This time there are several new tools to play with that impact everything from what the map looks like when it starts up to how your trip planning goes. The Settings menu is one place to start, because from there you can enable Maps to start up in Satellite view. If you got tired of switching back forth prefer this outlook, this will be a welcome change. Another small but helpful addition is a new set of lists to be found when looking up a restaurant or other venue. The links are collections that might showcase similar places worth checking out. I found more of these in restaurants cafes in larger cities, so don’t expect every Maps listing to have them. Finally, there’s a smoother experience for adding a stop to a route. Despite running the latest beta, I wasn’t able to pull this up on my phone, although the folks at Android lice were able to capture it. The functionality is still the same, however, in that when creating a navigation route you can add in some places to stop along the way. The impact on you: If you like the features you see here, it may be worth grabbing the Maps beta. There’s always the chance it’s a little rough around the edges, but you’ll be the first to score new features before they hit the stable app or even the web-based version for the desktop.
