The Google Maps beta version 9.47 started rolling out to testers on Wednesday. While the Mountain View-based tech giant didn’t accompany its latest release with a detailed changelog, the update does seem to introduce some noticeable changes to the company’s popular navigational app. For starters, the Timeline functionality that Google debuted a while back is now better integrated into the app as the beta version 9.47 features a Timeline widget on the Details pages and a Timeline shortcut in the Your Places section of Google Maps. These aren’t the only additions the update brings to the table as some parts of the app’s user interface like the blue dot menu have been completely redesigned. However, the latest beta build of Google Maps doesn’t seem to be packing any new major features.
Your Timeline can now be accessed from a Details page of any place you’ve previously visited. While Google already offers a similar functionality in the stable build of Google Maps, the newly designed section provides access to more information and does a better job of organizing the data it’s giving you. Apart from the new Timeline, the Details pages now also feature a Share button at the top of the user interface. Google has been experimenting with the location of this button for years now and has even removed it in a recent update, but it seems like the feature is back for now. Furthermore, the blue dot icon now leads to a completely new menu that does a better job of presenting information than its predecessor. The new interface features three categories that allow you to quickly report bugs, calibrate your app, and see nearby places. Finally, the last noticeable change is present in the Your Places section that now boasts new menus next to all of the places you’ve previously visited. The new icons are connected to the Timeline interface that will provide you with a detailed route you’ve traversed to reach each particular location logged by the app.
First screenshots of the Google Maps beta version 9.47 can be seen below. There’s still no word on when these changes may make their way to the stable build of the app, but more information on the matter will hopefully follow soon. In the meantime, you can download the latest beta version of Google Maps by following the link below.
