Google Maps app for iOS update gets offline navigation

PanARMENIAN.Net - Google updated Monday, December 14, its Google Maps app for iOS with a slew of new features. Users can download the new version now directly from Apple’s App Store (iOS 7+ required), VentureBeat reports.

Although the app’s changelog only mentions “See popular times at more than a million places around the world” and “See up-to-date gas prices when searching for gas stations in the US and Canada,” the real highlight feature is offline support.

Google told VentureBeat in an email that offline maps have begun rolling out to Google Maps users on iOS, meaning users will soon be able to download an area of the world to your phone “and the next time there’s no connectivity — whether it’s a country road or an underground parking garage — Google Maps will continue to work seamlessly.”

Until now, iOS users could only view an area of the map offline. Now, they can get turn-by-turn driving directions, search for specific destinations, and find useful information about places, like hours of operation, contact information, or ratings. All this functionality arrived on Android first last month, with Google saying the equivalent iOS update was coming “soon” — and now it’s here.

Last but not last, you can now check out gas prices directly in Google Maps for iOS, a feature Android users have also been enjoying for a few months now. Unfortunately, as mentioned in the changelog, this feature is only available in the U.S. and Canada — Google didn’t say when it might expand to more countries. Americans and Canadians can check nearby gas prices by simply searching for “gas” or “gas stations.” Those few cents saved on every gallon and liter add up!