- A recent Android Auto update has changed the appearance of Google Maps
- The centered lack of sight is difficult to see a live location
- Bypass solution requires closing the search bar, which is irritating and distracting
Google recently updated its Google Maps software on vehicle head units and infotainment systems compatible with Android Auto, and forced some users to hit forums and cat rooms to express their dissatisfaction.
To not be confused with Android Automotive, the operating system an increasing number of vehicle manufacturers are natively installed on recent models, Android Auto allows certain applications housed on Android smartphones to be reflected on an infotainment system or A spare head unit.
A recent software update of the smartphone application now means that the MAP application is by default to a centered view when a destination has not been selected. Google’s suggested “destinations” box occupies most of the screen real estate.
This large invasive black box occupies most of the upper quadrant to the right of the screen, reducing the number of streets and the nearby points of interest that drivers can see during the cruise with casualness rather than navigating to a destination .
<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:500px" data-embed-height="659"><a href=" Maps is now centered on the screen</a><br> by<a href=" in<a href=" async="" src=" charset="UTF-8"></script>This box can be collapsed with a finger product, but it is not a permanent action, which means that drivers must leave the eyes of the road to remove it … each The time they drive.
An article Reddit of an unhappy user (via Android Authority) has already collected much more than 130 comments, people declaring that they had passed to Waze because “this search for research by taking 1/4 of the screen is brutal “, According to a reditor.
It should also be noted that many Google Maps users will probably not even notice the change. They navigate either to a defined destination (the search box disappears in this mode) or do not pay attention to digital cards anyway because they know the way or simply take advantage of the reader.
Anyway, it will be difficult for Google to ignore the backlash, and it will probably tackle the problem in future updates.
Analysis: smaller screens suffer
The screen entry accompanying the Post of the Reddit user shows a very small fairly low resolution infotainment unit, which probably exacerbates the situation.
Many vehicles launched in recent years have been mainly sold with much larger screens, allowing Google Maps more space to display more information.
Run cards on a system powered by Android Automotive found in a Renault or Volvo, and there is enough screen real estate to run several other applications simultaneously.
It seems that Google has ignored the fact that everyone cannot afford a 12 -inch touch screen which is powered by the latest Snapdragon processors. After all, most of us, simple mortals, forced to modernize the smaller spare head units in order to modernize an older vehicle.
