Despite the fact that Apple works hard to constantly improve its maps application, the reality is that Google Maps is still the most useful option for all users, so much so that it becomes the favorite choice even for iPhone users. It is because of that we want to teach you what are the tricks to use Google Maps like a real pros and be able to get the most out of it.
Discover with us this lot of secret features and curiosities of Google Maps that will help you make the most of the capabilities it offers on your iPhone and iPad.
Save your home and work addresses
Google Maps offers us an easier and faster way to navigate, especially when we want to go from somewhere directly to work or home. For that we can save these addresses in the section your sites. We show you how easy it is:
For that click on Saved and go to the last option called Labeled which is a private list. If we click on it, it will appear Home and Work as options. We simply add the address we want and it will be marked with a label. When we go to start browsing, these alternatives will always be offered to us first.
Quickly share your location
When you are in a place and you want to share the exact point, you can do it directly from Google Maps by sending a link, which will be extremely functional for Android users and not only for iOS users.
Simply open Google Maps, press any point on the map, in this case better if you do it right where you are, and The list of options will appear: How to get there / Start / Save… and if you slide these options from right to left, the Share. This will open the menu and we can quickly share our location.
Access Street View and search for nearby services
The Google Maps navigation screen is packed with stuff. If we click on the small photograph that appears in the lower right corner of the map, the Street View of the place that we have selected.
Similarly, at the top center we have an options selector, in which restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and much more appear. If we press any of these buttons, it will search for the best valued and closest related services so that we can go quickly.
You can zoom with one hand
This is extremely easy, and although we can zoom in and out by pinching the image, something that Apple has popularized since the arrival of its iPhone, the reality is that we can also zoom with one hand, without pinching.
For this we just have to do a quick double-click anywhere on the cartography in which we want to do close checks, this will allow us to zoom with one hand if we are driving or simply do not have both hands available.
Save maps for offline use
Google Maps is an excellent tool if we have mobile internet coverage and if we also have a GPS connection. This second is almost always available, but not when we talk about mobile data. But Google Maps allows us to use its navigation system even without internet.
For this we simply have to save offline maps. This is relatively simple, for that we must press anywhere on the map, move the options selector from right to left and choose the option Download.
Now we will simply have to select the area of the map that we want to download and that content will begin to be stored in our Google Maps application, which will make it faster and easier to navigate.
Check public transport
To consult public transport, its schedules and links, we simply have to select the point to which we want to move. Once we have done it, we will click on the option How to get and we will choose the train icon. This will show us the public transport routes.
If we also click on the selected route An informative drop-down will appear with the public transport schedules that we have selected, the remaining stops and the frequency of the same so that we can move.
Check your Google Maps timeline
You might think that no one knows the places you've been better than yourself, but this can be a huge mistake, because Google Maps knows the places you've been lately as well as or better than you. This is the chronology of Google Maps and you can quickly consult it through this link that will show you with red dots your locations.
I was surprised that a lot of information is missing from my locations, I don't know whether to be happy or not.
Create a route with multiple stops
When we establish the place to which we want to go and we have pressed the How to get, the route will appear. Now we just have to press the button (…) and choose from among all that the option shows us Add stop.
In addition, we will be able to access many other functionalities such as:
- Set different route options
- Set a reminder to leave at a certain time
- Share the ride and directions with someone
Save where you parked
Be careful, because losing a car in the big city is too easy. Google Maps has a solution for this. When you finish the journey simply press on the blue dot that determines your location and the option to save the parking location will appear.
Other tips and tricks
- If you click on the addresses marked with a "P" on the screen, You can select the car park or public car park to park.
- You can create your own custom maps and share them on this link.
- If you press en the microphone icon that appears in the text box for searches will open Google Assistant and you can request information and routes.
- The button in the upper right corner allows you to select between the different views of Google Maps as relief, satellite and traditional.
One more detail about zooming with one hand: you can zoom in and out. If you do a quick double tap you zoom in, but if after the second tap you leave your finger on the screen you can zoom in/out by moving your finger up/down without lifting it off the screen.