Google Maps for Smartphones

Google Maps is the most popular map and navigation app in the world. Google Maps shows you much more than your location.

• You can view Maps as a typical line map showing roads and streets. You can zoom in and out and rotate your view.
• You can switch to a satellite view for a photographic map from space or a terrain view for land contours.
• You can toggle “layers” to view real-time traffic conditions, public transportation, and bicycle routes.
• Maps can give you real-time turn-by-turn directions and even re-route you if traffic conditions change.
• Maps is a powerful search tool. Use it to find businesses and landmarks.
• Maps incorporates location information, such as the opening and closing times of businesses and destinations.

Basic Google Maps skills

Open Maps . Maps will open with your location in the center of the map. You are shown as a blue dot, and the direction your device is pointing is displayed as a blue gradient fan.

With Google Maps open, try the following:

• Touch and drag the screen to a new location. Pinch in and out to zoom.
• Tap Recenter  to return the map to your current location.
• Place two fingers on the screen and rotate to turn the map. Tap the North  orientation icon to make the top of the map point north again. (You may have to be in portrait orientation for the icon to appear.)
• Tap Layers , then tap Satellite to add an actual view from space. Tap Satellite again to turn off.
• Tap Layers , then tap Traffic to view traffic flow conditions. Green means normal flow, yellow indicates slow traffic, and red indicates severely slowed or stopped traffic.

Using Maps to navigate

Google Maps can give you turn-by-turn audible directions when using an Android phone or tablet with a cellular data connection. Let’s use the navigation function to find a route to San Diego.

1. Tap the search bar and type or say “San Diego.”
2. Maps will display its suggested (fastest) route in blue. Traffic flow conditions will also show. Alternative routes are shown in gray, and an estimate of the time for each route is shown. You can tap an alternative gray route to select it. Times account for current conditions, including traffic slowdowns.

Searching for destinations

Besides entering actual street addresses or city names into Maps, you can use broad search terms.

• A place like “soho new york” (notice that capitalization isn’t important).
• Intersections like “broadway and 5th.”
• Landmarks like “statue of liberty.”
• City names like “st louis” (add a state if multiple cities have the same name).
• Zip codes.
• A type of business like “dry cleaners” or “restaurants.” If you do not specify the area, Maps will return results based on your current location. Type of food like “mexican food” or “deli.