Top 8 Google Maps Features You Should Know About – In this piece, you will learn about the top 8 Google Map Features.
What is Google Maps? Google Maps is a mapping platform on the internet and actually a product of Google. The web mapping platform shows satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, real-time traffic conditions. It also shows traffic conditions, route planning for people travelling by foot, car, and bike.
I have been using Google Maps to get about the country for the past few years. And especially more frequently during rush hour to manage and avoid traffic congestion in busy cities. I occasionally discover a new feature that I was not aware of before. And for me, that feature turns into a helpful daily-use feature.
This demonstrates that Google Maps has a number of capabilities that are available but are rarely used. Some features go unused simply because the majority of people are completely unaware of them. We will reveal eight of these Google Maps features to you in this article. Let’s begin straight away.
Offline Maps
In my opinion, this is one of Google Maps’ most beneficial features. In other words, how would you get around if there was no mobile network coverage? Offline Maps is Google’s response after they gave the problem some thought. You can use this tool to search for a location and download the map for that particular location so that you can use it later, when there is no internet connection.
This is especially helpful in distant locations with no mobile internet access, such as forests and deserts. To reduce the cost of your mobile data plans, you can alternatively use offline maps. This is when you use your WiFi at home to download maps for a certain area so you can use them later outside. You only need to download it after finding the region on a map.
Search for Stops
Imagine you are traveling somewhere when you realize you need to stop, perhaps to fetch the kids some snacks. Or perhaps a pain reliever for your recent headache. You can use this function on Google Maps to look for an appropriate stop along your current path. To find what you need, simply tap the magnifying glass in the top-right corner of the app. This tool is primarily used by me to locate gas stations along my trips so I can refuel. Among other things, you can search for hotels, hospitals, and supermarkets.
Add Missing Roads and Places
Have you ever used Google Maps and come to a dead end? This demonstrates that while Google Maps is generally good, it is not faultless. It may take some time for new locations and roads to appear on maps due to the daily creation of new ones.
Because of this, you can contribute to the creation of maps by including missing landmarks and routes. However, the examination and addition of your input can take some time. The likelihood that a missing location will swiftly appear on maps increases as more people submit suggestions for it. To do this, select Add a place on the following screen after clicking the Contribute option at the bottom of the app’s screen.
Voice Commands
The voice control feature of Google Maps, which allows you to operate the maps app hands-free, is another important feature. This is pretty useful when you’re driving and don’t want to take your hands off the wheel.
Driving is safer and less distracted as a result. Simply launch the maps app and tap the microphone symbol in the top right corner of the screen to begin using this function. If you have Google Assistant turned on for your device, you can also say “Okay Google.” Then, you may ask Google Maps to notify you when to take the next turn, for example. Additionally, you can ask Google Maps to locate you.
Avoid Highway Tolls and Ferries
Highways are perhaps the most direct and swiftest route to get from one place to another, as we all know. However, some have tolls that you must pay, such as the Kenyan expressway known as the Nairobi Expressway.
You can use Google Maps to find alternate routes that totally avoid toll roads. If you don’t want to, you can stay off the roads that lead to ferry crossings. To filter these, select a route option by clicking the three dots in the top right corner of the screen.
Customize Your Car Icon
Can you believe that I was delighted to learn about this Google Maps feature? With this, you may display your position without using the blue triangle. The triangle can be changed to one of three different car kinds. A green pickup vehicle, a yellow SUV, or a red sedan. If, like me, you own a vehicle in any of those precise color and form factor pairings, you are quite fortunate. The available alternatives will appear when you tap on the default navigation’s blue triangle. You can then toggle and change your automobile icon. Then decide which you want to employ.
Plan Routes on Desktop and Send to Phone
The majority of the time, planning a vacation is simpler on a desktop computer than it is on a mobile device. This is due to the fact that you may view a lot more and open more tabs to go through while researching locations. You can select Send to Your Phone once your route planning is complete on a computer. The list of all the devices linked to your Google Account will then appear in Maps. Select the device you want to send it to, and that’s it.
Street View
The street view toggle is one of Google Maps’ unique features. As you might have guessed from the name, this feature enables you to see a place as it actually is before travelling there. If you’re going to a new place for the first time, this is quite helpful for planning. Search for the location and click the street view button in the lower left of the screen to display Google Maps in street view. You will be able to pan through a 360-degree view of the area, including all of the vehicles, buildings, and people present there at the time it was scanned and recorded.
Conclusion
In light of the top 8 Google maps features, which of the aforementioned Google Maps innovations do you believe will revolutionize how you navigate? Which feature do you fancy and how long have you been using it? What other things do you believe are similarly useful but that we haven’t covered? Share with us in the comment section.
