NY: Microsoft has added new features and made a series of tweaks to its Windows 10 Maps app gifting users better search and driving interface.
Users of the updated version of the app will be able to view multiple search results on the same map, follow redesigned turn-by-turn instructions when driving, and see favourite spots offline, among other smaller changes, The Verge reported on Thursday.
The users will now be able to view restaurants and hotels on the same map.
Windows have been on a backfoot due to lack of some popular apps in Windows store. If available, users have also complained of non-availability of some features in these popular apps.
The older version would no longer work with Windows 10 from March 29. The update to Windows 10 Maps will be available to Windows Insiders first and there is word on when it will be available for regular users.
In Windows blogs, Kushal Kapoor, the Product Marketing Manager of Windows Maps team writes:
Hello! I’m Kushal Kapoor, the Product Marketing Manager for the Windows Maps team. I’m excited to share new features in the Windows 10 Maps app released today to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring.
Our North star on the Maps team is to deliver the best map and navigation experiences on Windows far beyond directions alone. Local search, robust offline capability, 3D cities and street imagery are just a few of the things already available in the Windows 10 Maps app we know you love using every day.
Along this journey, we’ve continuously improved the maps experience with frequent updates and new features. Many of these features have been shaped as a direct result of feedback from our users about what is most relevant and meaningful to them. In addition to architectural improvements that enable faster innovation and enhanced performance, today we’re bringing the next set of innovative features to Windows Insiders.
As an example, now you can see search results for Hotels and search results for Restaurants in the same area easily – planning a trip or a night out in the town and sharing with family and friends just got a lot easier. You can also view multiple searches and directions at the same time layered on top of each other or use tabs to switch between views.
Wayfinding and usability is serious business for our Maps team and with this build many of the menu locations have been enhanced with this in mind. For instance, navigation is now positioned at the top on desktop (instead of the side) and at the bottom on phone (instead of the top) as a direct result of how people use the Maps app differently on different types of devices. For the phone, this directly improves the experience when using your device with one hand, especially when getting directions or opening your favorites with a single tap. Moving navigation to the bottom of the phone is just one of the great ways Insider feedback is helping us improve the experience for all Windows 10 Map app users.
Other improvements driven primarily by our users include:
- We’ve added labels for your search results directly on the map instead of referencing numbers on the search list. You can now see the name of each place directly on the map.
- For those markets that offer nearby search results, we’ve made improvements to our algorithms that result in closer and better search results.
- You can now minimize search results, directions, and location info to enjoy more of the map, while keeping them in easy reach.
- We added search to 3D cities so you no longer have to scroll to find the city you’re looking for.
- Your favorites are now available offline so you can truly enjoy your offline maps and take advantage of all the places you have saved. You can also add notes to your favorites to keep track of things you want to remember about that place.
- When Cortana is enabled, you will receive turn-by-turn directions in Cortana’s voice, currently supported for English (United States), English (United Kingdom), Simplified Chinese (China), French (France), Italian (Italy), German (Germany) and Spanish (Spain).
- We’ve made it easier for you to follow your public transit route and know when it’s time to get off the bus with updated turn-by-turn instructions.
- And finally, based on the greatest amount of user feedback we’ve made improvements to the UI of turn-by-turn instructions to improve glanceability and the layout in landscape mode.
We are committed to building a great maps experience for all our users and hope you like where we are headed. With your feedback, you can help us deliver the best maps, local search, and guided navigation experiences for millions of Windows 10 users. Please continue to share your feedback with us through the Feedback Hub.
For list of mobile devices supported in this build, and to read more details on the new build itself, read this blog post.
