Google is currently testing AR navigation feature for Maps, which will allow users to use their smartphone camera and arrows on the screen to find their way around a given location.

The feature, first teased at Google I/O developer conference in May, is now rolling out to a number of users under the Local Guides program, Google Maps community members who volunteers to contribute information about local businesses, and also engaged for the testing of new features on Maps.

While the blue dot on Maps calibrates a meter or so away from real position, making the navigation feature unreliable most times, Google hopes to deploy the Maps AR navigation to makeup for the short comings.

And once navigation is turned on, the “Start AR” button will appear on Google Maps, to avail the user a real-time view using their phone's camera.

It helps by orientating the users when they are following a walking map, and also solves the common problem in getting out of a subway which is a great annoyance in many big cities around the word.

And you'll have an idea of which way you're facing, so you won't have to wait for the little blue dot on Maps to point you in the correct direction.

Google is seriously building more capabilities to Maps to make the app more useful and appealing to users, with bevy of new features like the "for you" tab offering tailor-made recommendations and the "match score" to show you how much likeness you may have for a local restaurant or business.

Google Maps AR navigation undergoes testing with select Local Guides



Google is currently testing AR navigation feature for Maps, which will allow users to use their smartphone camera and arrows on the screen to find their way around a given location.

The feature, first teased at Google I/O developer conference in May, is now rolling out to a number of users under the Local Guides program, Google Maps community members who volunteers to contribute information about local businesses, and also engaged for the testing of new features on Maps.

While the blue dot on Maps calibrates a meter or so away from real position, making the navigation feature unreliable most times, Google hopes to deploy the Maps AR navigation to makeup for the short comings.

And once navigation is turned on, the “Start AR” button will appear on Google Maps, to avail the user a real-time view using their phone's camera.

It helps by orientating the users when they are following a walking map, and also solves the common problem in getting out of a subway which is a great annoyance in many big cities around the word.

And you'll have an idea of which way you're facing, so you won't have to wait for the little blue dot on Maps to point you in the correct direction.

Google is seriously building more capabilities to Maps to make the app more useful and appealing to users, with bevy of new features like the "for you" tab offering tailor-made recommendations and the "match score" to show you how much likeness you may have for a local restaurant or business.

No comments