Google Maps for Android and iOS will now show ads after you perform a search

While advertising is a major source of revenue for Google, it had left its maps app free of ads, even though its point of interest listings did feature businesses part of its AdWords program. However, the search major has now introduced "relevant ads" on its Maps app.

According to Google, the ads will now appear at the bottom of the screen after a user performs a search. The ads will include a title, ad text, and a link to get directions, and users can tap or swipe upward to see more information related to it. Advertisers can choose to "add location extensions to their search campaigns or create an ad with AdWords Express" to appear in these search results.

Google adds that users will see additional information such as the business's address, phone number, photos, reviews and more, when they click on an ad to get location details. From here, there are two types of user actions, free and paid. The free ones won't be charged to the advertiser while the paid ones will be charged. Free click user actions include 'save business information for later', 'share a business with a friend', or 'start navigation' options that are offered with the listing. Paid clicks include the initial 'get location details' click, get directions, click-to-call and clicks on the ad headline. Google informs that AdWords will only charge for up to two paid clicks per ad impression.

Of course, for the end user, all actions are free, and most users are unlikely to know the difference between ads and regular search results. While search ads are not very intrusive and are listed separately, users are more likely to be left confused with the Maps app ads. They might even mistake these as actual listings for their search and get misguided even though Google puts a small 'Ad' tag along with the listing.

Google has always offered a majority of its consumer services, free of charge but has monetized them via advertisements, so the move doesn't really come as a surprise.

The move will allow business to target specific keywords within Maps. For example, a restaurant may choose to show its ad if the user searches for restaurants within a specific location.

Recently, Google had updated its Maps app on iOS and Android bringing a much cleaner interface, features like traffic an incident updates and a new 'Explore' feature enabling users to browse and discover popular local places to eat, drink, shop, play and sleep.

Google launches Views, a destination for sharing location-tagged photo spheres

In a move that will allow users to easily share pictures of locales they're visiting, and enrich Google Maps, Google has introduced a new destination called "Views," for sharing Android photo spheres, online.

According to a blog post by the Internet giant,Views is essentially a community site that allows users to share their photo spheres by contributing them to Google Maps.

Photo spheres are essentially 360 degree panoramas that can be created with Android devices including Nexus phones and the new Nexus 7 tablet, running Android 4.2 or higher versions of the OS. Users can also share panorama photos clicked through their DSLR cameras.

Users need to sign-in to the Views site with their Google+ credentials and click on the blue camera button on the top right of the page, following which they will be able to import their existing photo spheres from their Google+ photos.

They will also be able to upload 360 degree photo spheres to the Views site from the Gallery in their Android phone by tapping "Share" and then selecting Google Maps. 

Users will get their own Views page, with photo spheres shared by them, along with their descriptions and position on a map. 

Views also includes the Street View Gallery, through which users can check out panoramas of Google's most popular Street View collections, including the Grand Canyon and the Swiss Alps. This can be done by clicking on "Explore" at the top of the Views site to browse a map of these special collections along with the photo spheres shared by users.

However, it's not known how Google will take care of users sharing pictures of sensitive areas and places where photography is prohibited.

Google Maps for iOS gets an update, offers a dedicated iPad interface

After rolling out an update for Android devices (which has still not reached a number of users), Google has now updated Google Maps for iOS, adding support for the iPad and bringing a revamped Maps interface that offers new enhanced navigation features including live traffic updates and incident reports.

The updated Maps app(version 2.0) also offers a new 'Explore' feature enabling users to browse and discover popular local places to eat, drink, shop, play and sleep. It also offers merchant deals through Google Offers, and indoor maps with walking directions for shopping centres, public transport stations and airports, among others. 

The new user interface is cleaner compared to the previous one and brings a new slider menu at the left allowing users to switch between different layers including Traffic, Public Transit, Bicycling and Satellite. 

The major feature of the Google Maps app update is its support for the iPad and the iPad mini. The iPad interface is inline with the recent redesign of the app, that optimised it for Android tablets. The iPad app offers the same Card-like interface offering several route options when one searches for directions, in the form of cards. Different direction modes( driving, walking, transit) can be toggled from the search listing overlaying the maps without going to a different screen and losing map view.

The Explore page also lists places in different groups accompanied by images to make the experience better in terms of aesthetics. However, we were not able to access this feature, at the time of writing this post. Perhaps, it's not available in India.

It's also worth pointing out that the app can run only on iOS 6 or later.

This essentially means that in addition to getting a new Google Now cards-like interface, Google Maps will offer users live traffic updates/ alerts including incident reports in case of accidents, diversions and road blocks. The Explore feature appears to be an extension of Google's Places feature which highlights points of interest for users and offers reviews, ratings and other details related to places on Maps.

Google had first announced the update to its online Maps service and mobile and tablet apps, at its annual Google I/O event in May. Google also intends to release the updated app for iOS.

What's New in Version 2.0
● New design for iPad
● Enhanced navigation including live traffic updates and incident reports
● Explore: A new way to browse and discover popular local places to eat, drink, shop, play and sleep
● Simple 5-star ratings and reviews from friends, plus expert Zagat content
● Great deals from your favorite brands with Google Offers
● Indoor maps with walking directions for malls, transit stations, airports and more