February 10, 2016

Google Maps Update

Filed under: Main — Tags: — admin @ 12:01 am

maps_app

Google continues to improve its Android apps, specifically the Maps app. It’s really come a long way, especially the offline maps feature, which can be used for navigation. That feature has finally been given a position of prominence.

And, naturally, this change means that the info my Android For Dummies books is not out-of-date. Hurrah!

To get to the Offline Maps feature in the Google Maps app:

1. Tap the Side Menu icon.
2. Choose Offline Areas

The big difference here is that you choose Offline Areas instead of My Places, shown in Figure 1, which is where Google tucked away the offline maps up until just about a month ago.

Figure 1. The new, Offline Areas item on the Maps app navigation drawer.

Figure 1. The new, Offline Areas item on the Maps app navigation drawer.

The Offline Areas screen lists any maps chunks you’ve saved. If they’re fresh, you see the expiration time in days. Otherwise, you can tap an un-fresh item to get the latest map info updated on your phone or tablet.

The method for adding a new offline map is only subtly different from what I describe in my books:

1. Navigate the Map to the chunk you want to save off-line. Ensure that the entire chunk is visible in the window, and recognize that the larger the chunk, the more memory it occupies on your gizmo.
2. Tap the Side Menu icon.
3. Choose Offline Areas.
4. Tap the Plus (add) icon.
5. Tap the DOWNLOAD button to fetch the same preview you set in Step 1.
6. Type a name for the area, such as Downtown or Alien Landing Zone or something descriptive.
7. Tap the SAVE button.

The chunk you save is accessed from the Offline Areas screen. It works whether or not an Internet connection is available, but it’s only valid for 30 or so days.

Yes, you can navigate using an offline map, but the navigation is a lot cruder than when an Internet connection is available. You cannot search an offline map, either.

This update is a good one, and I use the offline map feature often. It does, however alter what’s written in my books. Yet, while my printed books may be out-of-date, my eBook Dan Gookin’s Android Apps A-to-Z is completely fresh! Check out the latest edition, which is current with all the changes to popular Android apps:

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