UPDATE: We are now expanding this feature to all Local Guides on Android devices.
Check out your new contributions tab
We know you love to make the map better — and now you’ll always know what to do next. Level 4+ Local Guides with Android devices now have access to the beta version of our new missions feature, which shows you where and how to make the biggest impact. You’ll see two new cards on the Contribute tab:
Uncover missing info: Find places nearby that need information most, like hours, website, or photos — and the best ways to snag more points.
Check the facts: Verify information that other people suggested about places nearby to make sure we always show the right stuff.
Venture outside or research online to complete your “missions.” Either way, you’ll know where your help is needed most. And yes, you earn points just as you would normally. We can’t wait to hear what you think. Happy exploring!
Not seeing the new feature?
This Beta is only available for Android users.
This Beta is currently only available for Local Guides Level 4 and 5
You need the latest version of Google Maps installed on your mobile device
You may need to restart the Maps app
EDIT: This feature is still rolling out to Local Guides
Thanks, that looks like a very cool addition. BUT:
I got a little problem with it: you say: “You need the latest version of Google Maps installed on your mobile device (9.36)”
It seems that the latest public released version of Google Maps (as of Sept, 6th, 2016) is 9.33.1 not 9.36.
On the beta channel, if you signed up, there is a 9.36.2, but again, this is a beta quality / testing version.
For many of us, Google is NOT updating fast enough the versions of our software. I clearly understand that they release apps in batches as to not create a mess i case something fails, that is clearly the smart way. But then, on the other side, the New “Contributions tab for Local Guides” should be made available for the most commonly installed version of the Google Maps apps, which seems to be 9.33.1, not 9.36.
So, many, as me, are no able to enjoy this great treat the “New Contributions tab for Local Guides” because of Maps versions issues.
Any comments on this are more than welcome and, hopefully Google notices and makes something to fix this issue…after all, the Local Guides communties are not that big in regards to the total active Android devices.
@febb I just confirmed this feature is still rolling out to Local Guides. Those who are part of Beta version of Maps get access to it quicker, but it will be available to you very soon Apologies for the delays.
@emceerad Currently this beta feature is only available on Android devices.
@PabloSanchez Glad you are enjoying it already! Yes, you earn points for making an edit through this interface just as if you had made the edit through maps directly.
@Mcfleury Yes, just as normal, only approved and published edits receive points. They don’t have to be peer-reviewed neccessarily though. We have a number of different review systems in place for edits. The delay in publishing is a known issue. The speed at which an edit is published depends on many factors and we are working on improving it.
When search for more, one “plus” will be listed per Place.
However, “plus” of multiple places can stack together, making it to select a particular Business to edit very difficult.
Even worse, when click “Next Place”, it will not cycle through Businesses of the same “stack” first. Thus it will jump around and make it very hard to make sure all places are being browsed already.
I love these new features!
I use them since they appeared few days ago.
I think that’s a great and quick way to enrich places’ datas and improve reliability of searches.
I especially like the fact that I can filter places based on missing information. I find this convinient as it helps me focus on the information I can contribute. I can filter places based on those missing website addresses and open my browser for a bit of research. Or I can filter based on photos and take a stroll around my neighborhood or further.
I hope that for those of us obsessesed with being Local Guides there will someday be a feature wherein we get notifications when we are close by places that are missing key information. It would be great to get notification that I am next to a place missing a photo for instance and just take out my phone and take a shot.
Apologies for the delays.