The route selection screen on Google Maps could soon get a much-needed facelift. Recent beta releases let you pre-select your preferred modes of travel for a cleaner UI. Google’s navigation app is also rolling out a floating route box that covers less map space. The company has been working on these changes since at least February last year. More users seem to be getting the redesigned UI lately.
Twitter user @GreenShades9 has shared screenshots from Google Maps beta v11.28.0 that show a new trip options interface where you can select your preferred modes of travel (via). The selected modes will be prioritized in your search results. This will remove unnecessary components from the screen, allowing for a cleaner UI.
This isn’t an entirely new feature that Google has developed. You can already pre-select your most-used travel modes on Maps from your Google account settings on the Google app. The selections only apply to direction queries made via Google Assistant but it serves the same purpose. So making it available on Maps is an ideal move. It will be interesting to see whether Google merges the selections across the two apps or keeps them specific to the respective apps.
In addition to the new trip options interface, Google Maps is also testing a floating box for the origin and destination stations of your journey. Earlier, it was a white panel that covered a large space at the top of the screen. The new floating box takes less space as it gets rid of the transport mode suggestions. The modal suggestions find a new place at the bottom of the screen. It’s a slide-in panel that lets you pick one of your preferred modes to have Maps show directions for that route.
Google Maps is readying subtle UI changes
As said earlier, these UI changes for Google Maps have been in the works for over a year now. It has been slow progress but the company now seems to be ready for a wider rollout. According to an Android Police report, some users are seeing the changes in the stable release as well (version 11.27.2). So this could be an A/B test. More users should be getting the updated UI in the coming weeks.
If Google Maps is your go-to navigation app, these changes could enhance your user experience. You can click the button below to download the latest stable version of the app from the Google Play Store.
2022-05-04 15:06:28