Google Maps was launched this week in 2005 (as beta) and the company has launched major new updates to the most used maps service in the world. Google Maps now has a new icon that has been replaced with a four-colored location “pin” that has been part of Google Maps for many years.
New Updates
The most notable feature is a five-icon navigation system below at the bottom of the screen making it more comfortable to use with two new tabs added “contribute” and “updates” while replacing the “for you” tab with the “saved” tab.
Contribute: You can easily share local knowledge, such as details about roads and addresses, missing places, business reviews, and photos.
Updates: It provides you with a feed of trending, must-see spots from local experts and publishers. You can also directly chat with businesses to get questions answered.
Saved: You can view all of these spots in one convenient place, as well as find and organize plans for an upcoming trip and share recommendations based on places you’ve been.
Information feature on transits has also been updated now you are able to details shared by other passengers, including temperature, accessibility, whether there’s security onboard or a women’s only car and number of cars in a train.
Live View
Live View, the AR-powered walking directions which was launched last year has been updated and simplifies the huge blue arrows. It now drops a big red pin to show your destination relative to your position and shows how far is your destination.
The new features and the new icon will be rolled out for both iOS and Android devices today, while the new transit information and Live View mode will be available in a future update probably next month.
