Highlights
- Google Maps integrates detailed restaurant reviews and user photos.
- New feature identifies specific dishes with descriptions and labels.
- Version 11.112.0102 of Google Maps for Android includes the update.
- User contributions enhance accuracy and relevance of dining information.
Google Maps has evolved beyond its original purpose of navigation to become a comprehensive guide for travelers, now featuring an enhanced focus on dining experiences.
Now with an integration of Google Reviews directly within the app, Google Maps is going to offer users valuable insights into restaurants, including user-generated reviews, photos, videos, and detailed information about specific dishes.
Beyond Navigation: A Culinary Guide on Google Maps
Google Maps users can now access in-depth restaurant reviews within the app, providing a convenient way to choose dining locations.
These reviews, sourced from Google Review members, include not only ratings but also photos and videos, offering a visual taste of what to expect.
A notable addition to Google Maps’ dining features is the ability to identify specific meals from photographs.
When users tap on a photo under a restaurant’s listing and then select the Photos tab, they can view images of various dishes.
A new feature adds informative cards to some of these images, detailing the name of the dish and its menu description.
Additional Meal Information
Some images will include labels such as “Popular” or “Vegetarian,” helping users quickly identify dishes that align with their dietary preferences or are crowd favorites.
However, Google does caution that this information, gathered from user submissions and businesses, is not verified for every attribute, advising vegetarians and others with dietary restrictions to double-check before ordering.
Google Maps encourages user interaction by allowing suggestions for edits, corrections of incorrect information, or the removal of offensive dish names.
This collaborative approach ensures the app’s restaurant information remains accurate and relevant.
Version Availability
The dish-identifying feature has been seen in version 11.112.0102 of the Google Maps app for Android.
Users can check their app version via Settings > Apps on their Android device.
While this new dining feature is rolling out to Android users, it remains unclear whether it will be available for iOS devices.
FAQs
What new features does Google Maps offer for restaurant reviews?
Google Maps has enhanced its restaurant review section by adding detailed reviews, photos, and videos from users, along with specific dish information and descriptions.
How does the dish identification feature work in Google Maps?
Users can tap on a restaurant photo in Google Maps to see cards with dish names and menu descriptions, helping them understand what each dish entails before ordering.
Is the new Google Maps feature available for all devices?
The updated restaurant review feature is currently available in version 11.112.0102 of the Google Maps app for Android, with no confirmation yet for iOS devices.
Can users contribute to the restaurant information on Google Maps?
Yes, Google Maps allows users to suggest edits, correct inaccuracies, or remove offensive content, ensuring the dining information remains up-to-date and accurate.
What advantages do these updates bring to Google Maps users?
These updates in Google Maps provide a more comprehensive dining guide, helping users make informed decisions about where and what to eat based on detailed reviews and dish specifics.
Google Maps is matching your food pics to the menu. Details?
As someone that always browses restaurant listings before committing, Google Maps is now mapping and naming user-generated food pics to the actual menu items.
This occurs in the Photos tab of a restaurant, cafe, or similar listing. When swiping through images, some are now accompanied by a card at the bottom that has the name of the dish and how it’s described in the menu.
You might also see the price and labels like Popular or Vegetarian: “Dish information is collected from Google users and businesses. Google analyzes the aggregated data, but doesn’t verify every attribute.”
You can also tap Suggest an edit (Edit, Incorrect, or Offensive dish name + Dish not served here) and See the menu to take you to the dedicated tab (but not the actual line item).
Google Maps looks to be using both user-provided captions and object recognition to label the dishes.
Not all food pics carry this menu card today, but this is definitely a step in the right direction as descriptions in Google Maps aren’t as common — in my experience — compared to other similar services.
Google Maps embraces Bluetooth beacons for improved location accuracy. Details ?
Google Maps continues to innovate and evolve, making it an increasingly indispensable tool for users worldwide. In a recent update, Google introduced support for Bluetooth beacons, further enhancing the accuracy of location information, especially in challenging environments such as tunnels.
This new addition is part of a larger program initiated by Waze, a popular navigation app owned by Google, and has already been implemented in several cities.
Bluetooth beacons serve as an additional aid to the GPS sensor on users’ phones, bridging the gap in location accuracy where satellite connectivity might be limited or non-existent.
This is particularly beneficial for those who commute through tunnels, as they often face challenges in maintaining a reliable GPS signal due to the obstruction caused by the tunnel’s structure.
By leveraging Bluetooth beacons, Google Maps can deliver a more precise location even in areas where GPS signals are weak or unreliable, ensuring that users never lose their way.
It’s important to note that this new functionality is part of a wider initiative that began with Waze, a crowd-sourced navigation app focused on real-time traffic and road information.
Several cities across the globe have already embraced Bluetooth beacons to enhance location accuracy, including the bustling metropolises of New York City, Chicago, Paris, Rio, Brussels, Oslo, Sydney, Boston, and Mexico City, among others.
By incorporating this technology into Google Maps, users in these supported cities can now benefit from heightened location precision during their daily commutes or any other navigational activities.
As Google continues to invest in improving its location accuracy, it is evident that they are dedicated to providing users with the best possible experience.
By adopting Bluetooth beacons and other cutting-edge technologies, Google Maps solidifies its position as the go-to navigation app, ensuring that users can rely on it even in challenging environments and areas with limited satellite connectivity.
Whether it’s finding your way through busy urban centers or navigating tunnels, Google Maps has you covered with its commitment to accuracy and innovation.
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