Google Maps rolls out community feed and more features

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on small businesses. As a result, it can be difficult to keep up with changes whether times have changed or dining options are limited. To help people stay up to date with the latest news on their local businesses, Google Maps has added a community feed feature to the Explore tab.

The feed will show users the latest reviews, photos and articles added to Google Maps, according to a Google blog post. Updates can be added by local experts, people you follow, and food and drink vendors. Google said that Maps users will also see articles from publishers in this feed, including The Infatuation. The purpose of the community feed is to keep people up to date with the latest changes, as if a delicious new dish has been added by a restaurant.

While the Community Feed is a great way to stay on top of new developments, Google also makes it easier for businesses to interact with customers. Starting today, verified businesses can send messages to customers directly from the Google Maps app. Google said the feature was designed to allow customers to make more informed decisions about where to buy.

Finally, a beta of Google Maps appears to add improved integration of carpooling, crosswalk markers, and building numbers (via AndroidPolice), making it easier than ever to navigate unfamiliar places. For carpooling, there is a new option in Maps settings. It looks like Uber is the only supported partner at the moment, but we may see other options in the future. Once the Uber option is enabled, Maps will provide users with fare information by sending route information to the rideshare company.

Images via Android Police

Meanwhile, the match indicators and building numbers now appear to be in Google Maps. The feature was originally spotted in the beta of Google Maps, but has apparently started showing up as part of a server-side update. The feature is only available in a few cities at the moment.

It has been difficult to keep up with everything with the spread of COVID-19. Luckily we’ve seen a number of really cool new features coming to Google Maps, including a live view for navigating with AR. These latest changes to the platform make it a lot more fun to use and make navigating the world a little less intimidating.