What you need to know
- The previously spotted Google Maps user interface changes are now rolling out after facing another round of development.
- The Maps update introduces a “sheet-based” style and also changes the way users experience directional information in the search bar.
- Google previously detailed several AI features coming to Maps and also informed users about a web feature that is being phased out and coming to Android.
A Google Maps redesign that has been in development for the past few months is finally coming to Android devices for the stable version of the app.
After putting it back in the oven, 9a5Google reports that Google has begun rolling out its Maps UI update on Android. To start, the version 11.136.x Google is changing the way users experience address searches. It was discovered that the UI now displays the starting location and the final destination after asking. Google has also moved the mode switcher to the bottom of the UI.
The flip side of these changes is a new “sheet-based” user interface, which affects the locations we see in the app. Now, when searching for a place, users will see a new moving sheet at the bottom of the app. It seems this is designed to give users more freedom when looking for written information or when they want to see more of the map.
This new sheet is expandable, which users can do by long-pressing the grey handle and swiping up the screen. It will contain details such as location names, ratings, addresses, reviews, photos and more, similar to the previous design.
The post notes that users can quickly exit Maps’ new expandable sheet to search for places by pressing the “X” or swiping left or right on their devices. Also, the old “swipe up on the search bar” feature to hide is gone. The expandable sheet appears to take care of that after it reaches a certain height.
The update should start rolling out to more Android devices as the week progresses. We’ve already noticed the update internally, so more people should be getting it soon. The post notes that iOS phones haven’t received it yet.
Google’s work to revamp the Maps user interface It was spotted earlier this year. in February. Many of the changes that were planned in that test version have been incorporated into the stable version of the application.
The world of maps has been relatively quiet. However, Google has given clues What’s up Gen AI Features coming soon. The company detailed a few features, such as one that will help users find locations and also offer predefined options. The AI will display your results based on category, review summaries, and more.
Meanwhile, outside of the mobile maps space, Google Another feature was removed Google Maps Timeline will be discontinued for web users on December 1 and will be coming to Android for mobile users.