Simplified Google Maps Bottom Bar Rolling Out on Android
Google Maps is getting a fresh look on Android with a simplified bottom bar, first revealed at Google I/O 2024. The new design streamlines navigation by reducing the bottom bar to three tabs: Explore, You, and Contribute.
What's New in the Bottom Bar?
- Explore and Contribute: These tabs remain unchanged, continuing to offer users access to map exploration and contribution features.
- You: This tab consolidates the functionalities of the previous Go, Saved, and Updates tabs. It retains the bookmark icon from Saved and maintains a similar design aesthetic. Notifications and business messages can now be accessed from the top-right corner, while alerts can badge the bottom bar icon.
The updated bottom bar eliminates the search bar at the top, making the interface cleaner and more intuitive. Additionally, "Go" has been renamed to "Saved trips" and is now a list, reflecting its reduced prominence.
Design and Features
Despite the redesign, Google Maps still doesn't utilize a tall Material You bottom bar or Dynamic Color. However, it is set to adopt an expressive image carousel similar to Google Photos. Users can expect new pin colors that make it easier to identify places on the map, enhancing the visual experience.
Availability
The new bottom bar is rolling out with version 11.127.x of Google Maps on Android. This update aims to provide a cleaner home screen and improve usability. If you haven't received the update yet, it should be arriving soon.
For more details, check out the original article on 9to5Google by Abner Li【source】.