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Google Maps Just Made It Easier To Figure Out Where You're Going

Can you spot the difference?
Google

If you use Google Maps for directions, you’ll probably dig the app’s new update.

The service got a slight revision on desktop, Android and iOS Monday that will help areas of interest stand out while toning down visual information that you may not need.

“The result is a cleaner look that makes it easier to see helpful and actionable information like traffic and transit,” Google said in a blog post about the update.

It’s subtle, but you’ll be able to spot the differences below ― just “slide” the middle part to compare the before and after images:

As you can see, some text has dropped off the map, neighborhood names have been beefed up and the color palette is cleaner.

Google’s also added a new “areas of interest” feature that will help you identify cool things around you.

”We determine ‘areas of interest’ with an algorithmic process that allows us to highlight the areas with the highest concentration of restaurants, bars and shops,” Google wrote. “In high-density areas like NYC, we use a human touch to make sure we’re showing the most active areas.”

Life-changing? Not exactly. But it might just mean something to businesses that pay top dollar for prominent placement in the app.

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