Google is finally rolling out the Maps bottom bar redesign it first showcased at I/O this May. The simplified design briefly appeared for some users earlier this year, but it’s now widely available with Google Maps for Android version 11.138.x.

Google Maps’ bottom bar previously featured five tabs: Explore, Go, Saved, Contribute, and Updates. As you can see in the following screenshots, the redesigned bottom bar has just three tabs: Explore, You, and Contribute.

9to5Google reports that the Explore and Contribute tabs still offer the same functionality as before, but the new You tab now includes features previously offered in the Go, Saved and Updates tabs. The You tab is essentially a renamed version of the old Saved tab, and it’s largely the same in terms of the UI and features. However, it now also offers features from the Go and Updates tabs.

The Go tab’s features are now condensed into a new “Saved trips” option in the Your lists section on the You tab, and it gives you quick access to your favorite trips. Similarly, the notifications and messages options from the Updates tab have found a new place in the top right corner of the You tab.

The bottom bar refresh follows Google Maps’ new sheet-based redesign, which rolled out to users last month. It replaces full-screen UI elements with new sheets that float above the map and make more efficient use of the screen real estate. The updated Google Maps UI with the floating sheets and compact bottom bar is currently limited to Android. It’s not clear when these changes will make it to the iOS version of the app.

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Google is finally improving the design of Google Maps, which is slowly rolling out to some users with Android smartphones. This new version of Google Maps brings a new bottom bar with three tabs, as reported by 9To5Google.

This new design could be available for some Galaxy smartphone and tablet users. Other Galaxy users might get it in the next few weeks.

Google Maps gets a new bottom bar with three tabs

The new version (version 11.127.x) of Google Maps simplifies the bottom bar for all users. Instead of five tabs, it has just three: Explore, You, and Contribute. It still has all the functionality of the older version of the app, as the You tab includes features that were earlier listed in the Go, Saved, and Updates tabs.

In the You tab, there is no search bar. Notifications and Business Messages can be accessed from the top right corner of the screen. The Go section from the old version of the app is now named Saved Trips and resides in the You tab.

Google Maps still doesn't use the Material You design, and Google might be too cautious. The app is used by billions of users worldwide, and a sudden design change could confuse many users. Google announced this new design in March and has now started rolling it out to some users worldwide.

The post Google Maps is getting a new design on Android phones appeared first on SamMobile.

Google is making a small change to Google Maps that should help clean up the home screen a bit. It appears that change is now slowly starting to roll out to Android users.

During the Material You session at Google I/O this week, the tech giant debuted a new, simplified design for Google Maps. Specifically, the company reduced the number of tabs that appear in the bottom bar.

It’s no secret Google is working on bringing satellite connectivity to Android phones. In fact, the company added satellite connectivity support for SMS apps and preloaded RCS apps to Android 15 after Developer Preview 2 was released last month. But strings of code hint that Google could also add this support to the Maps app as well.

An APK teardown of Google Maps beta v11.125, conducted by AssembleDebug and shared with PiunikaWeb, reveals new strings of code that mention satellite-based location sharing. Based on those strings, users would be able to “update your location once every 15 minutes, up to five times a day.”

This means you would not need a cellular or Wi-Fi connection to update your location in Maps. Such a feature would come in handy if you ever found yourself in a location absent of cellular service.

Needless to say, but a phone that supports satellite connectivity will be required to use this feature. For example, this feature should work fine for the Pixel 9 series, which is expected to have a modem that supports 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN).

This feature would join Android 15’s growing list of satellite-supported features, which include being able to communicate with emergency services. We have also recently seen the UI that will be used for satellite connections, along with a satellite icon you can see above.

It’s no secret Google is working on bringing satellite connectivity to Android phones. In fact, the company added satellite connectivity support for SMS apps and preloaded RCS apps to Android 15 after Developer Preview 2 was released last month. But strings of code hint that Google could also add this support to the Maps app as well.

An APK teardown of Google Maps beta v11.125, conducted by AssembleDebug and shared with PiunikaWeb, reveals new strings of code that mention satellite-based location sharing. Based on those strings, users would be able to “update your location once every 15 minutes, up to five times a day.”

This means you would not need a cellular or Wi-Fi connection to update your location in Maps. Such a feature would come in handy if you ever found yourself in a location absent of cellular service.

Needless to say, but a phone that supports satellite connectivity will be required to use this feature. For example, this feature should work fine for the Pixel 9 series, which is expected to have a modem that supports 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN).

This feature would join Android 15’s growing list of satellite-supported features, which include being able to communicate with emergency services. We have also recently seen the UI that will be used for satellite connections, along with a satellite icon you can see above.

Google is about to introduce a bevy of new features to Maps and Search. These new features are centered around making sustainable travel easier for everybody.

Today, Google announced some updates to Maps and Search will be coming soon. These features range from eco-friendly travel suggestions to electric vehicle (EV) charger placement and more.

One of the updates coming to Maps will help the user find alternative travel options that produce fewer carbon emissions. Said to be landing in the coming weeks, this feature will allow Maps to provide public transit and walking suggestions next to driving routes. This feature will be available in 15 cities including: Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, Montreal, Paris, Rome, and Sydney.

On a related note, Google says it is expanding a feature in Search that allows a user to see schedules, tickets, and links to complete bookings on the results page for long-distance train routes. This feature will now be available in 38 countries, such as Australia, Japan, Greece, and more. In addition, the firm is adding support for long-distance bus trips as well, which will be available in:

As for flying, Google is making it easier to see the carbon emissions created by your flight. The company plans to make travel impact model (TIM) insights — which provide emission estimates — available as a developer API that can be applied on any website or app. This will also be available as a Google Sheets add-on and a calculator on the TIM website.

Moving on to EVs, Maps is getting some features that make it easier to find chargers. Google says in the coming months, the app will start showing AI-powered summaries that describe where a charger is located in an area, like a multi-level parking lot. On top of that, Google is adding the ability to see chargers on the in-car map, joined by information like real-time port availability and charging speed. This is expected to roll out globally in the coming months, starting with vehicles that have Google built-in.

The final two features deal with planning your trip with your EV. Last year, Google debuted a feature that shows drivers the best charging locations for EVs with Google built-in. The company is now expanding that feature for multi-stop trips. Along with this, google.com/travel will now display hotels that offer EV chargers.

If you’re trying to lower your carbon footprint, these features should come as a welcomed addition to Maps and Search.

Google Maps is considered the top dog in the mapping space today, but Google is constantly adding new features and making tweaks to the app. And it looks like the latest addition is a neat visual tweak. 

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Google Maps is about to become a lot more useful on your lock screen. The app is getting a new setting called “Glanceable directions while navigating.”

Back in February 2023, Google announced the Maps app on both Android and iOS would get a glanceable directions feature. This feature would allow Android owners to see where to turn, as well as get live ETAs all from the lock screen. It also works on the route overview screen, even if you don’t hit Start. Meanwhile, Google Maps on iPhone would use iOS’s Live Activities for the feature.

The feature was supposed to launch globally back in June 2023, but may have only been available to a small group of users. But it looks like it’s now becoming available for everybody.

First spotted by Android Police, the feature appears to now be rolling out widely for users on version 11.116 for Android and 6.104.2 on iOS. I can also confirm that my own device now has a toggle for the setting that you can see below.

The toggle is off by default, so you’ll have to enable the setting. This can be done by navigating to Settings and scrolling down Navigation settings. You should find Glanceable directions while navigating right under Map display.