14 DAY TRIAL // A new version of Google Maps for Android is now available for download for all owners of devices powered by the OS, with a new feature in tow, Transit Navigation (Beta), and with a range of other enhancements as well, including better suggested search results, improved access to directions, a photo viewer in places pages, and more.
Transit Navigation (Beta) takes advantage of the GPS receiver inside smartphones to determine users' location along the route, and alerts them when changes need to be made, such as making a transfer or having to get off.
When in a city where you don't speak the language, this could prove very helpful, especially if you are unable to read the available maps.
“After starting your trip with Transit Navigation, you can open another application or put your phone away entirely and Google Maps will still display an alert in your notification bar and vibrate your phone when your stop is coming up,” Google's Chris Van Der Westhuizen, software engineer, explains.
“Now you can spend more time enjoying the sights out the window and less time worrying about how many stops are left, where you are along the route or whether you missed your stop. Since Transit Navigation relies on GPS signals, we recommend using this feature for above-ground transit.”
The new version of Google Maps also comes with better directions services. When selecting the driving or walking icon for a supported route, users will immediately have access to the Navigation icon for step-by-step directions with a single click.
At the moment, it is available only for driving and walking, but not for public transit. However, users will be able to access directions much easier from a Place page.
Search suggestions were improved in quality and speed, with category icons in the mix: Google Places listings will show a pin, a Place or location will show a star, used search terms will have a clock, there will be a person for contacts, and a magnifying glass for other results.
For relevant searches in Google Maps, users will be provided with results that include places they interacted with before, and there is also the said Photo viewer for Place pages.
“Since we released business photos for Place pages last October, millions of photos have been added to Place pages around the world. To enable you to view these photos on the run, a slick new photo viewer has been added so you can browse photos while deciding where to go,” Google notes.
Google Maps 5.7 for Android can be enjoyed on all devices running under Android OS 2.1+ anywhere the service is already available. The application is available for download from here.
