iPhone: Google pushed out an update to Google Maps today that adds in a few handy new features, including a new lock screen widget, an iMessage app, and the creepy Your Timeline feature that’s been available elsewhere for a while.
Now, you can access turn-by-turn directions from Google Maps as a widget. This makes it a bit easier to scroll through every upcoming turn on a trip without locking your device. The iMessage app allows you to easily share your location with a friend directly from iMessage, just like you can already with Apple Maps. The real-time location sharing works the same here as it does on Android.
Perhaps most interesting is the fact Google’s finally brought the Your Timeline feature over from Android. With this, you can see your entire travel history in a nice timeline view. If you want, you can then go back and edit any of those locations with added details. Tap the Settings bar, then Your Timeline to view it. You can also opt into a monthly email that shows where you’ve been in case you somehow can’t remember what you’ve done in the last 30 days.
Of course, if you’re not a fan of the idea that Google’s tracking your every move even when you’re not using the app, you can disable it. Head to Settings > Personal Content > Location History and set the toggle to Off. You can also disable the timeline feature temporarily by heading to Your Timeline > Settings > Pause Location History. If you really want to be doubly sure about information Google Maps has access to, you can head to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Google Maps and make sure it’s set to “While Using the App” and not “Always.”
Google Maps (Free) | iTunes App Store