Sometimes, we fail to unlock the app’s full potential. Only benefitting from its USP, we fail to realize what else we can get from the application. Resultantly, multiple features that may be useful in one way or another remain in the shadows.
Google Maps is one such app that is albeit useful, yet it has a lot of hidden features that not many people know about. Users may think of it as a guide, merely taking them to their destined location. However, there’s more to Google Maps than just providing us the directions.
As Google Maps has always steered us in the right direction, we’re going to be your guide in exploring the hidden features of Google Maps.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
- Create a List of Destinations and Share it with Friends
- Offline Maps
- Use AR Lens to Find What’s Nearby
- Find Charging Stations for EVs
- Bottom Line
Create A List Of Destinations And Share It With Friends:
Some places remain on our wish list for a long period of time. Sometimes, we plan over and over again to visit such places, but can’t do it for some reason. Gradually, we may forget about such destinations that once, we badly wanted to explore.
Well, not anymore, because Google Maps lets you save it, and for all the good reasons, it won’t let you forget until you swing by those destinations. Be it restaurants, resorts, museums, or any place catching your attention, you can save it on Google Maps.
If you’re already visiting a place and don’t know much about it, Google Maps can let you know about attractions worth swinging by. Destinations can be arranged in any way you want and helps you to schedule your trip better. Also, it helps in avoiding unnecessary detours if you arrange them wisely.
The Best Part?
If you’re traveling with your friends, Google Maps lets you share it with them. Keeping them in the loop is one benefit, another is that they may let you know about the selected destinations. They can show their distaste or approval either by reacting to opted destinations or simply dropping a comment in the comments box.
A fun feature in Google Maps is to assign an emoji to the list. So, whenever you open the list, all the saved places on the maps can be viewed with the selected icon.
Offline Maps:
Sometimes, we face connectivity issues or don’t have internet access at all. Google Maps may seem useless, because it runs on the internet, right? Well, no, because while you’re at home and still have access to your home internet, Google Maps lets you download offline maps.
Offline maps are no different than online maps. However, except for guiding to the location, you won’t be able to use Google Maps for any other thing. That’s why in this connected world, it’s best not to get disconnected ever.
A sturdy internet connection like Spectrum with rare outages should be on your watchlist. Providing millions of lightning-fast hotspot zones all around the country, that too, without any additional cost, Spectrum can complement Google Maps. Call Spectrum Servicio al cliente now to know more about their plans and packages.
Use AR Lens to Find What’s Nearby:
Standing clueless in a crowded place, surrounded by skyscrapers and a lot of restaurants, it’s quite common for travelers visiting metropolitan areas. One may feel a bit helpless and depend on a stranger’s mercy and grace to guide them to their destination.
Nevertheless, have you noticed a camera icon in the search bar on Google Maps? Out of its multiple exciting features, one facet can really be helpful.
Pick up your mobile phone, open Google Maps, tap on the camera icon, scan the street you’re standing in, and see the magic. In no time, Google Maps will come up with all the important details of buildings that your camera lens has scanned.
If there’s a restaurant you want to visit, a bar, or an office, whatever is on the street, Google Maps will let you know. However, keep one thing in mind, this feature isn’t available in every city yet. That said, the list is constantly growing as more and more cities are listed in Google Maps.
Find Charging Stations for EVs:
A tour around the country on EV and GPS rambling on and on about which way to turn for your convenience, everything seems perfect, doesn’t it? Well, no, because you’re driving an EV and you just can’t ignore its dropping battery.
I know some EV owners who couldn’t locate nearby charging stations and ended up in the middle of nowhere. If only they had asked Google Maps to locate one for them, they could’ve stayed out of trouble.
Right below the search bar in Google Maps, you’ll find a “more” option. There, it shows plenty of red pins swarming the map with pop-ups, with a little lightning bolt icon on them. These are charging stations that await to charge up your EV’s batteries.
Also, if you only want to charge your EV with a recommended charger, select one charging station to find out what kind of charging station it has (i.e. slow, medium, or fast chargers). This way, you can take your EV on a ride, without ever worrying about charging stations because Google Maps will always find one for you.
Bottom Line:
See, Google Maps can do a lot besides keeping us on the right track. That said, Google may roll out new and exciting updates on Google Maps to make it more useful. Till then, enjoy these features, and do let us know in the comments if you’ve discovered other hidden features in the app!