Latest Windows 10 Maps app builds on experiences beyond just directions
With this update, we continue to deliver on our promise of a maps experience that goes far beyond directions to help you discover the world around you. Of course, none of this would be possible without our Windows Insiders who continue to help shape our features with their feedback – thank you and please keep it coming!
Now, let’s take a look at the specific features available for you to try today:
Guided navigation updates: We have improved our overall guided drive experience. Specifically, the experience of turn-by-turn instructions is now optimized for glanceability, including phone landscape mode. It is also easier to use the Windows Maps app on phone with one hand now that we have positioned navigation at the bottom. Finally, we have also improved our guided transit experience, including notifications to get off the bus. You no longer have to worry about missing your stop even if you don’t have the Windows Maps app actively open.
Multiple searches: Planning a trip or a night out? You can now view multiple searches in a single map view at the same time. We’ve made it easy to plan your activities with a map that also surfaces the right type of information at the right time: labels for your search results directly on the map (instead of numbers and a list) and visual effects when hovering or selecting a point of interest on the map or when you switch from one search list to another.
Improved detailed cards: Our improved detailed cards make it easy to find actions associated with a place of interest. Get walking, driving or transit directions and share, print or find nearby places to complete your night out!
Easily find nearby places and see information for a city
More offline maps support: We know offline capabilities are important to you, especially for on-the-go scenarios. In addition to the offline routing and search support we offer today, all your saved favorite places are now available offline. While planning, save the places you want to visit to your list of favorites and we will make sure, no matter where you are, that you can get to your destination regardless of connectivity. Worried you won’t remember to download the offline map before your trip? Cortana will make this easy for you by automatically reminding you to download the offline map before you take off on vacation.
HERE Favorites migration: HERE recently announced they will end support for the following Windows 10 applications on June 30: HERE Drive, HERE Drive+, HERE Maps, HERE Transit and HERE City Lens. HERE is already pointing customers to use the Windows Maps application as a good replacement and we are working to make the transition easy by helping HERE customers migrate up to 300 of their HERE favorites right into our Windows Maps app on the phone.
How does the feature work? If applicable (see below for your customer path), just open the Windows Maps app, click the star icon on the bottom of the screen to see your favorites and we will take you through the end to end experience to migrate your phone HERE favorites. You can also access the import flow from the Windows Maps app settings menu.
Here is what transitioning your phone favorites from HERE to the Windows 10 Maps app means for you:
- If you currently use HERE apps on Windows 10: When the HERE apps stop working on June 30, today’s Windows Maps app update will take care of migrating your phone HERE favorites upon your first visit to the Favorites pane or the Maps Settings page. Also, upon upgrading to the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, we will remove any existing non-working HERE apps from your device.
- If you currently use HERE apps on Windows Phone 8 or Windows Phone 8.1: Your HERE apps will not automatically be removed; however, the apps will not be updated going forward. For the latest on maps and navigation scenarios, we recommend upgrading to Windows 10 wherein the Windows Maps app will be your default mapping experience and will prompt you to migrate your phone HERE favorites upon your first visit to the favorites menu.
As always, we encourage you to stay up to date with the latest Windows 10 updates to access and enjoy new and exciting features. For example, with the next update, you will be able to use your pen for inked annotations on your map!
We are committed to building a great maps experience and hope you like where we are headed. With your feedback, you can help us deliver the best maps, local search, and guided navigation experiences. Stay tuned and please keep sending us your feedback. Thank you.
