Google maps tips

[Pudsey Bear]

I made Google Maps way more useful with just a few tricks

Unlock the hidden potential of Google Maps with these game-changing features.

www.makeuseof.com

 

[barryd]

The location sharing we have used for years. Really useful for us tracking where we both are as we often go off on our own or if I am picking Michelle up from a hike I can see where she is and set off accordingly and even ask Maps to take me to her on the bike. Make sure you turn off your location if your off somewhere you shouldn't be though.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I'm (sadly) never anywhere I shouldn't be these days Barry.

 

[marchie]

The location sharing we have used for years. Really useful for us tracking where we both are as we often go off on our own or if I am picking Michelle up from a hike I can see where she is and set off accordingly and even ask Maps to take me to her on the bike. Make sure you turn off your location if your off somewhere you shouldn't be though.

I keep thinking that I shall, one day, have the last word in a verbal exchange with Elaine - it's what keeps me going ...

A few days ago, she rang my mobile, 'Where are you?'

'With another woman', replied I

'When did you change sex then?', came the swift retort ... Another defeat snatched from the jaws of victory ... It's why I support Aston Villa - promising victory for 89 minutes then concede twice in 3 minutes of injury time ...

Steve

 

[ProDave]

I try and avoid google maps in favour of better options because it seems incapable of showing width, height or weight limits let alone avoiding them, and they are quite important to MH drivers.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

I try and avoid google maps in favour of better options because it seems incapable of showing width, height or weight limits let alone avoiding them, and they are quite important to MH drivers.

Yeah I agree,
However I DO use Google maps a fair bit, I often’fly’ the intended route the previous evening in the hope I pick up on any Bum Clenchers so I don’t have to squint when looking at my phone while driving.
I also have a Lorry type Sat nav running at the same time on the dash that you pre program your vehicle dimensions in & it Should’ find the best route & ping up alerts if necessary.
Having these two copilots, Even though they occasionally disagree works for me on the whole.

 

[Robmac]

I keep thinking that I shall, one day, have the last word in a verbal exchange with Elaine - it's what keeps me going ...

A few days ago, she rang my mobile, 'Where are you?'

'With another woman', replied I

'When did you change sex then?', came the swift retort ... Another defeat snatched from the jaws of victory ... It's why I support Aston Villa - promising victory for 89 minutes then concede twice in 3 minutes of injury time ...

Steve

I feel your pain Steve.

From Julie I usually get the "When I want your opinion I'll give it..." comment.

Villa were looking so good last year. I'm a Leicester supporter.

 

[trevskoda]

Load f-droid on moble as its free from google and then download organic maps, or use osmandroid and set north top and download any maps from around the world, i have england and ireland and it works very good, so does organic and co maps.
You can do it on a tablet as well.
F droid is free from google spyware and wont track you with any thing in the free aps.

 

[marchie]

Load f-droid on moble as its free from google and then download organic maps, or use osmandroid and set north top and download any maps from around the world, i have england and ireland and it works very good, so does organic and co maps.
You can do it on a tablet as well.
F droid is free from google spyware and wont track you.

Good article in today's Guardian by Tim Berners-Lee on why he gave away his internet invention for free, because [as near verbatim as I can recall], ' ... for it to work, everyone must contribute towards what it knows, and to do that, it must remain free to use'

Mr B-L goes on to say that Big Tech hijacked the [our] data and both monetised it and locked it away. He argues that humanity made a great mistake allowing this to happen, and we must both reclaim the internet [data] AND prevent AI from being hijacked and monetised by Big Tech again

Come the revolution, there'll be a wall full of the buggers waiting to be turned into biodegradable material ...

Steve

 

[barryd]

Yeah I agree,
However I DO use Google maps a fair bit, I often’fly’ the intended route the previous evening in the hope I pick up on any Bum Clenchers so I don’t have to squint when looking at my phone while driving.
I also have a Lorry type Sat nav running at the same time on the dash that you pre program your vehicle dimensions in & it Should’ find the best route & ping up alerts if necessary.
Having these two copilots, Even though they occasionally disagree works for me on the whole.

Good thing about using Google maps is it's bang up to date with traffic and road closures. Not one single route Barre in France this year. We used to get loads using the old tomtom. Best to download the maps though I've found.

Agree about pre checking routes. I do this on the laptop the night before. Alter and tweak them if necessary then just send the route to my phone. Not had any issues doing it this way and any goat tracks have been deliberate.

 

[mark61]

Google maps has improved a lot for navigation, getting Waze alerts etc. Waze still alerts faster than google maps most of the time, but if I had to choose one, I'd toss a coin. . Waze probably still is a better sat nav, google maps better for exploring.

 

[Sharon the Cat]

We use the satnav to save on data usage when overseas, and Phill finds the screen easier to read.
However, as copilot I am always armed with a mobile, and Google Maps often preloaded with our destination in case of road closures (happened yesterday in Spain). I also use it to find coffee and fuel stops etc.

 

[Dougbobbill]

Interesting bit on getting more from Google maps, but can someone tell me where I can find my profile picture? When I open the app I get a map with a search bar but no profile picture

 

[barryd]

Interesting bit on getting more from Google maps, but can someone tell me where I can find my profile picture? When I open the app I get a map with a search bar but no profile picture

Should be top right at the end of the search box. If not maybe you are not signed into your Google account.

 

[trevskoda]

We use the satnav to save on data usage when overseas, and Phill finds the screen easier to read.
However, as copilot I am always armed with a mobile, and Google Maps often preloaded with our destination in case of road closures (happened yesterday in Spain). I also use it to find coffee and fuel stops etc.

You can use a mobile without a sim in any country with osmandroid co maps organic maps etc if 4g and above android 7 which only works with osm from satalites, i also have it on my main mobile so i wont get lost even though the wife tells me this most days.

 

[Boris7]

Storks is all I’m saying,

Never had Sat Nav or google kin maps when I drove to Moscow/Casablanca/Sofia/Cario etc

 

[ProDave]

We used google maps in the USA without any local data contract. Simply download the maps when you have a wifi connection and google maps will work off line without a data connection. It even managed to re route us when I took a wrong turning.

 

[barryd]

We used google maps in the USA without any local data contract. Simply download the maps when you have a wifi connection and google maps will work off line without a data connection. It even managed to re route us when I took a wrong turning.

I download the maps but the one thing I have found is you cannot start a route without a data connection which at times can be an absolute nightmare.

 

[Sharon the Cat]

You can use a mobile without a sim in any country with osmandroid co maps organic maps etc if 4g and above android 7 which only works with osm from satalites, i also have it on my main mobile so i wont get lost even though the wife tells me this most days.

In English please Trev. Apart from the bit about the wife, that I can totally understand.

 

[wildebus]

Ref the navigation points , I think it is worth picking up on a line in the article that Kev linked to and the whole reason for the article inthe first place ... "... it offers several unique features aside from basic navigation that have become integral to life beyond my doorstep"


More up to date and 'with it' travel guides have encompassed Google Maps to accompany the guide and provide more info that is viewable not just on a phone for navigation but on a computer for planning.
The QR code below is an example that I took from a guide by Chris Slones. It is not as complete as some of his maps, but a good example. It would work best in conjunction with the actual guidebook but gives an good idea.

Interesting bit on getting more from Google maps, but can someone tell me where I can find my profile picture? When I open the app I get a map with a search bar but no profile picture

It picks up your info from the Google account. if you are not logged into Google, you get no personalisation such as profile, favourites, saved searches, etc.
Have you a profile picture in your gmail account?