Google Maps recently made its long-awaited return to the iPhone, and although it's received positive reviews, finding some of the app's coolest features can be a bit difficult.
That's why Google released a tip sheet explaining features of the new app. Here are several of those tips, along with a few others that should help you get well acclimated with Google Maps.
USE GOOGLE MAPS WITH SIRI
To get Siri to give directions using Google Maps, ask for directions like this:
"Give me directions to - - - via transit."
Siri might then provide you with a list of locations. Choose the one you want, and she'll pull up a list of apps you've downloaded. Select Google Maps to launch the app, then simply choose the route and mode of transportation that you want.
PLACE A PIN
To find the address for a specific place on the map, or to enter Streetview mode, press your finger on the location for a couple of seconds. This will place a pin on the location and pull up information at the bottom of your screen that you can expand by swiping with your finger.
STREETVIEW
If you search for a location and tap on its pin, you'll expand the information page, and if the feature is available, you'll see a box that says Streetview. Tap to access.
Once in Streetview, you can change your perspective by simply pressing and moving your finger, or you can press an icon with two arrows at the bottom left of the screen that will let you look around using the iPhone's gyroscope. You can change the view simply by moving your phone in the direction you want to see.
To leave Streetview, tap the screen and a left-pointing arrow will show up at the top left corner of the screen. Tap it.
SWIPE TO SEE MORE
To search for restaurants or bars, get familiar with the "swipe to see more" feature. Tap the search bar and type what you're looking for. Then tap on one of the results or simply swipe up the information page. You can then quickly scroll through the results by swiping left and right to see each location's information.
ACCESS VIEWS
To see traffic, public transportation routes or switch to satellite or Google Earth view, press the three-dot icon on the bottom right and slide it to the left. Tap an icon to choose the one you want to access; repeat the process to turn it off.
PREVIEW ROUTE STEPS
If you've entered turn-by-turn voice navigation, there are two ways to see upcoming directions.
The first is by swiping the green bar at the top of the screen to the left to see the next step in your route. You can also swipe to the left on the bottom bar to switch between seeing the remaining miles and the estimated time for your trip.
