15 Things you perhaps don't know you can do on Google Maps

If there’s an app that is widely used by one and all who commute on a daily basis, then it’s Google Maps. Google Maps is a web mapping service developed by Google. It offers satellite imagery, street maps, 360° panoramic views of streets (Street View), real-time traffic conditions (Google Traffic), and route planning for travelling by foot, car, bicycle and air (in beta), or public transportation. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that Google Maps has changed the way people travel. Yet, quite often the app is used just for simple commute and navigation purposes when, in fact, it has a lot of other features to offer. Here we list out 14 things that you perhaps don’t know you can do on Google Maps:

1. Remember where you parked your car (for both Android and iOS)

Google Maps lets its users to save a spot as a parking location. For this users will have to tap on the the blue dot and then tap “Save your parking” (for Android) and “Set as parking location” (for iOS). You can also add additional details about your parking spot such as the level (if in a multi-level parking structure). Further, you can also share your parking location with friends.

2. Share your real-time location with others (for both Android and iOS)

The navigation app allows you to share your real-time location with your contacts. In order to do this, all you need to do is tap on the side menu or tap the blue dot that represents where you are. Tap “Share location” and then select who to share with. Additionally, you can also set the time limit for which you want that contact to live track you.

3. Find out nearby places like petrol pumps, restaurants, ATMs and more (for both Android and iOS)

From ATM to a petrol pump, bar to a restaurant, Google Maps will allow you to search almost anything around your current location. Not only that, the app will also list out essential details about that place such as hours of operation, business phone numbers, ratings, and more.

4. Compare prices of cabs like Uber, Ola and others (for both Android and iOS)

Next time you want to take a cab, don't just check the traffic update in the Google Maps app and then head to Ola or Uber. Google Maps will let you compare the prices of different cab service providers to your desired location. Once you search your destination, tap on directions and then on the top, tap Rides. Once you select the service provider, tap on open app and you will be redirected to it.

5. Customize your vehicle icon the way you want, for example for an SUV (only for iOS)

This is cool feature to replace the classic blue navigation arrow with a car with a sedan, a pickup truck, or an SUV on your iPhone or iPad while using Google Maps. In order to do this, simply tap on the arrow while in driving navigation mode. This will pop out a tab at the bottom with different vehicles to choose from.

6. Message businesses (for both Android and iOS)

This feature comes in handy if you want to ask about a specific thing from an establishment that you want to travel to, like placing an order for a cake at a bakery or inquire about your shoe size at a store. You can find the Messages option in the side menu.

7. See indoor maps of buildings (for both Android and iOS)

Using Google Maps, you can see what some places -- such as stores, airports, or hotels -- look like on the inside before you visit. Once you search that place, at the bottom, tap the place name or address. Scroll until you see photos and tap on a 360 photo which will have the Street View symbol.

8. Get directions to your place without unlocking your phone (only for iOS)

A nifty feature for iPhone and iPad users, this allows the Google Maps users to use the app without unlocking their iPhone. The widget screen on the iPhone can be used without unlocking the phone and allows users to access the directions without opening the app.

9. Set reminders (only for iOS)

For those who are always getting late for their meetings, they can make use of this feature to plan their next trip better. Search for the destination and tap on directions and also choose your mode of transportation. After this on the top right, tap More and select "Set a reminder to leave".

10. See real-time train and bus departures (for both Android and iOS)

Google Maps also allows users to see real-time departures while others show a schedule of departures. For this, type the destination and tap Directions. Then on the top of the screen tap transit.

11. Ask questions about a place or landmark (only Android)

In Google Maps, you can ask and answer questions about the places and business you see. Business owners and others can respond to these questions directly. For this, search for the place you want to ask a question about. At the bottom, tap the name of the place. Before asking your question see if someone already asked your question, under "Questions & answers." For this tap See all questions.

12. Use Google Maps in different languages (only Android)

Did you know that when you travel, Google Maps can change the voice and language of the spoken directions? For this, you will have to tap on Menu then settings. Head to Navigation settings and then Voice. From here, choose a voice and language.

13. Add, remove and share photos and videos (for both Android and iOS)

This feature allows Google Maps users to see how the place they want to travel to looks like. All the photos or videos you add can be removed anytime you want. For this, search for the place, scroll to the bottom then tap the place's name or address to see more info. From here tap on Add photos.

14. Add a missing place to the maps (for both Android and iOS)

Lastly, if come across a situation when you cannot locate a place on Google Maps, you can publicly add places, like a business or landmark, to the map. For this, tap on the menu icon on your Android phone and select 'Add a missing place.' Choose an option, then follow the instructions on screen. For iOS users, search the address and then at the bottom tap the address and tap on 'Add a missing place.'

15. Navigation Functions (Heading)

It demonstrates computing the heading between two coordinates using the Geometry library. Drag the markers on the map to see the origin, destination and heading change accordingly.

Thank you so much Guys.

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Kranti Gaurav

XLRI Jamshedpur

First Time Flying - I believe I Can Fly

Once on the west coast of Ireland there lived a seagull bird whose name was Seamus.

Seamus was a healthy, handsome, and intelligent seagull bird, but he was not able to fly.

When he was just a wee seagull bird, Seamus’s parents and siblings had been lost in a severe storm and he had no one to teach him.

He grew older and decided to try to learn by himself. He watched other seagull birds and, imitated them.

He ran along the ground and flapped his wings and hopped up and down, trying to get into the air, but nothing would happen, and the young seagull birds laughed at him because Seamus looked so funny.

Some of the older seagulls tried to teach him, but each one told Seamus a different way of learning to fly, and Seamus tried to think of all the ways each of the seagulls had told him:

“Flap your wings more, get your feet back, head straight,” and all the other instructions.

He was thinking so hard about what everyone had told him that he wasn’t able to get off the ground. He began to believe something was wrong with him, that he would never fly.

He tried going to the top of a cliff and jumping off, but he simply fell to the bottom. He went to higher cliff, over the sea, closed his eyes, and jumped.

Again, he fell.

Other seagulls took pity on Seamus and tried to take care of him.

But this made him feel more discouraged than ever . . .

One day, a very old and wise seagull flew in to the western coast where Seamus lived. He listened to Seamus’s problem and told him to climb to the top of a special cliff, the highest and steepest one. On the top of this cliff he would find a large boulder, and on this boulder was written a secret message. This was the message Seamus needed in order to fly, the wise bird told him.

No seagull had ever climbed such a steep cliff before. Seamus had to tie starfish to his feet to help him with the suction. He climbed slowly, painfully, and finally reached the top. He saw the large boulder.

On it was written:

What you believe — you can do! 

Seamus looked down from the dizzying cliff and was terrified, but he closed his eyes and jumped. He started to drop, and as he did, he remembered to say to himself, “I believe I can fly, I believe I can fly.” He was so busy saying it that he forgot to doubt himself.

Instead of paying attention to all the different things he’d been told to do, he just did it. And he found himself flying — flying like any other seagull birds, with wings outstretched, gliding on the winds. It was his first time flying! It was the most wonderful moment of his life. He flew and
dipped and never once wondered if he was doing it right. Far below on the sand, the other seagulls, who were watching him, heard him sing out, “I can fly! I believe!” 

Freedom To Choose: A Demolition Crew Story

One day as I was walking around my home town, I saw a group of men tearing a building down.
With a “heave” and a “ho” and a mighty yell, they swung a huge steel ball and a tall building
fell.

And I asked the foreman, “Are your men skilled? Are they the ones you’d hire if you were going
to build?”

“Oh no,” he laughed, “Oh no, indeed!

Just unskilled labourers are all I need.”

“These men can easily wreck in a day or two,

What it takes skilled builders many years to do.”

And I asked myself as I walked away,

“Which one of these roles do I want to play?”

Do I want to be known as one who constantly tears down,

As I waste my time spreading negativity around.

Or do I want to be known as one who skilfully builds with care,

In hope that my team will always be glad that I’m there?

Carefully using a positive plan

And putting it into practice the very best that I can.

Or am I a wrecker who roams the town

With the intent of just tearing down.

How To Do Things: Moving The Big Rock Story

One spring day, a small boy tried to move a big rock in his backyard so he could start his garden.
He tried, and tried, and tried, but the he couldn’t budge the rock even a little bit.

His father watched from the porch, and finally he asked his son whether he was using all of his
strength.

The boy said, “Yes, I am.”

“No, you’re not,” said the father. “You haven’t asked me to help you!”

T = Together
E = Everyone
A = Achieves
M = More”

The Art Of Asking: A Golf Instructor Story

A few years ago, a struggling golf pro was hired for one week to go to the Middle East to instruct a rich Arab sheikh how to play the game of golf.

The golf instructor was promised a large sum of money and offered an even larger bonus if the sheikh could break 100 by the end of their week of lessons.

As soon as the golf instructor arrived at the sheikh’s private airport, he was treated like royalty. Anything he wanted was immediately given to him free of charge.

At the first session, the golf instructor and the sheikh became friends almost instantly.

They met for three hours every morning and three hours every afternoon.

By the end of the week, the sheikh, who had never played golf before, broke 100.

The golf instructor would get his huge bonus!

When the golf instructor was getting ready to leave, the sheikh gave him his check for the week of lessons and the huge bonus.

And then the sheikh said to the instructor, “I must also give you a present for your kindness and help. What would you like?”

The golf instructor said, “This is the most money I’ve ever made — you don’t owe me
anything.”

The sheikh said, “No, I must get you a present.”

The instructor said “OK —just buy me a golf club.”

The sheikh said, “Consider it done.”

After a few months had passed, the golf instructor received a registered letter in the mail. It was from a South Carolina law firm. The instructor opened the formal-looking letter. Inside was a legal document making him the owner of a golf club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 

Penguins Can Fly: A Knowing Vs Doing Story

Once upon a time, there was a penguin who was surfing the internet.

He came across the website of a motivational speaker who specialised in teaching pigs how to
fly with his seminar titled Pigs Can Fly!

The penguin was amazed and thought, “If this person can teach pigs to fly,
maybe he can perform a miracle and also teach penguins to fly.”

The penguin emailed the motivational speaker and asked him if he had a seminar
titled “Penguins Can Fly.”

“Of course. No problem,” The speaker responded.

The penguin then asked him if he would be interested in coming to the South Pole.

The speaker said it would be very expensive.

The money was raised.

The travel arrangements were made.

Everything was all set.

On the big day, 100 excited penguins showed up at a hotel for the
“Penguins Can Fly” seminar.

The motivational speaker began the ’’Penguins Can Fly” seminar by telling
the penguins that there were only two things they had to do to fly:

1. Flap your wings harder.

2. Believe in yourself.

He started teaching them how to flap really, really, really hard.

The penguins learned how to flap harder, but not one of the penguins left the ground.

Then the motivational speaker had ladders set up all around the room.

He explained that he wanted the penguins to start on the first rung, jump off and flap really hard.

They started on the first rung. They jumped off and flapped.

And then they all fell flat on their beaks.

Next, then they progressed to the second rung.

They jumped off, flapped really hard, but no success.

When they got to the third rung, all of a sudden some one of the penguins yelled out,

“Look at Ralph! Look at Ralph!”

Ralph was up and flying for about 10 seconds.

That did it!

As soon as the penguins saw that it was possible, they started to believe!

One after another, they started flying. They were up in the air for five seconds . . .

10 seconds ... 30 seconds...

By the end of the day, every single one of the penguins was flying for as long as they wanted!
The “Penguins Can Fly” seminar was a resounding success.

When it ended, the speaker didn’t just get a standing ovation - he received a flying one, too!

After it was all over, the most amazing thing happened.

When all the penguins left the hotel, each and every one of them walked. 

The Pearly Gates Of Heaven: Saint Peter’s Shoe Salesman Story

One day an old man who, was an expert in the world of art, died and went to heaven
where he was met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates.

The old man asked Saint Peter to introduce him to other people who were interested in art.

Saint Peter, standing at the pearly gates of heaven said, “See that man with the beard?

He was the greatest artist who ever lived. Want to meet him?”

The old man said, “Saint Peter, I know that man and I know art. That man worked in his father’s
shoe store and he sold me all my shoes for years. And he’s not an artist!”

Saint Peter still standing at the pearly gates of heaven replied,

“Oh, he could have been the greatest artist who ever lived,
but he thought he was a shoe salesman.”