Google ’s group planning feature for Google Maps, which the company first announced at Google I/O 2018 in May, is now available to the public. The feature lets users create a list of restaurant or other destination options that they can share with friends so they can vote on their favorites, putting an end to endless texting between users to make a decision.
You can use the feature by long-pressing each location to drag it into a list of options, which can then be shared with friends you invite. The group will be able to see the relevant locations for each destination in the app or in their browser and can vote with a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” and Google will keep the score. Group members are also free to add their own suggestions.
Group activity planning was just one of the new features Google announced for its navigation map. Others have already been released, such as a “For You” tab, which shows restaurants or other businesses in your area that you might be interested in. The company is also working on an augmented reality feature for Street View to improve Google Maps, which will display directions in a live feed from your phone’s camera.
The update is available today on iOS and Android.
