Google has updated its iOS and Android Map apps for smartphones with some nifty new features. The main thing to be excited about is Uber integration into the app. Uber is a car rental service that allows you to hire different types of vehicles (along with drivers) to transport you around cities through its mobile apps.
If you have the Uber app installed on your device, then the latest Google Maps update integrates it directly into travel destinations. The option will appear when you search for transit or walking directions to your destination. It even shows the estimated time for trips using the rented Uber cars.
Google also updated Maps with some other features that may make travel easier for you. For instance, the app now shows upcoming lane information when using the turn-by-turn option. The lanes appear as icons under the green bar near the route name and next turn information.
Offline maps can now also be saved and stored on your device for later use. Google added filters for narrowing search results with various options related to bookings - such as opening hours, price, ratings and more.
"With new filters, you can browse through restaurants, bars and hotels by opening hours, rating, price, and more-where available-to find just what you're looking for, right when you need it," Google says.
Other new features include the ability to see an indoor and special tourist spot Street View image for some locations and the app now recalls saved places when you're signed in. You can now specify a departing or arrival time when searching public transit options, which definitely should make commuting easier (how many of us were stuck on a train trying to connect online to connect to the service's custom transit map with no avail? I know I was).
That is a lot of new features as you can see that Google implemented into this update, even though Uber integration may prove the most interesting due to Google supporting the 2009-based startup already. It shows that Google may not be investing just in self-driving cars, but carpool and taxi-like transport services as well.
The new integrations to ratings and such through search filters also makes it closer to Yelp in many features than just a map app.
You can find out more about the type of vehicles for transport and locations Uber supports from the company's website. You can even become a driver yourself. It will be interesting to see where Google's new partnership with the company goes.
