With compatibility for Apple’s CarPlay Dashboard and a new app for the Apple Watch, Google has revealed that people using iOS devices can safely and easily navigate with Google Maps right from their car or wrist. The Google Maps app for the Apple Watch will start rolling out worldwide in the coming weeks. On the other hand, Google Maps on the CarPlay Dashboard will start rolling out this week with the next iOS update.
According to a Google blog post, “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,”
Asserting that smartwatches help one stay connected and see essential information at a glance, Alan Rogers and Rubén Lozano-Aguilera, who work as Product Managers at Google Maps, said, “With the Google Maps app for the Apple Watch, you can easily navigate by car, bike, public transit or on foot.”
The Google Maps users will quickly get estimated arrival times and step-by-step directions to destinations they have saved, like Home or Work, and other shortcuts they have designated in the app. For all other destinations, the users can start navigating from their phone and pick up where they left off on the watch.
Meanwhile, Google has launched a new feature called People Cards. These virtual visiting card can help the users highlight their existing website or social profiles they want people to visit, plus other information about themselves that they want others to know. In India, people cards are initially rolling out in English.
Wondering how can you create a People Card? Well, that’s quite simple:
- First, sign in to your Google Account
- Then simply search for your name or “add me to Search”
- Tap the prompt that appears
- Now choose to include the image from your Google account
- Add a description of yourself, links to your website or social profiles
A user can even add phone number or email address on People Card if they desire. The more information you provide, the easier it is for people to find you.
“Our goal with Search is to always make sure people can find helpful and reliable information, so we have a variety of protections and controls in place to maintain the quality of information on People Cards. Only one People Card is allowed per Google Account, and a phone number is required to authenticate the account,” said Lauren Clark, Product Manager, Google Search.
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