Google Maps Review

Google Maps

  “maps on ios and android  feaTure close inTegraTion wiTh google maps on your  deskTop.”

 Incidentally, Google had been powering Apple’s Maps apps only until recently where it was precluded from the iOS 6 release, in favor of Apple’s own mapping system. Recently however, the app made a triumphant return to iOS, shooting to the top  of the App  Store charts within a week of release. Furthermore, Google Maps’ return was reported to have increased iOS 6’s adoption rate by almost 30%. 

                                  As you would expect, Google Maps on iOS and Android features close integration with Google Maps on your desktop, requiring that you sign into your Google account for that to work. If your desktop and mobile Google accounts are the same, you would find that searches that were made using Google Maps on your desktop would appear automatically on your phone. Of course, the app works  just fine without signing in.  The app’s interface is easy to use and navigate. Tapping on search brings up a list of locations that you have previously searched for, either using the app itself or with Google Maps on your desktop.

                                  Once you have selected your starting point and destination, the app speedily provides you with a suggested route to your destination and even warns you if there are tolls along the way. If you are dissatisfied with the app’s suggestions, you can call up two additional alternative routes. You can even choose to avoid highways or tolls. Handily, it also makes use of Google’s Live Traffic information to let you know what kind of traffic conditions to expect.  Actual navigation using Google Maps is pretty basic as there are no navigational aids such as lane assist or junction view. However, there is turn-by-turn voice navigation  to guide you and that works well enough, although you will need to consult the display at more confusing sections of the road.  

                              We found that Google Maps on iOS was difficult to use in  landscape mode. This is because of the wide header and footer, which restricts how much of the road ahead you can see. Using the app in portrait mode on an iPhone makes more sense.  All in all, the navigation features of the Google Maps app are decidedly basic. But where it really excels is its powerful search function. Much like the omni box in Google’s Chrome browser, the search bar can look up addresses, postal codes, places of interest, popular  restaurants and so on all at once. It is dead simple and very effective.  

                        What’s more, once Google Maps locates your destination, there is even the option to quickly bring up Google Street View to survey the surroundings of your destination. And if you are looking up popular places such as restaurants, the app can even show you reviews from Google Plus, as well as other relevant information such as opening hours and contact details.  Google Maps for Android allows you to save areas of the map so that you can still refer to them even if you are offline. This is vey useful for travelers who do not wish to purchase a data plan at their travel destination or incur data roaming charges.  All in all, Google Maps (for  Android) is a well thought-out and competent navigational app that we think will be the mainstay for most drivers with an Android smartphone. For iOS users, Google Maps is a good alternative to the default Apple Maps app.