Google Maps gets a makeover home screen customized for Indian users

BENGALURU: Watch Out! This week, Google will roll out its new home screen on Maps for Android, specifically designed for people in India.

Cathay Bi, Product Manager Google Maps, had written in the statement that, “After you update to the latest version of Google Maps, you’ll see newly added shortcuts on the home screen that help you explore the app in just a few quick taps. We’re also making sure the new home screen loads fast - so the millions of people in India coming online can discover and share great places, even on spotty connections.”

The new Google Maps app will allow you to instantly see directions card with different modes of transportation. Whether you’d like to take the bus to Connaught Place in New Delhi or you are planning to go by foot to a new mall that just opened nearby, you can start planning your route with a single tap. And if you’d like to access a certain route while you’re on the go without using data, you can save the route to be used offline.

Below the directions card, you’ll also see icons highlighting some of the other useful features on Maps - from getting a first impression of a place with satellite imagery, to real-time information about traffic around you, to more details about public transport lines when you’re on the road. In addition, with a tap on the download icon, you can save a specific map area for offline use even when you lose connectivity.