I always install Google Maps Go on my Android phones, and you should also

Several years ago, Google built a light version of Android, Android Go, for low -end phones with slower processors and limited resources. Google has published “Go” light versions of some of its own applications specifically for these phones, and one of them is The cards go. On paper, there is no reason why you should use this Barebons version of Google Maps if you already have the full application on your phone. But I always install Google Maps Go in addition to the cards on my Android phones, even the most powerful. For what? Brim the cards.

If you have already used Google Maps in recent years, you probably understand this assertion without me explaining: Google Maps is useless once you have launched navigation. Whether I receive instructions for driving or walking, once I have rotating navigation, I can’t do anything else in the application. I can add a stop, and that’s it. Research becomes almost useless, my saved places disappear and all the details of the place disappear.

To explain why it is a problem, imagine this: I walk somewhere and I spot a good restaurant in the street, but I do not see its note, its criticisms, its photos, its menu or to make a reservation. If I press on it, the cards will want to add it like a stop at my walk without allowing me to see its details. No, I have to leave the navigation, check the place, then search for my original destination and restart navigation. It is unnecessarily hacked and complicated. In addition, there is no way to do an appropriate and in -depth research while navigation is in progress. You get a superficial search along your route for certain types of places, but nothing more.

However, if I use public transport departments (not driving / walking), Google allows me to draw from nearby places to see their contact details without interrupting navigation, but I cannot do a search – not even along my route. I do not know why there is this gap, but that means that the whole application is fundamentally useless, whatever the mode of transport I use.

It’s exasperating. I count a lot on Google Maps because I live in a foreign country, in a city that I have not yet memorized like the back of my hand, and I often travel to explore neighboring cities. Using instructions to go anywhere is essential for me, but the same goes for the search for places, and the fact that I cannot do this by doing this.

I swear there was a time when you could come back while keeping your navigation active, but this is no longer the case. For months, I looked for a solution in vain, then it struck me: Google Maps Go!

Google Maps Go is a lighter and basic version of Google Maps. It weighs approximately 2 MB, only requires localization authorization, does not send any notification and does not need a super fast connection to work. It has all regular card data, but navigation is quite naked (there is no live advice for transit, for example), and it has no additional frills such as offline cards, recording of chronology and search filters. But in order to have a secondary card instance that I can open each time the main application is supported by a current navigation, it’s perfect – and better than just bookmarking Maps.google.com in my browser.

So, every time I walk, drive or make trips somewhere, and I have to look for places nearby or to search for the details of an ad, a restaurant or any interesting place I pass, I open the cards, go. This maintains my intact navigation in the main application and prevents me from having to stop and start again.

I can just look for the details of any place, see your notation and criticism, opening hours, take a look at some photos, check the menu or website and also save it on my lists.

I fail to have more powerful filters while looking for to reduce the results, and there are times when I have to prevent cards from directing myself towards the main application, but I will take these little bad guys on how the cards in a stupid way in a stupid way deal with continuous navigation. I prefer to use a second more limited application than to waste time stopping and resuming the stage -by -step departments.

Until the MAPS team fixes this surveillance in the main application, Google Maps Go will have a permanent place on one of my Android phones. I just hope that Google does not kill him or keeps supporting him soon – after all, the last time he was updated was in October 2023. It does not bode well for that, unfortunately.