Tips and tricks with Google Maps..

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al_yrpal
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Tips and tricks with Google Maps..

Post by al_yrpal »

1. Goodbye pinch-and-zoom, hello one-handed zoom

Simply double-tap the screen, but keep your finger on it after the second tap and then swipe down to zoom in or swipe up to zoom out.

2. Save maps to use offline on your phone or tablet

Whether you’re on 3G or 4G, mobile data connections can be flaky – especially if you’re outside a major city. You may also want to turn data off while abroad to avoid a large bill. Fortunately, you can save maps for offline use and access them later in the main menu under Your Places:

Android: Tap the mic and say ‘OK Maps’ to save the maps.
Apple iOS: In the top-right, tap the three-dot menu and tap ‘Save offline map’.
3. Send directions from a computer to Android/iOS devices

You can ping over directions you’ve looked up on a laptop to a phone or tablet using the Send to device option, just as long as you’re signed into your Google account on all devices.

Enable the option in iOS via Google Maps > Settings > Notifications > Sent from desktop maps.

4. Set scale, units, places, home/work and view history

In the Google Maps menu lies Settings, where you can set distance units, enable map scaling and view/edit maps and locations history. Your places lists offline maps, saved locations, and the option to set Home and Work addresses. The Google Now app synchronises this information across app and desktop versions and gives you real-time traffic updates – handy to check before heading off to work or on a trip.

5. Orient yourself when out-and-about

Ever wonder if you’re facing the right (correct) direction? Tap the compass icon and the map shifts to face the same direction you are. Tap again to revert to the default ‘North up’ view.

6. Catch the last train, view public transport, traffic and cycling routes

Enrich standard and satellite maps by adding layers from the menu. There’s Cycling, Terrain, Public Transport and Traffic – the latter two with real-time information, such as red lines warning of heavy traffic or upcoming departures and arrivals for bus, train and tube stops (and the routes serving them). To view the last trains and buses tap the train icon, load the route, then tap Settings > Last > Done.

7. Effortless voice and ‘nearby’ searches

Search by speaking places names in Android, via Siri in iOS on an iPhone, or your PC microphone. If you’re looking for points of interest, such as a car park or cash machine, or want to grab lunch in an area you don’t know, simply search using the word ‘near’, for example ‘cafes near Bristol train station’.

8. Off-road street view with ‘Views’ and ‘Treks’.

Treks takes Google’s Street View camera from the car roof and onto a helmet, boat and so on. Explore Yosemite National Park in the US, cruise around the canals of Venice, view the majestic Northern Lights and much more.

9. God-view mode

Fancy flying around London, New York or just between home and your local chippy? Get a unique view with this combination of Google Maps and Google Earth.

Phone/Tablet: You’ll need both the Google Maps and Google Earth apps installed. In Maps, tap the menu button and select Google Earth to open. Place two fingers on the on-screen map and change the viewpoint as you wish: to rotate the map, move them in a circular direction; to tilt, move them up or down the screen; or pinch them towards or away from each other to zoom in and out.

PC/Mac: Search for a landmark/location, such as the Empire State Building.

google-maps-god-mode-a
Click the square named Earth in the bottom-left corner. Click the Tilt view icon (it looks like four tiles) to change the angle.

google-maps-god-mode-b
Finally, position the map as required – hold down the Ctrl key and use your mouse to move it, and use + and - symbols to zoom in/out. As you zoom by past certain major landmarks, they’ll appear in 3D.

google-maps-god-mode-c
10. Google Maps ‘Easter Eggs’

A few of the best (chocolate-free) surprises, which are best experienced using Google Maps on a laptop:

Search for directions between ‘Brecon Beacons‘ and ‘Snowdon‘, and check the transport options to discover a rapid, but rather toasty, scaly route.
Search for directions between ‘Fort Augustus‘ and ‘Urquhart Castle‘, choose the train/bus icon and check the transport options to have a local beastie help you on your way (choose ‘fewer transfers’ if you can’t see the unusual method).
Locate Dr. Who’s TARDIS on a London street and venture inside.
Drag ‘peg man’ over Area 51 in Nevada and he turns into a spaceship.
google-maps-area-51-zoom2-s

Hope you find this useful

Al
Reuse, recycle, thus do your bit to save the planet.... Get stuff at auctions, Dump, Charity Shops, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Car Boots. Choose an Old House, and a Banger ..... And cycle as often as you can......
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Heltor Chasca
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Re: Tips and tricks with Google Maps..

Post by Heltor Chasca »

Immensely! Thank you Al...b
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barrym
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Re: Tips and tricks with Google Maps..

Post by barrym »

[THUMBS UP SIGN]
--
Cheers
Barry
granville2
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Joined: 25 Jun 2009, 7:37pm

Re: Tips and tricks with Google Maps..

Post by granville2 »

Google also have another mapping system called "my maps" whilst it is free to use, you need to register to use it. This allows you to prepare routes, then save and download them, something you cannot do in Google maps. I have used it to prepare three long tours in the past couple of year.
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Mick F
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Re: Tips and tricks with Google Maps..

Post by Mick F »

1. With Macs, you zoom in and out with two fingers only. No need to click anything.
Upwards zooms in, downwards zooms out.
Mick F. Cornwall
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Si
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Re: Tips and tricks with Google Maps..

Post by Si »

11. Don't believe anything google maps says about cycle paths and cycle friendly roads when in bike mode. Dunno about where you ate but they are virtually all wrong around here, with some extremely busy and fast roads marked as cycle friendly, and lots of places where cycling is not allowed marked as cycle paths.
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RickH
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Re: Tips and tricks with Google Maps..

Post by RickH »

Another method of zooming with the Android app is to double tap to zoom in and put one finger on then double tap with a second to zoom out. In a PC browser double left mouse click zooms in & double right click zooms out. you can zoom in and out with the mouse wheel too. With the Android app sliding 2 fingers up or down tilts the map (similar to the tilt button in the browser version) & moving two fingers in a circular movement turns the map round (tap on the compass that appears in the top right to return to North up).

If you find errors in Google Maps you can always let them know so they can correct things (once they've checked that you're right) - I've done that a few times (route closures, reopenings, etc.) & found they are generally responsive to feedback like that. There is a "Send Feedback" in the menu of both the app and the browser version (plus a clickable link at the bottom right of the browser version).

Rick
Former member of the Cult of the Polystyrene Head Carbuncle.
simonhill
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Joined: 13 Jan 2007, 11:28am
Location: Essex

Re: Tips and tricks with Google Maps..

Post by simonhill »

Interesting anomaly for S Korea. If you use 'Route' as a way to find the distance to somewhere, then it only shows public transport route with time, but no distance. This is a pain as I normally use this function to work out my overnight stops.

I wondered if was a changed (updated) function that I had missed, but it still works in good ol' Essex, so it must just be Korea. Wonder if it is a security thing, after all they are still at war.
Weimarunner
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Joined: 19 Apr 2014, 2:58pm

Re: Tips and tricks with Google Maps..

Post by Weimarunner »

Excellent tips, very handy, thanks!
simonhill
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Joined: 13 Jan 2007, 11:28am
Location: Essex

Re: Tips and tricks with Google Maps..

Post by simonhill »

Just read on BBC news that Google maps will now be available offline. You will be able to download sections of maps ( presumably much larger than old sections). Basic navigation will also be available.
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