Google just announced the biggest upgrade to Maps in over a decade. The company has introduced two major features to the navigation app – Ask Maps and Immersive navigation.
Announcing the new features, Google said that Ask Maps is a new conversational experience that answers complex, real-world questions a map could never answer before. Now you can ask for things like, “My phone is dying — where can I charge it without having to wait in a long line for coffee?” or “Is there a public tennis court with lights on that I can play at tonight?, Google says. Of the two, only the Ask Maps feature is available on Google Maps.
Before you start using the feature, make sure your app is updated and the device is running the latest version of Google Maps. First things first. Here’s how to check app version: On Android: Open the Google Play Store, search for Google Maps, and tap Update if one is available. Another key capability of Google Maps’ Ask Maps feature is its ability to factor in the specific needs of the people you are planning for — not just your own general preferences.
The feature is currently available in the US and India. Ask Maps is supported in English with Hindi support coming soon. Here’s how to get started with Google Maps’ Ask Maps feature