Google Maps rolls out AR walking directions on Pixel phones

So, you don’t like asking people for directions but don’t want to seem lost. Google Maps is rolling out its AR walking directions feature to all Pixel smartphones. This feature was previously only available to “Level 5” Google Maps Local guides. As its name suggests, it overlays arrows on the street view of Maps to help you navigate a place. You just need to look for the Start AR option from directions to fire this up. Your phone will need to do a quick calibration to help you get to where you want to go. As expected, this will affect the battery life of your phone, so you have to be wary of that.

Source: 9to5Google

Google Maps tests out new feature that enhances your restaurant experience

Confused? Well, we can’t blame you. Google Maps is trying out a new feature that doesn’t have anything to do with navigation. Instead, it might make life easier for you to decide where to eat as you plot your course within the navigation app. Google is adding a “Popular dishes” feature within the app that shows food menus with photos crowdsourced from users in search results. If you check out restaurants in Google Maps, some of these already offer a Menu tab sans photos. This could change with this test. This Menu tab has different sections and the photos show up in the Popular tab. As the report from 9to5Google notes, it seems only items that are frequently cited in reviews get pictures. This might seem like a useful feature for some users, but others might think this adds bloat to the app. It does bring the app closer to becoming a Yelp competitor. What do you think? Is this something you need?

Google Maps tests out feature to let users create public events

Google seems to be in the early stages of testing out a feature that will help out those planning big, public get-togethers. Some Android users in the US have the option to create public events. You can see if the option is available in the Contribute tab. If it’s available for you, you’ll be able to choose between creating a party, meet-up, or another public gathering. You can add optional descriptions, categories, and web links. Android Police was testing out the feature and it took an hour for their event to show up. The feature seems to be in its very early days. And doesn’t seem to be available outside of the United States just yet.

You can now report fraudulent activity on Google Maps' business listings

It's easy to get business information from Google Maps. But sometimes you can't guarantee that you're getting accurate information. That's why if you stumble on misleading or fraudulent activity, Google wants you to report it. There's a new "Business Redressal Complaint" form you can fill out to report any misleading or fraudulent activity on a listing. This makes sure that the information you see on Maps hasn't been tampered by a malicious third-party or competitor.

To ensure that you aren't trying to sabotage a business, the form needs you to input your full name, email address for further contact, the name of the person or business affected, a way to identify the affected listing, and a detailed explanation for why the listing is malicious or fraudulent. Google does note that complaint might not be addressed. As expected, Google will need to verify the complaint to see if it's valid.

Source: 9to5Google