Google Maps for Android gets update, new icon

Google updated its Android Google Maps app this week with new features, but the most noticeable change is a new icon for the app.

The new icon, which you can see in the picture above, shows the Google “g” subtly added on top of a map that also includes the iconic Google Maps pin. Previously the icon only showed a blue dot on top of a bland map (you can see the old icon here). The icon is not only cleaner and more attractive, it pushes the Google brand more.

Besides the new look, the app also has some cool new features.

Android users can now weed out different forms of public transportation when they use the app. Previously, the app showed train, bus, tram and subway lines all at once when looking at modes of transit, but the updated app lets users single out each to make navigating a little less confusing.

“This is helpful in areas where there is a tight concentration of several types of public transit,” the company said in a blog post announcing the update.

Google also said the layout of station pages has also received an update to make them more useful. Now, when you tap on a station’s name, you’ll see departure times, which lines serve the station and how far you are from other stations.

On top of new tools for navigating public transportation, Google Maps for Android now also shows region borders when you search for cities or ZIP Codes. Users can also enable Location History, which lets them see the places they’ve been on a daily basis, using a Location History dashboard that has also been updated.

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