Google today updated its Google Maps app to version 4.2, adding a number of new features to enhance the user experience including filters to sort restaurant searches by cuisine and built-in weather information for various cities around the world.
It's now possible for users to drop pins for both starting and destination points when mapping out directions, and Google Maps allows users to add transit directions to their calendars. Finally, the update also includes several bug fixes.
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What's new
- Filter searches for restaurants by cuisine type
- See current weather information for cities around the world
- Drop a pin for your starting and destination points in directions and navigation
- Add transit directions to your calendar
- Bug fixes
Google Maps can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Top Rated Comments
Apple maps isn't even on the level of google maps from 5 years ago
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Google is a very rapid world class innovative company.
+9999999999999999999999....Google is wiping the floor with apple on the maps point blank....I use google maps on my iphone 6 Plus
I have both on my phone & try to use Google Maps about 5-10% of the time, just to see if I am missing anything or should switch...
I did like the new "material design", but honestly couldn't tell the difference other than that.
I use my GPS probably 10 times/week, as I moved recently from Oregon to Florida. I don't know, guys. I'm REALLY confused at this point. Lol, I don't know if I'm crazy, if you guys are... or if it's just because I don't live in one of the five cities in the world with a subway system, or what... but I can NOT really tell the difference from a usability standpoint. I use the one that is most convenient because it is built in to Siri, etc.
All this "miles better", "worlds apart" talk is bizarre to me. I feel like I certainly MUST be missing something. I mean... I primarily use my maps applications to get voice directions while driving. It seems to me like this is the primary function of the apps. I don't see how they can drift off parity that much if they BOTH do this with aplomb. I mean, one would have to give completely incorrect directions 50% of the time, while the other gave 100% accurate direction all the time for one to be even considered "twice as good", right?
Nothing like this is going on! They both give accurate directions. I don't see how little things like one having flyover view, or the other having open table integration can be considered a substantial difference. Honestly, they almost feel like half useful features & half gimmicks at this point to try to create distinction in apps that are fundamentally identical.
The only VERY minor difference, but UI element I prefer with Apple is that when I search for a location on Google Maps, the options of routes are written in boxes stating the distance & time for each... whereas, on Apple they are drawn lines on a bird's eye view map, which to me is more useful to choose a route. However, both apps show multiple routes... and the same info about them. I'd be hard pressed to consider one more than 1-2% better than the other. I think it comes down to choice..... two EXCELLENT & equal choices.
The one thing I'm annoyed with is both companies forcing integration in weird ways. For example... I should be able to use Google Maps from Siri or on Find my Friends, in a perfect world. And why does Google Maps force open from links in the Safari browser if they are in Google search results? Not cool for either of you, bullies!