Google Maps
One of the big new features in Samsung’s Android 15 update, One UI 7, is the “Now Bar,” and the latest Google Maps update is adding support for it as we wait for a wider rollout.
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An update to Android Auto is now rolling out that centers the map in Google Maps.
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With its One UI 7 update, Samsung is adding support for “Live Notifications” and the “Now Bar,” the company’s take on the “Live Activities” functionality Apple has been building out on iPhone for a while. With the Galaxy S25 now official, Samsung is confirming additional support for apps including Google Maps.
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Last year, Google Maps on Android was revamped so that the main map view displayed information using sheets, and the entire app is now getting this visual redesign.
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While Hyundai and Kia plan to adopt Android Automotive in the near future, the Hyundai Motor Group has just inked a deal to bring Google Maps to its infotainment system ahead of that launch.
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Like other first-party apps that lack Dynamic Color theming, Google Maps currently uses a blue accent for buttons and other UI elements, but that looks to be changing to teal.
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Just under a year ago, Google announced that Maps Location History would be moving to your phone, and this Timeline change is more widely rolling out.
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Google Maps has a lot of data on roads across the globe, and that data comes from a variety of sources. In an effort to improve data in certain areas, Google Maps is now using footage from dash cams installed in vehicles.
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Over a decade after Google bought Waze, the search giant is finally using reporting data from the crowdsourced navigation app within Google Maps and, as it turns out, that works on Android Auto too.
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As part of the redesigned incident reporting across all platforms, Google said Maps would show Waze reports for users to confirm while navigating. This is beginning to roll out.
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A small tweak to Google Maps on Android Auto has a big impact on the usability of incident reporting when it comes to reporting police activity.
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Google Maps recently launched a major update for incident reporting, but it’s now rolling out a slight change that marks the location of police activity rather than speed traps.
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A nice quality-of-life improvement for Google Maps on Android and iOS are new stair “callouts” when getting walking directions.
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From Gemini to a new location for weather and the teal accent color, Google Maps has seen a number of changes recently, with the latest being a new system for version numbers.
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Last December, Google announced a big change to how Maps Location History works. Your location “Timeline” is now being stored on your phone, with Google Maps still rolling out this update.
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Ahead of the holiday season, Google Maps is rolling out a handful of new features, like reporting transit delays.
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Earlier this year, Google Maps started showing the weather in the top-left corner, but that’s now being moved to another part of the Android app.
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With over 2 billion monthly users, Google Maps is adding Gemini to power a trio of experiences that do seem quite useful on Android and iOS.
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In addition to Gemini for search, summaries, and Q&A, Google Maps for Android and iOS are getting updates to improve the entire driving experience “from start to finish.”
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During Alphabet’s Q3 2024 earnings, CEO Sundar Pichai shared that Google Maps is the “latest product to surpass the 2 billion user milestone.”
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Google and Ford have collaborated on big updates for Android Auto on the automaker’s electric vehicles for routing and finding charging stations.
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Google Maps and Waze both have features that allow users to report police activity along their route, and in a bid to use that for safety, the Illinois State Police has partnered with Google to show the locations of traffic stop or other activity as reported by the police themselves.
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Android Automotive is getting feature parity with Auto as live incident reporting in Google Maps is rolling out right now for the in-car OS.
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Google has finally brought its useful incident reporting feature from Maps to Android Auto, but if you’re not seeing it yet, it might be due to a frustrating design constraint.
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