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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.
- 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. - 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. - 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.
- 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. - 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.