Following cuts from Apple, Google has introduced updates to its maps software for Android. In order to increase the popularity of the maps application, details of public transportation have been added, giving information for more than 500 cities worldwide. The update is available from Google Play store, providing details of train and bus timetables and routes, which can be viewed individually rather than all at the same time.
The cities available include Tokyo, Sydney, New York and London. The improvements make it much easier for travellers to plan a route in a city which is unfamiliar to them. Information is given at the train, underground and bus stations, in addition to providing the distance to stations which are close by. A traveller can tap on a station name and a range of information is provided so that the user can see which lines serve the station, departure times and the distance. It was suggested in a Google blog post by Christopher Van Der Westhuizen that the application had been developed with large cities in mind, as there typically several methods of transportation available.
My Places has also been included in the update, with a new system which lets you gain access to previous routes and maps used for a journey. Using the ‘Location History’ lets a traveller view locations which are visited to on a frequent basis. The updates by Google will make life easier for commuters but may be something to be considered by SEO experts. The search engine optimisation of travel websites and route finders may need updating, especially for tourists to large cities like Liverpool or London.
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