Michal Ždanský Google announced today on its official blog that it is releasing a major update to the Google Maps app for iOS and Android, which appeared in the App Store as of this evening. There are quite a lot of changes in version 3.0, from various improvements to search and Uber integration to perhaps the biggest and most significant new feature, which is the ability to save parts of maps offline.
The ability to save map data offline is not a completely new function, it could be called up via hidden command, however the user had zero control over the cache. The official function can not only save maps, but also manage them. To save the map, first search for a specific location or stick a pin anywhere. A new button will then appear in the bottom menu Save the map for offline use. After pressing it, just zoom in or out on the viewport you want to save. Each saved part will have its own name, which you can change at any time.
Management is done in the profile menu (icon in the search bar) at the very bottom of the submenu Offline maps > View all and manage. Each of the maps has a limited validity, however you can always extend it to one month by updating. To give you an idea, downloading a map of the whole of Prague takes only a few tens of seconds and takes up 15 MB. You can normally zoom in and out on saved maps, but you cannot search them without an internet connection. However, as a navigation solution it is ideal.
As for navigation, there are also some significant improvements here. In some states, lane guidance is available for auto-navigation, similar to what some dedicated navigation apps do. However, don't count on it in the Czech Republic. Google has also integrated the service Uber, so if you have the client installed, you can compare your route with Uber's suggestion and possibly switch directly to the application. Navigation for public transport also includes information on the estimate and distance spent crossing between stops, so you will not only see the arrivals and departures of means of transport, but also the walking time.
The last major innovation, unfortunately not available for the Czech Republic, is the possibility of filtering results. In the case of hotels or restaurants, for example, you can narrow down the results by opening hours, rating or price. You will find other small improvements across the application - access to contacts (and saved addresses) directly from the application, search using Google Voice Search (also works in Czech) or map scale for better distance estimation. Google Maps 3.0 can be found for free in the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
[app url=”https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/google-maps/id585027354?mt=8″]
Why can't I save Slovakia?
Because it's not worth saving :)
If I didn't go there tomorrow, I would say the same thing :-D
don't go to Slovakia, phew
"To give you an idea, downloading a map of the whole of Prague takes only a few tens of seconds and takes up 15 MB. You can normally zoom in and out on saved maps, but you cannot search them without an internet connection. However, it is ideal as a navigation solution.”
Nice feature, but navigation doesn't work for me in offline mode, what am I doing wrong?
Well, I was just about to write that too… I tried it and the navigation doesn't work - basically it won't find the destination. It doesn't even work in "current location - pin" mode.
So it is only possible to zoom in and zoom out, as the article says.
Which I think is not enough :-(
Am I doing something wrong?
An offline version of Google maps is my dream, but every time there is disappointment - they can't and don't want to do anything like the offline mode of Google maps. What they call offline mode is a kind of cache, but it still requires an internet connection. If you don't believe it, try to "download" a map according to the instructions, then drop the application, disconnect from the Internet (preferably flight mode) and then launch the application. The maps will either not be displayed in the required quality, or they will immediately talk about connecting to the Internet.