Google Maps Is Getting Aerial View, Detailed Cycling Routes, And Better Location Sharing

Google Maps is getting a new update, which adds more detailed cycling route information and nearly 100 aerial views of iconic landmarks to the app. Besides, there is a major update to the location sharing feature of the app, which will now show you arrival and departure notifications. Let us check out the latest Google Maps update in detail.

Google Maps Receives New Updates: Here’s What’s New

Google is adding a slew of new features to the Maps, which allow users to have more detailed information about their cycling routes and easily coordinate their schedules. Firstly, the app is getting more detailed cycling information that will let you compare bike routes and get high-level summaries like “More bike lanes” or “Less turns”. The latest update will offer riders granular details for each phase of their trip, as well as a high-level summary:

• A “Very steep hills” section offers a graph, while noting the highest and lowest points.
• “Roads” can provide a percentage of marked bike lanes, shared paths, major roads, and minor roads.
• “Stairs” will also be noted. 

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Additionally, you’ll also be able to get a highly detailed breakdown of the route itself, so you can know at a glance what type of road you’ll be biking on—like a major road versus a local street.

Moving on, the app is also getting another useful feature, which adds photorealistic aerial views of nearly a hundred popular landmarks to the maps. This includes sites in Barcelona, London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo. However, the new feature lacks the ability to see weather conditions, what a place looks like throughout the day, and how busy a place is, and indoor views are also currently unavailable.

Lastly, Google Maps is adding location-sharing notifications that can alert you when somebody has arrived or left a place. As mentioned earlier, the feature is meant to let people “more easily coordinate schedules and have peace of mind”. In order to ensure the privacy of users, the firm only allows setting notifications for people who have already chosen to share their location with you. Besides, you can also simply block someone from setting notifications.

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As for the availability, Google Maps is rolling out location-sharing notifications now for both Android and iOS platforms globally. The new route information will be released for “hundreds of cities where cycling directions are available” in the coming weeks.

What are your thoughts on the newly added features to the Google Maps app? Do let us know in the comments section below.