Google Maps just got a massive upgrade for drivers

Date:
Fri, 28 Jul 2023 17:40:17 +0000

Description:
Google has rolled out a secret update to Google Maps that greatly improves
the speed of searching with your voice.

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Using Google Maps to navigate on your Android phone just got a lot quicker, thanks to an update that Google has sneakily rolled out to your device.

Now when you boot up the app and tap the microphone icon in the search bar, youll be greeted by a new faster way to search on Maps. Just say where you want to go and a new and improved Google Assistant will be able to speedily get up directions. It may also be a little more helpful too as in our tests when we specifically asked for the fastest way to get from A to B it would automatically suggest the mode of transport that was the quickest.

Voice controls on Google Maps werent terrible before but they were sluggish, and it sometimes felt just as quick to type out the directions you needed. Plus, if the app misheard you youd have to sit and wait for what felt like an eternity for it to get up the wrong directions, only for you to then correct it so you can sit through the process all over again.

Thanks to the new and improved Google Assistant implementation using your voice to ask Google Maps for directions feels a lot quicker. Best of all, as you speak youll see a large readout of everything you said, making it easier to spot if Google mishears or misunderstands you so you can correct it before it wastes time looking for directions you dont need. (Image credit: Future)
No new app install required

Whats more, there will be a list of category options onscreen you can tap instead of speaking and theyll instantly boot up a list of nearby services that match the description you tapped. They feel a bit superfluous as the categories are available on the main Google Maps screen, but they dont get in the way so were not going to complain too much.

Weve been testing the improved feature out and found it to be a fair bit faster than it was before. And maybe its just us, but it feels like using our phones Google Assistant to get directions in Google Maps is faster too.

The update should have already been rolled out to your phone, even if you
dont remember updating Google Maps recently. That's because this is a server-side update on Googles end, so theres no new app version for you to install before you can benefit from a faster search.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/android/google-maps-just-got-a-massive-upgrad e-for-drivers


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