Google Maps Tests Controversial New Navigation Features
▼ Summary
– Google Maps is testing a new interface for adding stops during navigation that replaces on-map listings with a bottom sheet card.
– The new design shows available stops with detour durations and includes filters like Open Now and Near destination to refine options.
– A dedicated Call button for each listing is being added, which is not available in the current navigation interface.
– Similar changes are being developed for Android Auto, though it will continue displaying places on the map in some views.
– Google Maps is also testing a Home chip feature that shows estimated arrival time and traffic conditions for the route home.
Navigating the world of digital maps just got more interesting, as Google Maps experiments with a fresh approach to adding stops during active trips. This potential redesign, discovered in a recent beta release, shifts key location information from the main map view to a convenient bottom sheet. While the app currently displays points of interest like restaurants and gas stations directly on the navigation screen, the new layout presents them on a card that users can swipe up to access fully.
This change isn’t merely cosmetic. The redesigned card provides a comprehensive list of available stops along your route. Each entry clearly shows the additional time required to make the detour, displayed either in specific minutes or with a “Quick detour” tag for minor delays. A particularly useful addition is the dedicated Call button for every listing, a feature absent from the current interface. To help users quickly find what they need, the card also includes filters such as Open Now, Near me, Halfway, and Near destination.
The evolution doesn’t stop with the smartphone app. Google Maps for Android Auto is undergoing similar modifications. Screenshots reveal the inclusion of filter icons for Near me, Halfway, and Near destination, along with an Open Now option. However, the Android Auto experience differs slightly, as it continues to show places directly on the map on certain screens. This suggests the smartphone version might eventually incorporate similar map markings, with the current beta possibly representing an early stage of the broader redesign. The fact that some buttons in this test build are not yet functional supports the idea that this is a work in progress.
Alongside this stop-related overhaul, Google Maps is also trialing another handy feature: a conveniently placed Home chip situated just below the search bar. This chip displays the estimated time of arrival for your journey home, complete with a color-coded indicator reflecting current traffic conditions, making the trip back quicker to plan and visualize.
(Source: Android Police)
