Google has made a number of changes to Google Maps, delivering users a “cleaner look” and incorporating “areas of interest”, amid reports that a Wi-Fi-only mode is being rolled out.Google has advised of the visual changes and additions, which will apply to desktop, Android and iOS, via a blog post.
As part of the update, Google states that it has “removed elements that aren’t absolutely required”, such as road outlines.
“The result is a cleaner look that makes it easier to see helpful and actionable information like traffic and transit,” Google states.
“And we’ve improved the typography of street names, points of interest, transit stations and more to make them more distinguishable from other things on the map, helping you navigate the world with fewer distractions.”
The new maps incorporate shaded orange areas of interest, representing “places where there’s a lot of activities and things to do”, with users able to zoom in and tap for more detail, while the update additionally delivers a new colour scheme, helping to differentiate between different features and identify places.
Meanwhile, Android Police reports that a Wi-Fi-only feature has been rolling out to users in the last couple of days, although noting that it appears it is being delivered in staged rollouts.
This feature will come in handy for users conscious of limiting data usage on their phone plan.
Users will be able to determine if Wi-Fi-only has arrived by looking in their Settings screen, with Android Police additionally reporting that it looks as if Google may be rolling out customisable notifications for mass transit delays.
While Android Police reports that it received screens for the mass transit delays notifications, the feature was not functioning and disappeared after Maps was relaunched, with it possibly being a one-off glitch, or possible that the feature is not yet ready to go live.
