Google Maps has been one of the most reliable navigation apps around, and it has been steadily adding new features to make it even more versatile.
Another update Google is rolling out to Maps, is allowing users to follow their favorite businesses and places. Announcing the feature, Google said the updates will make it "even easier for you to keep up with the places you care about and find out about places coming soon."
For users using Android, they can follow places right from the app. What they need to do, is just search for a business, and tap the 'Follow' button.
Once followed, news from them - like events, offers and others - will appear at the 'For you' tab.
And for those users who want to know about new places opening in their neighborhood, they will start seeing profiles for places before they even open on Google Maps for Android and mobile search. They can just simply look for the opening data in orange just below the business name.
Users can also view all the other usual business information, like address, phone, website and photos.
According to Google, new places that are opening soon can create a free Business Profile that will appear to Google users up to 3 months in advance of their opening.
This would allow people to know the moment ahead of time, allowing to mark on their calendars.
In short, having the 'Follow' feature in Maps, allow users to keep themselves updated with events they care, deals, and photo-filled posts. As it also encourages traffic via map aimed at brick-and-mortar customers, this feature somehow makes Maps like having its own Facebook Pages feature.
It's like an extension of Google Maps' functionality, as Google seems to be adding more social features to the service.
The 'For you' tab has been added as a personalized feed of local recommendations and restaurants. With the update, Google is allowing users to personalize that section a bit more by adding their favorite stores.
By becoming more social, Maps is making things easier for users to follow their friends, to follow stores, navigate to that location, leave reviews, give comments and more. It's like having everything in one place.
But one disadvantage that may rise here is that, Google Maps is becoming even more complicated. Maps is already the first go-to app when people want to navigate and see traffic, and that is certainly one big win for Google. However, by adding more and more functionalities, Google would make some of those functionalities buried under a pile of other options that users can't easily access.
This also would make Google Maps heavier and more resource-hungry. Something that many people with budget phones tend to avoid.
However, Google already offers a lighter Google Maps Go. For those who just want to the more traditional Maps with no excess gimmicks, the Go version is certainly a better choice.