14 DAY TRIAL // Mountain View-based Internet giant Google has just announced the release of a new flavor of the popular Google Maps for Android, version 5.5, with a wide range of enhancements meant to make it easier for users to check in and out of places, to receive information, or to rate locations. With the new release of the application, Android users would get new features in Place pages, such as ‘check in’ and ‘rate and review’ buttons, along with the option to edit your home/work address for Latitude, or revamped transit station pages.
The application should receive even more features in the not-too-distant future, as the company is committed to provide its over 200 million users of Google Maps for mobile a better experience across platforms and devices worldwide.
With the new version of the application, users would find it easier to check in to places with Google Latitude or to submit reviews or ratings, as two new buttons have been added at the top of the listing.
“This past week I had the chance to explore the Computer History Museum during my visit to San Francisco from across the pond in London. Once nearby, I could quickly open the museum’s Place page and check in,” Luis Sigal, software engineer, Google, notes in a blog post.
“When I was ready to leave and head to lunch, in a few seconds I could go back to the Place page and rate the museum – which certainly earned the 5 star rating it received from me.”
Another enhancement added to Google Maps 5.5 for Android was the possibility to update the home or work address for the Latitude Location History. Users can make these changes through the Location History dashboard for Latitude.
Another change affected the transit station pages, which offer a new design now, enabling users to better organize the information they need.
On these pages, users would find lists of upcoming scheduled departures for different times, as well as the full list of transit lines serving the station, along with links to nearby transit stations.
The new Google Maps 5.5 for Android can be downloaded from the Android Market. The application was made available for all users of devices running under Android OS 1.6 or higher in all countries where the Google Maps were already available.
