I all the time set up Google Maps Go on my Android telephones, and you need to too

A number of years in the past, Google constructed a lightweight model of Android, Android Go, for lower-end telephones with slower processors and restricted assets. Google launched gentle “Go” variations of a few of its personal apps particularly for these telephones, and considered one of them is Maps Go. On paper, there’s no motive you need to use this barebones model of Google Maps if you have already got the full-blown app in your cellphone. However I all the time set up Google Maps Go along with Maps on my Android telephones, even essentially the most highly effective ones. Why? Blame Maps.

In case you’ve ever used Google Maps previously few years, you in all probability perceive this declare with out me explaining it: Google Maps is ineffective when you launch navigation. Whether or not I’m getting driving or strolling instructions, as soon as I’ve the turn-by-turn navigation on, there’s nothing else I can do within the app. I can add a cease, and that’s simply it. Search turns into almost ineffective, my saved locations disappear, and anyplace particulars vanish.

To elucidate why this is a matter, image this: I’m strolling someplace, and I spot a pleasant restaurant on the road, however I can’t see its score, opinions, images, menu, or make a reservation. If I faucet on it, Maps will need to add it as a cease to my stroll with out permitting me to see its particulars. No, I’ve to exit navigation, examine the place, then seek for my unique vacation spot as soon as once more and restart navigation. It’s unnecessarily hacky and sophisticated. Plus, there’s no option to do a correct, thorough search whereas navigation is ongoing. You get a cursory search alongside your route for some place sorts, however nothing extra.

Nevertheless, if I’m utilizing public transit instructions (not driving/strolling), Google lets me faucet on locations close by to see their particulars with out interrupting navigation, however I can’t do any search in any respect — not even alongside my route. I’m unsure why there’s this discrepancy, but it surely signifies that the entire app is mainly ineffective, regardless of which mode of transportation I’m utilizing.

It’s infuriating. I depend on Google Maps loads as a result of I dwell in another country, in a metropolis I haven’t memorized just like the again of my hand but, and I usually journey to discover close by cities. Utilizing instructions to get anyplace is crucial for me, however so is wanting up locations, and the truth that I can’t do that whereas doing that blows my thoughts.

I swear there was a time when you may return whereas maintaining your navigation energetic, however that’s now not the case. For months, I appeared for an answer to no avail, then it hit me: Google Maps Go!

Google Maps Go is a lighter, extra primary model of Google Maps. It weighs round 2MB, solely requires the situation permission, doesn’t ship any notifications, and doesn’t want a super-fast connection to work. It has all of the common Maps information, however the navigation is fairly barebones (there’s no dwell steerage for transit, for instance), and it lacks some further prospers like offline maps, timeline saving, and search filters. However for the aim of getting a secondary Maps occasion that I can open every time the principle app is taken over by an ongoing navigation, it’s excellent — and higher than simply bookmarking maps.google.com in my browser.

So, every time I’m strolling, driving, or commuting someplace, and I must seek for close by locations or to lookup the small print of a pub, restaurant, or any attention-grabbing place I’m passing by, I simply open Maps Go and use it. That retains my navigation intact in the principle app and saves me from having to cease and begin it once more.

I can merely lookup the small print of anyplace, see its score and opinions, opening hours, look over some images, examine the menu or web site, and put it aside to my lists, too.

I do miss having extra highly effective filters whereas looking to slender down outcomes, and there are occasions when I’ve to cease Maps Go from directing me over to the principle app, however I’ll take these small niggles over the infuriatingly foolish means Maps offers with ongoing navigation. I’d somewhat use a second, extra restricted app than waste time stopping and resuming step-by-step instructions.

Till the Maps group fixes this oversight in the principle app, Google Maps Go may have a everlasting place on any of my Android telephones. I simply hope Google doesn’t kill it or cease supporting it quickly — in any case, the final time it was up to date was in October of 2023. That doesn’t bode effectively for it, sadly.