Google unveils a redesign of its Maps, with new useful location features.
Google has unveiled a redesigned look for its Maps app that makes it easier to find places near you. The new design will roll out “in the coming weeks” and will appear on the Google Maps website and apps, as well as third-party services that use Google Maps.
With the update, Google Maps will adapt based on what you're doing. If you're using navigation, for example, the app will highlight locations you're most likely to need while driving, like gas stations or parking lots. Similarly, if you're looking at directions to a location, Maps will show bus stops and public transit stops.
The company is also updating the color scheme it uses to identify business locations on the map, to make it easier to find specific types of places. With the update, the type of business will determine the color of its icon on the map.
Restaurants and other venues that fall into the “Food & Drink” category will be orange, while areas geared towards “shopping” will be blue and “Entertainment/Leisure” venues will be green.
It may sound like a small change, but the company says these visual cues will make it easier for users to find the places they're looking for more quickly when they're in an unfamiliar area.
