TECHNOLOGY TIPS – NEW GOOGLE MAPS FEATURE

Photo Credit: Worawee Meepian / Shutterstock.com

Google announced last week that Google Maps is getting an upgrade to the maps on iOS, Android and desktop. The map imagery has been cleaned up. Google has “removed elements that aren’t absolutely required (like road outlines).” In addition to elements being cleaner, the typeface of street names, transit, and points of interest have been changed so they are more recognizable.

The cleaner look paves the way for viewing “areas of interest,” which are shaded in orange. The orange shaded area will come up on your map. You tap on the area initially to zoom in. Once in the shaded area, you tap on a venue to learn more about it. This is great for planning a trip or simply exploring an area you are unfamiliar.

According to Google, “We determine ‘areas of interest’ with an algorithmic process that allows us to highlight the areas with the highest concentration of restaurants, bars and shops. In high-density areas like NYC, we use a human touch to make sure we’re showing the most active areas.” Google has also created subtle color coding on their maps to help you better read their new maps improvements.

CATHY MALLERS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO