Google Maps for iOS was updated today, finally incorporating the offline maps feature that rolled out to Android a whole month ago. Though users will still need the Internet for subway or train routes and walking or biking directions, they can now get turn by turn navigation, business hours and contact details on saved maps offline. Not only that, but Google Maps now offers gas price options directly on the app.
Google Maps Monopolizes Phone Storage
A major setback of this new feature, for both Android and iOS, is that saving offline maps takes quite a bit of space. Downloading offline maps from New York City, for example, can take up to 300MB of space, so people should be very mindful of what they decide to save. On the plus side, any downloaded maps expire after a month automatically. Any forgetful users won’t have to worry too much.
New Maps Update Introduces Gas Prices
The new iOS Google Maps update also incorporates gas prices into the platform. Users can now view where gas stations are located and how much they sell gallons for. This is also a feature that had been on the Android app for a while. Google Maps iOS users, when looking at local businesses, will not be able to see when the establishments are at their busiest throughout the week or on any given day.
Waze Had a Similar Update Roll Out… in 2012
Another popular GPS application also saw a similar update a few years ago. In May of 2012, Waze introduced a feature that let users see real-time as prices and fuel discounts. This has since then has allowed users to search around for fuel within the category menu, with real-time prices. The map also provides gas station locations along users’ routes to avoid them having to stray from their path to get refueled.
Waze is Undoubtedly the Best Social GPS Out There
Since Waze is a very user-driven app, users were even able to report/adjust gas prices and deals so other people can make use of them, which earns them Wazer points and helps them ascend status. This is the Social GPS side of Waze at its best. Waze even partnered with gas pump companies like Kum & Go, Hess, BP, Exxon, ConocoPhillips, and Shell, to offer in-app discounts on gas. This gave users special codes that can be put on any gas station register to get a discount. This update rolled out to California at first, then following to the rest of the country.
What Took Google Maps So Long?
The gap between the Waze Update and the Google Maps for iOS and Android is very wide. When considering what may have taken Google so long to release this kind of update, it could be simply because of scale and optimization. Waze, being a significantly smaller company, had the ability to test out the app in a control area (California). Google rolled out its update everywhere the app is available, and it probably spent quite a bit of time optimizing the feature.
Google Takes Time, and It’s Always Worth It
Google doesn’t do anything in halves. The company usually goes all out to make sure that new features are perfect, or closest to. Bug fixes usually roll out quite quickly, so Google was likely taking in the vein of what Waze accomplished it and bringing it to a much bigger scale. In the end, they bring the classic and functional feel of Google Maps to their faithful users. While this may or may not have been three years in the making, it will make the lives of countless people a lot easier, especially with the holidays right around the corner. Christmas shopping frenzies are already happening all over the world, and the busy time monitor feature will be of help to a lot of people. This does leave people to wonder what other updates Google has spent a few months or years working on.
