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| Google Maps now allows smartphone owners to download portions of its map |
GOOGLE has rolled out a major update to its Google Maps app, which allows you to download directions to your smartphone.
Google is hard at work to make sure you’ll never get lost again. Even if you don’t have a mobile data connection.
An update to Google Maps allows smartphone owners to download maps before they hit the road.
This means the hugely popular navigation service will continue to work – even without a mobile signal.
Once an area is downloaded to your smartphone, you can access turn-by-turn driving directions, search for specific destinations within the saved area and search for useful information about places, including opening hours, local contact information and ratings.
Google Maps had previously allowed smartphone owners to cache a small area of its maps by typing “OK Maps” into the search field.
However the new update brings more functionality to the feature, such as the ability to check reviews of local businesses, even when you are offline.
To download an area of a city, county or country – tap the Download button on the small place sheet, or navigate to Offline Areas within the Google Maps menu and then hit the + symbol to download a new map.
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| Turn-by-turn navigation and local business reviews are also downloaded for offline use |
Once you have downloaded a section of the map, Google will automatically switch into offline mode when you lose connection, or get a spotty signal.
The new update could save you a small fortune in roaming fees, by allowing you to plan ahead and save parts of your map.
You can also download your local area, if you have a limited amount of mobile data in your monthly mobile plan.
However some Google Maps features, such as live traffic updates, are not available when using turn-by-turn navigation in Offline Mode.
By default, Google will only download areas to your device when you are connected to a wifi connection to save you any hefty mobile data fees.
According to research, some 60 per cent of the world is without Internet today, and even where online access is available – it can still be spotty.
Offline Maps is currently available via an update to the Google Maps app on Android.
The update is coming soon to iOS, Google has confirmed.
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| The new functionality is available now for Android users - and coming soon to iOS |
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