately, yes.
Google Maps is a
battery-intensive app
that, due to the power
it needs, will go
through your battery
quickly. It’s best to use
the app sporadically
for the most part and
make sure the
Location setting isn’t
constantly activated.

Ask your own
question online at
littlegreenrobot.co.uk

MapFactor Completely free
MapFactor plays a big part in community-based
mapping, where users can upload details of roads,
buildings and other info to help people navigate. It’s
surprisingly detailed and a great alternative to
similar apps.

CoPilot GPS Offl ine mapping
Although CoPilot can be expensive if you want to buy
various map packs, it remains one of the most
thorough GPS offerings on the Play Store. Users can
download whole countries for offl ine use – perfect if
you’re doing a spot of travelling.
Free download pdf