Google Maps for Android 6.0 Adds Indoor Coverage, New Places Screen

A new flavor of Google Maps for Android is now available for download on devices running under Google’s Android operating system, bringing along indoor maps, along with a new places screen and a new manner in which users can switch between the features available in the toolbar.

The main enhancement, however, is the fact that users can access the map of any airport and shopping mall, as well as of a retail store, or other public space.

This should prove of great help for those who do not know where exactly they are, what floor, or where to go from there.

Those who will travel during this holiday season will be able to use the new Google Maps 6.0 to find their way around airports, provided that they own an Android device.

As soon as zooming on a building, floor plans will automatically be displayed on the screen, as long as indoor map data is available, of course.

“The familiar ‘blue dot’ icon indicates your location within several meters, and when you move up or down a level in a building with multiple floors, the map will automatically update to display which floor you’re on,” Chikai Ohazama, product management director, Google, explains.

The new Google Maps for Android will provide users with the possibility to switch much easier than before between various features such as viewing location on the map, accessing Places, or getting GPS turn-by-turn directions with Navigation.

The new flavor of the application comes with a drop-down menu placed at the top of the toolbar, offering fast access to these features.

“We hope this menu helps you get to your favorite parts of Google Maps faster or shows you some features you haven’t tried yet,” Chikai Ohazama continues.

Moreover, the app comes with a new Places home screen that provides a series of popular searches for one’s location, so that users will be able to find the best spots in an area.

The new Google Maps for Android 6.0 can be downloaded from the Android Market. The application is compatible with all devices powered by Android 2.1 or newer, and can be used in any area where the Google Maps service was already available.