If you have a recent Android smartphone, Google Maps comes bundled in pre-installed in the dedicated Google folder.
If not, or you own an iPhone running Apple Maps, you can download this killer app on your phone from Google Play and Apple’s App Store.
It would be a pity to miss out as Google Maps is debatably one of Google’s finest and best-loved products. This is hardly surprising as Google Maps packs in a lot. It’s the Swiss Army knife of apps, boasting features that others have widely imitated.
So what’s the story about Google Maps? What makes it such a must-have app? Where do you begin?
Detailed maps for almost the entire planet
Millions of locations and businesses
Real-time navigation for all modes of transport
Traffic and transit info
Directions
Zoom in to find places to visit to eat on a street-by-street basis
Google Maps shrinks the world to street level. There are very few inhabited places that haven’t been mapped. If you are packing Google Maps, there’s little likelihood of getting hopelessly lost even if you are offline.
Whether you are walking, cycling, driving, or riding transit, you can get up to the minute info on your journey. And potentially get there more quickly thanks to traffic condition reports and updated ETAs to help you beat the traffic with updated rerouting.
But clever commuting tools based on live traffic, road closures, and incidents tell only part of the story.
As helpful as that is alone, Google Maps gives you more as it provides a ton of context to help you find local businesses, events, and activities based on your location. And that’s just the start. You can see using Google Maps what is trending in a particular area and get extra information on local places of interest, businesses, restaurants, and so on.
There’s also a strong social element to Google Maps. You can plan activities with friends in real-time, share and vote on suggestions, tap into local knowledge and reviews, add your own info on the places you visit.
Extremely well-featured
Excellent navigation tool
Extra relevant local information
Accurate
You can download map portions for offline use
Share and plan with a group
Add your info and reviews
Multi-language support
Not all features are available in some countries
It’s not intended for oversize or emergency service vehicles
First, check inside the Google folder or search for the app on your phone or tablet.
If you don’t already have Google Maps, it is downloadable for Android and iOS from their respective app stores.
Android requirements vary by device, while the iOS app needs 223.9 MB of storage and iOS 9.0 or later.
Google Maps has earned solid ratings in excess of 4.0 out of five at Google Play and the App Store.
Once installed, the first thing you ought to do is set your home, work, and other significant regular locations. This will save time later when you need directions.
