As we all know, the google maps was removed from Apple Watch back in 2017 by Google. From the recent news Google has made two announcements that the Maps will be returning to Apple watch and added to that, the google maps will work on Apple’s Car Play dashboard. These both are the major changes in the Google apps on Apple platforms made for navigation purposes.
Google Maps on Apple Watch:
On the Apple Watch you will be able to navigate using Google Maps informing the ETA and step-by-step directions while walking, cycling, personal or public transport to destinations that are already saved or entered from your phone. This feature will be available in the near future worldwide.
Google maps on Apple watch was very well used three years ago before it was pulled out from the watch by the company for no stated reasons. The WatchOS will alert the users about the turns and traffic on the road so that they will not have to remove their eyes from the road to look at the GPS on their phones.
“When you’re out and about, smartwatches help you stay connected and see essential information at a glance. With the Google Maps app for the Apple Watch, you can easily navigate by car, bike, public transit, or on foot. Quickly get estimated arrival times and step-by-step directions to destinations you’ve saved, like Home or Work, and other shortcuts you’ve designated in the app. For all other destinations, you can start navigating from your phone and pick up where you left off on your watch,” as stated in the Google Blog post by Alan Rogers, Product Manager, Google Maps and Ruben Lozano-Aguilera Product Manager.
Maps on CarPlay dashboard
Also the Apple’s CarPlay Dashboard will be supported by Google maps for the iOS app so you will be able to use Google maps on your display. Users will be able to use Maps along with media controls for music, podcasts and audiobooks on the CarPlay dashboard.
The Google Maps will give a convenient navigation displaying it on the big screen, splitted in two, with map view in a large box on the left and the top right for turn-by-turn directions. This feature is now available for all the CarPlay supported vehicles worldwide. Apple’s CarPlay infotainment system is available in 97% of new cars, according to the company. Before only the Apple Maps was supported in the CarPlay dashboard support mode.
This was announced by a Google Blog Post by Alan Rogers and Rubén Lozano-Aguilera which stated "In the CarPlay Dashboard, you can now switch or pause songs from your favourite media app, rewind or fast forward podcasts or audiobooks, or quickly check calendar appointments without ever leaving turn-by-turn navigation in Google Maps. The information is displayed in a split-screen view so you can get the information you need while keeping your focus on the road.”
This was one of the top features of iOS 13 but it was not supporting any third party apps which were opened up with the iOS 13.4.
