Google is doing an excellent job with its maps. After the numerous updates released in recent months, there's no longer any doubt, at least for Android users, that the google maps They are currently superior to other GPS services. On mobile devices, they have become much more than a navigation app: they are now a social platform, a tool for discovering places, and a go-to app for getting around your city. Today we'll tell you all about them. new arrivals, with special attention to new side menu and interface redesign on Android mobiles.
In recent months, we have advanced a multitude of news related to news from Google Maps. We have talked about the new inclusion of use Hashtags in Google Maps, find charging points for electric carsWe also covered how to use the «say where you are going«, Or we even show you how follow establishments on Google mapsAll these functions are now supported by a clearer interface, with reorganized menus and shortcuts better designed for one-handed use.
Google Maps renews its side menu of options
It is not until the last update that we have verified that Google has completely revamped the sidebar of their maps. Among other inclusions, the letter font and design, which represents the new trend of Google in its applications. Google has already done the same renewing the apps of Google Keep, Messages, and Google PhoneAmong other apps, it's now Google Maps' turn, and we can already enjoy its new, cleaner, and more minimalist design.
On Android phones, this change isn't just a facelift. Google has been moving some of the options from the classic side menu to a bottom menu with tabs and towards him profile menuwhich is accessed by tapping on your profile picture. This reorganization responds, on the one hand, to the need to make the app more comfortable to use with your thumb and, on the other hand, to the integration with the new Android gestures, which conflict with the gesture of opening the side menu by swiping from the edge.
In the image below you can see the interface change and how the map space gains prominence, while the most frequently used controls move to the bottom of the screen. In this way, basic functions such as explore the map, Consult regular commutes, access to saved sites o contribute with reviews They are always just a touch away.
From the classic side menu to the new bottom and profile menu.
For a long time, the sliding side menu Google Maps has been the place to find almost everything: settings, timeline, saved places, offline maps, location sharing… With the new approach, the options have been redistributed so that the most frequent actions are more accessible and the configuration options are better grouped.
Now, many of the options that we previously found in the side menu have been distributed among the menu of our profile and the bottom menuFrom the account icon, located in the upper right corner, you can access features related to your history and privacy, such as Share location, Your chronology, offline maps y SettingsFunctions such as activating the incognito mode, manage your User profile or change your Google account.
On the other hand, the bottom menu, which previously had three tabs, now has five main tabs. The section Exploring and the tab of Displacements They remain, but new sections appear such as Saved (where your favorite sites and lists are now grouped), Contributing (the former "Your Contributions", now with greater prominence) and Newswhich combines "For You" recommendations and posts for business. This change enhances the more social aspect of Google Maps, inviting users to write reviews, add missing places, or correct incorrect data.
In parallel, Google has introduced small visual changes to the interface buttons. The location buttonLocated in the lower right corner, it adopts a clearer design that alternates between blue Point y arrow pointing depending on whether you are centering your position or following a specific direction. layers buttonIn the upper right corner, it now displays a larger and more intuitive layers icon, with a "+" symbol that makes it easier to switch between map, satellite, public transport, or terrain views.
What's new in the new update
While Google continually updated its maps, perhaps the interface and design were put aside. But thanks to this update, the interface redesignThe main new features are the font change (to Product Sans) and the layout of the sidebar and bottom menu elements. Now the new menu is simpler And the options that were previously hidden behind the app settings are now displayed in the side menu and, above all, well organized between the profile menu and the bottom tabs.
Amongst the most notable changes are:
- Gradual removal of the classic side menuMany actions are now moved to the account menu or the lower tabs, reducing overlaps and improving clarity.
- Five lower tabs On the home screen: the map is combined with shortcuts to Explore, Navigation, Saved, Contribute and What's New, making it easier to find what you're looking for with fewer taps.
- Greater prominence for Guardados and ContriburYour favorite sites, lists, and places are more easily accessible, and the section for adding reviews, photos, or business information is enhanced.
- Relocation of configuration functionsOptions such as "Wi-Fi only" are now located within Settings, while account-related options are grouped under your user profile.
Beyond the design, it doesn't include any radical changes in terms of routes, but it does reinforce what many users were demanding: a clearer and more consistent experienceThe aesthetic component is very important to the user, and the new interface is undoubtedly more appealing. Furthermore, the menu reorganization helps reduce the feeling that the options are "hidden."
If we combine the interface change with the new features recently added to Google Maps, we have one of the Google's most advanced apps and a service that the company invests heavily in improving and updating. In addition, some devices and navigation modes feature the arrival of assistants based on... Artificial Intelligence that replace the classic Google Assistant, allowing you to do complex questions During your journey, you can request email summaries or add events to your calendar without leaving the map.
How the new menu affects key Google Maps features
This redesign doesn't change what you can do with the app, but it does change the path to reach each functionFor example, the sections of Your sites y Your contributions now they are integrated into the lower lashes like Saved y ContributingSo, when you want to manage restaurant lists, create custom maps, or check places you want to visit, you'll do it from the bottom of the screen.
Features related to your activity and privacy, such as Your chronology’s most emblematic landmarks, the location history or the option of offline maps, they concentrate on the account selection menuThere you can also activate the incognito modeThis is a very useful option if you don't want your movements to be temporarily recorded in your history.
The advanced navigation tools you already know, such as share location in real time, Add several intermediate stops, measure distances between points, avoid tolls or highways, watch Fixed and mobile radars or activate the speedometerThey are still present. You'll simply find their buttons with a more consistent layout, adapted to the new design, both on the map and in the navigation settings.
In addition, newer features such as dark mode in navigation, integration with transportation services like Cabify, the use of augmented reality to move around on foot or the ability to know How many people are on public transport They benefit from the new menu scheme, allowing more direct access to filters and contextual options without cluttering the screen.
How to have this new Google Maps menu
We just have to check if we have Google Maps updates on Google PlayIf it's available, we download the update and we would already have itGoogle usually rolls out these redesigns gradually from its servers, so some people may see the new menu before others, even with the same version installed.
It seems to have rolled out to most of the world, so you shouldn't have any problem enjoying the new update. If the bottom menu with five tabs isn't appearing yet, or you don't see the change in the location and layers buttons, it's most likely a... gradual deployment and it will automatically activate on your device in the following days without you needing to do anything else.
Meanwhile, you can continue to take advantage of all the features of Google Maps for Android: share your location with friends, receive step by step directions, warn about accidents or traffic jams, activate the voice control using the wizard, search electric car charging pointsremember where you parked or download offline maps for traveling without data. The interface will continue to evolve, but the philosophy remains the same: put the map at the center, reduce cluttered menus, and make everything just one or two taps away.
With this redesign of the side menu and the reorganization of the options in the bottom menu and in your profile, Google Maps is establishing itself as a more organized applicationIt's more visual and better adapted to intensive mobile use, something you'll appreciate both on your daily commutes and when planning your next trips.