Google Broadcasts Toll Costs Function, Improves iOS, Apple Watch Assist

Google Maps on Tuesday introduced a set of options that may roll out to customers in choose nations, together with India. The service will permit customers to test estimated toll costs earlier than a visit begins, and might determine accessible toll-free routes. Google Maps for iOS has additionally been up to date with a pinned widget on the Dwelling Display screen, in addition to direct navigation from an Apple Watch. The corporate has additionally introduced that an upcoming replace will carry Siri and Shortcuts integration with Google Maps on iOS, arriving later this yr.

In an announcement on Tuesday, Google revealed that customers in India, Indonesia, Japan and the US will be capable to entry toll costs on the Google Maps app, later this month. Customers could have entry to estimated toll pricing earlier than they start their journey, and the corporate says that the toll costs characteristic will depend on info from native tolling authorities. Google says that help for the toll costs characteristic in different nations is “coming quickly”.

Google says the brand new toll costs characteristic on Google Maps might be launched in India
Photograph Credit score: Google

The toll costs characteristic will even permit customers to calculate the price of tolls on their route, whereas taking to consideration various factors — together with cost strategies like a toll cross, the day of the week, the time of day, and so forth. The corporate says that Google Maps will provide particulars on over 2,000 toll roads.

For customers who wish to keep away from tolls altogether, Google Maps will proceed to supply the choice to search for toll-free routes altogether. Based on the corporate, customers can merely faucet on the three dots on the high of the app to entry route choices and choose Keep away from tolls to entry various routes, wherever accessible.

Alongside the brand new toll costs characteristic, the corporate additionally introduced a brand new replace for iOS customers that may carry a brand new pinned journey widget exhibiting them journeys they’ve pinned of their Go Tab on the most recent model of the Google Maps app. Based on Google, the brand new pinned widget will present customers their arrival time, when their subsequent public transport journey will depart, and counsel instructions and routes for customers preferring to drive.

The Google Maps app on iOS will even acquire help for Siri integration within the coming months
Photograph Credit score: Google

The replace will even carry improved Apple Watch help, together with the flexibility to navigate routinely on the smartwatch — this might be accessible to customers in a number of weeks. Customers will even be capable to add a “Take me dwelling” shortcut to their display screen, which is able to immediately begin navigation on the Apple Watch, the corporate mentioned.

Google Maps will even acquire entry to iOS Highlight, Siri, and Shortcuts integration later this yr, in line with the corporate. Customers will be capable to arrange Shortcuts on iOS, permitting them to make use of voice instructions like “Hey Siri, get instructions” or “Hey Siri, search in Google Maps”. These options might be accessible within the coming months, in line with Google.