Google Maps will make it easier to find your way on foot. With Google Maps Live View (or Live View) you can see where you need to go through the lens of your iPhone with large arrows on the street.
How Google Maps Live View works
Apple’s AR glasses are still a long way off, but from now on you can already use Google Maps with augmented reality with the new Google Maps Live View. This makes arrows appear in the real world thanks to your iPhone’s camera, so you can see exactly which turn to take.
Live View has been available on Google’s Pixel smartphones for some time, but is now rolling out to Android devices that support ARCore and all iPhones that support ARKit. In practice, this means that most new iPhones can work with Google Maps Live View. You activate them as follows.
- Open Google Maps and make sure you are using the most recent version;
- Enter a destination you want to walk to;
- Start the directions;
- Tap the walking figure to choose the walking instructions;
- Tap Live View at the bottom of the screen to start the AR function.
It is not the intention that you continuously walk down the street with your iPhone in front of your face. Google hopes that unclear intersections and roads become more accessible, as soon as you arrive at such a point you can see exactly which way to go via your iPhone. The large white arrows are clearly visible and if they are not in view an arrow points to where you should aim the camera.
New feature rolling out gradually
As is often the case, Google is gradually rolling out the update for Maps, which makes it difficult to estimate when everyone can get started with it. With a bit of luck you can already find your way in AR, but you may also have to wait another week or two.