Even though it had already been leaked, the renovation of one of Google’s most important services has surprised us greatly. The new Google Maps is more focused on the user, with a ton of automatic personalization options, and a new look that is more adapted to what is currently popular; that is, more image on the screen, and less text.
There is still a bit of time left before we can access it on our computers, because it won’t be released until summer. But, a lot is already known about the renovation, which for the first time will be parallel across all platforms on which it is available – Android, iOS, and browsers. The most important feature is the fluidity with which it works, achieved only thanks to better integration with the WebGL standard.
The new way in which Google Maps will work will depend on what the user searches for, because it will adapt to the searches and clicks made on the map. So, for example, if you search for a restaurant, Maps will automatically highlight all other similar establishments nearby, omit certain names, and draw the quickest route to the locale in question. Also, the information on the highlighted places and routes will appear with more clarity, and will display user reviews on the left-hand side, and will even propose different itineraries in a more visual manner than it does now.
On the other hand, thanks to the previously mentioned advances with WebGL, Maps will display more fluidly images and animations in 3D, just as it was presented in the I/O 2013 conference in the virtual tour of the interior of St. Peter’s Basilica. Virtual exploration of different spaces, whether they be monuments or natural environments, such as the coral reefs of Australia, is another strong point of the new Maps, which has almost replaced Google Earth without requiring plugins or extra installations.
The experience, says Google, will be similar across all devices, even on iOS, where it has had its rough patches. Integration with other services, such as voice search, or the interconnectedness of apps thanks to Google Now, will also be important in the new Maps. Despite the new features, the service still has the same objective, and the same key features, just organized differently, so it shouldn’t be difficult to get used to.
Download Google Maps on Uptodown
Version for Android | http://google-maps.en.uptodown.com/android
Version for iOS | http://google-maps.en.uptodown.com/iphone
Official Website | https://maps.google.com/
