Google Maps Debuts A Clean New Look And ‘Areas Of Interest’ Feature

In their latest update, Google Maps is making it easier for you to find your way around, and spot areas nearby that have fun things to do.

New visuals and colour scheme on the right.

In an effort to make their maps cleaner and easier to read, Google is removing all visual elements that aren’t absolutely necessary. That means you won’t see any more road outlines, text will stand out and be more readable and they’re working with a new colour scheme (you can see the difference in the image above). The new colours should also make it easier to differentiate between man-made and natural features, as well as quickly identify important structures like hospitals and schools.

This update also introduces “areas of interest”, which helps you find activities around you with just a glance at the map. These orange-shaded areas on the map represent general hot spots where you can zoom in and learn more about the area. These areas are determined by an algorithmic process that looks for the highest concentration of venues, restaurants, bars and shops. It sounds like a nice feature to have when you’re new to an area and looking for something fun to do. These updates should roll out to all versions of Google Maps over the next few days.

Discover the action around you with the updated Google Maps [Google Maps Blog]