Google Maps Makeover Reduces Clutter, Highlights Hotspots

By Nathan Olivarez-Giles 

It is time to update your Google Maps app. Alphabet Inc.'s Google has made a handful of changes to the way Google Maps looks in a bid to make the popular app easier to read at a glance.

The team made its map label typography larger and clearer, and removed road outlines -- which were unnecessary when you aren't navigating. (Roads remain on the map in white and yellow.) It also began highlighting neighborhoods that are heavy on activities, such as restaurants, shops and other attractions. These "areas of interest" are shaded a light orange color.

While Google mainly uses algorithms to pick the areas, in high-density areas such as New York City, Google also uses some human maps editors to make sure the app is showing what it deems "the most active areas," the company said in a blog post.

The design refresh is visible on the web now and currently rolling out to iOS and Android users in an app update.

The changes do make Google Maps easier on the eyes, but their usefulness depends on what you use Google Maps for. Information overload and clutter is something Google has been battling as long as Google Maps has existed.

Areas of interest will likely help people unfamiliar with a city or neighborhood figure out what parts of town to check out, but it might not mean much to locals. And if you own a business located outside of an area of interest, this change might even result in fewer users stumbling upon your establishment thanks to Google Maps.

It is worth noting, however, that these changes don't impact the way the service's search box (which lets you search via text or voice) works. Restaurants within an area of interest wouldn't be given priority billing in a search, for instance.

Write to Nathan Olivarez-Giles at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 26, 2016 15:55 ET (19:55 GMT)

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