The upgraded Google Maps 5.7 version has now been released for Android phones. This recent version of Google gives reportedly better map caching, updated access to directions and a photo viewer to Place pages, alongside supports Transit Navigation. The official Google blog claims that this version is very useful for travelers whether they are travelling to small towns or big metropolitans.
Transit Navigation offers transit users with navigation options of more than 400 cities globally. It involves turn-by-turn and stop-by-stop navigation for buses and trains to enable detailed directions for users. Transit Navigation employs GPS to identify the user’s location and alerts them when it’s time to make a transfer or get off. It appears to be quite helpful when users are in a foreign city where they cannot comprehend the local language. It enables users to operate any other app or put away the phone whenever they wish to after starting their journey with Transit Navigation. Google Maps would still show an alert in the notification bar and the phone would vibrate automatically when users come near the arrival point.
The blog reports that this version lets its users enjoy the scene outside while travelling without worrying about the number of stops or which route to take. The direction services have also been updated for walking and driving by providing users with step-by-step directions in one click. The way to access directions from a Place page has also been streamlined.
To improve the speed and quality of the search suggestions, two alterations have been made for this version. Firstly category icons have been added, so instead of every search suggestion showing the same icon, the one beside the listing will display the kind of result for which the search was made. Icons such as, a star for a starred Place or location, a pin for a Google Places listing, a person for contacts, a magnifying glass for ‘anything else’ and a clock for a previously used search term are included. Secondly, any place for which the user called directly from its Places page or got directions to would be included in the form of a suggestion for a related search.
Following the release of the business photos for Place pages last year, millions of pictures have apparently been added to Place pages across the globe. A new photo viewer has been included for users to see these pictures on the go.
Google Maps 5.7 for Android is available to download from the Android Market. An Android OS 2.1+ device is needed for this updated version which works at any location where Google Maps is currently available.