Google offers downloadable maps for offline use
Going off the beaten path just got a little easier — and in many cases, cheaper — for anyone who uses Google Maps.
The search giant has tweaked its mobile app so users can now download map data to their phones or tablets and view it later offline.
The option is aimed at users who want to view their maps even when they can't get a signal, or who want to cut down on roaming costs while travelling abroad.
"The next time you find there's no connectivity — whether it's a country road or an underground parking garage — Google Maps will continue to work," the company said in a recent blog post announcing the change.
Google quietly introduced an offline option in May, but until earlier this month the downloadable data did not include features such as turn-by-turn driving instructions and the ability to search for specific destinations.
Users can download data for just a few city blocks or much larger regions, as long as there's enough room on the device. Attempting to download the entire map of Toronto was too much for an old iPhone 4s, for example, but the same device seemed to have no trouble taking in the area around CBC's Toronto headquarters.
Google's map services have faced criticism in the past. Its Street View service ran afoul of privacy laws in Canada and elsewhere, and the driving instructions offered by its map app have sent more than one driver down the wrong road.
But the new option is getting positive reviews — it "works brilliantly" said Outside — and comes as Google is courting a bigger share of the travel market.
The company earlier this month moved deeper into territory held by Yelp and other competitors when it expanded its Local Guides program, which encourages users to upload photos, fix outdated information and to write reviews for local businesses found on Google Maps.
The offline map option is now available on both the iOS and Android apps.
