Google wants you to use Google Maps for more than just getting to your destination. The company updated Maps for Android and iOS to include a new Explore feature, which will take on competing apps like Yelp (Android | iOS) and Foursquare (Android | iOS).
The Explore button, located at the bottom right of the screen, shows you different places and activities around you. You can filter by distance, time of day, and type of place. And of course, you’ll get ratings from Zagat and users as well as business information.
This means you won’t be seeing results of restaurants that are closed, since Maps will detect the time of day. Maps is even aware of weather conditions, making sure you don’t head to a park when it’s about to rain.
Maps, like Google Now, will learn where you frequent and will offer suggestions based on your location history. To train the app, you’ll have to confirm the places you visit on the map. You can do this by tapping on the My Loaction button. Of course, you’ll need to turn on your location services and history for any of this to work.
Android users will see the update without doing anything as it’s being pushed to your phone via Google Play Services. iOS users should be seeing an update in the App Store soon.
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Source: Google Maps | Background header image: Jamie McCaffrey
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