Google Maps News November 2023

[MortenCopenhagen]

Yesterday Google announced some interesting new and upcoming improvements to Google Maps.

Better public transportation guidance

Soon we will be able to select not only the best route but also:

• fewer transfers,
• less walking,
• wheelchair accessible, or
• lowest cost.

I’m looking very much forward to trying out these new features.

Station exits and entrances

In over 80 cities worldwide — including Berlin, Boston, London, Madrid, New York City, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto — we will soon see where the station entrances and exits are. While in Tokyo, I noticed this. And I loved the recommendations on which train car to ride, and which exit to take. Brilliant service, although the recommended train car was not always correct!

Collaborative lists

Google also explained how we now can co-create lists with friends. Honestly, I don’t believe this is a new feature. But list collaborators will be able to express how they like the places on a list using emojis. Emojis on list entries are new.

Emoji reactions started rolling out globally yesterday

In the Maps app, we can soon react to reviews and photos with new and fancy emojis. They are animated and can express feelings while also showing one of the ingredients. They will make Maps feel more like social media. I’m looking forward to learning if these new animated emotions will inspire Local Guides to add more photos and reviews, and if they will be a move towards getting better photos and reviews. I don’t think Local Guides will be able to see who added such emoji reactions to their contributions.

In the video below you can see the new and animated reactions being made.

November 16, 2023

Are you excited about these improvements?

All the best

Morten

Thanks to @AdrianLunsong for alerting me to this news.

[KattyGeltmeyer]

I’m happy with the public transport inovations but not with the emoji’s thing. Maps is already a crowdy, visual thing, and I’m not sure this will be an improvement for visually impaired users.

[AdrianLunsong]

@MortenCopenhagen Wow! You move really fast and got all that done in the minutes since I mentioned the update!

@KattyGeltmeyer I’m fairly neutral about the emoji feature. I guess it adds a ‘fun’ element to the liking process. Like Morten, I’m also curious to see how the community will respond to this and if it means more people will spend some time to like a photo. But I also hear you about how the UI can feel a bit too busy at times!

I can’t remember when Google Maps had a big layout refresh but hopefully something will be done soon. I was fortunate to speak to the Googler involved with the UX at the recent Connect Moderator event in Tokyo and I did mention to her that there’s just so much visual elements and information on a POI page that it can feel overwhelming and confusing.

[KattyGeltmeyer]

I’m not against emoji’s and visual content, but if the focus is mainly on this visual content, they often forget the textual content. Still the pedestrian modus for the blind isn’t available in Europe, for giving just one argument. Visual content is fun, I’m sure, but if you are totally blind and want to use google maps, you also need text and good info about the way you must follow.

[ShailendraOjha]

i have an excellent experience in route selection, once in a while I have traveled by taxi car, Google maps updates me in five routes in one destination it was amazing for me & all routes were free to traffic jam. moterbike bike travel time Google map shows only one route selection. if you change the route then Google map showed you other routes. @MortenCopenhagen & @AdrianLunsong

[TusharSuradkar]

In Tokyo, I too noticed train car recommendations for the nearest exit, and the exit from station to take was indispensable.

@MortenCopenhagen

[Amiran]

Thanks for this update post @MortenCopenhagen

I have the same idea as @KattyGeltmeyer , although emoji reactions could bring more fun and engagement to Google Maps and it is nice, I have doubt about what side effects it could have. But I understand Google brings this to keep the social aspect of the map on the line with other social networks.

@TusharSuradkar Indeed Google Maps in Japan is one step forward than any part of the world even the US! Google tests many features there before making them public.

[TusharSuradkar]

Thats is a very good point @Amiran

Many features on Google Maps are tested in advanced countries like Japan and US since the infrastructure is available there.

[YuliiaZa]

@MortenCopenhagen The variety of reactions is quite interesting, but showing station entrances/exits is what I appreciate the most. It can help a lot in large cities.

[Abdul0965]

عمدہ معلموات شیئر کرنے کا شکریہ،

[ArturVictoria]

@Mortencopehagen that 's realy an important improovement about the railways stations.Thanks for sharing

Cheers

[ShailendraOjha]

Earlier Google Maps don’t show me road option navigation but now it does. It’s a big update for me & like other motorbike riders. now I can say thanks to the Googler & Google map navigation team. I shared the screenshot of the Google map Road navigation option.

sir @MortenCopenhagen &

Googler @DeniGu

Caption : foto frame Google map Road navigation option.

[Rajatsah007]

Thanks @MortenCopenhagen to share this information. I hope in bhubaneswar, odisha I could maintain this while travelling to different places. Also other areas where I access in weekends.