A couple of notes. One, this is for Android Google Maps only unless I mention another format. Two, I still prefer the Waze application for long trips because it shows accidents and police locations…if you are interested in those particular items. Three, in June 2013, Google bought Waze for $1.1 billion. To me #3 is a significant point since currently they have significantly different features. The two combined would be GREAT! Hopefully soon Google Maps and Waze will become one.
I discovered some good features on GM (Google Maps). I recently spent a week in a large city I know absolutely nothing about so I used GM extensively.
First off you can load two specific addresses titled, “Home” and “Work.” You put in the address and title it appropriately. That way you can always get to those two locations quickly. You could also type in addresses each time you use a location and after a few uses they will be memorized in a dropdown list.
At first I was a little frustrated as I traveled to many specific destinations. I searched online to find out how to add more than two locations which would stay in the dropdown list. As I said above I could travel to them several times, but I did not care to enter the address several times to get it “registered.” I did find a way.
You type in an address and swipe it up once you find it on the phone. There you will find a star. The star turns gold and becomes a favorite. The next time you need to go there click the address box and these new favorites will be listed under your home and work locations.
Another feature, on the desktop version also, is the restaurant listings. In the address bar type in the name of a restaurant you are looking for, say, “Bubba’s Burgers.” The restaurant and its address will be found very quickly. Again, you can swipe up and find ratings by other users, opening/closing times, and my favorite: the busiest times of each day so I could schedule eating around their rush hours. You may also click call, save (the star) and a link to the website. Many restaurants also have an online menu link for planning ahead at a new place.
You can type any business and most of them have the call, save and website along with other information.
I also appreciate the satellite view so that as you ride through a new city you can identify buildings along the way…like new eateries. OK, so I like to eat.
Regarding the website, maps.google.com: A very nice feature is that you can click your arrival time under options. So if next Wednesday you need to meet someone at 2:00 pm you can enter that in. It will take you the best way for arrival at that time.
On the site you can plan multiple destinations, email the link to your email and open it on your phone so you can go place to place on one map. I have not found a way to do that in the phone app but will continue to look.
