Xiaomi is one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world, and they’ve done so without having an active footprint in the US. That could be about to change as the company is planning to enter the US market by the end of 2018 or early 2019.
Xiaomi Chairman Lei Jun says the US is next on the radar having expanded into Western Europe recently.
“We plan to start entering the market by end 2018, or by early 2019.”
While the company is not absent from the US as users can purchase unlocked devices from various online retailers, Xiaomi lacks the vital carrier deal that would see it a mainstream competitor. Landing a carrier deal isn’t the only issue facing the company from cracking the US as the government also advise against purchasing Chinese produced products. Huawei, for example, was banned from bidding for US contracts back in 2014 and have seen the smartphone sales take a massive hit because of it. Huawei had planned to launch the new Mate 10 Pro flagship in the US through AT&T, only for the carrier to cancel the deal at the last moment before its scheduled announcement.
If Xiaomi can avoid the same fate as Huawei, then it could stand a chance of claiming a portion of the US smartphone market. The devices Xiaomi offer are exceptionally well made and affordable, of which we know there is a considerable market.
Drop us a comment below – would you buy a Xiaomi device on Verizon for example?
Previously available only for owners of the Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, Google’s AI camera feature, Google Lens is now available for more devices.
The feature is currently rolling out to Android users (and iOS users later on) and can be found in the Photos app.
Rolling out today, Android users can try Google Lens to do things like create a contact from a business card or get more info about a famous landmark. To start, make sure you have the latest version of the Google Photos app for Android: https://t.co/KCChxQG6Qm Coming soon to iOS pic.twitter.com/FmX1ipvN62
During MWC 2018 last week, Google also said owners of flagship Android devices from Samsung, Huawei, LG, Motorola, Sony, and Nokia will also be able to access Google Lens through the Google Assistant in the upcoming weeks.
Well starting today users of Android devices can Lens in Google Photos. Lens is an AI-powered technology that uses your smartphone camera and deep machine learning (Google’s specialty) not only to detect an object but also understand what it sees.
With the lens, you’ll be able to do things like copy text, scan QR codes and identify famous landmarks.
We checked our OnePlus 5T and Elephone U Pro to see if the feature was available and there it was. However, our Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) doesn’t seem to have it yet.
Use Google Lens on your Android smartphone
Download or update the Google Photos app on your Android device
Tap the app and open an image
Tap the Google Lens icon located in the middle-right part
Let Google’s algorithms do their magic.
In our experience, Google Lens offered mixed results. It identified a famous landmark (the picture we took from the Internet) and a dog breed, but failed to recognize an Aloe Vera plant. On the other side of the coin, it was quick to allow us to copy text and to create a contact from a business card.
More features will be added in the future and Google will continue to work on improving Lens recognition for animals and plants.
Google notes it’s sending this update out in batches, so it might be a few days until you are able to use Lens on your Android.
Do you think Google Lens is a useful feature? If you’ve already used it, how did it work for you? Let us know in the comment section below.
Wearables are in a weird spot these days. Smartwatches haven’t really been a hit with the masses, resulting in manufacturers slowing down development of new ones. But fitness trackers on the other hand have been steadily moving forward. It makes sense when you think about it. Fitness trackers give the user functionality that they wouldn’t otherwise have, where smartwatches are an extension of the smartphone’s functions.
Now that we’re past our thought of the day, we can introduce an interesting new activity tracker – from a company who’s not really known for fitness devices, Huawei.
The Band 2 Pro is actually its second gen wristband tracker, so it’s more refined and more competitive with established devices. Huawei has our attention with its quality smartphones, now lets see if it deliver the same excellence in a fitness tracker.
Design
Most of us have an image of what a Huawei wearable looks like. The Huawei Watch has been one of the best Android Wear smartwatch offerings for the past few years. But fitness wristbands have a different priority, and with the Band 2 Pro, Huawei completely devotes it to that cause rather than one that balances fitness and smartwatch functions.
So unlike the comparable Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro, which sports a sizable OLED screen and touch controls, the Band 2 Pro keeps things simple with a slim, monochrome display and single-button control. It’s clear that you won’t be doing smartwatch-like actions here, like responding to texts or emails on this device. The Band 2 Pro is strictly designed to be a fitness tracker, and to do those particular functions as well as possible.
And this is easily seen when you put the wristband on. It’s slim, lightweight, and curves perfectly around the wrist. Being a smartwatch user, I particularly appreciated the relative thinness of the electronics compartment. This is a wristband that you should come to forget you’re wearing.
Not having a everything-but-the-kitchen-sink kind of focus also means cost is kept down. You can find the Band 2 Pro south of $70 in the right places. But Huawei handles the construction well in spite of that. The electronics casing is a mix of hard plastic, metallic side rails, and glass on top – all sealed tightly to meet the device’s robust 5 ATM water/dust-proof rating.
The band portion is practical and comfortable rubber. The locking mechanism is the simple prong-through-slot sort. That isn’t the most secure method, but Huawei thoughtfully made it a two-prong clasp, for redundancy. We can attest that even after rigorous use, we never felt like the band would come undone.
Functionality
If you haven’t used this kind of activity tracker before, the primary purpose of it is to record fitness data of your workouts and feed you that information in a meaningful way. On the Band 2 Pro, you simply select a specific workout type from a set of options, began your workout, and then end the program when you’re done. The wristband stores the data, and when communication with a mobile device is present, it will send the data over for analysis.
So this means that you need to pair the wristband with a smartphone or such in order to really use it. You also need to install Huawei’s accompanying apps, as they’re the system’s console.
When tracking is initiated for a workout, the watch will actively display progress.
There isn’t a touchscreen on the Band 2 Pro, and control is only through a single, capactive button on the bottom of the display. This would be painful if the device had smartwatch-like functionality, but it doesn’t. All you’re going to do on this wristband is scroll through options and start/stop programs. Sure, scrolling through a menu is better accomplished by swiping up and down, but it’s not the end of the world here. Though, we will say that it’s annoying that we can only scroll in one direction with the single button. If you overshoot an option, you have to cycle through the whole list to get back to it.
Huawei used P-OLED tech to power the screen. So since the display utilizes a black background and only the text draws power, you can expect the thing to go the distance in regard to battery life. It should achieve three weeks under “normal” usage from a full charge. The only downside here is that the P-OLED visibility is a little weak outdoors, and a struggle to see in direct sunlight (and there’s no way to adjust the brightness). We would’ve liked Huawei to implement an adaptive brightness setting, being that this is a device you’ll likely be using outside quite a bit.
What you see on the wristband is pretty simple. The Home screen is a layout of basic information, like the battery level, Bluetooth connection status, date, and time. You also see your pedometer count for the day (it resets daily). We didn’t see a way to change the layout or the pedometer info for a different stat.
A concern we had was a limited set of exercises to choose from. You’re given four: Outdoor Run, Outdoor Cycle, Swim, and Indoor Run. We would’ve liked Huawei to account for a few other popular aerobic exercises (i.e. elliptical, cross-fit, punching bag, etc.). However, nothing’s stopping you from using “Indoor Run” for say an elliptical workout. You’ll still get some relevant stats, like heart rate and steps. But then you’ll also get some wasted data, like pace and average speed, that could’ve been something useful if the program was actually tuned for that exercise. You also wouldn’t get an accurate calories burnt count.
The sensors at work.
In addition to the heart rate sensor, another praiseworthy feature in the Band 2 Pro considering its price is a standalone GPS. This means it has its own GPS unit built-in and doesn’t need to piggy back off the phone. This also means that if you’re doing an outdoor workout, you don’t necessarily need to have your phone on you to capture movement and distance data. Having a GPS also allows for more accurate speed recording.
The other options on the wristband are a module to check other pedometer-related stats of the day (distance covered, calories burnt, amount of inactive time, etc.), conduct a BPM measurement, and one that runs you through a focused breathing session.
Software
Huawei Wear app.
There are two apps that go along with the use of the Band 2 Pro: the Huawei Wear and Huawei Health apps. The latter is the one you’ll be using regularly to access your fitness stats. Huawei’s Wear app is just for managing the wearable device itself, similar to Android Wear, where you’re given a few settings/controls.
For instance, the wristband can function as an alarm – you can set that here. There are also toggles for Do Not Disturb, a couple gestures (tilt to wake or rotate wrist to scroll), and left or right hand wearing preferences. But there are three important settings here that you’ll probably want to enable, as they are fantastic:
TruSleep: The wristband detects when you go to sleep and captures your sleeping patterns
Automatically Measure Heart Rate: As implied, lets heart rate sensor monitor you all day so you can know the average and how it fluctuates throughout each day.
Activity Reminder: A reminder to get up and do something each hour it detects you being inactive – perfect for cubicle life.
So being that Huawei isn’t really known for fitness-related devices, I expected the health software to be pretty basic. But it was a pleasant surprise that it’s quite the contrary. You get an impressive amount of information for each event.
The layout is intuitive, starting with the daily pedometer readings at the very top and scroll-able sections (or cards) for the measurements in question. Tapping on a card takes you to into overview stats of that subject, which then you can dig into for more detailed information.
What impressed us was the extra and useful information that you come across along the way, like how much of your BPM’s correspond to certain activity categories (even just within a workout too), training ranking (so you can have a comparison as you progress), VO2Max metric (assessment of how fit you are by measuring oxygen consumption during exercise), recovery time indicator (predicts when your body is fully recovered for the next workout, so you don’t over do it), and the ability to set up a personal running training plan (where the device analyzes your level and coaches you through the progression).
The sleep analysis is also really impressive. You’ll be given a sleep quality ranking and how much sleep you got on a daily basis, but also a really detailed breakdown of the sleep session, like how much of it was light sleep, deep sleep, REM sleep. You’ll also be given ranking for qualities like deep sleep continuity, breathing, and regularity of time up. Recognizing that users may not know what to make of the information, Huawei generously partnered with Harvard Medical School’s The Center for Dynamical Biomarkers to provide robust information of what the stats all mean and if they’re good or bad.
Final Thoughts
The Huawei Band 2 Pro is a good buy and definitely a recommendation by us. You’re getting a lot for your money on the things that count in an activity tracker wristband. It’s durably put together, slim and comfortable, and its capture and conveyance of fitness data is spot on. Huawei went above and beyond in several ways (i.e. built-in GPS and considerate analysis information) when considering the price tag of the Band 2 Pro. Sure, touchscreen controls would’ve been nice, but it’s an appropriate compromise all things considered.
Technology has already revolutionized business. With organic search, anyone from anywhere in the world can find your business with a few keystrokes and the click of a button. With social media, you can communicate with your customers on a daily basis.
Tech has only just scratched the surface of what’s possible when it comes to communicating with your customers.
The way we communicate with our customers will continue to evolve as tech does, and it will evolve is some really surprising, and not so surprising, ways.
Out With the Old and in With Text Messaging
The phone was a game changer. The pager was a game changer, and so was email. Now, text messaging has changed the game, but it hasn’t quite changed customer communication. Yet.
With so many unsolicited emails and phone calls, sending direct texts to customers will be the best way for businesses to cut through the garbage and reach their intended target. Not to mention, they’re faster and can be responded to instantly, which can be great for business.
You’ll Know More About Your Customers Than Ever Before With Mapping Technology
In the near future, you will be able to know everything you ever wanted to know about your customers, from the kind of movies they watch to how their furniture is arranged. It may sound a little creepy, but it’s great for business because it provides companies with more opportunities to connect in meaningful ways with their customer base.
For example, if someone’s Roomba notices their living room is bare, a local furniture store can send that potential customer a targeted ad.
Tech Innovations Will Allow for Instant Gratification
Instant gratification is the name of the game today. From knowing exactly what your friends are doing right now to knowing exactly what’s happening around the world, you can learn anything in an instant. With Amazon’s same-day shipping, you can get anything you want almost instantaneously too!
This will continue to be the norm as tech evolves. For example:
A restaurant could send a coupon to someone who’s traveling in their city
A clothing retailer could promote a new suit to someone who just received a wedding invite
A car dealership could reach out to a customer about a new minivan when they have a baby
When Messages Are Sent Will Be Just as Important as What Is Sent
The focus on marketing today is on what you send. Because we spend more time using technology today than we do sleeping, it will become increasingly important to time those messages too.
That means paying attention to when someone uses their cell phone when you want to send a text message, or when they’re using their tablet so you can send them an online offer.
Technology is changing life all around us, and that includes how we communicate with each other. Whether you’re ready for it or not, you’ll be communicating with your customers in ways you never thought were possible sooner than you think.
After launching its two flagships, the Mate 10 Pro and Mate 10 Porsche Design on the US market, Huawei is now offering a third Mate smartphone model. It’s called the Huawei Mate SE and unlike the previous two options, it’s an affordable handset.
The new Huawei Mate SE looks very similar to another smartphone which is currently available in the States, the Honor 7X (Honor is a Huawei sub-brand).
But unlike the Honor 7X, the newcomer includes more RAM and storage under the hood. On the outside, however, the two devices are almost identical (save for the Huawei logos on the back and front).
Basically the new Huawei Mate SE takes advantage of a 5.93-inch IPS LCD display with 18:9 aspect ratio and 1080 x 2160 resolution. It’s powered by an octa-core Kirin 659 clocked at 2.36GHz with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage. In comparison, the Honor 7X only offers 3GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage.
The Huawei Mate SE is a upgraded Honor 7X
In the photo department, the Mate SE boasts a rear-facing dual 16-megapixel sensor with f/2.2 which works alongside a 2-megapixel lens with phase detection autofocus and LED flash. On the front, lives an 8-megapixel selfie snapper with f/2.0.
The phone relies on a 3,340 mAh battery and runs Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. And given that the Honor 7X will be updated to Android 8.0 Oreo, it’s quite possible the Mate SE will too.
The new Huawei Mate SE is currently available for purchase for $229.99, which is $30 more than the Honor 7X which is sold for $199.99.
Interested parties in the US can grab it from Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H. The phone ships with a US warranty included. Like the Mate 10 Pro and Mate 10 Porsche Design before it, it’s sold unlocked.
After what seems like an eternity, the Galaxy Note 8 could soon be getting Android Oreo.
Following the newly rolled out Android Oreo update for the Galaxy S8, Samsung could be gearing up to take care of the Note 8. Although not pushed by Samsung, the new version was released on AT&T servers and has been officially certified by Google and passed SafetyNet compatibility, which means apps like Google Pay will now work.
The update is currently for the Snapdragon version of the Note 8, but it marks the first version of Android Oreo for the Note 8 that is sufficiently certified for rollout. Also included in the release if the latest March security patch.
Android Oreo for the Note 8 comes with all the native enhancements Oreo introduced to Android in general such as picture-in-picture, notification channels, etc. but also adds the Samsung specific changes as part of Samsung Experience 9.0.
It raises the question as to when we may see the Exynos version of Android Oreo but hopefully this the start of what’s to come.
It seems the Snapdragon version is getting ready for official release so Snapdragon Note 8 users can expect to see it pushed by carriers shortly. You can always manually flash it, but this comes with its associated risks. Head over to XDA to see the full walkthrough.
For most people, the smartphone is the most important and oft-used device, with studies showing that the average person spends at least five hours looking at their screen every day. Although most people know that Android is a very versatile and customizable OS, most people only use a small fraction of the features it’s capable of.
Here are a few extra features you probably haven’t tried yet. Some may not work on your phone due to manufacturer tweaking, but you’ll definitely find interesting ones that’ll work for you:
Advanced Sensors
Android phones come with a variety of sensors to facilitate specific functions, such as an accelerometer, a compass, a proximity light sensor and even a barometer. If you download an app that brings them to the fore, you’ll be able to maximize their functions to understand your location and the weather around you more effectively.
Locate Your Device
Formerly known as Android Device Manager, Google’s app “Find My Device” allows you to track your phone, tablet or smartwatch and pinpoint its location on the map. In addition, you’ll be able to make it play a sound so it’ll be easier to find or as a last resort, lock it and erase the data on it. You can even make the device show a message such as directions to contact you in order to return it.
Stream Movies
If you like to binge watch TV series, then you probably have a streaming device at home already, but have you connected your phone to it so you can control it more easily and even access extra features? Most of the best streaming devices available allow you to do just that and it’s definitely something you should try out.
Monitor Your Data Usage
Unless you have an unlimited mobile data plan, then your data usage is something you really should keep an eye on because if left unattended, certain apps could use up a lot of bytes in a short period of time. In the settings area, you can see a breakdown of your data consumption per day, week or month and you can set up alerts so you’ll know when you’re crossing particular thresholds.
Scan Barcodes
The camera on your phone is great for taking selfies and food photos for Instagram, but it’s also useful for scanning barcodes and QR codes so you can check up on particular products very easily. QR codes have also been used for interesting things like letting you get extra information about an event and even signing into class.
Multiple Accounts
Many apps, especially of the social media variety like Facebook or WhatsApp, only allow you to run one instance of the app at a time. This means that you won’t be able to set up your private phone number to chat with friends on a second app. With virtualization apps such as Parallel Space from Google Play Store, you can get around that by running extra apps in a virtual space. Keep in mind that your phone should have at least 3GB of RAM for this to work smoothly.
A few months ago, it was revealed YouTube was testing a feature similar to Stories in Instagram with select content creators. Well, it looks like Google is now working to add an advanced video-editing tool which will allow Reel users to quickly change the background of your clips.
Don’t you just hate it when you want to shoot a quick video, but you can’t find a decent background to use? Google knows your pain, so it will soon offer a solution.
In a blog post, the tech giant talks about employing a new tool called real-time video segmentation which will enable users to change the background of their videos, as easily as applying a filter.
Technical details aside, the results seem to be pretty promising. If you’re familiar with the green screen technique that lets creators insert whatever they want in the background, this feature should work the same, in real-time.
Google continues its love affair with machine learning
Google says it’s using AI and machine learning to easily separate the subject from the background, but the system is not perfect just yet. You can easily spot some blurring around the edges where the system has failed to work as intended in the examples. Still, the feature seems pretty neat, and Google is obviously not done perfecting it.
While the company is currently testing the new tool in a limited beta group, the feature will eventually show up in other services and apps including augmented reality (AR) options. The new feature is currently rolling out to members of the beta program.
Will a similar feature be available on Instagram at some point? Quite possibly. Speaking of which, the Facebook-owned app is apparently looking to expand into voice and video calling according to recent information.
One of Instagram’s biggest competitors has video calling, so it makes sense that Facebook is looking to offer a similar service too.
Likewise, Google has taken inspiration from Instagram’s most popular features called Stories. But the new AI-powered background replacing tool will certainly help differentiate the two.
Excited about Google’s new editing tool? Hopefully it won’t take long before it makes into other apps and services.
The LG G6 launched a year ago and is one of the most under-rated flagships of 2017. Among the first to bring in the new 18:9 aspect ratio, the phone has been grossly overshadowed by competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S8.
Nevertheless, the LG G6 is a good phone with a gorgeous design and pretty great specs, if you don’t count the inclusion of the Snapdragon 821. You can check out our review, in case you want to know more about the phone.
Anyway, the phone is available with a big discount from B&H today. If you place an order for it now, you can get it for $399.99 instead of $599.99. Basically, you’ll be getting $200 off. It’s the lowest price on the flagship we’ve seen to date. B&H is offering it in either Black or Platinum.
But there’s a catch, the deal is available only today, so with 13 hours to go (at the time of writing this article) before it expires, you should hurry up and place an order now!
The phone is sold unlocked and is compatible with all major carriers in the US including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint.
The LG G6 is still a very capable smartphone
In case you need a refresh, the LG G6 comes boasting a 5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 1440 x 2880 resolution and includes a Snapdragon 821 with 4GB of RAM/32GB of internal storage under the hood.
It takes advantage of a rear-facing camera setup which pairs a 13-megapixel sensor with f/1.8, optical image stabilization and phase detection autofocus with a secondary 13-megapixel lens with f/2.4. A 5-megapixel selfie-snapper with f/2.2 sits on the front.
The phone is scheduled to receive the Android 8.0 Oreo update soon, so despite being a year old, it can still be a good choice. Especially for customers who can’t afford a new $700+ flagship.
At this price, the LG G6 is a bargain. Any takers?
I don’t have to sit here and stress the importance of Google Maps. Being that the mobile app has a billion+ users, chances are that you’ve already used it extensively and know how valuable it can be for everyday life. That said, such a long-standing and crucial app from Google has naturally gone through a multitude of development over the years. Sure, the core functionality of panning the world, viewing details of places, and checking current traffic conditions is well understood by the majority. But there’s actually a lot more there than meets the eye, and these are not just minuscule features.
This list covers features that you may not know about that you may want to.
Location Sharing
Google has dabbled with Location Sharing quite a bit, but it’s unfortunately been mostly backseat feature. If you haven’t used it, as the name implies, it’s a way to positionally connect with someone of your choice (if it’s mutually desired). For instance, I use this with my wife when we’re traveling and we temporarily separate. Instead of having to figure out how to meet up again, she or I can simply see each other on the map and one or the other can get there.
The feature used to be on Hangouts (Google’s internet messaging app). I guess the logic at the time was that since the app connected people, location was another form of communication. However, Google eventually migrated Location Sharing to Google Maps. It’s simple to access and use. Just pull out the left hand menu (by swiping from the left edge), select Location Sharing from the list, and then tap Get Started.
Now bear in mind that this is to make your location aware to someone of your choice. To get mutual location sharing, the person will have to do the same from their end. To activate, you select one of your contacts. You also select how long you want your location to be visible to them (either a certain amount of time or stay active until you turn it off).
*Extra Tip: You can additionally share your transit details. For instance, when you start a drive and directions via Navigation, you can share your destination, ETA, and where you currently are on the route. Pretty neat, huh?
I bet that most Google Maps users only use the universally common gestures like pinching to zoom in/out and long-pressing to tag a specific location, but there are a couple more worth knowing that aren’t obvious. One that I personally immediately adopted once learning is the ability to zoom in/out with just one hand. This may not sound like a big deal, but when you’re tied up and have only one hand available at the moment, it can be a crucial maneuver.
Use two fingers to change angle and rotate topography for a better look.
It’s weird to learn how to do it at first, but eventually becomes natural. You’ll double tap the screen, but instead of releasing the second tap, you’ll want to hold it (otherwise, you’ll just end up zooming in). It doesn’t look like anything has happened, but then try sliding your finger up and down (without lifting from the screen). Voila! Sliding up zooms out and sliding down zooms in.
Two others (which are probably more known) are the extra gestures with two-finger operation. You can change the default top view to an angle of your choice by swiping two fingers up and down. When you’re zoomed in enough into a city, you’ll see building heights as Maps has 3D information of certain areas. Rotating the view (rotating your two fingers) becomes more helpful as your flying around observing the topography. The future is great, isn’t it?
Parking Location
You may have stumbled on the ability in Maps to label and save a specific place of your own. This is an important feature, as you can store several places that matter most to you for quick access and for recognition in the Google Cloud. For instance, a saved location for your “Home” or “Work” make things easy when you go to ask Google Assistant something like, “How’s my commute to work this morning?” or “Navigate home”.
This menu pops up when you click on your location (blue dot).
But an additionally useful feature along these lines is the ability to quickly tag your parking location when you’re out and about. Everyone has run into that annoying occurrence where you can’t pin-point the exact spot you left your car, especially in a large parking lot, where you’re weaving through aisles frantically clicking your car remote to hear an indication.
It’s easy to save a parking location, but once you know how to get to the menu (this isn’t exactly obvious). On the map, click the blue dot that signifies where you are in the world – that opens up a full-screen menu. Here, you’ll see the option “Save your parking”. You’ll then see a pin placed on the map at your location with the letter “P”. Voila.
If needed, you can click the pin and edit the location (or hit Clear when you want to dismiss it). You can also add useful notes to it, like which floor your car is on if it’s in a parking garage or how much time you have left.
I mostly use the Offline Maps feature in Google Maps when I go on vacation. You don’t know how the internet signal situation is in other places, and especially if you’re road tripping to Timbuktu, you don’t want to risk getting lost with no assistance. Just imagine having to make human contact to ask for directions. The horror!
If you’ve never used this feature, there’s a couple things you need to be aware of. First, there’s a max window size of an area you can save at a time. You’re essentially downloading the terrain information, so it may take a chunk of space (the max can range by a few hundred megabytes depending the area). So if you want to cover more area than it allows in one go, you’ll have to save it in divided sections. Fortunately, Offline Maps lets you nicely organize lists of saved areas and name them as you please.
To access the feature, simply pull out the main Maps menu from the left edge and you’ll see the “Offline Maps” button. You’ll see your saved areas listed here. To make a new one, click “Select you own map” and zoom in/out the area you want and hit Download. It will download onto the list and from there you can edit it (i.e. rename, delete).
If you’re worried about space, Google nicely has the option to download the information to an SD card (assuming your phone supports it – sorry Pixel owners). It’s also important to know that Google has an automatic system in place to clear saved areas after a period of time. This is probably because they can significantly impact your storage reserves. Be sure to update them regularly if you want to keep them.
One of the most used features in Maps is directions. It’s special how we don’t have to plan our transit. We can just select a destination and let Google tell us the fastest way there.
Usually our use of the feature always consists of tapping a place and toggling Directions/Navigation each time we head out. But there’s a few more things that Google put into it that may be helpful to you:
Adding Stops
I’m culprit to quitting and initiating Navigation for each destination change I make. Many times, it’s more efficient to add a stop(s). It’s simple to do. With Directions initiated, tap the three-dot menu at the corner and select “Add Stop” from the menu. You’ll then be presented with extra destination slots (you can add up to nine), and you can arrange them any way you like.
Share Directions
If your transit has dependence with someone else, the ability to quickly share you route can be really helpful. To do, within a set direction, open the three-dot menu and select “Share Directions” and select a contact to share with.
Save directions shortcut to your Home screen.
Save Directions
Another option that can come in handy is to save a route, instead of going through the steps again. This is especially handy if you’ve worked to set additional stops. From the Directions menu, select the “Add route to Home screen” option.
Save a route offline (certain countries)
For some users, Google put the option to toggle a route and then save it offline. Just like Offline Maps, this is useful if you’re traveling and think the internet signal may be shady. Unfortunately, it’s currently only available to certain countries (doesn’t look like the US is one of those, as I don’t see the option in my Maps app). However, not all is lost, as Google recently added the ability for Navigation to a map area that you’ve set for offline use.
One valuable feature that I admittedly forget to use but shouldn’t is the Explore button at the bottom of the app. There’s more there than meets the eye. The basic functionality is, within any area that your map is currently looking at, it will very quickly retrieve hot spots in that area to eat and drink among several categories. This feature is tuned more towards consumption, but you can also quickly pull up gas stations, ATMs, Pharmacies, and Grocery stores that are in the area in question. This tool can be particularly valuable when you’re on a trip and the area is new to you.
A trick to get to a full-screen layout of the nearby restaurant options is to scroll to the end of what’s summarized on the launch page; you’ll see a “More” button. There, you’ll see the food types laid out along the top, and you can more easily scroll through the categories of suggestions. Another benefit in this area is that at the very bottom it will point out several areas of interest in the area you’ve picked, but it’s minimally supported. We don’t know why there isn’t an “attractions” category in the Explore function. Hopefully Google adds it in the future.
Hope these tips were beneficial to you. Happy mapping!
