Google is celebrating the 15th birthday of Google Maps in a big way. It’s giving it a redesigned app on mobile (for Android and iOS), a host of new features and even a new logo. Here’s what you need to know.
Five tabs total, 3 new, 2 familiar
When you open the new Google Maps, there will be five navigation tabs at the bottom of your screen, instead of three, designed to make Maps easier to use.
• The “Explore” tab is still there, which shows you things that are nearby, such as restaurants, events (sporting games), hotels, museums, and dog parks.
• The “Commute” tab is also still there, which will continue to tell you traffic information and things like the “fastest route” to your destination.
• The “Contribute” tab is a brand new feature that allows users to add reviews and photos to certain locations and restaurants, which feels similar to Yelp. It’s here where you can also tell other Maps users about missing or wrong details, such as missing roads or signs.
• The “Updates” tab is a pretty neat discovery tool. It provides up-to-date news about “must-see” spots in a specific area. For example, if a restaurant was just featured in a trending story online, the Updates tab will show you.
• The “Saved” tab is also new, but not really — as it effectively replaces the “For You” tab on the old Maps. It still lets you bookmark specific locations that you’ve already been to or want to visit in the future.
