10 Lesser Known Features Of Google Maps: Gemini's Inclusion, Finding EV Station, Remembering Vehicle's Parking Location, More

If you are new to Google Maps, here are ten features that will help you become the king of navigation.

Now you can find the nearest EV charging station in just a few seconds.

Source : Getty

Google Maps has evolved into a crucial aspect of our daily routines. Its utility extends beyond basic navigation, encompassing tasks such as finding popular coffee shops in unfamiliar locales and sharing live location updates with friends and family for added convenience and safety. Discovering its vast array of features can unveil the true extent of its capabilities.

For newcomers to Google Maps, here are ten functionalities that can enhance your experience with the world's leading mapping application:

• Gemini Meets Google Maps: Google Maps has been enhanced with advanced generative AI capabilities through Gemini. This integration allows users to initiate navigation to a designated destination solely through voice commands. The tighter integration between these functionalities facilitates smooth interaction, simplifying access to Google Maps, particularly during bike rides.

• EV Rescuer: For electric vehicle (EV) owners, finding a charging station is now simpler than ever. Simply select your charger type on Google Maps and search for "electric vehicle charging stations near me." Maps will then display the nearby charging stations suitable for your EV, whether it's a two-wheeler, three-wheeler, or even a four-wheeler.

• Sharing Live Location Indefinitely: With Google Maps, you have the option to share your real-time location with friends and family, which is particularly useful when exploring unfamiliar locations. You can choose to share your location for a set duration or indefinitely, but remember that you'll need to manually disable it to stop sharing your location data. Keep in mind that this feature may drain your phone's battery faster than usual.
• No Hassle To Remember Where You Parked Your Vehicle: In many contemporary cities, finding parking spaces can be challenging, and remembering the location of our parked vehicles adds to the inconvenience, especially in areas with similar surroundings. With the "Save Your Vehicle Parking Location" feature, you can pinpoint and save the precise GPS coordinates of your vehicle, simplifying the task of locating your car or bike when you return.
• Travelling Back In Time: Using Google Maps, you have the option to revisit the past and observe how a specific place or location appeared several years ago through the street view time travel feature. It's important to mention that this functionality is limited to certain places and locations.
• Having A Weatherman At Your Call: Now, you can access live weather updates for your current location directly within the Maps app, which also includes details about the air quality index. Google Maps has integrated weather forecasts, providing travellers with convenient tools to plan ahead.
• Offline Navigation: Users can utilise Google Maps to download the map of a particular city, ensuring seamless navigation even in areas with poor network coverage. This offline map feature proves invaluable, particularly when exploring unfamiliar locations where network connectivity may be unreliable.
• Accessing Indoor Live View: It's common to get disoriented in large places like airports or malls, but the indoor live view feature makes navigation a breeze. You can effortlessly find your way to your boarding gate or a specific store. However, please note that this feature is currently available in over 10,000 locations, mainly major airports and popular malls in countries such as the US.
• Saving Work And Home Location: During rush hours, travelling can be challenging, but you can rely on Google Maps to discover the quickest routes with minimal traffic congestion effortlessly. Ensure to input your home and office addresses in the Maps application; it will then automatically determine the optimal route as you depart from either location.
• Discovering New Places: The forthcoming feature on Google Maps, currently accessible to certain users, simplifies the process of exploring new places. You can now inquire about various locations, such as party venues or home appliance stores, and Google Maps will provide an AI-generated summary to assist you in selecting the most suitable option.