Google Maps is more than just directing directions. 5 brilliant tricks to use today

I occasionally use Google Maps to get directions, but for other reasons not apparent I open the app every day. The truth is, Google Maps is more useful than just showing how to get from point A to point B. Below all of those Christmas-colored traffic modes and high-res satellite images is a powerful search tool that hides crowded real-time data from restaurants, retail stores, professional offices, public parks and practically anywhere else you want to go.

Includes some of the latest updates from Google Maps Adds a corona virus information layer, Parking fee, Improved images and pavement maps, And Improved location sharing. Breakthrough directions And so on In the last decade, relatively speaking. If you already know this app as a navigation tool, you can tap, press, or swipe from this and many other Google Map superpowers.

Rather than unleashing the hidden potential of the Google Maps app on your phone or tablet, look at the five ways I use Google Maps almost every day that have nothing to do with getting directions.

Look at how long the line is everywhere from Walmart to DMV

Before I go out the door to Walmart, the grocery store, the doctor’s office or renew my driver’s license, I always check Google Maps to see how busy my destination is. Here’s how you can see that information as well.

In the Google Maps app, tap the business or location you want to visit and scroll down until you see the named map. Popular times. If you are planning a trip later that week, tap the day of the week.

Tap the red column to view current call-traffic data, or one of the blue columns, you can expect to be busy at another time: Not busy, Not too busy, A little busy Or Busy once available.

Next, under the heading Plan your visit, You will find general information such as peak wait times (“6am to 12am to 5am”) and average arrival length (“People typically spend 20 minutes here”). Now you know whether you will have a flash inside and out or want to pack a good book or plan your arrival for another day when the waiting time is not long.

Check out menus, photos and customer reviews

In addition to its navigation tools, Google Maps is a fully-fledged crowded review app like Yelp or Trip Advisor, so it offers what kind of options your destination offers, as well as the price, presentation and credit you need to buy it.

This feature is just as useful for previewing menu options and pricing as it is for food distribution – not to mention looking good with food. It may or may not break your decision to try a new location. For those who believe in the brilliance of the crowd, it also shows the five star average of restaurants and personal reviews that weigh in on your decision.

You will find a navigation bar above most restaurant lists Overview, List, Reviews And Photos Listed as options (you have to page-scroll to see them all). Tap or scroll down any of them. The link named menu is often listed below runtime, but keep scrolling until you see the title Popular dishes View photos of food. Continue into the past Popular times The restaurant’s five star average and user reviews are almost too low to find.

Book a table or place an order to take or deliver

Once you see all your restaurant options, you do not have to leave the Google Maps app to make a reservation. If you want to eat at home, you can usually order takeaways or delivery from the app.

If you use a booking service such as a decided restaurant OpenTable, You will see a tab below List The option to say one thing Find a table Or Book a table. You do not actually need to sign in to the booking service to make a reservation (unless you are collecting bonus points or actively using the service you prefer).

For activation or distribution, look for the named option Place an order. A popup will give you a list of available services like Door Dash or Postmates, but you will need to sign in to complete your order, so if you have an account with any of them, you will want to select it.

Hey, Google Assistant, how do you get on my iPhone?

I spend most of my digital life in the ecological wall garden of the Apple ecosystem with one obvious exception: I use a Google home ($ 99 at Walmart) With Google Assistant to control my smart home.

Google Assistant is not shot on iOS Apple’s low-capacity voice assistant Siri Does, but a system on Google Maps allows you to move Srivastava sideways so you can always access Google Assistant when going through.

To set up the Google Maps app on your iPhone, tap the Google Maps app to hear “OK, Google” on the go Menu icon (Three stacked horizontal lines to the left of the search bar), then tap Settings. At the top of the page, under the title Has been around, Tap Navigation, Then scroll to the named option Contact your assistant with “OK Google” Enable switching.

Admittedly, this functionality is a little surprising – you have to set up Google Maps to go to a specific location for the “OK, Google” voice command to work, and you can’t call Sri “Hey, Siri” during this feature. Enabled. But until Android removes me from my iPhone, it is nothing.

Find runtime, phone numbers, ZIP codes, and more

Whenever I need to know when a store or business opens or closes, or if I need to call that place, I have no number, or in a rare case the zip name for a business I need the street name and number all over the top of my head (say, a job For use), I go straight to Google Maps to get these answers and more.

Here’s a quick and easy way to find basic information about places listed on Google Maps:

Run time: Businesses’ operating hours will be displayed immediately below the address. You can tap Downward arrow Except for today’s deadline to see hours for other days of the week. Most lists are updated with any special holidays, which are highlighted in red font.

telephone number: You will find the phone number below the operating hours in most lists. To call Google Maps without leaving it, tap the number and then tap the pop-up that asks Call The number following it.

Website: If the business has a website, it will be listed below the phone number. Tap it to open the website in the Google Chrome powered tab within the Google Maps app.

ZIP code: This is very common, but when I need it, Google Maps has saved me tons of time. Enter the street name and number or business name and tap Search. Above the list next to the street address, you will now see the ZIP code.

For more Google tips and tricks, check out these Six Google Maps tricks you may not know yet, These Seven hidden Gmail features And How to use Google Maps’ updated bike tracks.