Google Testing 'Explore Nearby' Button in Maps App for Android

Google started rolling out an update to its Google Maps smartphone app bringing it to version 8.2 last week. It is now being reported that a few users are getting a new dedicated Explore Nearby button with the same update, bringing some new features.

The new Explore Nearby option's dedicated button was first spotted by Artem Russakovskii, a Google+ user who posted a screenshot of the option currently being tested by Google. Users not seeing the dedicated button can still access the Explore Nearby option via the Search interface.

As seen in the screenshot posted by Russakovskii, the dedicated Explore Nearby button is seen placed alongside the GPS button at the bottom right corner of the screen. GSMArena notes that when users tap the Explore Nearby button, it gives them details about their current location, along with the weather conditions and nearby places of interest.

The Explore Nearby feature is also seen to show different places of interest for different times of the day - such as Evening, Night and Late Night. There is also an 'Anytime' option that shows all the possible options at once.

Since only select users have been issued the dedicated Explore Nearby button with the Google Maps 8.2 update, it appears that Google is currently testing the feature and will roll it out to all users gradually.

Changes all users can see with the Google Maps app update (version 8.2) include voice controls for vehicle navigation inside the app and elevation information for bicyclists. Google also announced support for Hindi on Tuesday.

Google has also added the options to comment and +1 the images in the 'Views' section of the Google Maps, especially useful for commenting on shared images such as Photo Spheres.

The news came via Google's Evan Rapoport's Google+ account. "Love photo sphere, Views (g.co/views), and +Google Maps? We just added comments and +1s into Views, allowing you to chat with the photographer about their photo spheres and the amazing places they visited. It's a perfect way to plan travel for you photo enthusiasts out there," states the post.