A small but very useful feature

Jul 23, 2009 10:34 GMT  ·  By

Google Maps can be a very useful tool and for some it has become a daily necessity. But like any other product in the world it isn't perfect and one of the most common features people were asking for was the possibility to do several searches at the same time. Finally, Google listened to its users and introduced the feature, allowing them to plot several locations in the same search.

“Suppose you would like to drive the famous Road to Hana while you are on vacation on Maui. You search for directions to Hana from where you are staying in Wailea. Since it's a long drive, you also search for gas stations, so you know where you can fuel up on the way, and supermarkets, so you can pick up snacks for the trip. After the second search, you'll notice a blue bar at the bottom of the left panel. Click on it to expand the widget, which allows you to turn on both searches as well as your route to Hana,” Nhu Vuong, software engineer, writes, exemplifying the feature.

The different searches are color-coded so they can be easily identified. However, the feature isn't that easy to spot if you don't already know about it as it is tucked away in the lower left corner. Still, once you start to get used to it, it will be hard to think how you got along without it. There are more uses for the multiple search feature, for example with local searches. You can now get directions, either by car, walking or even for the transit system where available, and then look for several restaurants or other places in the area to see which one would be closer to your path.

It isn't a major feature but the sheer functionality and time saving it brings do make a rather important one. Of course, we're bound to see other small updates like these coming in frequently for Google Maps, judging by the pace at which it has added new features in the past, having just recently added new geolocation capabilities as well as a “What's here” feature.

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Google Maps get a small update
Multiple searches in Google MapsClose up of the multiple searches box
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