I’ve been using Google Maps for years, but even I sometimes have trouble navigating the app. What upset most people wasn’t about Google’s massive redesign from last year. I am happy with the new colors so I have no intention of going back to the previous palette. This actually proves that we can easily adapt to an app’s user interface and adapt quickly, even when change seems scary.
What I don’t like is that I have to constantly pull up and down to open menus or check information meanwhile I’m navigating. It happens all the time when I’m walking or taking public transport, but it’s even worse when I’m driving. Sometimes I get lost in the menu and forget what I was looking for.
This is even more of a hassle when you’re dealing with a brand new city that you need to navigate to quickly reach a specific destination. It’s hard to imagine how difficult it is for non-technical users to navigate Google Maps.
A few months ago, Google gave us a brief look at what the new Google Maps UI would look like. The app may do away with full-screen menus and provide more contextual information about where you are on the map. It also allows you to display a large portion of the map instead of cluttering the navigation panel with other UI elements.
A teaser for the redesign in early February read:
It turns out that Google isn’t abandoning UI changes. This is great news. Instead, Google is tweaking the design changes and is now offering an early look at the redesign.
Since discovering the first UI design test in February, 9to5Google Google said it removed it from Android devices after a few weeks. However, Google has again conducted a similar Google Maps design test based on an earlier version. The full-screen information sheet has been replaced with a panel with rounded corners that doesn’t take up the entire display. You’ll still see the map at the top, making navigation within the app easier than before.
Google also placed a simple “X” button on the info sheet to show you how to close the panel and focus on the map.
Speaking of maps, minimizing the info sheet will reveal more maps and navigation suggestions. It’s a nice upgrade, at least for me. I use Google Maps to find places around me, but I need it for navigation more than anything else.
After traveling for a few weeks and using Google Maps a lot to find stores, places to eat, hotels, and take public transportation, I can definitely say I would have appreciated a redesign. The UI is much cleaner now, making it much easier to find your way within the Google Maps app.
As always with unreleased features in Google Maps, nothing is final for now. Google is still testing the redesign and the new UI is only available on Android versions 11.127.x and higher. This assumes Google has made it available in your region or device. As an iPhone user, I don’t have access to any of them.
However, if Google is happy with the new UI, it will also be available on Android and iPhone. You can take a closer look at the new design changes by following this link. 9to5Google We’ve captured a number of screenshots highlighting the changes.