Google Maps has modified the best way customers can conceal the search bar and different consumer interface parts on its app for Android and iOS gadgets. Beforehand, customers may merely faucet wherever on the map to cover the UI and see the complete map. Now, customers must swipe up on the search bar to do the identical factor.
The change was observed by some customers within the Google Maps Assist discussion board in February and has now been rolled out to all gadgets. The brand new gesture is to assist customers see the complete map, however some customers discover it much less intuitive and handy than the previous one.
One other consequence of the change is that tapping wherever on the map now drops a pin instantly, which may be helpful for some customers however annoying for others. The change additionally impacts how customers can dismiss different UI parts, such because the Discover sheet and the situation listings.
Alternatively, generally customers must swipe up two instances to make the UI disappear. The underside bar reveals the “Newest in [area]” sheet from Discover, and they should swipe as soon as to do away with that UI, and one other time to cover the remainder of the UI. However when there are location listings, customers solely have to swipe up one time.
Google Maps is without doubt one of the hottest and extensively used apps on the earth, and any change to its performance can have a major impression on consumer expertise. It isn’t clear why Google determined to make this variation or whether or not it would revert it sooner or later.
In the meantime, a gaggle of tech giants, together with Meta, Microsoft, Amazon and TomTom, has launched a brand new initiative to supply open map information for builders. The Overture Maps Basis, established final yr, has not too long ago launched its first dataset, containing details about tens of millions of locations and transport networks all over the world.
The coalition hopes to interrupt the duopoly of Google and Apple within the on-line map market, which frequently cost app makers for utilizing their maps as a service. By providing the underlying map information without cost or at a low value, Overture goals to allow extra innovation and competitors within the mapping and navigation sector. The information was collected and donated by Meta and Microsoft, and verified and edited by Overture.
The group claims that its information is extra correct and complete than different open map sources, reminiscent of OpenStreetMap, which depends on crowdsourced info.