Travel safely during COVID-19 with Google Maps' safety features

Google Maps is introducing a slew of features to help you navigate through a world with the COVID-19 pandemic. The company gets its data from local, state, and federal governments and their sites to provide more accurate information for its users. Let's take a look at some of these features under the cut:

Click to read more ...

Google Maps now shows wheelchair accessibility information

In honour of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Google Maps introduces a new feature that lets you know whether a location is wheelchair accessible. The navigation app has wheelchair accessibility information for over 15 million places around the world. When you have the feature enabled, you will see if a location has an accessible entrance when there's a wheelchair icon on a place's listing. When you scroll further, you'll find out if the establishment offers accessible seating, restrooms, and parking. You need to make sure you have the latest version of Google Maps on your Android or iOS device to get access to this new handy feature. Once you've updated, head to Settings and select Accessibility. From there, find Accessible Places.

The feature though, is only as good as the people who contribute to it. And so, Google is bringing to iOS devices an easier way to contribute accessibility information. Android users can already share this information on their devices. According to iPhone in Canada, the guide comes with tips for rating accessibility, in case you aren't sure about what counts as being "accessible."

Google Maps redesigns real-time location sharing on Android

Screenshots courtesy of 9to5Google

A new server-side update for Google Maps introduces a simplified, cleaner look for its location sharing feature. Its redesign better aligns with the rest of the navigation apps' material design. It has a new floating action button for "New Share" and below that is a list of who you are sharing your location with. Before the redesign, this information was displayed at the top of the screen.

The share menu itself gets a new look for the header text and options panel. The default setting shares your location for an hour, but there's a button you can tap that has "+" and "-" options to adjust the time. There is also an "until you turn this off" option. If you want to learn what kind of data is being shared, there's a link to view this information. Since it's a server-side update, you don't need to do anything. Just make sure you have the latest version of Google Maps.

Source: 9to5Google

Google Maps has a new filter to identify plug types at EV charging stations

The latest useful feature added to Google Maps will let users know what plug type is available at electric vehicle charging stations. With different charging connectors used by car manufacturers being able to identify what EV charging station has will be useful. To access the new feature, head to Google Maps > Settings > Electric Vehicle Settings >Your Plugs > Choose and save. And so when you search for an EV station, it will only show you ones that are compatible with the car you are using.

Source: GizmoChina