Google Maps offline version, the initial
download takes place when you have a Wi-Fi connection, but after that, you’ll
be able to use the map anytime. (Photo: Marianna Massey/Corbis)
Nothing marks
you like a tourist more than a giant folding map. Sure, a map is one of the
best tools any traveler can have, but finding one that works offline on your
phone or tablet, with enough detail to actually be useful, has long been a
frustrating challenge.
Finally, Google
is rolling out its offline
solution for Google Maps. Just download an area of the world to your
phone, and when you find yourself in, say, rural Montana without any service,
you’ll still be able to see the same detail as if you had an Internet
connection, including directions, place information (like opening hours and
ratings), and the ability to search within the map.
The offline idea
has been floating around Google for a while now. The company previewed this
pending feature back in May, and even as early as 2012, you could save small
areas in a map to look at offline. But until now the offline offerings weren’t
that useful — it was basically like a screengrab, without interactive abilities
and not much square mileage.
That’s all about
to change. Need to search for a place to eat near your morning walking tour? No
problem. Want to find a cocktail bar close to your hotel? Done. Just download
your destination while you’re connected to Wi-Fi (for instance, before you
leave for your trip, or at the hotel), and then you’ll be able to access it
even when there’s no data in sight. The only differences will be that, because
of space constraints, businesses will not appear in your offline map with
photos or user reviews — though they will still have names, star ratings, and
phone numbers.
The new
functionality update is coming to Android first, starting today, and will soon
be available on iOS devices./editing by newsflash
No comments:
Post a Comment