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With the starting of the new year, major tech giants both in and out the country are rolling out several new updates, features, and products to keep the users all occupied. Adding to the list, even Google is all set to update its Google Maps Android application which would be the first major update for the application this year. The reports claim that the new update would be coming with some pretty new features unlike before.
One of the biggest highlights of the upcoming Maps update (v9.19) is the intelligent Driving mode which makes use of the user's location history and includes web searches to provide necessary traffic updates and Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) of the user. Though it is an optional feature in the new update, but it can be enabled easily using a shortcut on the home screen or via the navigation drawer. However, some folks state it to be a difficult process as the user needs to get the Driving notifications and Add Driving shortcut toggles to appear in the Navigation settings portion of the app first, but there is no guide on how to do that.
Once all this is done, the users can simply tap Add Driving shortcut to get a Driving Mode shortcut on their home screen that’ll launch you into Driving Mode. You’ll also get a Start driving option in the Maps slide-out navigation drawer. Also, the Android users have to wait for the update since it is currently not available on Google Play and can be expected to be rolled out soon. However, for those who can't wait for the new featured update can download the app which is signed by Google via APK Mirror.
Another feature of Maps v9.19 is a toggle in Navigation mode that lets the user take control of turn-by-turn voice instructions. The toggle appears in between the Search and Compass buttons and, when tapped, it allows the user to switch between three modes namely: Muted, Alerts Only, and Unmuted. This update too holds some importance since previously, the toggle for audio was shifted to overflow menu that made it complicated for the users to toggle it while driving.
Apart from the above-mentioned tweaks, the Google Maps interface has also received minor changes as of now the Manage location settings option has been replaced for Timeline settings wherein, the new setting allows the user to control what to see and also restrict data usage. Some of the other additional options include the option to see images from Google Photos or switch on the search option to correct an inaccurately fed location.
So, ignoring the difficulty users face in enabling the Driving Mode, this is a pretty significant update and definitely super handy since it can easily feed the traffic info while the user is driving also removing the hassle of entering the new destination every time for a place the user is already aware of.
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