In August, Google announced the comeback of Google Maps on the Apple Watch. Now the app is back.
The Apple Watch version of Google Maps was removed from the store in 2017 – now it is back for watchOS. The company announced last month that it wants to offer Maps for Apple Watch again. In the blog post at the time explained Google:
Google Maps for Apple Watch offers important core functions
When you're on the go, smartwatches help you stay connected and see important information at a glance. The Google Maps app for Apple Watch makes it easy to navigate by car, bike, public transit, or on foot.
You'll quickly get estimated arrival times and step-by-step directions to destinations you've saved, like home or work, as well as other shortcuts you've set in the app. For all other destinations, you can start navigation from your phone and pick up where you left off on your watch.
The watchOS version of the popular navigation application is, of course, a smarter version of the original app. It focuses on providing step-by-step directions and estimated arrival times.
Matching Apple Watch complication also available
The main screen of the app shows the “Current Route” while a list of “Travel Times” is shown below. This includes Home, Work and all other saved destinations. However, it is not possible to enter a new destination via the Apple Watch. An iPhone is required for this before the Apple Watch takes over navigation again. The watchOS client supports navigation by car, bike, public transport or on foot. Once selected, the directions are displayed in Google Maps with large icons for turning and identifying the current mode of transport. The app takes advantage of haptics to provide orientation during navigation. There is also a Google Maps complication with the corresponding app icon that simply opens the application directly. So if you want to use Google Maps on the Apple Watch in the future, you can use the app install starting today. AirPods Pro on special offer at Amazon – available now. (Photo by raditya / Bigstockphoto)
