Are you someone who relies on GPS navigation no matter where you’re going? Or do you prefer to wing it? While you may already be familiar with Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze for their basic directions, there are actually several hidden hacks and features that can enhance your navigation experience. Not only can these tools help you find the best gas prices along your route, but they can also help you maintain your privacy, change the navigator’s voice, and navigate through complex locations like mega malls and airports.
Stealth mode: On!
If you want to navigate to a location without leaving any digital tracks, you can turn on Incognito mode in Google Maps. This feature ensures that the app won’t record your stops. For Waze users, there’s a similar feature called “Go Invisible” in the Privacy settings.
Command with your voice
Why struggle with your phone while driving when you can simply use your voice? Whether you’re using Siri or Google, you can ask your phone to guide you to a specific destination, take you home, tell you your current location, provide an estimated time of arrival, locate the nearest gas station, or even ask the playful question, “Are we there yet?”
Pump savings alert
Waze allows the public to share gas prices along routes through crowdsourcing. This means you can use Waze to find the best gas deals in your area. Simply open the app, tap on “Where to?” and select the Gas stations icon to see nearby options and their pricing.
Google Maps’ AR Walking Directions
Google Maps offers an augmented reality (AR) feature called Live View, which provides more informative walking directions by superimposing arrows and directions in the real world through your phone’s camera. To use Live View, select your destination in Google Maps, tap on the Directions button, choose the Walking tab, and make sure you’re in a well-lit area. You’ll then see the Live View button, which you can tap to start using the feature.
Apple’s little secret
Apple Maps keeps a record of your recent locations, but if you want to clear your tracks, you can swipe up, swipe left on a place, and tap Delete. For a complete memory wipe, go to the Recents section, tap More, and clear the desired time frame.
Indoor mapping with Google Maps
Google Maps is not just for outdoor navigation anymore. It now offers indoor maps for large venues like airports and shopping centers. Simply zoom in on the map until you see a floor plan, and select the desired level or floor to navigate through the venue.
Customize your Apple Maps look
You can customize the appearance of Apple Maps by choosing different map styles. Whether you prefer a dark-themed map or one that emphasizes the greens of parks, you have the option to personalize your map. Simply tap on the button at the top right, select another map type, and further customize the map if desired.
Waze’s Planned Drives
If you hate being late, Waze has a feature called Planned Drives that helps you arrive on time by providing real-time traffic-based departure alerts. Simply tap on the Menu, select Plan a drive, add a destination and arrival time, and Waze will remind you when it’s time to leave.
Google Maps’ parking spot saver
If you struggle to remember where you parked, Google Maps can help. After parking, tap on the blue dot (your location) on the map, and select Save Parking. You can even set a timer if you’re parked in a timed spot. To add more details or a reminder, tap on the search bar and then the Parking location.
Waze’s voice recorder
Tired of the same old navigation voice? With Waze, you can actually record your own voice for turn-by-turn directions. This allows you to add a personalized touch or inject some humor into your drives. To record your voice, go to Menu, select Settings, then Voice and sound, and tap on Waze voice. From there, you can record different types of directions, listen to your recording, and give it a name.
Now that you know about these amazing navigation hacks and features, you’ll never be lost or bored on the road again. Enjoy exploring the world with these incredible tools at your fingertips.
A short history of GPS
The Global Positioning System (GPS) was initially developed by the U.S. Department of Defense in the early 1970s for military operations. It consists of a network of 24 satellites in medium Earth orbit that provide accurate, real-time navigation information around the globe. Over the years, GPS technology has evolved and become a vital part of everyday navigation for people all over the world.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
